Myrda, Sauvala Win Limestone Loppet

No strangers to local cross-country skiing's winners' circle, Jan Myrda (top photo) and Kielo Sauvala (middle photo) won the overall and women's titles respectively on Saturday on a soft trail at McKee Marsh near Warrenville. Parts of the trail got pretty mushy but other parts held up. Skiing in northern Illinois, no matter what the surface, can be challening and fun! Twenty-five skiers competed.

8K FREESTYLE TIME TRIAL
MALES
1. Jan Myrda, 40, Palos Heights, IL, 24:01
2. Randal Bladel, 55, Granger, IN, 27:06
3. Mike Choate, 54, Chicago, IL, 27:46
4. Chuck Kessler, 66, Northbrook, IL, 31:58
5. Steve Wikner, 54, Kenosha, WI, 32:05
6. David Fyhrie, 57, Wheaton, IL, 32:14
7. Chuck Zagozdon, 62, Chicago, IL, 32:26
8. Kevin Flowers, 46, Glen Ellyn, IL, 32:58
9. Richard Skibicki, 59, Morton Grove, IL, 33:30
10. Jim Gearhart, 59, Oak Park, IL, 35:18
11. Jerry Pasierb, 51, Downers Grove, IL, 35:27
12. Leif Reditsch, 52, Glen Ellyn, IL, 35:38
13. Roger Dejus, 57, Hinsdale, IL, 35:56
14. Mark Sayers, 50, Shorewood, IL, 36:39
15. Harry Maranowicz, 64, Downers Grove, IL, 37:21
16. Mike Pellikan, 52, Mount Prospect, IL, 38:00
17. Michael Meissner, 61, Hinsdale, IL, 41:26
18. Bary Rotman, 50, Grayslake, IL, 42:38
19. Mike Hickey, 58, Chicago, IL, 47:47
20. John Innocentini, 48, Lake Barrington, IL, 57:40

FEMALES
1. Kielo Sauvala, 51, Glenview, IL, 37:01
2. Sarah Hraha, 51, Clarendon Hills, IL, 53:14
3. Deb Choate, 55, Chicago, IL, 59:37

4K CAT-SKI RACE
1. Abbott Wright, 62, Inverness, IL, 31:44
2. Randal Bladel, 55, Granger, IN, 38:19 (Was leading but made wrong turn)
3. Charles Wallin, 69, Rockford, IL, 40:24



Casco and King Keyser rolled out the banners on what turned out to be a "balmy" day.

Limestone Loppet Nov. 12 at McKee Marsh

The Limestone Loppet 8K and Cat-Ski 4K are set for Saturday morning, Nov. 12, at McKee Marsh, which is the north side of Blackwell Forest Preserve on Mack Road in DuPage County. The main event consists of a time-trial format 8K freestyle race with skiers starting 30 seconds apart on their off-road roller-skis. The Cat-Ski race will start at 10 a.m. with a mass start. We've had generally OK to good conditions over the years with an exception or two, but this event is always fun and is one heck of an early-season workout. We'll have overall results, but no real awards. There will be a raffle with some terrific stuff including goodies from Casco Eyewear, King Keyser, a gift certificate from New Moon, subscriptions to Master Skier and Cross Country Skier, products from Fast Wax and maybe more. I want to thank Bill Weidner and Barry Rotman for all they have done to help get this race to where it is this year. For information (you don't have to sign up ahead of time, but it sure would help), go to: https://www.signmeup.com/79457, Online entry is $15 plus the registration company fee. If you sign up on race day, please bring $20 in a white envelope with your name on it.

King Keyser-CXC, Salomon Weekend

A good time was had by all, including the two bunches who rolled the 9.6-mile limestone loop at Waterfall Glen before many of them headed to King Keyser for the Super Fit weekend. These two photos are courtesy of Doug McClerran. They were shot the morning of Oct. 29.

Dates to Remember, Starting Now!

Sat. Nov. 12 -- Limestone Loppet (Off-road 8K roller-ski time trial and 4K Cat-Ski race), 9 a.m., McKee Marsh/Blackwell F.P., Warrenville. For information and to sign up, go to https://www.signmeup.com/79457

Sat. Jan. 7 -- Northern Illinois Nordic, Arrowhead Golf Course, Wheaton. For information and to sign up, go to: https://www.signmeup.com/79429

Sun. Jan. 8 -- Joliet Nordic, Woodruff Golf Course, Joliet. More info to come.

Myrda, Nadler Shine at Bear Chase

Jan Myrda of Palos Heights took sixth place overall at the Great Bear Chase 50K freestyle on Sunday with a 2:17:13.2. The race was won by Joshua Tesch of Superior, WI (he once won the NIN for anyone with a good memory!) in 2:14:37.4. Meanwhile, in the 26K freestyle, Andrew Nadler, the "kid" from Chicago, had another strong race, placing second overall in 1:17:59.4. The race was won by Christophe Nichols of Wausau, WI, in 1:14:26.1. There were a lot of Illinois skiers in the Great Bear Chase, held each year on the Swedetown Trails near Calumet, MI. Full results are at skinnyski.com. There will be some NINers skiing this week at ABR's finale as well. Great job to all, starting with Jan M. and Andrew N.

Kortelopet Report

Skiers from Illinois did OK in the 2011 Kortelopet, too. Andrew Nadler, a 16-year-old CXC skier from Chicago, placed 18th overall in the skate division in 1:03:00. David Vincent, also from Chicago, was 48th overall and third in the M30-34 category with a 1:08:59, and Stacey Jutila, a Minnesota transplant living in Oak Park, was third in the F35-39 group with a 1:31:17.8. In the classic division, Steve Capps of Wheaton won the M40-44 group in 1:33:25, and Dick Storm of Palatine finished fifth in the M70-74 group in 1:52:52. Way to go to these skiers and the many others who also had great races in frigid conditions.

Top Illinois Birkie Skiers

I'm going at this little by little. Here is our creme de la creme:
MEN 50K SKATE
53. Jan Myrda, Palos Heights, 2:11:40
185. Mike Choate, Chicago, 2:25:07
196. Jason Schisler, Gurnee, 2:26:21
254. Jukka Lyly-Yrjanainen, Elk Grove Village, 2:30:38
271. Andrew Young, Savoy (near Champaign), 2:32:16
274. Roger Prevot, Chicago, 2:32:20
349. David Harkness, Rockford, 2:36:27
422. Jim DiDomenico, Elgin, 2:40:32
436. Brian Kearney, Naperville, 2:41:42
537. Bill Kopanda, Crystal Lake, 2:46:46
WOMEN 50K SKATE
833. (90.) Margie Prevot, Chicago, 2:58:19
1226. (149.) Kielo Sauvala, Glenview, 3:12:47
1977. (274.) Stephanie Hon, Wilmette, 3:39:40
2788. (454.) Christine Palmquist, Geneva, 4:20:06
3075. (526.) Michelle Mathieu, Naperville, 4:40:08
3102. (535.) Elizabeth Gracie, Chicago, 4:42:32
3395. (623.) Barbara Menge, Marengo, 5:18:17
3583. (667.) Mararate Walsh, Chicago, 6:05:27
3621. (679.) Kathryn Dittemore, Chicago, 6:18:05
3659. (691.) Ginny Minch, Caledonia, 6:46:47
3696. (698.) Cheryl Ossman, Downers Grove, 7:59:22

MEN 54K CLASSIC
126. (117.) Tom Dvoratcheck, Streamwood, 3:16:43
223. (201.) John Wherity, Chicago, 3:31:57
254. (231.) Mark Wold, Glenview, 3:36:29
370. (331.) Daniel Henning, Chicago, 3:55:57
396. (352.) Bob Walsh, Crystal Lake, 3:59:18
443. (394.) Tim Dennison, Wheaton, 4:08:15
470. (415.) Robert Ganson, Mundelein, 4:12:50
483. (427.) Jeffrey Scott, Lake Bluff, 4:14:06
513. (450.) Bob Rickert, Aurora, 4:18:29
540. (471.) Mark Meccia, Wilmette, 4:22:12
WOMEN 54k CLASSIC
527. (65.) Sara Conrad, Naperville, 4:20:18
624. (83.) Lisa Nadler, Chicago, 4:33:11
751. (114.) Tracey O'Donnell, Northbrook, 4:52:18
1069. (184) Lise Loberg, Chicago, 5:42:18
1163. (203.) Lynette Carani, Highland Park, 5:59:08
1193. (212.) Leslie Holling, Kenilworth, 6:08:55
1376. (259.) Karen Day, Spring Grove, 7:01:45
1439. (278.) Emma Briggs, Chicago, 7:35:28
1444. (282.) Michaela Havemann, Crystal Lake, 7:38:03
No 10th woman from Illinois