MYSL / Hoigaard’s Team Sprint Series

Hoigaard’s and the Minnesota Youth Ski League invite you to Theodore Wirth Park the first seven weeks in 2012 for a Team Sprint Training Series. This informal Wednesday night race series is based on two-person relays with a different format each week. Bring a partner or sign up to be matched with a skier of similar ability.

$5 donation requested per race for adults (kids free). All proceeds go towards youth skiing! On site registration only. Registration begins at 5:30 pm in the main Chalet, races start at 6:30 pm. Minneapolis Trail Pass is required for those 12 and over.

Dates with tentative formats (there may be changes):

January 4th 6 x 1.2k
January 11th 8 x 1.2k
January 18th 6 x 1.6k
January 25th 8 x 1.6k
February 1st 6 x 2k
February 8th 8 x 2k
February 15th 6 x 2.4

Youth distances will be shorter. There will be an adult division (mens, womens, mixed), a youth (13 and under) division and an adult/youth division.

Sprint Series January 18 Recap:

We had another great turnout for the Wednesday night MYSL/Hoigaard’s Team Sprint Series race at Theo Wirth park last night and another wind storm rolled in just in time for racing! The track at Wirth was in the best shape yet after a dusting of snow. Again, we started the evening with some light fluffy snow coming down and ended with a cold and blustery evening where the temperature dropped 15 degrees and wind chill prevailed over several teams that had to quit.

We had 20 teams in all team categories toe the line and race all out for the (now famed) homemade pie (Peanut Butter/Chocolate) which was awarded to the best Mixed-Adult/Youth team of Phil and Madeleine Guillery. On tap was an 6 x 1.6k relay that proved quite challenging due to the high winds and chill that mother nature provided for us.

Special thanks to the Teoh family for baking a pie and to our wonderful Hoigaard’s/Breadsmith Nordic volunteers for making the race happen. Thanks to all that came out for some fun racing and contributing to MYSL Youth Ski programs. We hope more forgiving conditions in coming weeks, look for updates on http://www.Skinnyski.Com or on the MYSL Facebook page regarding format and schedule.

Paul C. Schoening
MYSL Race Director

Birkebeiner Waxing

Hoigaard’s Pros Will Wax Your Skis
If you don’t have the time, equipment or expertise to wax your skis for a high performance glide, just relax and leave the waxing to us. Deliver your skis to us and our nordic pros will determine the right wax and do all the work. Drop them off at Hoigaard’s no later than Wednesday (2/23) for pick-up on Thursday or Friday. Call us if you need to drop skis off on Thursday. (Ph: 952-929-1351).

We are going local with Fast Wax on your skis – Minnesota wax, Minnesota company, Wisconsin race.

Skis will be prepared with two layers of wax. Waxes used will be based on expected temperatures and snow conditions at race time. Be sure to tell us which wave you are starting in.
First layer for all skis: Appropriate hydrocarbon wax applied using Wax Future infra-red machine.
Second layer: Appropriate fluorocarbon wax, price based on percent of fluorocarbon.

Low Fluorocarbon		$35
High Fluorocarbon		$45
Our fastest base treatment:
Pure Fluoro over High Fluoro		$59	(Three layers total)

All skis will be professionally finished and ready for racing!
(We will not be applying kick wax to classic skis, but we will apply binder wax if requested and can provide advice on your wax-of-the-day.)

Pre-Race Wax Clinics

Pre-Mora Vasaloppet Waxing / Swix Wax
Thursday, February 10 at 6:30 pm
Taught by Drew Holbrook
Since 1973 the Mora Vasaloppet has been one of the upper midwest’s most popular x-c ski races. This clinic will teach you all you need to know to prepare your skis for Mora based on expected conditions at race time on Sunday, 2/13. Drew Holbrook has been teaching waxing seminars for decades and will provide the latest information from Swix Wax.

“Beyond the Basics” Classic X-C Waxing
Tuesday, February 15 at 6:30 pm
Taught by Andy Turnbull
An advanced waxing clinic for the classic nordic skier already skilled in the basics. Tips and tricks for the most difficult conditions, both kick and glide. Discover klister without fear! Andy is Hoigaard’s Nordic Buyer and has been coaching high school nordic skiing for years.

Birkie Waxing Seminar / Toko Wax
Monday, February 21 at 6:30 pm
Luke Skinner from Toko Wax will demonstrate waxing techniques for race ski prep. Do you want to glide fast and kick strong in the American Birkebeiner? Learn from Luke about Toko’s perspective on preping high performance nordic skis for the skate or classic events. Luke will cover all likely waxing scenarios based on the advance weather forcasts for race time.

Birkie Waxing with Dan Meyer
Tuesday, February 22 at 6:30 pm
The developer of Fast Wax will teach glide waxing for the American Birkebiener. With the big race fast approaching we need to know how to get the maximum glide out of our skis! Based on weather and snow predictions for race time, Dan will demonstrate the waxing techniques needed for the fastest possible skis on the Birkie trail.

Birkie Week Waxing / Swix Wax
Wednesday, February 23 at 6:30 pm
Based on weather and snow predictions learn the perfect nordic base prep for the American Birkebeiner. You’ve been training all season for this event and your skis are a perfect fit , now you don’t want your wax to hold you back! The biggest nordic race in the upper midwest requires you to wax your best to achieve your personal best time. Drew Holbrook from Swix Wax will provide you with all the information you need to do just that. 

Some January Wax Clinics

Basic XC Waxing
Tuesday, January 4 at 6:30 pm
Tuesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm
Join us at Hoigaard’s as we take the mystery out of nordic waxing!
A great primer for new skiers and for those wishing to brush up on their waxing knowledge.

“Beyond the Basics” Classic X-C Waxing
Tuesday, January 11 at 6:30 pm
Taught by Andy Turnbull
An advanced waxing clinic for the nordic skier already skilled in the basics.

Instant Cash Back Thru Friday

There’s still time to save on the perfect gift for that skier on your list! Through Friday, we’re offering great deals on all of our regular-priced equipment, apparel and more throughout the store. Stop in today! Open daily ’til 8pm thru the 23rd and ’til 3pm on Christmas Eve!

 

Nordic News Updates

A new Pisten Bully arrived at Theo. Wirth on Tuesday

Nordic News Updates:
Theo. Wirth Park and the City of Lakes Loppet

• A new model 100 Pisten Bully was dropped off Tuesday afternoon (12/7) at Wirth. The crew was out pushing man-made snow on the competition loop (back nine) shortly after the machine was dropped off.

• Expect to see the snow guns going whenever the weather will allow this entire season.  The City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, along with Wirth Park and the Minneapolis Park Board are hosting the 2011 Junior Olympics in mid-March. The plan is to make much more snow then usual to guarantee good conditions for this late season national caliber event.  The best junior skiers from across the country will be here competing in several events March 7th through the 12th.

• The electrician and park board finished getting all the snowmaking lights re-routed and up and running last week.

• The City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation along with the Park Board are excited to get feedback on the new trail segments on the competition loop (Hap And Judy trails), as well as the new addition and rerouting of about 500 meters near the Eloise Butler Garden just south of Glenwood near the tennis courts. The Park Board is hoping to have the new competition loop opened as soon as possible.

• In more COLL news: The youth programs including several elementary schools in Minneapolis and two middle school programs are off and skiing. COLL events coordinator and Anwatin Middle School and Farview Community coach John Swain said the kids are having fun and it should be a good season.  “If you are coaching a middle school program, call me, we are looking to put some ski meets together for this age group”. In all, the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation will teach several hundred Minneapolis elementary and middle school kids how to cross country ski and hopefully help them grow up living an active lifestyle.

- Mike Erickson