2015 NIN Cancelled -- Bummer!

Well, we tried. The NIN, scheduled for tomorrow at Arrowhead, is cancelled. Golf course grooming in this scenario of dry snow and high winds (very difficult to impossible) made it a no-go. I'm bummed, but there is nothing we can do. Here is the direct quote from the Wheaton Park District: "Snow accumulations did not add up and the wind was not our friend. Justin (the groomer) was out this AM. Course will remain closed. Unfortunately NO RACE tomorrow." Make that five years in a row . . . . Keep Sunday, Feb. 1 open. A makeup is possible, but not scheduled at this time.

We're Trying Again! NIN Set for Jan. 10, 2015

UPDATE, JAN. 7, 2015: Saturday's Northern Illinois Nordic remains on hold. "A bit" of snow is coming Thursday afternoon. Final decision will be made by 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Arrowhead is really trying to make it happen. Stay tuned.

After losing to Mother Nature four years in a row, we're far from giving up. the 2015 Northern Illinois Nordic is on the books for 9 a.m. (not 9:30) on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton. All we can do is think snow, good grooming and a lot of fun for a lot of people. Watch for updates here, on the Northern Illinois Nordic Facebook page and via the XCChicago Yahoo discussion group. We plan to have a 14K, 7K and 4K for kids. Please go to http://www.signmeup.com/104365 for complete information and to sign up online. There will be race day registration.

Saluting Illinois' Top Birkie, Korte Skiers

I have not had time until today to list the top Illinois skiers from the 2012 American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet. People in top 6 in their age groups are highlighted. What great conditions after a snow drought for many of us this season!

2012 BIRKIE 50K FREESTYLE (Skate) ILLINOIS TOP 15 MEN
(Overall places)
80. Jan Myrda, Palos Heights, 6th M40-44, 2:19:59.9
120. Jason Schisler, Gurnee, 26th M25-29, 2:23:43.1
257. Roger Prevot, Chicago, 14th M50-54, 2:33:31.4
324. Andrew Young, Savoy, 49th M25-29, 2:37:51.3
358. Michael Choate, Chicago, 28th M50-54, 2:39:15.6
373. Bill Kopanda, Crystal Lake, 2nd M60-64, 2:40:04.1
444. David Harkness, Rockford, 49th M50-54, 2:44:34.0
499. Ed Edinger, Capron, 52nd M40-44, 2:47:01.7
646. Todd Buck, Lombard, 85th M45-49, 2:53:34.5
661. Yuriy Ardashnikov, Skokie, 89th M45-49, 2:53:50.9
684. Jim DiDomenico, Elgin, 91st M45-49, 2:54:53.7
686. Mark McNeil, West Dundee, 85th M50-54, 2:54:58.0
699. David Vincent, Chicago, 58th M35-39, 2:55:30.6
801. Aiden Weber, Highland Park, 105th M18-24, 2:59:04.0
849. Bill Danielson, Bloomington, 111th M50-54, 3:01:11.6.

2012 BIRKIE 50K FREESTYLE (Skate) ILLINOIS TOP 14 WOMEN
(Women's places)
94. Margie Prevot, Chicago, 12th F45-49, 3:02:43.6
117. Kielo Sauvala, Glenview, 5th F55-59, 3:09:28.5
255. Stephanie Hon, Wilmette, 30th F40-44, 3:39:51.7
433. Christine Palmquist, Geneva, 52nd F45-49, 4:13:38.1
547. Ruth Meade, Chicago, 68th F45-49, 4:43:40.0
559. Margaret Walsh, Chicago, 39th F55-59, 4:46:03.9
569. Barbara Menge, Marengo, 13th F60-64, 4:53:19.0
647. Mary Erdal, Waukegan, 127th F18-24, 5:30:29.0
652. Mary Roe, Villa Park, 75th F50-54, 5:38:38.8
655. Rachel Majors, Chicago, 75th F30-34, 5:40:56.5
685. Sarah Hraha, Clarendon Hills, 83rd F50-54, 6:17:57.0
699. Kathryn Dittemore, Chicago, 86th F50-54, 7:04:21.9
700. Cheryl Osman, Downers Grove, 57th F55-59, 7:04:36.4
708. Emily Wittenberg, Palatine, 87th F50-54, 8:12:23.9

2012 BIRKIE 50K CLASSIC TECHNIQUE, ILLINOIS TOP 10 MEN
(Overall places)
260. John Wherity, Chicago, 39th M45-49, 3:36:17.1
472. Daniel Henning, Chicago, 33rd M55-59, 4:04:18.3
501. Andreas Ruppert, Galena, 60th M45-49, 4:07:13.0
548. Seyamack Afzali, Evanston, 39th M25-29, 4:14:13.6
549. James Wegner, Mt. Prospect, 63rd M50-54, 4:14:35.2
556. Kevin Versino, Rockford, 41st M35-39, 4:15:01.7
573. Doug Schneider, Freeport, 41st M60-64, 4:16:57.2
584. Bob Walsh, Crystal Lake, 16th M65-69, 4:18:04.1
605. Doug McClerran, Naperville, 83rd M50-54, 4:20:38.9
705. Robert Ganson, Mundelein, 83rd M50-54, 4:33:35.9

2012 BIRKIE 50K CLASSIC TECHNIQUE, ILLINOIS TOP 7 WOMEN
(Overall places)
57. Alyson Chapman, Lake Forest, 14th F45-49, 4:00:51.4
109. Lisa Nadler, Chicago, 21st F45-49, 4:32:55.9
219. Lynette Carani, Highland Park, 13th F60-64, 5:47:37.4
263. Helen Schuetz, Batavia, 41st F50-54, 6:33:31.7
303. Claire Geiger, Evanston, 48th F18-24, 7:15:41.3
316. Laurie Larson, Palatine, 51st F50-54, 7:43:55.7
323. Jill Mecklenberger, Chicago, 50th F45-49, 8:00:25.8

2012 KORTELOPET 23K FREESTYLE (Skate) ILLINOIS TOP 5 MEN
(Overall places)
10. Andrew Nadler, Chicago, 5th M17-18, 1:04:29.1
211. Michael Meissner, Hinsdale, 6th M60-64, 1:27:36.3
285. Greg Painter, Galena, 10th M60-64, 1:33:06.4
402. Liam Hoy, Chicago, 46th M17-18, 1:39:20.0
421. Guy Larson, Barrington, 20th M45-49, 1:40:36.0

2012 KORTELOPET 23K FREESTYLE (Skate) ILLINOIS TOP 5 WOMEN
(Women places)
67. Tally Danielson, Bloomington, 8th F13-14, 1:32:25.9
120. Jenna Pederson, Chicago, 7th F25-29, 1:39:10.0
168. Stacey Jutila, Oak Park, 10th F35-39, 1:45:18.5
238. Michelle Mathieu, Naperville, 18th F45-49, 1:54:28.2
340. Jacqueline Bychowski, Winnetka, 25th F25-29, 2:06:51.5

Also:
F65-69
2nd Diane McNeilly, Rochelle, 2:11:04.0

2012 KORTELOPET 23K CLASSIC TECHNIQUE -- ILLINOIS TOP 5 MEN
(Overall places)
47. Mark Wold, Glenview, 1st M40-44, 1:32:01.9
103. Steve Capps, Wheaton, 3rd M40-44, 1:40:49.0
158. Michael Dennis, Chicago, 11th M35-39, 1:49:17.0
159. Mark Baran, Minonk, 18th M50-54, 1:49:28.8
182. Paul Andraschko, Deer Park, 21st M50-54, 1:51:47.4

Also:
M30-34
3rd Adam Lund, Chicago, 2:04:52.3
M70-74
4th Art Kardatzke, Downers Grove, 2:00:52.7
6th Dick Storm, Palatine, 2:08:06.6


2012 KORTELOPET 23K CLASSIC TECHNIQUE -- ILLINOIS TOP 5 WOMEN
(Overall places)
59. Kerry Ebert, Oak Park, 3rd F40-44, 1:53:39.2
105. Lise Loberg, Chicago, 10th F40-44, 2:08:07.0
130. Leslie Holling, Kenilworth, 12th F45-49, 2:14:05.4
154. Amy Rust, Chicago, 6th F25-29, 2:22:00.5
210. Clemence Sullivan, Chicago, 11th F25-29, 2:32:45.7

Good Luck at the Birkie!

Best of luck to all the Illinois skiers, freestyle or classic, Birkie, Korte, Hakaan or one of the other races. This is the big weekend, the Super Bowl of Nordic skiing in North America. From all reports, conditions will be good. Now, it's up to us. As the famous Birkie song lyrics go, "Just get me to the start line, I'll be ready to go!"

Myrda, Choate Lead NIN at Pre-Birkie

A full contingent of Illinois skiers ventured to the Pre-Birkie this past Saturday. The 42K saw Jan Myrda place 16th overall in 1:58:47 and Mike Choate 61st in 2:09:08.3. Bill Kopanda of Crystal Lake was third from Illinois, placing 141st in 2:21:00.8. Other big names from NIN-land dotted the results in the 42K and 26K. Check out the results on skinnyski.com. Great job by all!

Nadler, Schisler in Top 5 at Wolf Tracks

The debut Wolf Tracks Rendezvous 42K at Minocqua Winter Park on Feb. 4 was a big success as skiers from snow-starved areas north and south converged on the beautiful trails at MWP. The race was won by Adam Swank, 36, of Duluth, MN, in 1:58:42.2. Second went to Peter Koenen, 26, of Madison, WI, in 2:01:57.2, and third went to high schooler Andrew Nadler, 17, of Chicago, as he continued a strong season with a 2:04:20.4. Fourth was taken by Matt Zak, 38, of Eveleth, MN, in 2:06:44.9. You might remember Matt was the winner of the NIN the year we held it it in Kenosha. And fifth went to Jason Schisler, 27, of Gurnee, in 2:10:17.5. Other Illinois skiers did very well in this race, an interesting sign of what can happen when we aren't the only ones with no-snow for much of the season. And a special hats-off to race director Jim DiDomenico, who just happens to have plenty of Illinois roots himself.

Illinois -- OK at the Noque

Jason Schisler (M25-29 age group) of Gurnee flew to a 2:35.59.9 to place 28th at the Noquemanon 50K Freestyle race on Saturday, leading quite a horde of Illinois skiers from the Chicago and Rockford areas. Bill Kopanda of Crystal Lake posted another great performance, winning the M60-64 age category in 2:45:26.6. David Harkness of Rockford (M50-54) was the third Illinois skier in 2:51:54.4. Leading lady was Kielo Sauvala (who else?) of Glenview (F50-54), who had a very nice 3:16:09.9. Best in show in the 50K Classic race was Tom Dvoratchek of Streamwood, who finished 56th overall in 3:23:38.6. In the 24K Classic race, Charlie Carlson of Rockton won the M60-64 group in 1:34:34; and Art Kardatzke of Downers Grove and Tore Bakk-Hansen went 1-2 in M70-74 in 2:03:56.8 and 2:07:25.5 respectively. A lot of other skiers you and I know had great races. Please check out the results. I'm in somewhat of a hurry. I catch a plane to Munich in a few hours. Next up for Bill Weidner and me is the Konig Ludwig Lauf 50K freestyle Worldloppet event in frigid temps on Saturday, Feb. 4.