HomeMy Public PortalAboutWinter Sports: Nordic Skiing II - 1991-2017"5kier loves t he 'other
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
Me Star -News
Brundage Mountain has two
worlds: One side of the mountain
has busy slopes accessed by lifts
and enjoyed by hordes of skiers.
The other side is like a photo nega-
tive of the dark side of the moon —
a place of uncut glades swathed in
white and silent as dawn.
This is the world backcountry
skiers crave.
"It's a different life; it's quiet and
peaceful. It's an overwhelming feel-
ing of the beauty of where we live,"
said Barbara Pyle, a dedicated back -
country skier from McCall.
When not working as a patroller
on Brundage's better -known half,
Pyle slips off the back side to expe-
rience the solitude and untrod pow-
der the other side of the mountain
offers.
Pyle is one of many local skiers
who takes a do- it- yourself approach
to skiing, seeking the paths less trav-
eled on Brundage and other local
mountains.
Backcountry skiing is a close
cousin to Alpine and Nordic skiing.
The backcountry skier's heels are
free, which allows them to ski Nor-
dic style across flat terrain or up
inclines. They can also put "skins"
on the bottom of their skis, which
allows them to climb steep slopes,
then they remove the skins before
their descent.
Backcountry skiers plummet
down slopes like an Alpine skier,
using a Aelemark" turn to navigate
the terrain.
The telemark is a graceful, arc-
ing turn that is a devilishly tricky,
but when done successfully, it looks
like the skier is moonwalking down
the slope.
This style of skiing gives back -
country skiers access to the thou-
sands of acres of terrain that would
otherwise go unskied.
While going into the backcoun-
try frees the skier from the crowds
and well -worn slopes of a managed
ski area, it also removes them from
the watchful eye of professional pa-
trollers, which means they are on
their own to deal with any situation.
"You're dealing with the ele-
ments. You're out in the backcoun-
try on Mother Nature's terms," Pyle
said. "When you go into the back -
country, a lot of it is attitude. I think
you have to have a positive attitude.
The people who go into the back -
country tend to have that."
Along with a positive attitude, a
backcountry skier needs to be pre-
pared to deal with the unexpected.
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to stack the odds in her favor when
she ventures off the beaten path.
Her safety equipment includes a
shovel, an avalanche beacon, extra
clothes, fire starter, as well as food
and water.
"I carry enough to stay out there
all night if I have to," Pyle said. "I
might be miserable, but I'll be okay." °
Despite the inherent dangers with s'f
being in the backcountry under the
most unforgiving conditions, Pyle
doesn't see backcountry skiing as a
sport for extremists who want to
conquer mountains and push the
envelope of skiing.
"I don't see myself as an athletic
person and I would be embarrassed
if someone called me macho," she
said. "I just want to go out and
experience climbing a mountain and
skiing down that mountain."
Pyle got started in backcountry
skiing because she wanted to be
able to enjoy the mountains during
the winter just like she does in the
summer when she goes backpack-
' of Brun
mg.
"Backpacking and backcountry
skiing go hand in hand, it's just a
change in the seasons," she said.'
Her first backcountry ski trip
was on a pair of wooden skis with
Mister wax applied to the base for
traction. She traversed up a hill, Photo by Roger Pninir
then traversed back down. Pyle said Barb Pyle and Chester prepare to embark on another adventure.
she was later approached by some- _ --
one who told her he saw her out
telemarking, to which she replied,
"What's telemarking? I was just ski-
ing."
Since then, she has gone through
several equipment upgrades and
gained a wealth of experience by
spending hours, and sometimes
days, in the backcountry practicing
the sport.
She believes backcountry skiing
is a sport anyone can participate in.
"Anybody who wants to can back -
country ski," she said. "There are
real simple steps to take."
She advises beginners to start out
slow with an area they are familiar
with, then "expand your horizons."
"You don't have to be powerful
to do this, you just have to want to
do it," Pyle said. "I think you have to
take the initiative and take that first
step."
Ponderosa State Park
Nearest town: McCall.
Opening: Thanksgiving or earlier, if snow-
fall is adequate.
Trail fees: $2 a day per vehicle or free to
bearers of Park 'N' Ski pass or Park Annual
Pass. A Park 'N' Ski pass costs $15 annual-
ly; a Park Annual Pass, $25.
Terrain: Eleven miles of skiing on
groomed trails ranging from very easy to
steep; Payette Lake is the backdrop.
Services: Visitors Center serves as warm-
ing but 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Friday through Sun-
day, hours vary during week.
Information: 634 -2164.
Little Ski Hill
Nearest town: McCall.
Opening: Dec. 18, if snow is ad-
equate.
Trail fees: $5 for day pass, season
pass $85 if purchased by Dec. 15,
$110 afterwards; family season pass
$150 before Dec. 15, $195 after-
wards.
Alpine telemarking fees: $12 for
10 a.m. -5 p.m. Saturday day pass
and 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Sunday day
pass, $8 for half -day pass Saturdays
and Sundays, $8 for night ski pass
from 6 -10 p.m. Fridays and Satur-
days, $5 afterschool pass 3 p.m.-
dusk weekdays except Monday.
Terrain: Fifty kilometers of hills
flats, and curves for all levels.
Services: Warming hut, snack bar,
ski lessons; T -bar.
Hours: Information: 634 -5691.
Bogus Basin
Nearest town: Boise.
Opening: When snowfall is adequate.
Trail fees: $6 for adults, $2 for children 12
and younger; season passes are $80 for
adults and $30 for children.
Terrain: 20 kilometers for beginners to ex-
perts, on mostly wide trails that accommodate
both classic and freestyle skiers.
Services: Warming but and new toilets, ski
rentals, lessons and children's programs.
Information: 332 -5100, snow phone 342 -2100.
Banner Ridge
Nearest town: Lowman.
Opening: When snow is ad-
equate.
Trail fees: $7.50 a vehicle
for three -day pass. Park 'N'
Ski annual pass is $15, avail-
able at outdoor stores.
Terrain: Sixteen miles of
trails for intermediates and
experts.
Services: Toilet at trailhead.
Information: 327 -7444.
Whoop -Um -Up
Nearest town: Lowman.
Opening: Skiers break own
trail around marked loops.
Trail fees: $7.50 a vehicle
for three -day pass. Park 'N'
Ski annual pass is $15.
Terrain: Four miles of chal-
lenging ungroomed trails;
plus a beginner loop called
Pilgrim Trail.
Services: Toilet.
Information: 327 -7444.
Crossmcou ntr
200.
2 Sandpoint skiing across
3 Southern y 95 ellogg Idaho
Coeur Gold Fork
' Alene Nearest town: Lowman.
I Opening: When snow is ad-
equate.
Trail fees: $7.50 a vehicle
for three -day pass. Park 'N'
Ski annual pass is $15.
Terrain: Eight miles of
groomed trails for beginners
and intermediates; open
powder bowls for experts.
Services: Toilet.
Information: 327 -7444.
55 ` %Stanley
0
Bois
'� ^• ^mum
Bu
Sun Valley
Nordic Center
Nearest town: Sun Valley.
Opening: Thanksgiving, if
snowfall is adequate.
Trail fees: $11 general, $8
seniors, $6 for ages 6 to 12.
Terrain: Forty kilometers of
groomed tracks for classic
and freestyle skiers, with
hills and flats.
Services: Lodging, restau-
rants, ski rentals, ski lessons
and specialty shops.
Lake Creek Information: 622 -4111, ext.
Nearest town: Ketchum. 72377, or 622 -2250 during the
Opening: First week in December; season.
equate.
Trail fees: $5 daily, $50 for an individual season pass,
$100 for family season pass.
Terrain: Twelve kilometers ranging from flat to very
steep, for classic and freestyle skiers.
Services: Toilet.
Information: 726 -3899.
c
Nordic' s'--hatural in_ McCall
Ski Marathon a
January tradition
Cross country skiers from all
over the West will come to
McCall on Jan. 29, 1994, for the
12th Annual Payette Lakes Sid
Marathon. More than 250 skiers
are expected to take part in one
of the oldest Nordic ski tradi-
tions In the United States.
The marathon will be held at
the historical Little Ski Hill west
of McCall. The 50- kilometer, 25K
and 12K racing and touring
distances are very popular with
cross-country skiers of all ability
levels. A 25K loop of medium
difficulty offers beautiful vistas
and typically fast snow condi-
tions. Racers can choose one-
half, one or two loops, and
touring skiers may choose any
length.
This year, the race becomes a
part of the 1994 McCall Winter
Carnival, switching its date to
the second weekend of the
popular 10-day carnival.
The fun and excitement that
third annual Western States
takes place during the ski mara-
Junior Nordic Ski Festival on Feb.
thon each year couldn't happen
19-21.
without the hard work of scores
of volunteers who are committed
The event will be hosted by the
to keeping that "down - home"
McCall Nordic Ski Association and
tradition of Nordic skiing at the
the Payette Lakes Ski Club, with
Little Ski Hill.
Lardo's, Darigold and Pepsi Cola
The race is sponsored by the y
serving as sponsors.
Payette Lakes Ski Club, which
The purpose of the festival is to
was organized in 1937 when the
provide a fun, low - pressure, but
55 -meter Nordic ski jump was
well-run experience for junior
built at the Little Ski Hill by
racers. It Is planned as an exciting
McCall resident and Winter
alternative trip for juniors who
Olympian Corey Engen.
will not be going to the Junior
The ski jump towered over the
Olympics-
Little Ski Hill for 54 years until it
was blown down during a violent
The weekend will include a
windstorm in 1991.
variety of events, including
Individual freestyle races, mixed
For information on the Payette
relay, 25-meter jump and
Lakes Ski Marathon or lodging in
biathlon. The emphasis will be on
the McCall area, call the McCall
skiing all events, with prizes
Area Chamber of Commerce at
awarded to the combined winner
634 -7631.
In every age category.
Junior Nordic Festival
_ For registration information,
on for mid - February
write to Jack Kappas, P.O. sox
The Little Ski Hill west of
1693, McCall, ID 83638 or call
McCall will be the site of the
(208) 634 -8341 or 634 -5691.
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McCall's Lawley, Taplin
excel at Nordic races
McCall Nordic skiers Kendra
Lawley and Amanda Taplin are in
line to move up to a higher level of
skiing.
Lawley and Taplin, now racing in
the J3 level for the McCall Junior
Nordic Ski Team, may be eligible to
"race up" to the J2 level, team coach
Jack Kappas said.
The two skiers were among team
members who took part in Wood River
Championships, a Junior National
Qualifier held last weekend in Sun
Valley.
Lawley finished sixth and Taplin
placed eighth in the three kilometer
race for the J3 division using the
freestyle technique.
Here are other finishers in the event
from the McCall Junior Nordic Ski
Team, which is sponsored by the Pay-
ette Lakes Ski Club and the McCall
Nordic Ski Association:
Wood River Championships
Freestyle Technique
J5 (1km): 5. Keenon Storrer.
J4 (2km): 9. Spencer Lawley. 12.
Chris Welch. 16. Keif Storrar.
J3 Boys (3km): 3. Eric Taplin. 8.
Chapin Storrar.
J3 Girls (3km): 6. Kendra Lawley.
8. Amanda Taplin.
Classic Technique
J5 Boys (lkm): 3. Keenon Storrar.
J4 Boys (2km): 7. Keif Storrar. 8.
Chris Welch. 9. Spencer Lawley.
J3 Boys (2km): 3. Eric Taplin. 8.
Andrew Ray. 11. Chapin Storrar.
Jack
Kappas
Avid Nordic
skier calls
Payette
management's
recreation
decision
making
"callous. "
Debate:
Nordic skiers
say F.S. favors
snowmobiles
BY SHARI HAMBLETON
The Slar -News
Winter recreational ists battling for
the right to use Payette National For-
est public lands will have to learn the
meaning of compromise as more
people decide to spend their time play-
ing in the same playground.
Backcountry Nordic skiers say they
feel the bulk of the compromises have
been on their shoulders. One of their
biggest concerns has been access to
the high elevation ski areas they've
grown to appreciate over the past de-
cades.
Payette officials and alpine skiers
say they do not want to drive out
Nordic skiers, but that the changes are
necessary to accommodate the growth
in snowmobile use and the need for
Brundage Mountain Ski Area to ex-
pand.
Jack Kappas of McCall, an avid
backcountry skier, said he has been
fighting the same battle for 20 years.
The decision by Payette National
Forest to close the Upper Parking lot
— located near the intersection of
Goose Lake Road and Brundage
Mountain Road —for the biggest part
of this year's ski season has, at least
for backcountry skiers, been a con-
cession which hasn't been taken
lightly, Kappas said.
That closure and the diversion of
snowmobile traffic to the West Face
Parking lot, located near The Little
Ski Hill, has had two significant con-
sequences, with the biggest effect felt
by backcountry s1ders, he said.
The closure of the Upper Parking
lot has cut off convenient access to the
Granite Mountain/Slab Butte area,
valued for its pristine snow condi-
tions by skiers and snowmobilers
alike, Kappas said.
As an alternative, the West Face
Parking lot has been developed and
traffic normally flowing into the Up-
per Parking lot has been diverted there,
from which access to the Granite
Mountain /Slab Butte area is still pos-
sible, only further away.
Another parking lot in the New
Meadows area, situated on private
property, is also available for skiers
and snowmobilers wanting access to
the Granite Mountain/Slab Butte area,
Kappas said. But that too, puts them a
long distance from the recreation area.
"I think the Payette National For-
est senior management - which
includes the New Meadows and
McCall District Rangers and the for-
est supervisor — have made some
decisions that affect a lot of the users,
including backcountry and cross -
country skiers, in a negative ... and
very callous way," Kappas said.
"They're paying much more atten-
tion to the needs of Brundage Moun-
tain and snowmobilers," he said.
The decision to develop the West
Face lot, Kappas said, is a "slap in the
face" to backcountry skiers who have
worked hard to develop quality trails.
"I have nothing against snowmo-
bilers having a new winter recreation
parking lot," he said. "They need one.
But the whole idea of compromise is
trying to find something that will sat-
isfy everybody."
But finding a resolution which will
satisfy all winter recreationists is an
ideal forest service administrators find
elusive.
"Part of it has to do with change,"
said Linda Fitch, McCall District
Ranger for the Payette forest. "No
one likes change. They like things to
stay the same."
But with the increased numbers of
people wanting to use the same forest
lands for winter recreation at the same
time, changes are necessary and im-
minent, Fitch said.
David Spann, New Meadows Dis-
trict Ranger on the Payette, said, more
than anything else, an overall man-
agement plan for the Granite Moun-
tain/Slab Butte area is what is neces-
sary to assure fair access for all user
groups.
Spann has been criticized by
backcountry skiers for his decision to
close the Upper Parking lot, a deci-
sion they say was influenced greatly
by pressure from Brundage Mountain
Ski Area management.
Spann said he made the decision to
close the parking area based on a
letter he had written to Brundage last
year saying the parking area was only
temporary.
But he said he wrote that letter
with the belief that an overall man-
agement plan for the Granite Moun-
tain/Slab Butte area would be in place
by this season which would guide the
development of recreational use in
that area.
Payer 4
That plan is what backcountry ski-
ers, snowmobilers and alpine skiers
have been waiting for.
A committee, coordinated by the
forest service and composed of rep-
resentatives from user groups and eco-
nomic interests, completed a compre-
hensive winter recreation plan in June.
Scott Findlay, of McCall, was a
member of that committee. "I felt the
plan we put together was a good one,"
he said.
The winter recreation plan took
into consideration potential users, their
needs and areas which could poten-
tially accommodate them, Findlay
said.
Little Bear Basin was set aside for
cross - country skiing, and areas near
Burgdorf and Jughandle Mountain
were set aside for backcountry skiers,
he said. A corridor for snowmobilers
and backcountry skiers was provided
for access around Granite Mountain
and beyond.
"We took five or six months to get
through the process and I think we
came up with a pretty good plan,"
Findlay said. "We were trying to lay
something out that worked for every-
body."
He said the committee focused on
winter recreation use in the McCall
and New Meadow Districts only.
"When we looked at areas of ex-
pansion (for alpine skiing), we didn't
think another alpine ski operation, in
addition to Brundage Mountain,
would be beneficial for the area,"
Findlay said.
"It was the committee's feeling
that particular area — Granite Moun-
tain /Slab Butte — was the place for it
(alpine skiing) to be," he said. "Ev-
eryone wants their own little place."
Brundage Mountain submitted a
Resort Area Master Plan in 1990,
outlining a proposed multi -phase ex-
pansion plan.
That plan — specifically the plan
to expand snowcat skiing throughout
18,000 acres of the Granite Moun-
tain /Slab Butte area was the focus of
an Environmental Assessment re-
leased by the forest on Monday.
Kappas said it is Brundage's plan
to expand operations into the Granite
Mountain /Slab Butte area which led
them to pressure the forest service to
close the Upper Parking lot to pre-
serve quality snow conditions, Kap-
pas said.
The opening, closure and mainte-
nance of the Upper Parking Lot is "the
forest service's business," Brundage
Mountain Co. President Judd DeBoer
said from his Boise office. "It was an
overflow parking area for Brundage.
Now that we've expanded our park-
ing lot, it's not necessary."
The preferred alternative chosen
by the forest in the Environmental
Assessment allows Brundage Moun-
tain to expand their snowcat opera-
tion on a limited basis, with use of
about 4,010 acres.
That's less than a fourth of the
acreage Brundage Mountain asked
for, Fitch said. "It was clear Brundage
needs room to expand. They just don't
need 18,000 acres .. yet," she said.
"I think the preferred alternative
meets that need (for expansion), plus
it addresses a lot of concerns the
backco -entry skiers ... and the snow -
mobilers had," Fitch said.
"In the (environmental assessment)
process we tried to identify all the
issues, and in this case all of the driv-
ing issues were social," she said.
"Looking at all the issues that are
out there, I think this is the best alter-
native," she said. "But I'm not saying
everybody is going to be happy."
While both Fitch and Spann con-
tributed to the document, Forest Su-
pervisor Dave Alexander issued the
preferred alternative.
DeBoer disagrees with the scaled
back acreage his company has been
allotted for expansion. He said Gran-
ite Mountain /Slab Butte is the only
area in which the ski resort can ex-
pand. It's also the area identified by
the winter recreation committee as
the only area appropriate for alpine
ski expansion.
With over 100,000 skiers visiting
Brundage Mountain resgn ►ast your,
DeBoer said expansion of both the
snowcat operation and lift service ar-
eas are necessary to meet the growing
numbers of visitors.
While other users have the ability
to recreate in other areas of the forest,
alpine skiers only have Brundage
Mountain.
"There are a lot of places for ...
other activities, but there's only one
direction we can expand," DeBoer
said. "That's north."
"We're not asking for the whole
forest," he said. "We're asking for the
terrain that's suitable for alpine and
snowcat skiing."
"The area identified for future al-
pine skiing is the area we're talking
about here," he said. "Our skiers are
saying, `Where are our kids going to
ski?"'
Public comment will be accepted
on the Environmental Assessment
until Feb. 18, Fitch said. And several
open houses are planned to discuss
the document and plan.
Those meetings will be held on the
following dates: Jan. 20,730 p.m., in
New Meadows at the Scout Hall; Feb.
1, 7:30 p.m., in Boise at West Junior
High School on the comer of Curtis
and Emerald; and Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.
in McCall at the Forest Service
Photo by Shari Hambletor
More than 450 people turned out to Ponderosa State Park near McCall Saturday to enjoy Cross Country Idaho
Day, a free day of skiing at Ponderosa and other state parks and Park `N' Ski areas around Idaho. Above,
Christopher Yzquierdo, 4, from Weiser, gets his snow legs while his parents, Pablo and Rosa Yzquierdo, look on.
`rLJp ,Lo�/� �9 �1C y �G�YD Ga�e �� 3/
McCall skiers take half of combined
trophies at nordic junior ski festival
MCCALL - The McCall Nordic Ski Team swept
three of the six nordic combined trophies at last
weekend's Western States Nordic Junior Ski Festival
held at the Little Ski Hill and Ponderosa State Park.
Kendra Lawley, Tristan McClaran and Eric Taplin
took the Nordic Combined awards for their ski divi-
sions. Other winners included Tom Marshall from
Boise, and Chad Cleveland and Maggie Acker from
Sun Valley.
More than 40 skiers from the McCall team, Bogus
Basin Nordic Team, Bachelor Mountain Nordic Team
and Sun Valley Nordic Team participated in the
weekend's skiing events.
The festival consisted of freestyle, classic, biathlon
and ski jumping events. The McCall skiers did well
in biathlon, with almost all team members shooting
clean. The McCall festival may be the only junior
nordic festival in the United States that includes
biathlon.
Taplin took his nordic combined title by finish-
ing first in all events he entered over the weekend.
Lawley won her title by finishing first in jumping,
second in classical, third in biathlon and fourth in
freestyle.
Tristan McClaran won his nordic combine by
placing first in jumping, second in biathlon and third
in both classic and freestyle skiing.
Lawley and Taplin have been selected to move
up a ski division and compete in two weeks at the
United States Junior Nordic Nationals at Bend, Ore.
They are the first McCall nordic skiers to com-
pete in the junior nationals in a number of years.
Other local results from the weekend's events:
Freestyle - Female
J3 - 3. Kristan Burns, 4. K. Lawley, 5. Amanda Taplin,
6. Kelsey Troutner, 7. Tamara Rodrigues.
J5 - 2. Mariah Reddick.
Freestyle - Male
13 - 1. E. Taplin, 3. Andrew Ray, 4. Chapin Storrar.
J4 - 4. Spencer Lawley, 7. Chris Welch, 9. Keif Storrar,
10. Alex Ray, 11. Jackson Kellogg.
J5 - 3. Tristan McClaran, 4. Keenan Storrar, 5. Tom
Troutner, 6. Patrick Coyle.
J6 - 1. Andrew Reddick.
J8 - 1. Ian McClaran.
Classical - Female
J3 - 2. K. Lawley, 3. A. Taplin 4. T. Rodrigues.
J5 - 2. M. Reddick.
Classical - Male
J3 - 1. E. Taplin, 2. Andrew. Ray.
J4 - 5. Keif. Storrar, 8. S. Lawley, 9. C. Welch, 10.
Alex Ray.
J5 - 1. Keenan Storrar, 3. T. McClaran.
J6 - 1. A. Reddick.
Biathlon - Female (* indicates clean shooting)
J3 - 2. K. Burns *, 3. K. Lawley *, 5. A. Taplin *, 6. T.
Rodrigues.
J5 - 2. M. Reddick.
Biathlon - Male
J3 - 1. E. Taplin *, 3. C. Storrar *, 4. A. Ray*
J4 - 3. S. Lawley *, 4. K. Storrar *, 7. C. Welch *, 9. A. Ray.
J5 - 1. K. Storrar *, 2. T. McClaran *, 4. T. Troutner.
J6 - 1. A. Reddick.
Jumping - Female
J3 - 1. K. Lawley.
Jumping - Male
J3 - 1. E. Taplin.
J4 - 2. S. Lawley, 4. K. Storrar, 5. C. Welch.
J5 - 1. T. McClaran.
Mitey Mite 4 -way race results...
At Bogus Basin, last Saturday
Girls Giant Slalom
J4: 1. Kristi Revello, McCall, 73.31
J5: 1. Amy Klind, McCall 76.31
J6: 1. Hailey Duke, McCall, 90,55; 2. Erica
Laidlaw, McCall
J7: 3. Natalie Hatfield, McCall
Girls Jumping
J4: 1. Krisi Revello, McCall, 88.3 feet
J5: 1. Amy Klind, McCall 69.3
J6: 1. Lyndsey Harris, McCall, 47; 2. Hailey Duke,
McCall
Boys Slalom
J4: 2. Justin Nelson, McCall
J5: 2. Max Ostermiller, McCall
J6: 2. Max Bachdel, McCall; 3. Nic Swanson,
McCall
Boys Jumping
J5: 2. Max Ostermiller, McCall
J6: 1. Max Bachdel, McCall, 49
Sunday - Girls Slalom
J4: 1. Kristi Revello, McCall, 59,21
J6: 2. Lindsey Harris, McCall; 3. Karla Hatfield,
McCall
Girls Cross Country
J4: 2. Revello, McCall; 3. Amy Klind, McCall
J5: 1. Chelsea DeLong, McCall; 3. Pennie
Patterson, McCall
J6: 1. Hailey Duke, McCall
Overall combined
1. Kristi Revello, McCall; Chelsea Delong, McCall
(tie); 3. Amy Klind, McCall
Boys Giant Slalom
J5: 1. Max Ostermiller, McCall, 82.42
J6: 1. Max Bachdel, McCall, 89.76; 3. Parker
Patterson, McCall
Cross Country
J5: 1. Max Ostermiller, McCall
J6: 2. Kevin Madison, McCall
S,td 1- Ne uws re 6 .3, 1 99/(
Miller wins marathon;
McCall racers do well
Skiers with homes or roots in
McCall dominated the 1994 Payette
Lakes Marathon Saturday at the
Little Ski Hill west of McCall.
Former McCall resident Tuck
Miller was the fastest among the
155 racers who entered the mara-
thon. Miller, now a Boise resident,
finished the 50 kilometer course in
two hours, 19 minutes and six sec-
onds.
Miller, a past winner of the mara-
thon, edged fellow multiple winner
Rich Gross of Bend, Ore., who fin-
ished 11 seconds behind Miller.
Other top finishers included
former McCall resident Joel
Harrison, who placed first among
those racing the 25km circuit.
Harrison, now a Sun Valley resi-
dent, finished the course in one hour,
12 minutes and 15 seconds.
Eric Taplin of McCall, a member
of the McCall Nordic Ski Team,
took first place on the 12km circuit,
finishing in 35 minutes, 14 seconds.
Here are the - placings- of local
skiers:
50 Kilometers
Female: 4. Karen Morrow. 5.
Margo Conitz.
Male: 9. Robert Morrow. 20. Rick
Hudson. 28. Dean Hovdey. 30.
Galen Shaver. 32. Patrick Harren.
25 Kilometers
Female: 2. Nicki Humphries. 10.
Pat Zenzic.11. Sally Nutt. 12. Mar-
garet Hillhouse. 15. Mackenzie Riv-
ers. 20. Susie Reddick.
Male: 1. Joel Harrison. 10. Mack
Miller. 22. David Kalange. 29.
Gregg Lawley. 31. David Storrar.
38. Don McClaran. 43. Art Troutner.
44. Judson Zenzic. 45. David
Riddick.
12 Kilometers
Female: 2. Jamie Melbo. 3.
Kendra Lawley. 4. Stacey Atkinson.
5. Amanda Taplin.
Male: 1. Eric Taplin. 2. Chapin
Storrar. 4. Scott Childs. 5. Andrew
Ray. 6. Jackson Kellogg. 7. Keif
Storrar. 8. Spencer Lawley. 11. Chris
Welch. 12. Keenan Storrar.
%hP On q
A rejuvenated McCall Nordic Ski Team
MCCALL — It's fun. It pro-
vides comraderie. And it's giving
a group of local youths a chance
to get into the best physical con-
dition of their lives.
And interest in the McCall
Nordic Ski Team has taken a big
upswing this year, according to
the team's coach Jack Kappas.
The expected turnout of 25 -30
nordic racers is "the most that have
ever turned out for this," he said
this weekend.
Part of the reason for the
increased interest in the team this
year is that several of the team's
members competed at the junior
nationals last year, he said.
But more than that, Kappas said
the word is getting out that par-
ticipating in the team's cross -coun-
try program is just plain fun.
To make it fun, he said the
team's activities are just limited
to skiing kilometer after kilome-
ter on groomed tracks. They also
go up on the hills and learn how
to telemark ski, and also just go
on fun ski tours.
"The kids are having so much
fun that the word's getting around,"
he said. The large turnout has also
prompted the addition of a second
coach for the program, Greg
Lawley.
The first nordic ski racing/tour
event of the season will be held
this coming Sunday at the groomed
trail at Ponderosa State Park. The
annual Turkey Trot is a benefit for
the ski team, but also provides
plenty of opportunities for partic-
ipants to win a Thanksgiving turkey.
The 5- kilometer event is a race
for those who want it to be a race,
and a tour for those more inter-
ested in just getting out for an after-
noon on the park's ski trails. All
will have chances to win turkeys.
Entry is $5 per person and $12
per family, and the event starts at
1 P.M.
The first Pacific Northwest Ski
Association race for the members
of the team will be held at Bend,
Ore., on Dec. 17. There will also
be a national qualifying race at the
Little Ski Hill in January called
the Red Ridge Run.
Kappas said he wanted every-
one to know that any area youth
with an interest in cross - country
takes to the trails
Members of the McCall Nordic Ski Team practiced their skating technique during a workout at
Ponderosa State Park on Sunday.
skiing is wgkome to join the team. gram, but want to get involved, kid away," he said. "If someone
He said that "even those who can't should do so. wants in, we'll find a way to get
really afford to be part of the pro- "We're not going to turn any them in."
Outdoor
Shorts
Ponderosa to get
lighted X -C trail
The campaign to buy lights and
motion sensors for a two - kilometer
cross country trail at Ponderosa State
Park was a success. In two weeks, 25
donors contributed $1,280, which
gives the park enough money to buy
32 lights, four more than originally
planned.
"We're right on schedule to have
them installed by Christmas," said
Dennis Coyle, park manager. "We're
pretty excited."
He said they are expecting the lights
this week, then it will take about a
week to get them installed. Anyone
who would like to assist in installing
the lights can call the park at 634-
2164 and volunteer.
Coyle said they are planning to
hold a grand opening once the lights
are up and lit.
ordic team has winning form,
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Thank God for coaches or I would
have never caught up with the kids on
the McCall Nordic Ski team.
Anyone who has skied Ponderosa
State Park during the afternoons has
probably seen this band of fleet - footed
young skiers gliding past.
The team is preparing for the up-
coming Nordic ski season, and ac-
cording to the coaches, this is one of
the largest and most promising teams
in years.
"We've been making it so afford-
able and fun and that we're looking
for a big turn out," Coach Jack Kap-
pas said. "We don't turn any kids
away. We're trying to get as many
kids as we can skiing and competing
if the want to."
Three years ago, the team was rep-
resented by six members, with the
oldest being 11 years. Since then it
has grown exponentially, nearly dou-
bling every year. This year, Kappas is
expecting more than 30 racers, ages 7
through 18.
The racers will go to at least four
meets where they will compete in
eight races. They race in two disci-
plines: classic diagonal — the tradi-
tional cross - country skiing technique
— and freestyle skate skiing, a newer
form of skiing that uses lightweight,
short, fast skis.
The meets give the racers the op-
portunity to qualify for the Junior
Olympics, which will be held in March
in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Last year, two racers, Eric Taplin
and Kendra Lawley, both 13 at the
time, qualified to compete against a
field of 14 and 15 -year -olds at the
Junior Olympics competition at Bend,
Ore. This year, both are back, and
they have their sights set on returning
to the Junior Olympics.
Two other racers, Andrew Ray and
Natalie Brundage, have a good shot at
joining them, according to Coach
Gregg Lawley. "This year, I think we
have the potential for at least four (to
go to Junior Olympics)," Lawley said.
"I definitely want to go back," Eric
Taplin said.
Taplin is practicing seven days a
week, two hours per day for the up-
coming season. He trains with his
teammates on practice days, and with
his coaches on off -days, and they are
pleased with his progress.
"If I can make it through this year
and still beat him, I' ll be pretty happy,"
Lawley said.
Racers must qualify in six of the
eight races to be eligible to compete at
the Junior Olympics. A year older and
Roger
Phillips
a year wiser wilt nelp them in their
quest for the Junior Olympics.
"A lot of it is experience," Lawley
said. "That's where Kendra and Eric
are really going to have an advantage.
With kids in those teen -age years, a
year makes a huge difference in their
physical maturity and coordination."
But racing is only half of the at-
traction for the McCall Nordic Ski
Team. The key is to go out and have
fun, the coaches said.
They are trying to get young people
involved in the sport, and once they
get started, most of the young skiers
want to compete.
"We're really enthused because
they're a young team," Lawley said.
Lawley also noted that Nordic ski-
r �
L
Tl-
Laidlaw, deJong, Revello
qualifiy for Jr. Olympics
BY BRIAN KLIND
For The Star -News
Jamie Laidlaw, Garrett deJong
and Kristi Revello have qualified
for the Alpine Junior Olympics to
be held in Sun Valley March 17-
20.
Qualifying for the Junior Olym-
pics is a year -long process with
only 15 out of 150 boys, and 10 of
60 girls selected to race. Their se-
lection is based upon their indi-
vidual finishes in each of the Jun-
ior Olympic Qualifiers.
The members of the McCall Ski
Racing Team qualified after a busy
week of racing in Bend, Ore.,
Bluewood Ski Area in Dayton,
Wash., and Bogus Basin in Boise.
Racing downhill in Bend was
Laidlaw, who finished first and
second in the J3 age group, and
overall placed 35th and 29th.
DeJong placed fourth and fifth
in J3, and 43rd and 38th overall,
while Dane Kerby finished 41st
and 34th overall.
The racers at Bluewood ran two
giant slaloms Saturday and Sun-
day. Revello placed ninth and 11th
and Kristine Andrew took a 10th
and a ninth.
Josh Mann skied well and raced
to 15th Saturday behind college
students from Whitman College and
came in 15th on Sunday. Josh Elliot
fell both days - on Saturday he got
up and hiked to finish in 59th place.
Ryan Shake and Brian Klind
raced last weekend at Bogus Basin
in two slalom races. Shake did not
finish either day. Klind was dis-
qualified on the first day but skied
well on the second day, placing in
the top 10.
The next race for the team will
be at Brundage Mountain this week-
end in the Idaho Winter Games.
15r&,reS M&tv — C) &nu 2e Y� 2, 1ggG
Hungry? Just ski on in
for fine, gourmet dining
By Pete Zimowsky
The Idaho Statesman
MCCALL — Light glows from
a circular, mystical - looking tent
on the shores of Payette Lake.
As you ski down the dark trail
at Ponderosa State Park, you
can hear laughter coming from
the tent, which is a Mongolian -
style yurt.
Dark, shadowy pine trees hov-
ering over the yurt give you
occasional glimpses of a half
moon in the sky.
As you take off your skis and
walk up to the door of the yurt,
there's a heavenly smell of stir-
-fried- asparagus, mango - grilled
shrimp and red -curry peanut
sauce with veggies.
Aromas of Thai cooking
abound.
Yes, if you take advantage of
Blue Moon Outfitters winter cu-
linary adventure, your reward
for one -mile of cross - country ski -
ing is a gourmet feast in the
company of other outdoor ad-
venturers.
New this winter at Ponderosa
State Park is a yurt where long-
time river guides Lisa Whisnant
and Bruce Rumbaugh are serv-
ing up tummy delights, such as:
Thai coconut milk chicken soup;
mango avocado salad with miso
dressing; and a main course of
coconut chili shrimp, peanut
chicken and mango barbecued
pork tenderloin.
And, don't forget the Asian
noodles and sweet cucumber
salad.
It's a delicious, guiltless meal
because, after all, you have to
burn off all those calories by
skiing back out one mile to the
car.
When you first enter the yurt,
you're greeted by the aroma of
spiced cider warming on a wood
stove.
It's a time for sipping, munch-
ing appetizers and socializing
before dinner.
"The whole idea is to bring
people together who don't know
Pete Zimowsky /The Idaho Statesman
Skiers eat dinner by dim candlelight in a yurt at Ponderosa State
Park. Outfitters guide skiers for one mile and serve gourmet food.
each other," said Whisnant, who
scurries between the gas stove,
stirring this and that, and the
outside charcoal grill, turning
this and that.
"Bruce and I work on rivers
and we really love it," she says.
They guide and cook on the
Middle Fork and Main Salmon
rivers but are disappointed
when the season ends each fall.
So, they started the winter cu-
linary adventure at the Ponder-
osa State Park.
They have a permit from the
state park to have a ancient -
style yurt within a stone's throw
of the lake.
Yurt -ski dinners have become
popular throughout snow coun-
try in places around Sun Valley
and Salt Lake City.
It's hard work for Rumbaugh
and Whisnant who have to haul
in all the food, water and other
supplies on a sled. This is a non -
motorized park in the winter.
The river - runner cooks turned
ski cooks will vary their menu
throughout the winter from
Thai to Caribbean to Southwest.
They also will be doing dutch
oven cooking.
Don't just strap on your skis
and head for the yurt. Dinners
are by reservation only for
groups of eight to 24.
You don't have to have a large
group to enjoy the ski - and -eat
adventure, just join in with oth-
er folks. But, the first group to
make a reservation for an eve-
ning gets to choose the menu.
Even though it can be in the
20s or lower outside, the inside
of the yurt is a cozy 75 degrees.
Jon and Kathy Steele of Boise
gave it a try. "It's unique. The
food's excellent and you're with
good friends," said Kathy
Steele. "It's cozy."
It's so cozy, you don't really
want to leave the mystical atmo-
sphere after dinner. Candlelight
flickers from each table. Occa-
sionally, a flash comes from a
frying pan on the stove as Whis-
nant stirs a flaming dessert.
"The whole idea is to bring
people together who don't know
each other," said Whisnant.
Nordic team excels in Wash.
The McCall Nordic Ski Team per-
formed well last weekend at the Ba-
varian Cup Nordic Junior Qualifier
races held in Leavenworth, Wash.
The McCall team had 10 junior
racers and five Bill Koch Ski League
youths entered in the two -day Nordic
qualifiers. The team also had six dif-
ferent skiers earn qualifying times for
the Pacific Northwest Ski Associa-
tions National Junior Olympic team.
Eric Taplin, Calon Russell,
Amanda Taplin and Kendra Lawley
qualified in both the classical and
freestyle Nordic events. They must
compete in two more qualifiers for
the season to qualify for the PNSA
team.
Eric Taplin was fourth overall both
days, missing second place by just 10
seconds on Saturday and 26 seconds
on Sunday. Russell had finishes of
fifth and third place, Amanda Taplin
had fifth and fourth -place finishes,
and Lawley had finishes of fourth and
fifth place to earn their qualifying
times.
Earning single qualifying times in
the J1 division were Nicole Jones on
Sunday, and Brooke Murphy quali-
fied in the J2 division on Saturday.
Others participating at the
Leavenworth events were Dustin
Mann, Kelsey Troutner, Jonathan
Randolf and Chapin Storrar.
"This team is becoming very com-
petitive with the rest of the Pacific
Northwest Division," Coach Gregg
Lawley said. "Everyone skied their
best times this weekend and a few
seconds was all that kept Kelsey and
Chapin from also earning qualifying
times on Sunday."
Photo by John Russell
Eric Taplin skis in the classic -style race at Leavenworth, Wash.
The team has two weeks before the
next qualifier at home at the Little Ski
Hill Nordic trails west of McCall. The
team encourages all recreational Nor-
dic skiers to participate in the Red
Ridge Run on Jan. 20 -21.
Saturday's events are freestyle and
Sunday's events are classic style.
There will be 30 kilometer and 15km
freestyle citizens races to start the day
on Saturday, Jan. 20, followed by the
young racers and Junior Qualifier
races.
Proceeds from the Red Ridge Run
go directly toward supporting the
McCall Nordic Ski Team and pro-
moting junior Nordic skiing. Early
registration is encouraged to avoid
the late entry fee, and to make it easier
for everyone to enjoy the race.
Entry forms can be picked up at the
Little Ski Hill lodge. Fees each day
will be $10 for age 13 years and
under, and $15 for all other age groups.
Payette Lake Ski Club season pass
holders get a $4 discount per day,
including those holding Family
Combo, Individual Combo, Family
Nordic and Individual Nordic season
passes.
For more information, contact Ri-
chard Taplin evenings at 634 -3805.
mar- / "wc,
/,g s- l 9�,
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Brightly dressed racers prepare to launch from the starting line at Red Ridge Run last weekend.
Russell, Taplin earn JO posts
Calon Russell and Eric Taplin
earned a trip to the Junior Olympics
after racing at the Red Ridge Run
cross country ski junior qualifier in
McCall last weekend.
The two will travel to the Junior
Olympics in March at Rumford,
Maine. Russell and Taplin earned their
trips to the nationals with finishes of
second in the freestyle and third in the
classical events.
The Red Ridge Run also saw
Kendra Lawley and Nicolle Jones earn
two more qualifying times for the
nationals. Amanda Taplin, Brooke
Murphy and Natalie Young also
earned single qualifying times.
Lawley needs to qualify in one of
the next two races to qualify for the
nationals. Amanda Taplin needs to
qualify in both of the next two races to
also qualify. Jones, who has qualified
in her last three events, could earn a
trip if she qualified in the next two
events and is voted to attend the meet
for her strong finish at the end of the
year.
The Red Ridge Run saw 93 junior
and 48 citizens compete in a blizzard
in the skate race on Saturday at the
Little Ski Hill Nordic trails west of
McCall.
Sunday's classical race had 78 jun-
iors and 14 citizens competing for
prizes. Winning the 30 kilometer race
on Saturday were Peter Webb and
Angie Stevenson. In the 15 kilometer
race Martha Pend] and Jack Hart skied
away with first place finishes.
Local racers having good finishes
in the 30 kilometer race were Nikki
Humphries with a second and Karen
Morrow with a third. Tuck Miller
finished second in the 30 kilometer
race. Margaret Hillhouse had a sec-
ond place finish in the 15 kilometer
race and Joel Harrison, Gregg Lawley,
Craig Prather finished third, sixth and
seventh..
The Red Ridge Run also saw a
large number of local youths under 13
years -old finish well. They included
Keif Storrar, who finished first and
third, Keenan Storrar with two first
place finishes, Jesse Murphy with two
second place finishes and Andrew
Reddick with two first -place finishes.
Erin Brundige had second and third
place finishes, Mariah Reddick took
two second place finishes, Sara Busby
had a second place finish and Brett
VanVelzen, Tristan McClaran, Chris
Welch and Kimberly Denisoff all had
third place finishes.
The McCall Nordic Ski Team has
three weeks off until it travels to
Winthrop, Wash. for the final Junior
Qualifier of the season on Feb. 10 -11.
McCallrec to start
Nordic ski lessons
The McCall Recreation Pro-
gram's youth cross - country ski pro-
gram will be starting on Monday
and will run through March 7.
Youngsters will first learn how
to diagonal stride (classical cross -
country skiing) and, when ready,
skate skiing. In addition, youths will
learn how to perform kick turns,
herring bones, side stepping and
snow plowing.
The lessons are for beginning to
intermediate skiers and each young-
ster will progress at his or her own
pace. Ski equipment is provided.
Participants may bring and use their
own equipment if desired. Adults
Wishing to ski with the class are
welcome, however volunteers
should have their own ski equip-
ment.
All sessions will be held at Pon-
derosa State Park. Students may
ride bus No. 672 - Route E to Pon-
derosa State Park after school, but
parents must provide transportation
home. Parents dropping off or pick-
ing up youngsters do not have to
pay Ponderosa State Park's visitor
fee, but the fee is required if they
stay to ski.
Kindergartners through second
graders will ski on Mondays and
Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to about
4:30 p.m., depending on weather
and energy level of students. There
is no school on Monday, Feb. 19.
Instead, that lesson will be held on
Friday, Feb. 23.
Third through fifth graders will
ski on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
3:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m.
Sign -up day will be held on Sat-
urday from 10 a.m. to noon at the
Ponderosa State Park's Visitor Cen-
ter.
For more information contact the
McCall Recreation Program at 634-
3006.
Photo by John Russell
Calon Russell hustles during the skating event in Sunday's qualifier.
Five from McCall team
named to Nordic JO
Five McCall Nordic Ski Team rac-
ers qualified foWhe USSA National
Cross Country Ski Junior Olympics
with their race performances at
Winthrop, Wash., last weekend.
The team traveled to Methow Val-
ley to participate in the final JO quali-
fier of the season to round out the
Pacific Northwest Ski Associations
Junior Olympic team.
Natalie Young, Calon Russell, Eric
Taplin, Kendra Lawley and Amanda
Taplin will now travel to Rumford,
Maine, on March 2 to participate in
the national Junior Olympics.
This will be Eric Taplin' s third trip
to nationals, the second trip for Young
and Lawley, and the first trip for
Russell and Amanda Taplin.
Before this event Eric Taplin and
Russell had already qualified for na-
tionals, but Lawley and Amanda
Taplin needed to qualify at the race
last weekend to earn their trip.
Lawley and AmandaTaplin earned
theirtrip by qualifying twice last week-
end. Lawley skied to second and fourth
place finishes.
Young, who is attending college at
the University of Nevada, was invited
to participate at the nationals from her
results from skiing at college.
Also joining the team will be coach
Gregg Lawley, who was invited to be
part of the coaching staff at the na-
tionals. Lawley also had a good week-
end at Winthrop with two third place
finishes in the masters division.
Others racers skiing well this week-
end were Russell with third place
finishes both days, Eric Taplin with a
second place finish, Brooke Murphy
and Kelsey Troutner, who both had
fifth place finishes and earned JO
qualifying times.
Nicolle Jones also skied well on
both days and was close to being the
sixth junior to represent McCall at the
nationals. Jones, who is in her first
year of skiing, was competing with
one of the best junior girls in the
country.
If her qualifying times were taken
against the second best skier from the
division, Jones would have made the
team.
Also skiing at Winthrop were
Chappin Storrar, Kief Storrar, Ali
McCart, Brianna Keafer and Spencer
Lawley.
Nine juniors on the McCall team
earned qualifying times this season.
Five of those were chosen for the
divisional team. Jones, Murphy,
Troutner and Storrar have good
chances of qualifying next year, since
they all skied well this season and
earned qualifying times.
"We had a great bunch of new
skiers and younger juniors moving up
into the junior qualifying age groups,"
Gregg Lawley said. "McCall has a
bright Nordic future in the Pacific
Northwest Division."
Loh9Va1le AdVocaTe - A4xCLta -0/11a
Ides of March race closes
out Nordic ski season
Andrew Riddick leads the pack of entrants in the 1- kilometer Ides of March Race last Saturday
at Ponderosa State Park. He was in front at the finish line also.
MCCALL — More than 40 skiers showed up in great weather
Saturday to take part in the Ides of March/St. Patrick's Day Nordic
ski races at Ponderosa State Park. The race, which benefits the McCall
Nordic Ski Team, was the finale of the year as far as Nordic racing in
this area is concerned.
Tegan Troutner and Emily Kolsky teamed up to win the best cos-
tumes of the day. They showed their great Irish spirit by dressing in
green for the St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Eric Taplin and Kendra Lawley showed their quickness in the 100 -
meter sprints. Taplin clocked a 12.16 second time, while Lawley
clocked a 13.84 second time.
Lawley also won the women's side of the 5- kilometer race, with
Calon Russell showing his strength by pulling away from a group of
four skiers in the last kilometer to win the men's side of the competi-
tion.
The 3- kilometer race was won by Jesse Murphy with Mariah Reddick
and Kim Denisoff finishing in a tie for first on the girls' side of com-
petition at that distance.
The 1- kilometer race was won by Andrew Reddick who glided to
an easy win, while Carlie Meader won the girls' side.
The McCall Nordic Ski Team finished off the day with their annu-
al awards celebration and potluck lunch. Coaches Jack Kappas and
Gregg Lawley recognized all the kids for their dedication to the sport
and great teamwork. Those recognized as most improved in the young
juniors (ages 13 and under) were Jesse Murphy, Tyler Bryant, Jamie
Everett, Tegan Troutner, Mariah Reddick and Kim Denisoff. Most
improved among the older juniors were Calon Russell, Chapin Storrar,
Nicole Jones and Amanda Taplin.
The club will hold a meeting
next Monday at the Ponderosa
State Park Visitors Center to review
the past year and discuss the direc-
tion parents want to go with the
team in the future. All parents with
children in the program or those
wishing to find out more about
the McCall Nordic Ski Team
should attend.
MNST members want to thank
all the parents, sponsors, and any-
one who participated at their events
and with helping promote junior
Nordic skiing.
Team members also thank the
Payette Lakes Ski Club and
Ponderosa State Park for provid-
ing great training and racing facil-
ities for the team and the public.
l-6h y VaIIoV AabocaTif -7WCh a-dIIq
McCall Nordic Ski Team
racers solid at nationals
The five members of the McCall Nordic Ski Team who took part
in the Junior Olympic Nationals held at Rumford, Maine, returned last
week with some good results in a field of more than 300 skiers.
Conditions were described as harsh on the Black Mountain Ski
Trails where the week -long competition for skiers age 14 to 19 took
place.
Natalie Young - Brundige, who is now attending college at the
University of Nevada, recorded the best results of the five, finished
20th in the 1- kilometer prologue, 18th in the 10 -K classical race and
20th in her 5 -K freestyle race.
Amanda Taplin and Kendra Lawley finished fairly close to each
other in their J2 division races.
Taplin was 38th and Lawley was 40th in their 1 -K prologue, while
Lawley was 39th and Taplin 44th in the 5 -K classical race. They
reversed finishes again in the 5 -K freestyle race, with Taplin finish-
ing in 33rd and Lawley 42nd.
On the boys' side of the J2 competition, Eric Taplin finished 24th
in the 1 -K prologue, 27th in the 5 -K classical style race, and 27th in
his 5 -K freestyle race.
Calon Russell was the fifth skier on the nationals team, and he fin-
ished 50th in strong field in the 1 -K prologue, 60th in the 15 -K clas-
sical race, and 59th in the 10 -K freestyle race.
All of the skiers also skied legs on the Pacific Northwest Ski
Association relay teams that were also part of the competition.
The racers will close out their competitive season the end of this
month at a 5 -day series of four races in Sun Valley. Junior skiers from
Europe as well as some of the top junior racers from Canada and the
U.S. are expected for those races.
on9 tea I �� l
Vac�rV
Blue Moon Outfitters offers ski -in
but dining
MCCALL — The ski in is only about a mile or
so, and one works up a bit of an appetite.
But it isn't enough ... of a ski ... that is to really
prepare one for the dining extravaganza that awaits
at the Blue Moon Outfitters yurt set up in the pines
along the shore of Payette Lake.
For sure, to really be ready for the dining expe-
rience that awaits those who ski in to the yurt locat-
ed in Ponderosa State Park, owned and operated by
concessionaires Lisa Whisnant and Bruce Rumbaugh,
a cross - country ski of, say, 10 miles might be more
appropriate.
The two, who guide river runners for Canyons,
Inc., in the summer, were looking for something to
fill their winter months, and they put their culinary
skills and ability to serve people to work. They set
up a cozy and warm yurt — which is a large round
structure built of modern materials but designed
along the lines of the traditional housing employed
by the residents of central Asia — hauled in the nec-
essary cooking appliances and started cooking.
"We wanted to do a similar kind of thing over
the winter," Rumbaugh says of the venture.
And while the cooking they do on summer river
trips is similar to, but not as elaborate as, the magic
they perform on winter weekend evenings in the
yurt, they do apply some of the lessons the self - taught
chefs have learned over the years.
The atmosphere in the dome - shaped yurt adds
terrifically to what is usually a five- course meal, a
meal that would stand on its own anywhere.
Long tables, a warm wood stove, hot - spiced cider
and wine, and a choice of three basic menus await
diners. The menus are centered around a Caribbean
pork tenderloin cooked in jerk sauce, a Southwest
menu that features salmon in a roasted chili sauce,
and a Thai menu that stars a shrimp and coconut
milk soup. The appetizers are a meal all by them-
selves, so pace yourself.
Your evening will begin when you meet Rumbaugh
in the parking lot at the park at about 5:30 p.m. You
can either ski or snowshoe into the yurt, where you
will spend the next four hours in Epicurian heaven.
Perhaps the ski back out to the parking lot ought to
be a 10 -miler too.
Choice of menu is usually made by the first peo-
ple or group to make reservations for a particular
evening. Eight is the minimum size group and the
maximum is 24.
Cost of the dining adventure is $35 per person,
plus tax, and that includes the entry fee to the park,
but does not include alcohol.
With winter winding down, Whisnant and
Rumbaugh plan to stay in operation until mid -April.
To make reservations, call 634 -3111.
51FarAl"ow.5 _/KIa� a,l996
Photo for The Star -News by Gregg Lawley
Kendra Lawley hustles during the 5km skate event at Nordic JO.
McCall racers do well
at Nordic Jr. Olympics
McCall Nordic Ski Team Mem-
bers put in solid performances at the
USSA Junior Olympic Cross Coun-
try Ski Championships held in
Rumford, Maine.
Natalie Young - Brundige, Calon
Russell, Eric Taplin, Kendra Lawley
and Amanda Taplin braved harsh con-
ditions in the races held on the Black
Mountain Ski Trails.
The conditions were wintry with
temperatures well below freezing the
entire week and nearly two feet of
powder snow fell. There were more
than 300 skiers, ages 14 to 19, that
competed in the championships, and
all age groups were very competitive.
McCall ski team members results
were:
Older Junior: Young - Brundige,
20th in the one kilometer Prologue,
18th in the l0km Classic race and
20th in the 5km Freestyle race. She
skied the leadoff classical leg on a
mixed team relay.
J1: Russell was 50th in the lkm
Prologue, 60th in a difficult 15km
Classic race and 59th in the l0km
Freestyle. He skied the second leg,
freestyle, on the PNSA J 1 Boys Relay
Team.
J2: Eric Taplin was 24th in the
Ikm Prologue, 27th in the 5 km Clas-
sic race and 27th in the 5km Freestyle
race. He skied the second leg,
Freestyle, on the PNSA J2 Boys Re-
lay Team.
J2: Lawley was 40th in the lkm
Prologue, 39th in the 5km Classical
race and 42nd in the 5km Freestyle
race. She skied the leadoff Classical
leg on a mixed team relay.
J2: Amanda Taplin was 38th in the
lkm Prologue, 44th in the 5km Clas-
sical race and 33rd in the 5km Freestyle
race. She skied the second leg,
Freestyle, on a mixed team relay.
"The MNST members that had the
opportunity to participate in this event
are to be commended for their season -
long efforts, and more importantly,
for the exemplary way in which they
conducted themselves during the
course of the week," Coach Gregg
Lawley said.
The last races of the season the
McCall Nordic Ski Team members
will be attending are the Spring Series
Races at the end of this month in Sun
Valley.
This is a series of four races taking
place over five days. There will be
Junior skiers from Norway, Sweden
and Switzerland in attendance, as well
as elite skiers from Canada and the
U.S.
_7100 1G1ezJ10 c–��ef7'&SMC't7 -
// %�k� 96
New
nordi*c
tra1*1
l
s McCall
golf course
The course will feature sepa-
ate but parallel trails for skate
skiing and classical or diagonal
skiing. One mile of classical
rack will run through an area
hat's too narrow to include a
skate lane.
"The area is strictly a'neginner
area," Peckham said. "It's really
flat with the exception of two
hills that are about 30 yards
high at most."
Peckham will also flag — but
not groom — a 4- to 6 -mile
round -trip trail for snowshoers
and skiers accompanied by dogs.
Peckham hopes to open the ski
tracks by Christmas. That de-
pends on whether he gets his
snowmobile and grooming
equipment in time. The equip-
ment is being built by Yellow-
stone Track System, which de-
signs the equipment used. to
groom Yellowstone National
Park's Nordic trails. The compa-
ny manufactures grooming
equipment for Nordic centers as
far away as Germany and
Japan.
The groomer will be able to re-
condition crusty, icy snow to lay
out a fresh track even when the
area hasn't received fresh snow
for a week or two.
Spring Mountain Ranch has
agreed to open its half- million-
dollar clubhouse — the Ranch
House, a hand -hewn timber
lodge — as a warming but where
skiers can sip coffee and hot
chocolate. Peckham also is try-
ing to recruit a ski instructor to
Karen Bossicklrhe Idaho Statesmaoffer lessons at the site.
A new Nordic playground at Spring Mountain Ranch in McCall offers trails suitable for all ages. He plans to groom trails on
Spring Mtn. Ranch
to open ski trails at
no charge this
By Karen Bossick
The Idaho Statesman
season
McCall will boast a new cross -
country ski playground this win-
ter — designed for beginners,
families and older skiers.
The loop will wander through
a wide -open meadow surrounded
by mountains and aspen groves
just east of the Idaho resort town
on the grounds of Spring Moun-
tain Ranch.
The tracks will be set on
Spring Mountain Ranch's 27-
hole golf course.
The new Nordic track moved
closer to reality last week after
the McCall City Council voted to
give the McCall Recreation De-
partment $14,600 for a new
snowmobile and grooming
equipment.
The ski loop is a joint venture
of Ed Elliott, who owns Rudy's
Gym; Bill McMurray, program
director for Spring Mountain
Ranch; and Bill Peckham, Mc-
Call's newly appointed recre-
ation director.
Peckham had to give up the
'new truck this year that would
have replaced the temperamen-
tal '78 Chevy he uses to overse Fridays and Mondays and as
snow warrants so the trails will
McCall's recreational programsbe ready for weekend skiers.
But he calls the Nordic ski trai No fees will be charged during
"a golden opportunity to create t
true beginner's place." the first year but donations will
"I thought it would be a wonbe encouraged to help pay for ex-
"I
idea to encourage fami onpenses. Peckham recommends a'
opportu donation of $5 per vehicle or $2 a
and to offer parents an
nity to get more involved witl•perso '
their kids," he said. "I just reads Next t year, fees likely will be
report that the crime rate foicharged for the course, he said.
teens had doubled in McCall." Eventually, Peckham would
Peckham plans to begin mark -like to connect the trails on
ing the course this week. He'd Spring Mountain Ranch with
like to develop a 10- kilometer, or trails in Ponderosa State Park so
6.2 -mile, course. skiers could cover more terrain
But he may only get half of in the area.
that laid out this year, he con- , He also would like to arrange
cedes. point agreement with Ponderos
State Park and Little Ski Hill i
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61 cyvvCCx fc
Local skiers do well in First Security
Game's Boulder Mountain Tow
Calon Russell, McCall, was among a large contingent of McCall Nordic Ski Racers who went to
Sun Valley this past weekend to compete in the Boulder Mountain Tour.
SUN VALLEY — A number of local skiers did
really well in Satuirday's Boulder Mountain Tour,
a 30- kilometer nordic ski tour that kicks off the First
Security Winter Games of Idaho.
Eric Taplin, McCall, won the male age 13 -17
division of the race; while Nicki Holmes- Humphries
won the women's 40 -44 age group.
Taplin covered the course in 1 hour, 42 minutely
6.8 seconds, while Humphries skated to a time of
1:43:09.4.
Mack Miller, Donnelly, also won the men's 65-
69 age group, in a time of 1:40:15.7, while Keenan
Storrar and Brooke Murphy, both of McCall, each
finished second in their divisions.
Storrar was second in the male 12 years and under
bracket, in a time of 2:15:38.0, while Murphy was
second in the female 13 -17 group in 2:09:47.7.
Sally Elliott of McCall was fifth in the women's
45 -49 age group in a time of 2:02:51.9.
Other area skiers who did well, their gender and
age group, place in that group, hometown, and time
included: Karen Dorris Morrow, F35 -39, 9, McCall
1:50:42.2; Kristy Lontz Harrison, New Meadows,
F25 -29, 11, 2:04:46.7; Calon Russell, M18 -24,
McCall, 22,1:36:28.6; Joel Harrison, M25 -29, New
Meadows, 19, 1:34:40.6; Scott Acker, M30 -34,
McCall, 47, 2:19:14.3; David Kalange, M 35 -39,
McCall, 35, 1:47:04.0; Gregg Lawley, M40 -44,
McCall, 22,1:42:12.6; Robert Jon Morrow, M40-
44, McCall, 41, 1:50:13.2; Kevin Ward, M40 -44,
Cascade, 49, 1:58:21.4; Carl Ruhkala, M40 -44,
McCall, 70,2:38:18.8; Rick Hudson, M45 -49, McCall,
13, 1:41:21.8; David Storrar, M45 -49, McCall, 25,
1:49:36.1; Michael Murphy, M45 -49, McCall, 40th,
2:03:37.3; David Kellogg, M50 -54, McCall, 16,
2:00:54.3; Edgar Allen, M50 -54, McCall, 26,2:13:33.9.
The third largest field of competitors ever in the
event, 715 athletes from across the United States,
took to their skis for the race through the Sawtooth
National Recreation Area.
Overall winners this year were Marcus Nash of
Salt Lake City, the first male across the line in a time
of 1:15:39.8, and the first woman across the line was
defending champ Ingrid Butts of Park City, Utah.
She finished in a time of 1:27:46.0.
The Winter Games will continue at a number of
venues around the state this week, including Brundage
Mountain where sanctioned ski racing will be held
Saturday and Sunday.
Slalom and giant slalom races for Junior Elites.
A, Sub - masters and Masters racers will be on tap.
Both competitions will be scored for Junior Elite
and A racers who are licensed to compete in USSA
competitions.
Also this weekend at Brundage are slalom and
giant slalom races for Mitey Mite racers, skiers under
12 who compete on a regular basis in USSA -spon-
sored races.
Racing begins at 10 a.m. both days.
Also on tap this weekend are elite and novice /recre-
ational slalom and giant slalom races for physical-
ly challenged racers.
Std)- S F'db 90, 107
Photo courtesy Debbie Murphy
Spencer Lawley of McCall pushes hard during skating event.
Reddick leads McCall
Nordic team at S.V.
Andrew Reddick of the McCall
Nordic Ski Team was named the best
overall boy at the Western States Car-
nival, a four -day Nordic skiing event
held in Sun Valley last weekend.
Reddick finished first in the ob-
stacle course, second in freestyle ski-
ing, second in classic skiing and third
in downhill.
Jessie Murphy of the McCall team
won the boys J3 classic race and was
the only other McCall racer to finish
first in any race.
However, several of Reddick and
Murphy's teammates finished in the
top three for their respective age
groups.
Here are the results of McCall
Nordic Ski Team racers (McCall fin-
ishers only):
Freestyle
5- Kilometer Women J1: Brooke Murphy,
third; Briana Keafer, fourth.
2- Kilometer Women J4: Mariah Reddick,
third; Tara VanVelzen, fourth; Betsy Keafer,
eighth; Tegan Troutner, 16th.
J6 Girls: Alina Everett, second.
10- kilometer Women, 35 -49: Susie
Reddick, ninth.
5- kilometer Women, 40 and up: Debbi
Murphy, seventh.
2- KilometerJ3 Boys: JessieMurphy, third;
Jamie Everett, fourth; Spencer Lawley, sev-
enth; Peter McCall, 16th; Tom Troutner, 19th;
Colt Charles, 20.
J4 Boys: Keenan Storrar, second; Tyler
Bryant, 17th.
1- Kilometer J5 Boys: Andrew Reddick,
second.
J6 Boys: Matthew Bryant, third.
10- Kilometer Men, 35 -49: Gregg Lawley,
ninth; Dave Storrar, 17th; Micheal Murphy,
18th; David Reddick, 19th.
Classic Race
J4 Girls: Mariah Reddick, sixth; Tara
VanVelzen, 10th; Betsy Keafer, 11th; Tegan
Troutner, 14th.
J5 Girls: Emily Kolsky, l Oth; Alina Everett,
11th.
J3 Boys: Jessie Murphy, first; Jamie Everett,
third; Spencer Lawley, ninth; Tom Troutner,
11 th; Peter McCall, 14th.
J4 Boys: Keenan Storrar, third; Bryant
Tyler, 17th.
J5 Boys: Andrew Reddick, second; Mat-
thew Bryant, 17th.
Downhill
J4 Girls: Betsy Keafer, fourth; Mariah
Reddick, eighth; Tara VanVelzen, 10th; Tegan
Troutner, 15th.
J5 Girls: Emily Kolsky, eighth; Alina
Everett, ninth.
J3 Boys: Jamie Everett, second; Spencer
Lawley, third; Jessie Murphy, fifth; Colt
Charles, ninth; Tom Troutner, 14th; Peter
McCall, 21 rst.
J4 Boys: Keenan Storrar, fourth; Tyler
Bryant, 15th.
J5 Boys: Andrew Reddick, third; Matthew
Bryant, 16th.
Obstacle Course
J4 Girls: Tara VanVelzen, second; Tegan
Troutner, eighth; Betty Keafer, 15th; Mariah
Reddick, 17th.
J5 Girls: Emily Kolsky, second; Alina
Everett, sixth.
J3 Boys: Jamie Everett, third; Colt Charles,
sixth; Spencer Lawley, eighth; Peter McCall,
11th; TomTroutner ,15th; Jessie Murphy, 2lrst.
J4 Boys: Keenan Storrar, sixth; Tyler
Bryant, eighth.
J5 Boys: Andrew Reddick, first; Matthew
Bryant, ninth.
c�f4r- /'�P Y✓s
.313 l ?Z
Anyone can enjoy a day on snowI
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Snowshoes are one of the simplest
and most versatile pieces of equip-
ment you're. likely to find in your
winter toy box. Many people are find-
ing they are not only a great tool for
walking in the snow, but that
snowshoeing is a sport in itself.
Gladys Johnson and Barbara
Smith, both spry grandmothers at ages
70 and 71, are recent converts to the
sport. They find snowshoeing an easy
and fun way to get winter exercise
that requires no skills other than know-
ing how to walk.
Johnson's granddaughter worked
for a snowshoe company in Califor-
nia and sent her a couple pairs of
snowshoes. Already an Alpine and
occasional Nordic skier, Johnson used
the snowshoes for walks to Payette
Lake and into the woods opposite of
her home off Warren Wagon Road
near McCall. ' -
Johnson invited Smith on a snow-
shoe outing, and last Friday the pair
were hiking the McCall Recreation
Department's snowshoe trails near
Spring Mountain Ranch in McCall
and making plans to return.
"I'm going to get more serious
now that I see how great it is around
here," Johnson said: "I'm going to try
to get some more of my friends out."
Bob Peckham, recreation depart-
ment director, designed and marked
the 2.7 kilometers of trails winding
through the forest and fairways around
the McCall Golf Course. The trails
are not groomed, but they are well -
marked and well- tracked, attesting to
their growing popularity. The depart-
ment is considering expanding the
trail system next year.
Nearby Ponderosa State Park also
welcomes snowshoers, but park offi-
cials ask them to stay to the side of any
ski trails so they won't mar the
groomed surface.
Into the Outdoors
But' snowshoers are welcome to
roam anywhere else in the park, which
is another advantage of snowshoeing
- you can use them in all conditions on
almost any terrain.
Lest one think snowshoes are
strictly for walks in the park, they are
also a valuable tool for accessing the
backcountry.
Recently, I stood at 7,800 feet near
Squaw Point north of McCall. I whs
trailing two friends who were on
Telemark skis. I was on snowshoes
with my snowboard strapped to my
back. .
We had hiked for two miles and N
climbed about 2,000 feet to the edge
of a bowl covered with untracked
snow. We had awe - inspiring views of
miles of the mountainous backcoun-
try surrounding us.
My friends peeled the climbing
skins off their skis and I swapped my
snowshoes for my snowboard and we
started back down the mountain. The
vertical feet slipped beneath us in a
fraction of the time it took us to as-
cend, and shortly we were back at the
bottom where snowmobiles awaited
US. .
Since I don't know how to
Telemark ski, without snowshoes I
would have missed a great day in the
backcountry and some fantastic
snowboarding.
Aside from backcountry snow -
boarding, I've used my snowshoes
for everything from hiking to hunting
to finding a Christmas tree.
Local'sports shops report an. in-
crease in interest in snowshoeing, and
many shops in town sell and rent
shoes.
"Snowshoeing is real popular; it's
in a major growth mode up here,"
Mike Busby of Gravity Sports said.
Snowshoes come in a wide variety
of brands, sizes and price ranges. Entry
level shoes can be purchased for un-
der $100 and top -of- the -line shoes
cost upwards of $300.
The most popular shoes run about
$200. That may seem expensive; but
in the age of $150 basketball shoes,
it's not an unreasonable price consid-
ering they are likely to Iast many
seasons. Many come with long war-
ranties and at least one brand comes
with a lifetime warranty!
Snowshoes are also available for
rent at several shops in McCall. Rental
prices are typically $10 to $15 per
day.
" ( A ��, A - i 6 t 1 r y �� s r y i o n �� l ` / �� % q P k ` / ���� 3 P t �� / m s s
" F o r p e o p l e w h o h a v e s k i e d a t P o n d e r o s a i n t h e p a s t ,
t h e y ' l l b e r e a l l y s u r p r i s e d a t t h e t r a i l s . "
k
. r
Story and photos
by Pete Zimowsky
The Idaho Statesman
MCCALL — Ponderosa
State Park has lots of surpris-
es for cross country skiers this
winter.
Surprises in the way of
about 2.5 miles of new trails
with windy curves, downhi:n�ew trails
runs and uphill lung pumpers `'
It brings the total mileage in
the park to more than 12
miles.
"For people who have skied
at Ponderosa in the past,
they'll be really surprised at,
.the trails," said Richard Ta-
plin, assistant park manager,,
who was in charge of design-
ing the trails.
The staff at Ponderosa
added new intermediate and
advanced trails because of the
Junior Olympic (cross country
ski) Championships to be held
in McCall in March. Several
other big races are scheduled
for the town this winter.
But the new trails also give
recreational skiers a chance to
find harder workouts and
challenging hills.
"There are ups, downs and
curves," said Taplin. "You'll
have to huff up a hill." '
The new trails are not open
yet because of slim snow con-
ditions. However, the old,
main trail system in the park
has enough snow for cross
country skiing.
Ponderosa State Park, locat-
ed on a pine -filled peninsula in
glacial Payette Lake, is well
known as one of the most
beautiful cross country ski
areas in Idaho.
Its trails follow the
lakeshore, traverse high
ridges overlooking mountains
around McCall, and dissect
lush aspen meadows and
marshes.
The park, located about 104
miles north of Boise, is a nat-
ural for skiing wildlife watch-
-.0
atch-
ers.
Don't be surprised if you see
a bald eagle soaring in the air
or come upon an imprint in the
snow of a beaver dragging its
tail toward the Lily Marsh.
The park will always be a hit
with beginner cross country
skiers because of its many'
gentle trails and flat practice,, Pooped after a 3.5 -mile ski to the Point, a skier takes ad-
vantage of a picnic bench for a rest.
f 0�p d z
•
P e e ction
add to the picturesque beauty of McCall's peninsula state park)
l `fie Idaho . /_V -q /517
loops near the visitors center.
"It's my first time," Jeff
David, of St. Louis, Mo., said
Monday. "It was easy."
But advanced skiers, like
Steve Jones, of McCall, can't
wait to try the new steeper
trails.
"Look at that uphill and
downhill loop," Jones said
while skiing past the junction
of one of the trails Monday.
Here's a list of new trails at
the park. (Remember, more
snow is needed before the
trails will be groomed.)
� ■ Not So Easy — A 1.2 -mile
intermediate to advanced trail
that goes through the woodsy
area between the park's main
Easy Does It Trail loop. It be-
gins near the entrance of the
campground, goes uphill
above the campground, and
heads toward the boat ramp.
It has hill climbing and a
downhill curvy section
through the trees.
■ Express — This is a cut-
off trail starting three -quar-
ters of the way up the Easy
Does It Trail.
It goes about 300 meters
from the top of Easy Does It to
the lake near the picnic shel-
ter. It's a one -way scoot down-
hill and should only be done by
skiers who can make good
turns.
-faQaA' 3 of 3 Pays -s
Ponderosa's trails are popular with skate
skiers.
Ponderosa
State Park Ponderosa
rea $tats Park
Getting there: Drive 102 E" detail r
miles north of Boise on '*Boise
Idaho 55. Turn right at N
the Hotel McCall and Payette
head 2 miles to the park. Lake
Trail fees: Daily, $3 per 55
vehicle. Skiers can also McCall,-*
use their $15 Park `N' SkiJ0
passes or annual $25 55 Miles
($35 starting Jan. 31)
Idaho State Park passes.
Services: Visitors cen-
ter serves as warming hut. Center's hours starting Dec.
15 are 9 a.m. -4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Rest
rooms available. Information: 634 -2164.
■ Sidewinder — This is a
200 -meter climb and downhill
run off the Sunrise Trail. It's
for intermediate to advanced
skiers.
■ Tamarack — The trau
comes from Sunrise Trail be-
hind the maintenance area
and hits Easy Does It Trail.
It's about a half mile. The in-
termediate trail has some
hills. It's a major cut -off trail
from Sunrise to other trail sys-
tems.
Here's a look at the old, es-
tablished trails in the park:
■ Easy Does It — The
park's most popular trail with
beginners. It goes 2.1 miles in
a loop from the visitors center
and back.
■ Sunrise — A 2.4 -mAe
trail that is rated easy. It
starts in the parking lot near
the visitors center and heads
out across sagebrush flats.
■ Fox Run — A 2.2 -mile
trail, which is an intermediate
run, that leaves the top of
Easy Does It and goes along a
ridge. It has a great downhill
run to the Lily Marsh.
■ Thread the Needle — It's
a 2.5 -mile ski from the Lily
Marsh to the Point, the most
spectacular overlook and view
in the park. If you ski from the
visitors center to the Point and
back it's a total of 7 miles. y
■ Porcupine Point —A .S-
mile difficult trail that breaks
off the trail going to the Point.
■ Northern Lights — A
mile -long lighted trail that
loops from the visitors center,
toward the lake and through
the campground. -
7-ht-� L �n � �� 1/� Y eu ✓o Ca 4'i!�;
Junior Olympic
Cross - Country
Championships
effort kicked off
MCCALL — More than 300 of the nation's best young skiers
are expected in McCall in March for the U.S. Ski Association's
Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships.
What makes that event even more exciting is the fact that
many of those skiers will be working toward the year 2002 and
a chance to compete in the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake
City, Utah.
The Organizing Committee that's been formed to put on the
event, which will be held at Ponderosa State Park March 7 -14,
held a news conference Monday at Spring Mountain Ranch to
show off some of the merchandise that will be sold to help defray
costs of the event, along with announcing the launch of a web -
site to promote the junior olympics and nordic skiing in general.
Richard Taplin, chief of course for the event, said that the
selection of McCall as the site of the nationals will help in devel-
opment of the infrastructure needed to host future regional, nation-
al and international events.
Taplin said McCall is as ideal of a spot as there is with a good
amount of hotel /motel accommodations.
The website is located at http: / /www.mccalLnet /nordic
It also makes cross country skiing more viable as an eco-
nomic partner in the growth of tourism in the state.
The new trails established at Ponderosa State Park have been
submitted to the U.S.S.A. and met the standards for trail certifi-
cation by that entity. That makes the trails one of six sites in the
country so certified. The others are in Minnesota, California,
Oregon, Alaska and New York. That fact also strengthen's McCall's
ability to host future national and international competitions.
Organizers are also soliciting event sponsors, which range
from $1,000 to $10,000. Asked why a company would support
the event, Chief of Media Miera Crawford said that companies
can gain visibility on local, state and national levels through their
association with an exciting, environmentally clean sport involv-
ing some of the best of the nation's youth.
Among the souvenir items being developed that will be avail-
able for sale are T- shirts, caps, banners, and buttons.
Over the course of the event, racers will compete in nordic
ski races using both classic and freestyle (skate) techniques over
distances ranging from 1- kilometer to 15- kilometer. In addition,
there will be some relay events.
In hosting the event, McCall joins the likes of Squaw Valley,
Calif., Lake Placid, NY, Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Royal
Gorge, Calif.
Junior Olympics symbolizes rise ofNordic skiing in McCall
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Long hours and thousands of de-
tails have brought only personal
reward for three McCall men and
their families who have taken on the
job of bringing the Junior Olympic
Cross Country Championships to
McCall. That's good enough for
them.
Ken Everett, Gregg Lawley and
Richard Taplin make up the core of
the organizing committee that will
stage the Junior Olympic races March
9 -14 at Ponderosa State Park.
"People have done good things
for us when we were younger, and
we want to keep the torch going,"
said Everett, the race chairman.
Everett and his wife, Mary, moved
to McCall three years ago from San
Francisco, Calif., and has been presi-
dent of the McCall Nordic Ski Team
for the last two years. He and Lawley,
coach of the team, made the presen-
tation to the United States Ski
Association last spring, which won
McCall the right to host the event.
Everett watched his children,
Alina and Jamie, get involved in
Nordic skiing after moving to McCall.
It was a sport Everett enjoyed while
growing up in Colorado, so he signed
on as team president, which led him
to becoming the Junior Olympics
race chairman.
Nordic Junior Olympics organizers Gregg Lawley, Ken Everett, Richard Taplin.
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
i
sV,k r� �
Someone's gotta do it
"My kids were involved and some-
one needed to do the job," he said. "It
was something I couldn't say no to."
Everett describes the Junior Olym-
pics as "the kind of experience kids
can carry through their whole lives."
"They can see what can be had with
hard work," he said.
"Nordic skiing is great," Everett
said. "There are a lot of good people
involved arid it's a good
community."
Lawley and Richard Taplin have
watched the Nordic team grow from
a little more than a handful of young-
sters and a few families to more than
50 young racers and numerous
families.
"It's such a gratifying thing every
year to see it grow and stabilize,"
Taplin said. "It's really great to see
that many kids, especially lots of
young kids."
The resurgence in youth Nordic
skiing started about five years ago,
Taplin said, and quite often, the chil-
dren get the parents involved in the
sport.
Taplin, his wife, Millie, and their
family moved to McCall in 1989,
where he works as an assistant man-
ager at Ponderosa Park. Their son,
(See "Nordic, " Back Page)
Nordic
(Continued from Page l)
Eric, will make his fourth consecutive
Junior Olympic appearance next
month, and their daughter, Amanda,
competed in two Junior Olympics in
1996 -97.
Taplin said he donates his time
partly because of the benefits his chil-
dren receive from the sport. "They get
to travel to places I never got to go to
when I was a kid," Taplin said. "Our
kids get to meet so many other people
from so many different backgrounds."
He credits the Junior Olympics
with giving young racers an opportu-
nity to see how much they can achieve
in the sport. Eric Taplin and Kendra
Lawley were the first McCall Ski
Racing Team members to reach the
Junior Olympics after the club formed
back in the early 1990s.
"They saw there was something
beyond the local races," Taplin said.
He also appreciates the way the
sport lends itself to all children and
it's something they can do and com-
pete in for the rest of their lives. He
said Nordic skiing is healthy, afford-
able, and a sport that all generations
of families can enjoy.
Taplin also pointed out that every
child who wants to can compete in
Nordic racing.
"Nobody's left out," he said. "In
cross country, every time they go out
to ski, they get a chance to make that
break through."
Lawley and his wife, Jordan,
moved to McCall from Jackson, Wyo-
ming in 1991, where their two chil-
dren, Kendra and Spencer, were in-
volved in Nordic skiing. They enjoy
the sport because there is competi-
tion, but there's also community.
Lawley said the racers and coaches
cheer for each other and freely give
advice and tips to fellow racers.
"I don't think you see that as much
in other competitive sports," he said.
Kendra Lawley, along with Eric
Taplin, were the first McCall Nordic
skiers to compete in the Junior Olym-
pics in recent memory. They made
their first trip to the national champi-
onships in 1994, and she returned
again in 1996.
Gregg Lawley has coached the
team for four years. He hopes having
the Junior Olympics in McCall will
give other youth the opportunity to
see top -level Nordic skiing and be-
come involved in the sport.
"If they have any interest in this at
all, they should come out and see
some of this racing," he said.
Taplin, Lawley and Everett all ac-
knowledge the effort their families,
particularly their wives, dedicate to
Nordic skiing.
"They don't take the limelight or
get the credit, but without them it
wouldn't happen," Taplin said.
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Racers sprint from the start of the 1998 Payette Lakes Ski Marathon A total of 83 racers entered the event, with the longest races being 50
on Saturday on the Nordic ski trails at the Little Ski Hill near McCall. kilometers
L.onq r6,y (_7dvo4a -fe-- 3 //Sj1'�
Pqv 4/ o{ z Fgrz
ordic Nationals bring
big time racing back
MCCALL — Last week's
Junior Nordic Nationals at
Ponderosa State Park saw two
local racers, Brooke Murphy and
Eric Taplin, do well in their races.
While neither is yet among the
elite racers, both still have a cou-
ple of years left to improve on the
finishes they recorded last week.
Both compete in the Jl divi-
sion for skiers who are 17 and 18
years of age.
Taplin began his national com-
petition by posting the 56th fastest
time out of 78 skiers in the 1 -kilo-
meter prologue at the Payette Lakes
Middle School last Monday.
Taplin's time of 2 minutes, 7.5
seconds was 15.7 seconds behind
the winning time of Torin Koos,
of Leavenworth, Wash.
At the same kick -off event,
Murphy was finisher number 62
of 75 racers. Murphy's time of
2:31.5 was 22.1 seconds behind
that of winner Mirte Mallory from
the New England region.
The two then competed in
Wednesday's classic race, with
Taplin finishing in the 30th spot
in a time of 56:43.2 over the 15-
kilometer course. There were 82
skiers in Taplin's race.
Meanwhile, Murphy was 41st- -
in her 10- kilometer race in a time
�- of 39:27.8. That event was won
by Heidi Poehling of Sun Valley,
in a time of 33:31.4.
After another day off for rest
and training, the two then skied
in Friday's freestyle (skating)
races. Neither improved on their
classic ski results with Taplin fin-
ishing 52nd out of 82 racers in a
time of 27:00.5 over the 10 kilo-
meters. Winning that event was
Kris Freeman, of the New England
region, in a time of 23:21.0.
Murphy was 65th of 77 racers,
covering the 5- kilometer distance
in a time of 17:33.7. The Rocky
Mountain region's Rebecca Quinn
won that race in a time of 13:34.3.
All efforts then turned to
Saturday's exciting relay races,
with three -skier teams trying to
put together winning efforts.
to McCall
Above left: Rebecca Quinn, of Crested Butte, Colo., and Aniya
Deitz, of the midwest region, congratulate each other after their
5K skate race Friday. Above right: Hannah Corral, of Eagle River,
Alaska, jumped for joy as she crossed the finish line with an
Alaska State flag in second place in Saturday's J2 Relay. Another
Alaska team won the event.
Taplin was then part or the
Intermountain -North team that
finished 10th in the J1 relay. He
led off his team by skiing the clas-
sic leg in a time of 12:19.1.
Following him were teammates
Daniel Overgaag and Pedar Enger,
who skated their legs in times of
16:16.0 and 17:15.4 respectively.
There were 25 teams entered in
that division. Their time was less
than two minutes off the winning
time of 44:21.9.
Murphy skied as part of a mixed
team, comprised of skiers from
more than one of the nine regions
represented at the competition.
She skied a 5- kilometer skate leg
and finished in 18:31.4 for her leg.
Leading off her team, which
finished in the 18th spot, of 23
teams entered, was Marit Ovstedal,
who skied the team's classic leg
in a time of 13:09.2. Bridget
McCann skied the team's final
skate leg in a time of 20:55.7.
Sun Valley's nordic skiing pro-
gram had a couple of other win-
31W� 7y
... and the retro look was definitely the style sported by these
girls' J1 racers waiting to ski the second leg in Saturday's relay.
9P /I z of 2 , mays
ners besides Poehling in the clas-
sic races Wednesday.
Jess Kcisel won the J2 boys 5-
kilometer race in a time of 14:33.6,
with Jake Todd of Anchorage,
Alaska, finishing 18 seconds
behind.
Lars Flora of Sun Valley won
the Older Juniors 15- kilometer
race in a time of 51:10.8, more
than two minutes ahead of Andrew
Elvester of Minneapolis, Minn.,
who finished in a time of 53:46.4.
In all, 345 junior skiers from
all across the United States and
Alaska competed in the week -long
event.
Left: The starts to Saturday's
relay races were most exciting
as skiers funneled down from
14 tracks to 2. Yet multiple skier
pileups were a rarity.
S f ,4 R AIF VS / , #I %l c_ 3 / 9q S
Nordic racers earn medals
The McCall Nordic Ski Team
took half of the overall champion
awards at the USSA Western States
Carnival Classic last weekend in
Sun Valley. McCall racers also
earned medals in nearly every
event.
The classic consisted, of four
events: a classic race, a skate race,
a downhill race and an obstacle
course.
In the overall J6 category, Alina
Everett took top honors with three
gold medals and one silver. For J5
racers, Todd Fereday was the top
skier with two gold medals and one
silver. Betsy Keafer was the cham-
pion of the J4 girls with three golds
and one silver, and Jaime Everett
won the J3 boys division with three
silvers and a gold.
Here are the results from the
McCall competitors:
Classic
Girls J3: Mariah Reddick, sec-
ond.
Boys J3: Jaime Everett, second;
Jesse Murphy, second; Tom
Troutner, ninth; and Keenan
Storrar 17th.
Girls J4: Betsy Keafer, first;
Olympics
Teagan Troutner, 11th.
Boys J4: Andrew Reddick, first;
Tyler Bryant, 16th.
Girls J6: Alina Everett, first.
Boys J6: Matt Bryant, fifth.
Obstacle Course
Girls J3: Mariah Reddick, sev-
enth.
Boys JT Jaime Everett, second;
Tom Troutner, third; Jesse
Murphy, fifth; Scott Fereday, sev-
enth; Keenan Storrar, 15th.
Girls J4: Betsy Keafer, first;
Krista Van Velzen, seventh,
Teagan Troutner, 15th.
Boys J4: Andrew Reddick, first;
Brett Van Velzen, third, Tyler
Bryant, 15th.
Boys J5: Todd Fereday, first,
Matt Bryant, second.
Girls J6: Alina Everett, second.
Downhill
Girls J3: Mariah Reddick,
eighth.
Boys J3: Jaime Everett, second;
Jesse Murphy, fourth; Scott
Fereday, eighth; Tom Troutner,
14th; Keenan Storrar, 18th.
Girls J4: Betsy Keafer, ninth;
Teagan Troutner, 16th.
and as they pass through, the trip
wand sends a time to a race com-
puter. An electronic eye records
racers as they cross the finish line
and an official enters their bib num-
bers into the race computer, which
computes their times.
The exception is the relay races,
where each age group of racers has
a mass start and the first team
member across the finish line wins
for his or her team.
Three age groups of boys and
girls will compete in each race.
The J -2 teams typically consist of
racers ages 16 -17, J -1 is ages 17 -18
and OJ is ages 19 -20. Classes are
actually determined by the year
the racers were born, rather than
their actual ages, so some groups'
ages overlap.
Four races slated
The first race of the competi-
tion is the prologue on Monday
at 4 p.m. at the Sabala Athletic
Complex at the Payette Lakes
Middle School at the east end of
Deinhard Lane. The prologue
race is one kilometer (.62 miles)
using the skate technique.
The prologue will be the only
race at the school. The other races
will be at Ponderosa State Park on
three kilometer, five kilometer,
and 7.5. kilometer courses. The
courses are generally 16 to 20 feet
wide and wind through the park
on short, steep uphill and dowhill
pitches and gently rolling terrain.
The next race is the classic race
Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Ponderosa
State Park. Racers in the boys OJ
(Continued from Page 1)
The Junior Olympics will fea-
ture four races: prologue, classic,
skate and relay. Classic and skate
skiing are the two types of cross
country skiing techniques that will
be used.
Classic racing is done with
longer skis using the traditional
diagonal stride on a course with a
grooved tracks. The skate is also
called the "freestyle" technique.
Skate ski racers use shorter skis
on a wider, flat - groomed course.
Skiers push off the edges of their
skis much like a speed skater to
gain speed then glide a short dis-
tance before planting their long
poles to initiate their next stride.
Most races are against the clock
where racers enter the course at
30- second intervals. They start at a
gate where they hit a "trip wand,"
Nordic
(Continued from Page 6)
Boys J4: Tyler Bryant, 10th; An-
drew Reddick, 11th; Brett Van
Velzen, 12th.
Boys J5: Todd Fereday, first,
Matt Bryant, sixth.
Girls J6: Alina Everett, first.
Skate
Girls J3: Mariah Reddick, sec-
ond.
Boys J3: Jaime Everett, first;
Jesse Murphy, third; Keenan
'Storrar, 10th; Tom Troutner, 14th;
_Scott Fereday, 21st.
Girls J4: Betsy Keafer, second;
Krista Van Velzen, 11th; Teagan
M'routner, 14th.
Boys J4: Andrew Reddick, first;
Brett Van Velzen, sixth; Tyler
pryant, eighth.
Boys J5: Matt Bryant, first; Todd
4ereday, second.
Girls J6: Alina Everett, first.
and J1 classes race two laps around
a 7.5 kilometer course for 15 kilo-
meters (9.3 miles). OJ and Jl girls
race two laps around a five kilomE
ter course, which totals 6.2 miles.
J2 boys and girls ski one lap on the
five kilometer course for 3.1 miles.
Friday, March 13, will feature
the skate race at 10 a.m. at Ponde-
rosa State Park. The boys OJ and
Jl racers will ski two five- kilome-
ter laps for a total of 6.2 miles. OJ,
Jl girls and J2 boys and girls will
ski one lap on the five kilometer
course (3.1 miles).
Saturday, Maroh 14, will pro
vide some of the liveliest racing
when the relays get underway.
Unlike the individual races, each
race for boys and girls OJ, J1 and
J2 classes will have mass starts.
Racers in each class will line up
and ski from a wide start area that
funnels down in size after a short
distance, forcing skiers in the pack
to fight for position. The first leg
for three - person teams for boys and
girls OJ and Jl teams ski classical
stride for one five - kilometer lap
before "tagging" the next racer on
their team. The following two rac-
ers ski the skate technique. The J -2
boys and girls race the same for-
mat, but each racer skis three
kilometer laps instead of five.
The Junior Olympics is sanc-
tioned by the United States Ski
Association, the same body that
governs the United State SkiTeams
for Nordic and Alpine racing and
is recognized by the International
Ski Federation and the Olympic
Organizing Committee.
3,44e
"It blew me away seeing all those teams
lined up and all those colors. "
--JO Organizer Ken Everett
345 skiers launch
JU i"or 01yim
JJ0 BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Shur -News
(Continued from Page 1)
The host team, the Intermoun-
tain /Northern, is fielding 47
racers, including Eric Taplin and
Brooke Murphy of McCall.
The racers are competing for
gold, silver and bronze medals in
four races: the Prologue, Classic
technique, Skate technique, and
relay.
The teams are split into men's
and women's groups, and by age,
with J2 racers being age 15 -16; J1
racers age 17 -18 and OJ, or "Older
Juniors" age 19 -20.
In preparation for each race,
coaches make their best guess on
weather conditions, aided by all
the forecasting at their disposal,
then select waxes that will give
their racers the best results on a
projected combination of air tem-
perature, relative humidity and
snow conditions. It's a process
McCall Nordic Coach Gregg
Lawley describes as "more of an
art than a science."
However, selecting the right
wax, or combination of waxes, can
be critical and tricky considered
that during the day, temperatures
can change by 20 or 30 degrees.
Skiers must remain on the same
set of skis they start the race with,
so an error can be costly.
Aside from individual results,
teams from each division are vy-
ing for the Alaska Cup, a traveling
trophy that goes to the overall win-
ning team.
Results are compiled from all
the races, except Monday's Pro-
logue, which is not counted in team
standings and where medals are
not awarded.
For individual races, such as
the Classic or skate race, firstpoint
The 1998 Junior Olympic Cross
Country Championships got un-
derway Monday with the lighting
of the Olympic flame by McCall's
own four -time Olympian Lyle
Nelson.
Nelson looked upon the field of
345 young athletes gathered for the
opening ceremonies at the Rich
Sabala Athletic Complex and told
them he saw the future of Ameri-
can skiing.
"Someone out thereon that side
ofthe microphone is the next Olym-
pic medal winner," Nelson told the
audience before lighting the flame
to kick off the event.
For event coordinator Ken
Everett, it was the culmination of
nearly a year's worth of work. "It
blew me away seeing all those
teams lined up and all those col-
ors," Everett said.
The teams raced the one -kilo-
meter Prologue after the opening
ceremonies on Monday, followed
by the Classic technique race
Wednesday at Ponderosa Park.
The racers have a break today
for training and return to competi-
tion Friday with the skate races
Revello takes 5th
at JO downhill
pies
starting at 9 a.m. at Ponderosa State
Park and Saturday at 9 a.m. for the
relay races, again at Ponderosa
Park.
The Junior Olympics, so far, has
had only minor glitches. A team of
about 90 volunteers has spent thou-
sands of hours preparing for the
event and covering everything
from using state-of-the-art comput-
erized timing equipment to baking
cookies.
"You can't do it without them,"
volunteer coordinator Jordan
Lawley said. "You can't have a race
without a good volunteer crew."
Their efforts are apparent to
John Estle, the event's chief ofcom-
petition from Fairbanks, Alaska.
"The host organizers have really
done a superlative job," Estle said.
What's gone on behind the
scenes has set the stage for the ath-
letes, which are now midway
through the competition.
Nine teams representing prac-
tically every state with snow are
racing, and they range in sizes from
Great Lakes Team, which brought
19 racers, to the defending cham-
pion Midwest Team, which
brought 54.
(See V0, " Back Page)
Kristina Revello of McCall fin-
ished in fifth place while Brett
Jones of McCall placed 36th in the
downhill event of the J2 Alpine
Junior Olympics at Jackson Hole,
Wyo.
The races continued on Tues-
day with the Super G, but results
were not available. The JO will
run through today with the giant
slalom and slalom races.
etchum's Webb
Veteran cross - country skier
Peter Webb of Ketchum led all ski-
ers on Saturday to win the 1998
Payette Lakes Ski Marathon.
Webb, a national level racer, had
the best time of 83 entrants in the
50- kilometer division of the mara-
thon, held at the Little Ski Hill west
of McCall. He finished the course
in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 3 seconds.
The top local men's finisher was
Tuck Miller, a four -time marathon
champion who placed third in the
50K division with a time of 2:50:28.0.
The top women's finisher was
Gabriele Andersen of Sun Valley,
who competed in the running
marathon at the 1984 Summer
Olympic games. Andersen's time
was 3:06:26.0 on the 50K course.
The best finish by a local in the
50K was third place by Cory Fritzel,
a hopeful for the U.S. Olympic
Biathlon Team and director of the
Little Ski Hill ski school. Fritzel's
time was 3:08:30.0
The majority of racers chose to
ski the 25K course once around.
Only one racer repeated as a win-
ner this year. Karen Morrow of
McCall finished first in the
women's 25K division.
Here are the results from the
Payette Lakes Ski Marathon:
Overall Times
50 Kilometers
Women: 1. Gabriele Andersen,
Sun Valley. 3:06.26.02. Cory Fritzel,
McCall, 3:08:30.0 3. Barb Kerr,
Boise, 3:43:02.0.
Men: 1. Peter Webb, Ketchum,
2:29:03.0 2. Matt Grover, Boise,
2:39:40.0 3. Tuck Miller, McCall
2:50:28.0. 4. Scott Lung, Boise,
2:54:45.0.5. Jay Blackhurst, Boise,
2:56:23.0. 6. Brad Page, Boise,
2:57:43.0. 7. Mike Weber, Boise,
3:02:27.0.8. Bradley St.Clair, Boise,
3:03:44.0. 9. Mike Cooley, Boise,
3:03:52.0. 10. Tom Sewell, White-
fish, Mont., 3:06:20.0. 11. Jack
Heagy, Boise, 3:07:12.0.12. Sampson
Friday, Ketchum, 3:14:32.0. 13.
Brian. Kelm, Salt Lake City,
Utah, 3:15:49.0. 14. Tomas Patek,
Boise, 3:18:09.0.15. PatrickHarren,
McCall, 3:18:50.0.16. Randy Acker,
McCall, 3:19:13.0.17. Robert Burke,
Boise, 3:29:28.0.18. Doug Mastaler,
McCall, 3:36:20.0. 19, Dave Hays,
Grangeville, 3:38:04.0. 20. Michael
McGovern, Missoula Mont.,
3:41:34.0. 21. Jerry Bier, Portland,
Ore., 4:06:26.0.22. Steve Kerr, Boise,
4:07:48.0.
25 Kilometer
Women: 1. Karen Morrow,
McCall, 1:35:37.0. 2. Cindy Miller,
McCall, 1:35:43.0. 3. Peggy Boggs,
Ketchum 1:45:04.0. 4. Margaret
Hillhouse, McCall, 1:45:10.0. 5.
Kristin Armstrong, Boise, 1:47:40.0.
6. Jodi Cuccia, Boise, 1:52:50.0. 7.
Elizabeth Cody, Boise, 1:53:37.0.8.
Diana Stilwell, Boise, 1:54:35.0. 9.
Kelsey Troutner, Lakefork,
1:54:54.0. 10. Santa Sewell, White-
fish, Mont., 1:58:13.0. 11. Mimi
Peugh, McCall, 2:00:48.0. 12. Sally
Nutt, McCall, 2:04:10.0. 13. Karyn
deKramer, Boise, 2:05:41.0. 14.
Robin Davis, McCall, 2:19:35.0.15.
Marilyn Olson, McCall, 2:28:20.0.
16. Elizabeth Johnson, Moscow,
2:38:54.0. 17. Barbara Chattin,
Boise, 2:43:36.0.18. Carol Traa, Port-
land, Ore., 2:50:40.0. 19. Lois
Lindsay, Boise, 2:55:35.0.
Men: 1. Robin Ley, Caldwell,
1:22:41.0. 2. Chris Williams
Ketchum, 1:27:10.0.3. Chris Welch,
McCall, 1:27:19.0. 4. Clyde Cody,
Boise, 1:27:54.0. 5. Daryl Hegerle,
Boise, 1:28:59.0. 6. Chuck
Barnhart, Boise, 1:29:36.0.7. Chuck
Rae, McCall, 1:29:44.0. 8. Pat
Armstrong, McCall, 1:31:45.0. 9.
Mack Miller, Donnelly, 1:35:52.0.
10. Bryan Powell, Boise, 1:36:36.0.
11. Garrett Hudson, McCall,
1:37:41.0. 12. Tom Moss, Boise,
1:38:26.0. 13. Ryan Dye, Boise,
1:39:02.0. 14. Dan Ostermiller,
McCall, 1:39:09.0.15. Dean Hovdey,
McCall, 1:39:27.0.16. David Ayarra,
Bend, Ore., 1:41:05.0.17. Dan Smith,
Nampa, 1:42:23.0. 18. David
Kalange, McCall, 1:42:57.0.19. Art
Troutner, Lakefork, 1:43:08.0. 20.
Tullio Celano, Boise, 1:44:52.0. 21.
David Bergset, Boise, 1:45:16.0.
22. Robert Miller, Boise, 1:45:32.0.
23. Mike Gibson, Boise, 1:51:01.0.
24. Jerry Osborn, Seattle, Wash.,
1:51:37.0.25. Einar Traa, Portland,
Ore., 1:53:14.0. 26. Bill Bush, Port
Angeles, Wash., 1:56:37.0. 27. Will
Lindsay, Boise,1:58:47.0. 28. David
Reddick, McCall, 1:59:28.0. 29. Bill
Martin, Portland, Ore., 2:01:23.0.30.
Max Walker, Nampa, 2:05:57.0.31.
Tom Breen, Seattle, 2:12:15.0. 32.
Curtis Fox, Mead, Wash., 2:13:16.0.
33. Harold Krasinski, Boise,
2:24:33.0. 34. Steve Chattin, Boise,
2:40:42.0. 35. Jim Peterson, Boise,
ns mara
Star -News Photo by Roger Ph
Brian Kelm of Salt Lake City shows the effects of the grueling Payetl
Lakes Marathon course on Saturday.
2:46:39.0.
Division Finishers
50K
Age 19 -29
Women: 1. Cory Fritzel, McCall.
Men:l.Peter Webb, Ketchum. 2.
Matt Grover, Boise. 3. Jay
Blackhurst, Boise.
Age 30 -39
Women: 1. Barb Kerr, Boise.
Men: 1. Tuck Miller, McCall. 2.
Scott Lung, Boise. 3. Brad Page,
Boise. 4. Bradley St. Clair, Boise, 5.
Mike Cooley, Boise, 6. Sampson Fri-
day, Ketchum, 7. Brian Kelm, Salt
Lake City, Utah. 8. Tomas Patek,
Boise, 9. Randy Acker, McCall,10.
Robert Burke, Boise, 11. Michael
McGovern, Missoula, Mont.
Age 40 -49
Men: 1. Mike Weber, Boise, 2.
Tom Sewell, Whitefish,
Mont., 3. Jack Heagy, Boise.
Age 50 -59
Women: LGabriele Andersen,
Sun Valley.
Men: 1. Patrick Harren, McC�
2. Doug Mastaler, McCall
Dave Hays, Grangeville, 4. Jer
Bier, Portland, Ore., 5. Ste
Kerr, Boise.
51,x, /L,w, �x�9 s
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Long hours and thousands of de-
tails have brought only personal
reward for three McCall men and
their families who have taken on the
job of bringing the Junior Olympic
Cross Country Championships to
McCall. That's good enough for
them.
Ken Everett, Gregg Lawley and
Richard Taplin make up the core of
the organizing committee that will
stage the Junior Olympic races March
9 -14 at Ponderosa State Park.
"People have done good things
for us when we were younger, and
we want to keep the torch going,"
said Everett, the race chairman.
Everett and his wife, Mary, moved
to McCall three years ago from San
Francisco, Calif., and has been presi-
dent of the McCall Nordic Ski Team
for the last two years. He and Lawley,
coach of the team, made the presen-
tation to the United States Ski
Association last spring, which won
McCall the right to host the event.
Everett watched his children,
Alina and Jamie, get involved in
Nordic skiing after moving to McCall.
It was a sport Everett enjoyed while
growing up in Colorado, so he signed
on as team president, which led him
to becoming the Junior Olympics
race chairman.
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Nordic Junior Olympics organizers Gregg Lawley, Ken Everett, Richard Taplin.
6"1
Someone's gotta do it
"My kids were involved and some-
one needed to do the job," he said. "It
was something I couldn't say no to."
Everett describes the Junior Olym-
pics as "the kind of experience kids
can carry through their whole lives"
"They can see what can be had with
hard work," he said.
"Nordic skiing is great," Everett
said. "There are a lot of good people
involved arid it's a good
community."
Lawley and Richard Taplin have
watched the Nordic team grow from
a little more than a handful of young-
sters and a few families to more than
50 young racers and numerous
families.
"It's such a gratifying thing every
year to see it grow and stabilize,"
Taplin said. "It's really great to see
that many kids, especially lots of
young kids."
The resurgence in youth Nordic
skiing started about five years ago,
Taplin said, and quite often, the chil-
dren get the parents involved in the
sport.
Taplin, his wife, Millie, and their
family moved to McCall in 1989,
where he works as an assistant man-
ager at Ponderosa Park. Their son,
(See "Nordic," Back Page)
Nordic
(Continued from Page 1)
Eric, will make his fourth consecutive
Junior Olympic appearance next
month, and their daughter, Amanda,
competed in two Junior Olympics in
1996 -97.
Taplin said he donates his time
partly because of the benefits his chil-
dren receive from the sport. "They get
to travel to places I never got to go to
when I was a kid," Taplin said. "Our
kids get to meet so many other people
from so many different backgrounds."
He credits the Junior Olympics
with giving young racers an opportu-
nity to see how much they can achieve
in the sport. Eric Taplin and Kendra
Lawley were the first McCall Ski
Racing Team members to reach the
Junior Olympics after the club formed
back in the early 1990s.
"They saw there was something
beyond the local races," Taplin said.
He also appreciates the way the
sport lends itself to all children and
it's something they can do and com-
pete in for the rest of their lives. He
said Nordic skiing is healthy, afford-
able, and a sport that all generations
of families can enjoy.
Taplin also pointed out that every
child who wants to can compete in
Nordic racing.
"Nobody's left out," he said. "In
cross country, every time they go out
to ski, they get a chance to make that
break through."
Lawley and his wife, Jordan,
moved to McCall from Jackson, Wyo-
ming in 1991, where their two chil-
dren, Kendra and Spencer, were in-
volved in Nordic skiing. They enjoy
the sport because there is competi-
tion, but there's also community.
Lawley said the racers and coaches
cheer for each other and freely give
advice and tips to fellow racers.
"I don't think you see that as much
in other competitive sports," he said.
Kendra Lawley, along with Eric
Taplin, were the first McCall Nordic
skiers to compete in the Junior Olym-
pics in recent memory. They made
their first trip to the national champi-
onships in 1994, and she returned
again in 1996.
Gregg Lawley has coached the
team for four years. He hopes having
the Junior Olympics in McCall will
give other youth the opportunity to
see top -level Nordic skiing and be-
come involved in the sport.
"If they have any interest in this at
all, they should come out and see
some of this racing," he said.
Taplin, Lawley and Everett all ac-
knowledge the effort their families,
particularly their wives, dedicate to
Nordic skiing.
"They don't take the limelight or
get the credit, but without them it
wouldn't happen," Taplin said.
S i He U)_; 4-Z3 y-�-
:.qua:.`:
Ski tracks on the Little Ski Hill west of McCall
created an artistic send off to winter and the ski
season. Kip Reeder, Don McClaran and Tim
Kelly left their tracks last week after a recent
snowstorm. Reeder skied from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
making about 40 runs down the hill. McClaran
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
and Kelly joined him for about half the day.
Reeder set the first track and the others carved
parallel lines to make the curving design, called
"bugaboos" by helicopter skiers in British
Columbia, Canada, Reeder said. The trio carved a
total of 61 sets of tracks aciFoss the slopes.
Junior Olympians prove
sportsmanship not dead
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
My waning faith in sports was
renewed last week by the Junior
Olympic Cross Country National
Championships held in McCall.
The event was such an over-
whelming success on so many
levels that it helped me redis-
cover what is good about athletic
competition.
My cynicism was due to the
litany of wrongs that pervade
modern athletics. Professional
sports are rife with too many
overpaid whiners with bad atti-
tudes, and even worse manners,
who lack anything resembling
humility or gratitude for their
God -given physical attributes.
And every year, their gutter ex-
amples of sportsmanship seems
to trickle lower.
But my disdain for the dark
side of sports fell like heavy snow
from a wet branch last week. The
Junior Olympic athletes,
coaches, organizers and volun-
teers showed what is possible
when people reach beyond them-
selves for something greater.
tier competitors in a race where 45
seconds separated first from fifth
place.
Hamilton earned a smaller
medal for placing ninth, but more
importantly, she was recognized
for her selfless act and named the,
first -ever recipient of the Lyle
Nelson Sportsmanship Award.
The McCall Nordic skiing com-
munity donated a traveling trophy
that will be presented to racers who
demonstrate outstanding sports-
manship at future Junior
Olympics.
The award was aptly named af-
ter Nelson, McCall's own four -time
Olympian, who returned to his
roots to serve and inspire the field
of athletes. Nelson and other fel-
low Olympians, 13 who were
resent at the races w f
On the race course, the competi-
tion the racers displayed was fierce
and inspiring. But off the course, if
it wasn't for their different uni-
forms, you'd have thought they
were on the same team. The sports -
tnanship the athletes displayed
spread throughout the event.
The Junior Olympics consisted
of 345 racers divided into four age
groups competing in four races for
a total of 24 events that decided
who was the top Nordic racers in
the nation. During those races, only
one protest reached the jury level,
which is the final decision - making
body. Imagine putting 345 football
players in a four days worth of
games and having only one per-
sonal foul during that time.
The event ran like a Swiss watch
p ere aces in thanks to a core group of organiz
Sportsmanship, camaraderie the crowd cheering the young ski- ers, Ponderosa State Park's staff
and sacrifice were not abstract ers. and dozens of volunteers who
ideas or lip- service statements Then at the awards banquet Sat- turned out en masse, many with -
at the Junior Olympics, they urda night, out being were walking, breathing reali Y g , 12 Olympians g asked, to show visitors
ties.
spanning 13 Olympic games stood from all over the U.S. the kind of
Perhaps the most telling ex- before the audience as shining ex- place McCall is. It didn't go unno-
ample was a 15 -year old racer amples of sportsmanship and ticed.
from Alaska named Tara dedication to their sport. You could
Hamilton. After finishing third feel their positive energy being "This is one of the best Junior
in the Classic race on March 11, absorbed by the room full of young Olympics I've ever been to," Sun
Hamilton was likely on her way
to another medal in the freestyle Olympic hopefuls.
race Friday when she came "I've been out there watching
across a skier lying unconscious You skiing all week and it's been
in the snow. wonderful," said Corey Engen, the
Hamilton stopped to help, de- 1948 Olympian from McCall who
laying her race by precious now lives in Utah. "From what I
seconds, if not minutes, but still saw out there, I think a lot of you
went on to place ninth. That's can make it."
ninth in the nation among 59 top-
Valley Nordic Coach Rick Kapala
said. "The response from the com-
munity was overwhelming. I think
it's real special."
The organizers of the Junior
Olympics set out to create a first -
class event in McCall, but they
exceeded even that. The event was
truly greater than the sum of its
parts, and all should take pride in
a job well done.
ar- 1YPn 15
in
•
In rm n
to ou to
team captures
first TO title
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
The Intermountain Northern
Division team won its first -ever
Alaska Cup last week, taking the
top team award at the 1998 Jun-
ior Olympic Cross Country
Championships in McCall.
The Intermountain team,
which included two members of
the McCall Nordic Ski Team,
earned 852 points to edge out the
defending champion Midwest
Division team, which had 815
points. The New England Divi-
sion rounded out the top three
with 807 points.
"The kids all went out and
skied the kind of races they had
the opportunity to do," Inter-
mountain Coach Rick Kapala of
Sun Valley said. The Intermoun-
tain team, which consists of the
top racers from Idaho, Utah,
Montana and Wyoming, have
dedicated more time and effort
to the sport, which paid off this
year, he said.
"Every year we've gotten bet-
ter," Kapala said. "Every year
the kids have made bigger and
bigger commitments, and that
says a lot about them."
ABOVE: Member:
the Intermountai
Northern team hi
the Alaska Cup
after the team's
first -ever Junior
Olympics victory,
aq�i ors_ i2agps
1998 Junior Olympic
MCColl,tdaha
veo
The teams earned points by
having their racers finish in the
top 20 places in the Classic,
Freestyle and Relay races held
as part of the Junior Olympics.
The Classic race was held March
11, the Freestyle, or "skate" race,
was held Friday and the Relays
were held on Saturday.
The Intermountain team earned
the most points in the Classic and
;�- FFreestyle races, and placed third
;,Overall in the relay races.
The Intermountain Team also
earned the most medals with 13
total, including the most golds with
six. It was followed by the Midwest
team with 11 total medals, includ-
ing two golds. Alaska rounded out
the top three medal - winning teams
with 10, including three golds.
For individual performances,
Kris Freeman of Andover, N.H.,
swept the J1 men's Skate and
Freestyle races, and picked up a
third gold medal as part of the New
England relay team consisting of
Freeman, Sean Gallagher and Sean
Foster.
Margaret Maher of Chittenden,
Vt., also from the New England
team, won the J2 Classic race and
the non -medal Prologue, and
earned a silver in the Freestyle
race and bronze in the Relay with
RIGHT-
Exhausted skiers
recover at the finish
line of Saturday's
team relay races.
team mates Eileen Carey and Sa-
rah Torkelson.
Jan Spurkland of Anchorage,
Alaska, won the Dave Quinn
Award, which recognizes a suc-
cegAul student athlete who
exhibits positive attitude, love and
dedication to cross country skiing.
Spurkland finished seventh in the
Classic race and 21st in the skate
race after recovering from two bro-
ken legs earlier in his Junior
Olympic career.
The weather for the races,
which were held at Ponderosa State
Park, was consistently in the high
20s and low 30s in the mornings
and crept into the mid -40s by late
mornings and early afternoons.
The sunny skies and warm tem-
peratures made the snow softer and
slower than colder temperatures,
but the mild weather lent a festival
atmosphere to the event.
A large number of spectators
filled the stadium area and lined
much of the course. It was the larg-
est turnout of spectators in recent
memory according to many vet-
eran Junior Olympics organizers
and coaches.
The event also earned rave re-
views from participants, officials
and coaches.
"Clearly, McCall has proved
they can put on a big race as well as
anyone," Chief of Competition
John Estle said. "It's been 25 years
since McCall hosted this race, and
I hope it is not 25 years until it's
here again."
The event will likely be a spring-
board for other large races,
according to observers.
"It made this a national -class
race venue," Honorary Rake Chair-
man and four -time Olympian Lyle
Nelson said. "It was a fabulous por-
trayal of Idaho and McCall as a
very special place to ski."
For those who put in long hours
and nearly a year's worth of effort
to host the race, the event was the
big pay off.
"The whole event was spectacu-
lar and I'm sorry to see it come to
an end," McCall Nordic Ski Team
Coach and primary organizer
Gregg Lawley said. "McCall hit a
home run and set a standard other
places will have a hard time living
up to."
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
f�y��3
McCall racers face the best of the best at Nordic JOs
The turf was familiar but most of the
faces were new to Eric Taplin and
Brooke Murphy, the two McCall rac-
ers competing in the Junior Olympic Cross
Country Championships. Ponderosa State Park,
the place where they had practiced and raced
throughout the winter and all of their racing
careers, was now filled with the top young
Nordic racers in the United States.
Just getting this, far had been a challenge.
The McCall Nordic Team had recently moved
into the highly competitive Intermountain/
Northern Division after spending several years
in the Pacific Northwest Division. The final JO
results showed the difference between the two
divisions.
The Intermountain team wound up with the
Alaska Cup and a team -high 13 medals, includ-
ing six golds. The Pacific Northwest had four
total medals in the event.
Both Taplin, 18, and Murphy, 17, were in
the J I age group, which fielded the fastest rac-
ers. The younger J2 racers were getting their
feet wet in national competition and many of
the top "Older Junior" racers had moved on to
collegiate or international competition. The J 1
racers were seasoned competitors in top physi-
cal shape. Taplin and Murphy knew that many
of the racers they were competing against were
gunning for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake
City, Utah.
Neither of the young racers were strangers
to top -level competition. This was Taplin's
fourth trip to the Junior Olympics after eight
years of competitive skiing, and Murphy was
making her second trip despite skiing competi-
tively for only three years. She was also a mem-
ber of McCall - Donnelly High School's state
champion cross country running team.
In the end, neither Taplin nor Murphy
made it to the podium. Taplin cracked the
top 10 in the fiercely competitive relay race
as part of the Intermountain `B" team, which
nearly upset the Intermountain "A" team.
Taplin lead his team in the first leg of the
race, which featured a mass start where 44
racers sprinted side by side into a two -lane
bottle neck.
"That was the most fun I've ever had in a
race," Taplin said.
He also finished 30th and 52nd in the
Classic and Freestyle races in his final year
as a Junior Olympian.
Murphy placed 18th in the relay, 41 st in
the Classic and 65th in the freestyle in her
first year as a J 1 racer. She will have a chance
to return to the Junior Olympics next vear
ar ;
Eric Taplin stands with his teammates to receive the Alaska Cup.
junior Olympics.
��- - -
. ' / ���� c a r / y ��Y v s , ��������/ 9 �� ��a r ��, A ( y o f s i ��a g P S
B r o o k e M u r p h y ' s m o t h e r , D e b b i M u r p h y , r u n s a l o n g s i d e h e r a n d o f f e r s e n c o u r a g e m e n t d u r i n g t h e C l a s s i c r a c e .
B r o o k e M u r p h y s p r i n t s t o w a r d t h e f i n i s h l i n e d u r i n g h e r f i r s t r a c e o f t h e 1 9 9 8 J u n i o r O l y m p i c s .
3119 ,Iye
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Eric Taplin blasts out of the starting gate at the Prologue race.
Brooke Murphy is
ready to race at the
start of the Junior
Olympic Cross Coun-
try Championships
Prologue race at the
Payette Lakes Middle
School.
Four -rime Olympian Lyle Nelson lights the torch to officially open the Junior Olympics.
P,49,5�-
S4 A P_ Alc VV-2 � RC_ 1, /12-,) /9 9
JO organizers expect a grand show
McCall Olympian
Lyle Nelson returns
as guest of honor
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
You may have seen cross -coun-
try ski races before, but the
organizers ofthe 1998 Junior Olym-
pic Cross Country Championships
in McCall next week are betting
most people haven't seen a race of
this caliber.
More than 300 skiers and coaches
from around the nation are ex-
pected to gather in McCall for the
event, which begins on Monday
with opening ceremonies at Payette
Lakes Middle School. Most of the
events will be held at Ponderosa
State Park.
"It (Nordic racing) has changed
a lot in the last seven or eight years,"
McCall Nordic Ski Race Team
Coach Gregg Lawley said. "It's a
much showier event than it used to
be. It's a lot more exciting for ev-
erybody."
The McCall Junior Olympics
won't be lacking for star power.
Four -time Olympic biathlon com-
petitor and 1988 U.S. Winter
Olympic team captain Lyle Nelson
will be the honorary chairman and
1998 Junior Olympic
Cross Country ChompionsF
McCall, Idaho
Here is the schedule of major
events for the 1998 Junior Olympic
Cross Country Championships at
Ponderosa State Park in McCall:
• Monday: Opening and Pro-
logue, 3:30 p.m., Payette Lakes
Middle School.
• Wednesday: Classic Race, 10
a.m. Ponderosa State Park.
• Friday, March 13: Skate Race,
10 a.m., Ponderosa State Park.
• Saturday, March 14: Team
Relays, 10 a.m., Ponderosa State
Park.
the guest of honor at the event.
Nelson recently returned from
Nagano, Japan, where he provided
television color commentary for the
biathlon event.
Spectators will have good oppor-
tunities to watch the races at
Ponderosa State Park, where most
of the races will be held, and Pay-
ette Lakes Middle School, where
the prologue race will be held on
Monday.
Ponderosa's "Easy Does it" trail
parallels sections ofthe courses and
provides several viewing points
within walking distance of the visi-
tors center.
Spectators can walk on that trail,
or use skis or snowshoes. Specta-
tors with skis can also use the actual
course to get to viewing areas, but
they must be in position and off the
courses before each race starts.
The park is offering free admis-
sion on race days so the public can
watch the events. Admission will
remain $3 per vehicle on non -race
days. Parking for the public will be
at the maintenance area past the
visitor center parking lot.
Event differs from 7Os
McCall hosted a similar event
back in the early 1970s when the
Junior Olympics consisted of a com-
bined event that included cross
country ski racing and ski jump-
ing. The jumping portion has split
off to a separate sport, and cross
country now consists of two disci-
plines, classic and skate racing.
x
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Star -News Photo by Tom Grote
Team members stand behind placards showing the regions they represent.
a'
Map Key:
■ Trail 1(7.5 km) Classic Race, Wednesday, March 11, (Jl, OJ bovs)
■ Trail 2 (5 km) Classic Race, Wednesday, March 11(Jl, OJ girls, J2
boys /girls); Skate Race, Friday, March 13 (All classes): Relay
Race, Saturday, March 14 (Jl, OJ boys /girls)
■ Trail 3 (3 km) Relay Race, Saturday March 14 (J2 boys /girls)
Note: All races begin at 10 a.m.
PILGRIM
_ Trail COVE
..... Trail 2
Trail 3
Viewing areas.
.5-ro R. ly-E w.5
'Other' junior Olympians
race with the best on skis
At the same time McCall was
hosting the Junior Olympic Cross
Country Championships, local Al-
pine races were scattered across
the West to compete in the down-
hill version of the Junior Olympics.
Here are the results oflocal com-
petitors at the USSA Rolex Alpine
Junior Olympics:
J1: Jamie Laidlaw placed eighth
in the slalom last week and was the
fastest 17- year -old in the slalom
event at the Alpine J1 Junior Olym-
pics for ages 17 -19 at Mt. Bachelor
near Bend, Ore.
Laidlaw also placed 34th in the
downhill and 35th in the Super G
among 96 of the top racers in the
Northwest.
Laidlaw, along with teammate
Kristi Revello, was invited to the
Spring Series in Sun Valley for
Elite FIS racers in the Western U.S.
The top 10 men and seven women
from the Pacific Northwest Divi-
sion were invited.
J2: Revello raced last week in
the J2 Junior Olympics held in
Jackson Hole, Wyo., along with fel-
low McCall skiers Brett Jones and
Adam Carter.
Revello placed second in the sla-
the giant slalom,
nhill and did not
G. Jones placed
it slalom, 43rd in
the Super G, 36 in the downhill and
did not finish the slalom.
Carter placed 55 in the down-
hill, 64th in the Super G, 60th in the
giant slalom and did not finish the
slalom. About 100 boys and 70 girls
raced in the event.
Revello also placed 17th in the
U.S. West FIS Women's Nor -Am
slalom held at Bogus Basin Ski
Area on Friday. The field included
American and Canadian skiers
who had competed in the Winter
Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
J3: Eric Straw finished fourth
among 100 male racers in the sla-
lom event last week at the J3 Alpine
Junior Olympics for ages 13 -14 at
Mt. Hood, Ore.
Straw's time was the fastest for
any Pacific Northwest racer in the
event, which featured the top rac-
ers from all states in the West
except Colorado. Straw also placed
19th in the slalom event.
Teammate Pennie Patterson, a
first -year J3, finished 23rd in the
slalom, 43rd in the Giant Slalom,
and 45th in the Super G among 70
female racers.
Erin Pittenger, also a first -year
J3, finished 36th in the Super G
event and 40th in the slalom. Mat
Lohff finished 31st in the slalom,
66th in the Giant Slalom and 88th
in the Super G.
tl(-, y ✓5
Calon
Russell
Shows off
Nordic meded
Russell helps
Whitman take
Nordic crown
McCall - Donnelly High School
graduate Calon Russell helped his
Whitman College team win its
fourth consecutive Alpine /Nordic
Combined title at the U.S. Collegiate
Ski Association National Nordic
Team Championships at Bretton
Woods, New Hampshire last month.
At the event, Russell placed sec-
ond behind Whitman teammate
Peter French in the 15- kilometer
classic race. Whitman racers
placed first, second and sixth to
take the Classic team title.
Russell also finished 12th in the
10- kilometer skate race, helping his
team to a second -place finish. He
then went on to finish first as the
anchor of the three -leg 7.5- kilome-
ter relay race, beating out the
second place team by more than a
minute.
Russell's finishes in the event
im fifth place in combined
and he was named to the
i All American for the sec -
.ght year.
11, 19, is in his fourth year
c skiing. He began with
ill Nordic Ski Team under
ling of Gregg Lawley and
Taplin.
"jLT)g owners flock to sly areas
allow their best friends
a chance to get some winter exercise.
Fritzel, on McCall's Snoopy Trail.
Story and photos By Pete Zimowsky
The Idaho Statesman
imon, the lab - pointer mix, bounded down the
groomed cross - country ski trail in McCall
and was having just as much fun in the snow
as his master Cory Fritzel.
Doggie ski trails continue to gain in popularity as
cross - country skiers seek more places to take their
canines for a winter workout.
"It's fun for both of us," Fritzel
said, as she skate -skied down the
Snoopy Trail at the McCall Golf
Course. "It's good for a work-
out."
Bow -wow skiers will find trails
at Nordic areas from Sun Valley
to McCall.
"If our dog trail is not groomed
by Saturday morning, we hear"
about it," said Tuck Miller, presi-
dent of the Payette Lakes Ski
Club. The club is responsible for
Nordic ski trails at the Little Ski
Hill, north of McCall.
"About 20 to 30 percent of our
skiers want the doggie trail,"
Miller said, "a lot of people like to
take their dogs skiing."
The popularity of bow -wow
skiing can be found in other ar-
eas. "We sell about 800 dog sea-
son passes a year," said Shelly
Preston, of the Blaine County
Recreation District. The recre-
ation district oversees about 37
kilometers of doggie trails in the
Ketchum area.
"We get high use from skiers
with dogs," she said.
Doggie trails may be popular,
but they do bring problems, like
doggie shoulder injuries in deep
snow, brown klister (a tasteful
nickname for dog droppings) and
dog fights.
Some skiers vehemently op-
pose having dogs on ski trails.
There seems to be no middle
ground between doggie skiers
and non - doggie skiers.
But despite the problems,
skiers still want to take their ani-
mals out for a workout during the
winter.
Bob Peckham, head of the Mc-
Call Recreation Department,
said doggie trails are the fastest
growing part of the city's ski trail
/GZCiLid, atPS�, �,-W
system in McCall.
"This is one of our more popu-
lar trails," said Peckham, adjust-
ing a Snoopy trail sign at the be-
ginning of the doggie loop on the
McCall Golf Course.
If you're looking for a place to
take your dog on a cross - country
ski workout, here is a list of ski
areas with pooches in mind:
Doggie ski tips
If you're going skiing with your
pooch, here are a few tips from the
experts:
> Try to limit two dogs to a group
of skiers. Dog packs tend to cause
more problems, especially fights.
ail Z a f 3 aq r -s
Cory Fritzel and her dog, Simon,
burn up some energy on the ski trail.
Photo by Pete Zimowsky.
Cross-country
areas expand
trail choices
> Clean up after your dogs. It's
best to carry a small trowel and a
plastic bag to pick up dog drop-
pings.
Otherwise, try to flip the brown
klister off the trail with your ski pole.
(Brown klister is a tasteful way of
saying dog poop. Klisters are sticky
cross - country ski waxes).
On the run: Cross - country skiers are looking for more trails that allow dogs. Flat trails that are packed down are easier for dogs to handle. -
> Pick safe trails for your dogs.
Steep trails are dangerous. If
you get going too fast on your skis
on a downhill run, your dog will try
to keep up by running fast.
If your dog's foot sinks in the
snow while running fast, it can
cause serious shoulder or leg in-
juries.
Keep on flat trails and go at a
slow speed. Hard - packed, groomed
trails are best.
Heavy, deep snow can cause
dogs to work too hard. Dogs will try
to keep up with their masters no
matter how exhausted the canines
become.
Try to gauge your dog's en-
durance, travel slow and take plen-
ty of rest stops.
> Keep your dogs under control.
They love to run but can get out of
the range of Sontrol and jump on
other skiers.
They also can cause dog fights.
Take a leash, if necessary.
> Know where the doggie trail
goes. Don't let your dog wander
onto other groomed trails that don't
allow dogs.
Skiers without dogs don't like
dogs on groomed trails.
> Skiers often forget to take
water for their dogs. Dogs will
sometimes eat snow, but it's not
enough water for the workout they
are getting.
It's best to take a water bottle for
dogs so they don't get dehydrated.
> Take a leash and keep your
dog under control at the trailheads,
especially in parking lots.
It is also dangerous if they bound
out of the car onto the highway.
> When at ski areas that have
lodges and n a leash from the car
your dog r to
the trailhead.
Don't let it roam around the
lodge or food areas. skiers
A lot of cross - country
don't tolerate dogs on trails and
complaints may cause doggie ski
trails to be closed down.
> Your dog needs energy to run
along snow-packed trails. eal more
to feed your dog good will hit the
than an hour before y
trail. doggie snacks for
Take some
lunch breaks.
r �� �tdlc. VV. 36t 1)��, /Yid
Ponderosa State Park
What: Skiing along the shores of
Payette Lake in this state park at Mc-
Call is an unforgettable experience.
The park has 18 kilometers (11
miles) of trails and is known for its be-
ginner terrain.
It also has intermediate and chal-
lenging terrain, especially the trails
that were established during the jun-
ior olympics.
The trek from the visitors center to
Osprey Cliff Overlook is a
hiahliaht for intermediate
Coolest things: The park al-
so features a 1.5 kilometer
(one mile) lighted trail for
nie'ht skiinL,.
a I
Two yurts are available
for winter camping. Cost is
$30 a night. The yurts are
furnished with a table, chairs
and beds. Campers need to
bring sleeping bags and
cooking utensils, including a
campstove. The yurts are
heated by electricity.
Trail fee: $3 per car (pile the
skiers in) or the annual Ida-
ho state park pass. An Idaho
Park `N' Ski pass is also
good for park admission.
Getting there: Drive 102
miles north of Boise on Ida-
ho 55 to McCall. Turn right
on Railroad Avenue. Look
for the signs to the park.
Information: 208 - 634 -2164.
Sld areas offer more miles of trails near I
better grooming and yurts
McCall Golf Course
What: The McCall Golf Course's
trails have some of the best views in
town.
The 10 kilometers of trails go
through scenic rolling meadows and
wooded areas with views of Brundage
Mountain, and you don't even have to
leave town.
The trail system also has a 2.5 miles
for skiers and their dogs.
The trails on the golf course are
mellow enough for beginners but are
also of an international caliber for
skaters who want a fast workout.
Coolest third The trail system is an
easy place to take a moonlight ski
trek.
Fee: $3 per person or $5 per car.
Getft there: Drive 102 miles i
to McCall and turn right at Rail
Avenue and head for the McCall
Course. It's on the way to Pond(
State Park.
Infonnation: 208- 634 -3006.
..r -
S fi,4 kk 14 Dec ) ,1 `f`9 v
J
f " f � or1 )
Little Ski Hill "
What: Trails at the Little Ski Hill go
over endless rolling terrain that is ex-
cellent for beginner skiers and great
for competition skaters looking for a
workout.
Bring your tellie skis, too, and get
some practice on the alpine hill.
With the alpine hill nearby, parents
also can ski the Nordic trails while
their kids enjoy downhill skiing or
snowboarding on the hill.
And don't leave the dog at home. A
special doggie trail is available.
About 30 kilometers of trails are
groomed at the Little Ski Hill near
McCall.
The lodge at the ski area is open
Tuesday- Saturday.
i ran tees: Alpine lift, $6; Nordic
trails, $3. Season pass (for both alpine
and Nordic), $52 for adults, $26 kids;
adults and kids with a Brundage pass,
$26.
Coolest thing: Ladies Day, ski les-
sons for women by women, is again
planned at 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
Getting there: Drive 102 miles north
to McCall on Idaho 55 and head north-
west two miles to the ski area.
Information: 208 -634 -5691.
Activity Barn
What: This is a new area specializ-
ing in tubing, but it also features free
cross - country skiing on 4.5 miles (7.2
kilometers) of trails that go along the
North Fork of the Payette River.
Drop the kids off for tubing and get
a workout on the trails. The area will
feature skating trails and doggie trails.
Trails on the flats are ideal for be-
ginners. For those who want more of a
challenge, there's the trail along the
river, which requires a steep downhill
run to the river corridor and a climb
out.
Coolest thing: The scenery along the
river.
Fee: Skiing is free.
Getting there: Drive 102 miles north
to McCall on Idaho 55. Turn left on
Deinhard Lane near the airport. Take
a left on Mission and then a right on
Moon Ridge Road.
Infommation: 888 -84- IDAHO.
1
177611 /��v/ (C %�Jc% 1 L aq�' ! p� u4P
•
internati6onal ski races in Idaho
could tie to Olympics
in 2002
Photos by Katherine Jones / The Idaho Statesman
On his way to first place in the senior men's division with a time of 24:38.5, Martin Koukal, left, from the Czech Republic,
passes Kris Freeman as they whip around a curve on a course that winds up and down — and around — through Pon-
derosa State Park in McCall. Freeman took second in the junior men's division with a time of 26:36.7. Officials have
dreams that the Idaho International Cross - country Series will become a World Cup event for Olympic athletes in 2002.
McCall, Sun Valley, Bogus Bashi provide grueling courses for events
By Susan Whaley
The Idaho Statesman
In a flash of brightly col-
ored, skin -tight racing gear,
160 skiers launched the sec-
ond Idaho International
Cross - country Series in Mc-
Call on Saturday.
This year's larger field of
European skiers pushed the
level of competition to new
heights and brought organiz-
ers a step closer to realizing
their dream of making the
race a world -class event.
"It's obvious that this year's
race is much stronger, espe-
cially on the women's side of
the field," said race director
Rick Kapala of Hailey.
"Our hope for next year is
to attract another two or three
strong European teams and,
based on the inquiries we've
had, we think that's very pos-
sible to achieve," he said.
The events continue today
with a 15- kilometer race for
the men and a 10- kilometer
race for the women. The se-
ries then moves to Sun Valley
for three days of races start-
ing Tuesday. The series will
end next Saturday at Bogus
Basin Ski Resort.
Among the Europeans ski-
ing in the spring series for the
first time was Kristina Smi-
gun of Estonia, who ranks
second in this year's World
Cup standings. She'll be
wearing the leader's jersey in
today's race after finishing
Emma Garrard hustles up the first hill in the first leg of a
nine -day cross - country stage race that started Saturday.
The Idaho International Cross - country Series features jun-
ior boys and girls, ages 14 -15, and junior women, ages 16-
19 — Garrard's group — along with the senior division.
oral, 6 af�'s1G,�
first in the classic skiing race Satur-
day.
A seven- member Swedish team, al-
so in Idaho for the fast time, swept the
junior women's category, finishing 15
to 20 seconds behind the best senior
women.
That kind of top -notch competition
is good for the race, good for Idaho
and good for the competitors, Kapala
said.
He hopes to make the Idaho series a
World Cup event in two years and tie
it in with the 2002 Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City.
Next to the Olympics, the World
Cup is the toughest international com-
petition available to elite racers. The
United States has not hosted a World
Cup cross- country event since 1989.
Idaho would benefit from the in-
creased tourism and media exposure
of a pre - Olympic event, and the
world's best athletes would be drawn
to a race that allows them to acclimate
to the altitude, food and culture before
the Games.
The pre - Olympic training opportu-
nity is what drew Sture Noren, coach
of the Swedish team, and his racers to
the Idaho event.
"We must prepare for the high alti-
tude for the Olympics," he said. "We
live at sea level."
He was pleased with his team's per-
formance Saturday, but knows that
his racers' aerobic capacity will be
tested in the second stage after the
athletes have pushed themselves for a
few days.
Several of the racers he brought to
Idaho probably will compete at the
2002 Olympics.
Cross - country skiing is among the
most physically demanding of all
of z / aq PS
sports, Kapala said. And although it's
popular in Europe, it's a relatively ob-
scure sport in the United States.
They racers do it not for glory, but
for the love of the sport and the
chance to travel and compete inter-
nationally.
"They're doing it for a lot of rea-
sons, and it's not the money, Kapala
said. "It's a wicked, tough sport."
That was obvious on the race
course, where the athletes labored up
hills, then barreled down the othe
side on hard, icy snow.
"I think most people have no idea
how fast, how colorful and exciting it
is to watch these athletes," said Gregg
Lawley, coach of the McCall Nordic
Ski Team.
One of his skiers, Mariah Reddick,
14, finished second in her age division.
She's been a team member for sev-
en years — she started while in the
third grade — and competed in the Ju-
nior Olympics earlier this year.
Reddick sees a growing interest in
her sport.
"More people are looking at it and
thinking it's a fun sport to try," she
said.
Park ranger Ed Brashier skis the new
Crown Point Nordic Ski Trail. It
follows the shoreline of Cascade
Reservoir.
VENTURE Ili
Pete Zimowsky
he Idaho Statesman
CASCADE — Pres Funkhouser's
tracks weren't the only ones in the
ail at the Crawford Nordic Ski Trail
the rolling pine- covered hills east of
A coyote's paw prints followed
ght in the ribbons of ski tracks going
ver the hill. The coyote apparently
'ked the groomed trail for walking on
I e snow.
Nearby were the large round tracks
rom elk plodding in the snow. In a
mall gully below were the petite
racks of a fox.
"You get up on some of those log-
ging roads and you can go any-
where," said Funkhouser, who knows
the terrain. He mountain -bikes and
hikes the area in the summer and skis
it in the winter.
The Crawford Ski Trail isn't your
normal cross - country ski route. It's
what a good old- fashioned ski trail is
supposed to be — an adventure in the
woods and out in the countryside. It's
classic touring at its best.
Skiers who like to explore out -of-
the -way places will be glad to know
that the Crawford Nordic Ski Trail,
which was established in the early
1980s and later abandoned, is being
�a
Photo by Pete Zimowshy
THE WOODS
revived by the Southern Valley Coun- It is also great for beginners. The
ty Recreation District with dreams open slopes near the trailhead are ide-
making it a first -class touring trail. al for kids to play on. They'll burn up
The recreation district has joined energy climbing to the top and skiing
forces with the Idaho Department of down.
Parks and Recreation to keep the trail. Cascade's other trail is located on
groomed along with a new trail along state -park land near Lake Cascade at
Lake Cascade. Crown Point, just north of the dam.
The two new trails are putting Cas- It follows a railroad grade for
cade on the map as a destination for 2 miles north and offers skiers a quick
Nordic skiing. -�qorkout. It's ideal for beginners, said
The Crawford trail is the key to the I Brashier, park ranger with Lake
backcountry. Funkhouser often starts scade State Park.
skiing on Crawford trails and breaks t is also a good spot to see wildlife
out into the mountains following high deer and fox, he said.
ridges to places like Eagles Nest and ascade is a quick one and a half
nearby Horsethief Reservoir. bkrs north of Boise and offers Trea-
Classic country,
town
W., I
tidgeRne run: Skiinq a ridaeline at the Crawford Nordic Ski Trail near Cascade is Pres Funkhouser, a local cross - country skier who likes to explore the khouser said,
�ackcountry. Fabulous views of West' Mountain are seen in the backqround. "For cross - country skiinq, there are unlimited places to go," Fun
lescribinq the trail.
Waxing up: Pres
Funkhouser
waxes his skis to
combat icy condi-
tions on the lower
part of the Craw-
ford Nordic Ski
Trail.
sure Valley Nordic skiers a quick day -
trip in the mountains.
"This is our first year and we al-
ready see it as a success," said Matt
Miller, director of the Cascade City
Recreation and Parks Department.
NORDIC
"The trails have been opened and
maintained since January and will
continue to be maintained as long as
conditions allow us to do so," he said.
The recreation district purchased a
new snowmobile to do the grooming
of the trails.
"People are excited about the trails
and we hope to improve on them next
year," Miller said.
Cascade offers chance for skiers
About the trails
Crawford
Getting there: Drive 70 miles north
of Boise to Cascade on Idaho 55. Just
north of town, turn east on the Warm
Lake Highway. Travel 2.9 miles to the
pulloff on the right. The trailhead is on
the left.
Fee: None.
Trail: Beginners loop, 1.3 miles; in-
termediate loop, 2.5 miles; expert
loop, 4.7 miles.
Dogs: No.
Grooming: Classic,
Crown,Point Trail
Gettingthere: Drive 70 miles north of
Boise to Cascade on Idaho 55. Just be-
fore leaving town (before you:cross
the Payette River Bridge), turn left on
the road to Lake Cascade Dam. Con-
to explore
icy views: Idaho
State Parks
ranger Ed
Brashier says
one of the best
things about the
new trail at
Crown Point near
Cascade is the
view of Lake
Cascade and
West Mountain.
tinue to the dam and turn right. It's a
short distance to Crown Point Camp-
ground where the trail begins.
Fee: None.
Trail: Two miles out and 2 miles
back of flat beginner trail.
It is a multiple -use trail. The left side
is for snowshoers, snowmobilers and
horseback riding. The right side is for
classic cross - country skiing.
Dogs: No.
Grooming: Classic.
Information: Southern Valley Coun-
ty Recreation District, 208- 382 -4279 or
Lake Cascade State Park, 208 -382-
4258.
Maps: Trail maps are available at
Harpo's and Howdy's gas stations in
Cascade, Cascade City Hall and the
headquarters of Lake Cascade State
Park.
halve di
>ki to areat views at
By Pete Zimowsky
The Idaho Statesman
MCCALL — The best things about
making the three -mile Nordic ski trek
to the Narrows Overlook at Pon-
derosa State Park are the benches.
They're situated in the perfect spot
to gaze across the mirror -like surface
of frozen Payette Lake.
Oh, and they're great places to lie
down and rest after an invigorating
300 -foot climb in elevation through
part of the trail known as Thread the
Needle.
The benches are pointed in the right
direction from the 5,300 -foot overlook
to soak up the beauty of the pon-
derosa pine - studded landscape, for
which the park is named.
Ponderosa State Park, 2 miles from
downtown McCall on a peninsula in
the granite -lined glacial lake, is one of
the most popular and scenic cross -
country ski areas in the state.
Between 35,000 and 40,000 skiers
use the trail each year.
It's a great place to traverse rolling
hills dotted with 150- foot -tall pon-
derosa pines, cross aspen- covered
mountain ridges with views that
stretch for miles to snowcapped
mountains and to pass by frozen
marshes where animal tracks seem to
go on forever.
Besides diverse beauty, the state
park offers a variety of ski trails from
Olympic- caliber skating lanes guar-
anteed to burn massive amounts of
calories to easy classic (side -by -side)
tracks to build the confidence of be-
ginners.
Here are some suggestions for ski-
ing at the park:
Easy Does it — A 2.3 -mile easy trail,
which is good for new skiers. The trail
is wide with skating and classic
tracks.
Sunrise — An easy, 2.3 -mile trail
through Sage Brush Meadows and
pine forests. Both diagonal tracks and
a skating lane. A good place to see the
sunrise.
Fox Run — A one -way trail that fea-
tures a short uphill climb and winding
downhill and short flat sections. The
2.3 -mile trail is more difficult but has
nice views from a mountain ridge.
Porcupine Point — A half -mile trail
that provides access to an overlook of
the lake and McCall. It's more difficult
skiing.
Thread the Needle — 2.5 -mile trail
with an easy climb to the highest point
in the park. The climb is worth it to the
overlook of the park and lake.
Ponderosa park.,-
�6
11.
,3"' "
Northern Lights — A 1 -mile lighted
trail that takes skiers from the Visitor.
Center to the shores of Payette Lake.
Both diagonal tracks and a skating
lane.
Competition trails — An assortment
of competition trails were built during
the 1998 United States Ski Associa-
tion Junior Olympic Cross Country
Championships and still provide a
good workout for skate skiers.
The trails were used recently dur-
ing the U.S. Championships at the
nark.
Photos by Pete Zimowsky / The Idaho Statesman
Lakeside view: A lot of the trails in Ponderosa State Park are close enough to Payette Lake for great views of the
surrounding countryside.
Idea for junior Olympics started 4 years ago
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
The The idea to bring the nation's big-
gest junior Nordic race to McCall in
1998 started in 1994. That year,
McCall sent Eric Taplin and Kendra
Lawley to the Junior Olympics at
Bend, Ore.
It was the first time in recent
memory McCall racers had competed
at the Nordic Junior Olympics, and at
that race, an idea was born, said Ri-
chard Taplin, Eric's father.
"Gregg (Lawley) and I watched
that event and I said `There's no
reason we couldn't do this in
McCall, "' Taplin said. "We chal-
lenged each other to bring it to McCall
within four years."
So last winter, Taplin, Lawley
and Ken Everett decided to go a step
beyond volunteering for their
children's skiing team. The result of
their efforts is the Junior Olympics
Cross Country Championships set
for March 9 -14 at Ponderosa State
Park in McCall.
The trio quickly point out that
many people helped in the effort to
bring the Junior Olympics to McCall,
but it is not hard to figure out that
without their initiative and dedica-
tion, the Junior Olympics would not
be here this year.
1998 Junior Olympic
Cross Country Cham;
S
McColl, lduho
Junior Olympics
Schedule
—Pg. 9
Lawley and Taplin were instru-
mental in the recent resurgence of the
competitive youth Nordic skiing in
McCall. In the early 1990s, their four
children comprised three - fourths of
McCall's Nordic Ski Team, which
has now grown to more than 50 young
racers.
The idea that started in Bend in
1994 simmered in the backs of their
minds for several years as the Junior
Olympics bounced across the nation,
heading to Alaska the following year,
then to Maine, then to Minnesota.
th k th T _;
Last spring, ey new a umo
Olympics would be somewhere in
the West, but was McCall ready?
They enlisted Everett, president of
the McCall Nordic Ski Team, and
put together a bid package.
"If we didn't go for this now, it
could be another eight years before
we get another shot at it," Lawley
said.
That was a big motivation to do
it," Everett said.
Armed with their bid package and
letters of support from everyone from
Idaho Gov. Phil Batt to the McCall
Area Chamber of Commerce, Lawley
and Everett stood before officials
from the United States Ski Associa-
tion last spring and made their best
sales pitch for McCall.
They prevailed, beating out Spo-
kane, Wash., which was the other
possible location. "They were blown
away by it," Lawley said. "I think
they felt McCall was the better site."
After receiving the go ahead, they
put together a committee to help run
the race, many members of which
had already signed on, and started
making preparations for the event.
Ponderosa Park, where Taplin is
(See "Olympics, " Back Page)
Olympics
(Continued from Page I)
assistant manager, undertook a major
trail project, adding three miles of
new trail and linking existing trails to
make a competitive course. "It's cre-
ated a lot more variety," Taplin said.
"When you add it to everything else,
it adds a lot."
The new trails worked in conjunc-
tion with existing projects going on at
the park, and received full approval
from Park ManagerDenni� Coyle and
Idaho Department of Parks and Rec-
reation Director Yvonne Ferrell.
"We just reprioritized some of our
projects and found ways to make it
happen," Taplin said.
The Junior Olympics also dove-
tails with a statewide effort to lure
teams to Idaho to train and prepare for
the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City,
Utah.
"Now McCall is right in the thick
of it with this (statewide) Olympic
promotion," Taplin said.
They also feel that the Junior Olym-
pics will make McCall a prime choice
for future Nordic events.
"This could carry on for a long
time," Taplin said. "By the time the
Junior Olympics are done, McCall
will be back in the national lime-
light."
Nordic, team ' ° /g
hands over all
its money to
settle dispute
Team delivers $21,800,
determined to start over
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
The McCall Nordic Ski Team this week gave
every dollar it had to pay off a legal judgment
stemming from the 2008 Masters World Cup
held in McCall.
The team paid $21,813.64 to Dana Williamson,
ownerof SkaterThings , the restaurant and skat
ing equipment shop located inside Manchester
Ice and Event Centre.
That amount is less than the $29,000 a judge
said Williamson is owed from the 2008 dispute,
but that is all the money the ski clubs had in
its accounts, club president Jodie Lea said in a
statement issued Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Williamson confirmed the
money had been received and the case was
settled. She declined further comment.
The ski team plans to initiate fundraising
efforts to help rebuild the team coffers and
support Nordic youth programs, Lea said in
her statement.
"We are excited to have this legal issue behind
us and we're looking forward to a great Nordic
season" she said.
The team will hold its annual fall meeting
at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Ponderosa State Park
Visitor's Center.
"We are still committed to providing quality
recreational and competitive Nordic ski oppor-
tunities to the youth in McCall at an affordable
cost; and we're looking to the community for
ongoing support, Lea said.
"We are so appreciative for the overwhelm-
ing support we have received throughout this
unfortunate debacle," she said.
The ski team plans to host two local races,
the Winter Start race on Dec. 18 and the Race
for Diamonds on Jan. 2.
See NORDIC, Page A -12
Nordic
(Continued from Page A -1)
Legal Fees Paid
Also this week, the president
of the ice rink said he paid the
legal fees for Williamson, which
amounted to $18,504 of the total
$29,000 judgment.
Ron Sabala said he decided
to pay the legal fees "because I
don't like to see innocent people
taken advantage of, "referringto
Williamson.
Sabala is president of the
nonprofit Richard Sabala Foun-
dation, which completed the
privately owned ice rink in
2003 and controls its operations.
Skater Things is a tenant of the
ice rink.
The dispute was over beer
and wine service at a banquet
held March 7, 2008, at the ice
rink and attended by about Williamson estimated her
1,300 people. losses at $10,000 and demanded
The party was the final to be paid by the organizing
event in the Masters World Cup, committee.
which drew 1,222 entrants from A meeting was held in April
23 countries for the week -long 2008 duringwhichacompromise
event held at Ponderosa State settlement of $6,300 was reached
Park. and check drawn up, court docu-
The Masters World Cup ments said.
committee operated under the A meeting of the organizing
committee was held to ratify the
compromise, during which the
compromise was voted down
and the $6,300 check was never
delivered.
No further offers to settle
were made to Williamson, and
she filed the lawsuit in Septem-
ber 2008.
A court - appointed hearing
officer heard testimony in the
dispute and ruled in June in
favor of Williamson.
In August, a final judgment
was issued awarding William-
son $10,430 for lost income plus
$18,504 in attorneys fees.
In addition to the judgment,
the ski club incurred about $5,500
in legal expenses defending the
case.
nonprofit legal umbrella of the
McCall Nordic Club Inc., which
operates the McCall Nordic Ski
Team.
The world cup committee
dissolved soon after the event,
which left the Nordic club re-
sponsible for contesting the case
and paying the judgment.
Parties in the dispute dis-
agree over arrangements made
between Williamson and mem-
bersof the organizingcommittee
over beer and wine service, ac-
cording to court documents.
Williamson believed the orga-
nizers would provide two bottles
of wine per table and two kegs
of beer for the banquet, after
which she could sell any other
alcoholic beverages, the docu-
ments said.
But when the night of the
banquet arrived, the committee
had brought in 12 kegs of beer
and 50 cases of wine.
Compromise Rejected
ra
I6
Nordic team gets $10,600
from Albertson foundation
Ski club makes plans to move on
after Masters World Cup judgment
BY LUCIA V KNUDSON
The Star -News
The McCall Nordic Ski Team is $10,000 richer thanks
to a gift from the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation.
The foundation gave the money in response to the
financial hardship that followed the ski club paying off a
judgment resulting from the 2008 Masters World Cup, said
Jodi Lea, president of the ski team's board of directors.
Lea was optimistic the ski team will recover from
emptying its accounts to pay the owner of Skater Things,
the restaurant and skating equipment shop in Manchester
Ice and Event Centre.
See NORDIC, Page A -2
Nordic
(Continued from Page A -1)
Last week the team paid
$21,800 to Skater Things owner
Dana Williamson to settle a
$29,000 judgment against the
team.
A judge said the club owed
the money for lost profits and
attorneys' fees resulting from a
disagreement over who was to
sell beer and wine at the Masters
World Cup closing banquet.
The Albertson Foundation
grant means the team can move
forward, Lea said.
"it was fortunate we didn't
have to sell our property," Lea
said referring to the ski team's
van, waxing tables and other
items.
The group met informally at
Ponderosa State Park on Sunday
with about 15 people in atten.
dance including youths.
The mood was one of relief
the lawsuit was over and hope
for a brighter future with news
of the Albertson gift. Team
members were urged to continue
with their dry -land training
until snow flies.
Twolocal skiraces have been
scheduled, the Winter Start
race on Dec. 18 and the Race for
Diamonds on Jan. 2.
For the upcoming ski season,
parents whose children ski with
the team can purchase club mem-
berships which would give them
a greater voice in team decisions,
Lea said.
s1-1-1403-1
Membership fees were raised
25 percent and restructured to
match in size and scope those of
other small -sized Nordic teams
in the region, Lea said.
Sponsorship packets of $1,000
and $2,000 for the team are avail-
able. Registration for the team
and information are available
at the team's Web site, www.
mccallskiing.com.
Miller leads McCall skiers at Nordic Qi1difier
Su er
p
Anika Miller led Nordic skiers from Mc-
Call at the Junior Nationals Super Qualifier
held last weekend at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Miller, representing Payette Lakes
Sports, took first place in the J2 (age 15 -16)
girls' freestyle sprint event.
Other top finishers from McCall included
Margaret Pope of Bogus Basin Nordic, who
took 12th in the J2 girls' freestyle sprint.
Gerrit Egnew and Danny Kaiser of the
McCall Nordic Ski Team placed 15th and
29th, respectively, in the J2 boys' freestyle
sprint.
In Saturday's tough classic race, Miller
finished third in the J2 girls' field, while
illness claimed the other three McCall
skiers.
More than 650 of the top junior cross -
country skiers from throughout the western
United States competed on the 2002 Olympic
course. Highlights included top collegiate
racers and visits from members of the
2010 U.S. Olympic team, who are training
in the area.
The final qualifying races for positions
on the Intermountain Junior National Team
willtake place Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 13-
14, at Bogus Basin Ski Area. The top skiers
in three age groups will be selected based on
their results from six qualifying events.
Junior Nationals will be held March 5 -12
at Presque Isle, Maine.
Anika Miller
of McCall
works her way
to a first -place
finish in the J2
girls' freestyle
race during
the Junior
Nationals
Super
Qualifier
at Soldier
Hollow, Utah.
Photo by Mark Ryan
Thomas Gebhards from McCall pushes off to an early lead during the start of the 2.5km Winter
Start Race held on Saturday at Ponderosa State Park. Behind him is Haley Calkins (13) and
Carolyn Penny (14) both from McCall.
Nordic ski season off to a good Winter Start
The local Nordic ski racing
season kicked off on Saturday
at Ponderosa State Park with
the Winter Start Race, in
which about 45 participants
took part in races for youths
and adults.
The finish in the 10 kilo-
meter event went down to the
wire, with four of the top ski-
ers headed toward the finish
line in a pack. Only 6 /100th
of a second separated the
first -place from fourth -place
skiers.
Taking first was Charlie
Fereday of Boise, who is on
the University of Montana ski
team. Fereday was followed by
Daryl Hegerle of Boise, Kurt
Wolfe of McCall and Jimmy
Bryan of McCall.
This was the first race for
many of the skiers in the
lkm and 2.5km events. The
race was sponsored by Paul's
Market and staged by the
McCall Nordic Ski Team and
McCall Parks and Recreation
Department.
2010 Winter Start Race
(Home Towns Not Avail-
able)
lkm: 1. Conner Penny. 2.
Brock VanWaveren. 3. Adian
Calkins. 4. Samuel Penny. 5.
Sophie McMannus
2.5km: 1. Thomas Geb-
hards. 2. Ashlee Robinson.
3. Carolyn Penny. 4. Haley
Calkins.
5km: 1. Danny Kaiser. 2.
Cole Greenberg. 3. Kellen
Crawford. 4. Marcia Witte. 5.
Claudia Delaney. 6. Lyle Nel-
son. 7. Scott Acker. 8. Mona
Clausen.
lOkm:1. Charlie Fereday. 2.
Daryl Hegerle.3. Kurt Wolfe. 4.
Jimmy Bryan. 5. Jeff Wilhelm.
6. Caleb Zurstadt. 7. Mark
Jensen. '8. Gerrit Egnew. 9.
Jeff Fereday.
SKI RACING GETS UNDERWAY - Garrett
Summerfield of the McCall Ski Racing
Team takes a giant slalom gate at Park City,
Utah, for the opening races of the 2010-
11 season last week. The team was led by
Summerfield, who ended up having the
"slalom race of his life," placing 27th among
99 finishers on Friday, head coach Chuck
Harris said. "The opening races are difficult
to put into perspective," Harris said. "We
had 13 year old athletes racing against
veteran athletes in their mid 20s. The
team will train for a few days at Brundage
Mountain Resort before taking a Christmas
break.
Photo by Matt Sylvester
/ ;4;�� � ) 0
a
�F
Photo by Bruce Adelsman
Anika Miller of McCall pushes her way to a silver medal at
last week's 2011 US Junior National Cross Country Skiing
Championships held in Minneapolis.
McCall's Miller wins silver medal
at junior national X -C meet
Anika Miller of McCall
captured a silver medal at the
2011 US Junior National Cross
Country Skiing Championships
held last week in Minneapolis.
Miller finished second and
was edged out of first place
in the 5 km skate race by 3.8
seconds.
Millerjoined Margaret Pope
representing the Intermountain
Division at the junior national
championships held at Wirth
Park in downtown Minneapo-
lis.
The event drew the top 400
junior cross country skiers
from the across the U.S. Skiers
competed in season -long quali-
fying races for the opportunity
to represent their clubs and
divisions.
Miller started her week off
with a fourth place finish in
the sprint competition, which
required skiers to race elimina-
tion heats on a l.lkm course.
Miller handily wonher quar-
ter -final and semi -final heats to
advance to the six -racer final.
Miller appeared to have the
race won when a tactical error
in the final 200 meters dropped
her to fourth.
Both Pope and Miller strug-
gled in the individual classic
races at the championships
with illness taking a toll on
both skiers.
Miller dropped to 17th in
the 5km classic event but was
circumspect about her perfor-
mance.
The race courses were laid
out at Wirth Park with the
skyscrapers of Minneapolis
providing a backdrop. Pope
enjoyed the novel approach to
the event.
"It was really cool to race in
a big city," she said. "This was
definitely the best nationals I
have been to."
Miller was named a US Ski
Association All- American and is
nowa seven -time U.S. All- Ameri-
can in National Championship
competitions.
Her silver medal is her third
medal in national champion-
ships and complements a silver
and bronze medal she won at
last year's nationals in Presque
Isle, Maine.
The skiers will compete in
the USSA SuperTour finals in
Sun Valley in two weeks before
hanging up their skis for the
season.
s�. nVA
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
McCall's Miller qualifies for European cross - country trip
Anika Miller of McCall qualified for the U.S. Ski Team J1 trip to Europe based on her results at the
2012 U.S. Cross - Country Championships last week in Rumford, Maine.
Miller skied to a sixth -place finish in the opening race at
the national championships, a 1.4 kilometer freestyle sprint.
She was the top junior in the race and bested many of the
top national level racers in the nation.
Miller will depart for Europe in early February and will race
against the top international J1 in Mammaste, Estonia, Feb
22-25.
"I was so stoked after my first race," said Miller, who
attends Stratton Mountain School in Vermont.
"I still can't believe I went that fast," she said. "I thought I
was way behind half way through the race so I just
hammered the last hills."
J -%Ik
t
With no recent snowfall, the races took place on man -
made snow.
"I really love skiing on really hard snow and these courses
were perfect for me," Miller said "The conditions were really
good even if there was no real snow."
Qualification for the junior trip to Europe included composil
ski season.
Plow by lone Bvn :d Itive VaOry Gr�bic
.kuka Mils d WC all placed such at the ^_oL ITS
Cress Cnmitic chnmput�lnps held last week at
Slack NI.—t— m Runuoid, Nair
e scores from the early part of the 2011 -12
Miller qualified fourth among J1 girls age 16 -17 and will be joined on the team with skiers from
Vermont, Alaska, Minnesota and Idaho.
Miller placed 48th in the 5km classic race and 62nd in the 10km skate race. She was unable to
compete in the final race due to illness.
Miller attributed much of her success to early season training at home in McCall.
"There hasn't been any snow in the East this season so I came home for all of December and had
really great training conditions at home," she said. "I think it made a big difference."
http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 1/12/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall skiers win Payette Lakes Ski Marathon
Kurt Wolfe of McCall and Liv Jensen of Hailey were the top male and female finishers on Saturday at
the Payette Lakes Ski Marathon held at the Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall.
A total of 76 racers finished the marathon, with Wolfe and
Jensen leading the pack in the 30 kilometer race.
Jared Alexander and Nikki Humphries, both of McCall,
were the overall male and female winners of thel5 kilometer
race.
Race conditions were snowy and windy, causing some
drifting that skiers had to negotiate, race director J. Mark
Jensen said.
"All agreed that the course skied well and it seemed to all
come off well," Jensen said.
kuzl Hegehle (31 w,), nmd Matt Grocer (3m), both
of Bose, pnsb to get ahead of the pack dmv)g
SatmUY s Pacetre Likes Sla M.a atwn
The marathon was the first event of the new McCall Winter
Challenge. On Sunday, the first "Go Nordic Fishing" event was held with one kilometer of skiing at each
of the area's four Nordic ski venues in town with raffle prizes awarded later in the day.
Here is the overall order of finish in each race of the Payette Lakes Ski Marathon. Home towns were
not available:
30 KILOMETER
1. Kurt Wolf. 2. Joe Jensen. 3. Daryl Hegerle. 4. Jimmy Bryan. 5. Jim Ely. 6. John King. 7. Matt
Grover. 8. Wilhelm Northrop. 9. Live Jensen. 10. Whit Albright.
11. Randy Acker. 12. Jeff Hunteman. 13. Willie Stewart. 14. Todd Arndt. 15. Sarah Armstrong. 16.
Jessica Jensen. 17. Cory Nelson. 18. Julie Welty. 19. Art Troutner. 20. Levi Wimer.
21. Jon Holmquist. 22. Ed Daniels. 23. Denise Jantzer. 24. Brooke Kinzer. 25. Joe Feider. 26. Tom
Ahlrichs. 27. Jeffery Fereday. 28. Carol Severa. 29. Tim Severa. 30. Elizabeth Embick.
31. David Kirk. 32. Curt Mack. 33. Paul Jozwik. 34. Nathan Stewart. 35. Matt McColl. 36. Frank
Hruban. 37. Michael Danahy 38. Raliegh Jensen. 39. Phi O'Bryan. 40. Steve Clautice.
41. Michael Ross.. Matt Purdy. 43. Diane Penny. 44. Ron Robberrecht. 45. Michelle Reagan. 46.
Chris Murphy. 47. Steve Hollenhorst. 48. Michael Judge. 49. Carol Monteverde.
15 KILOMETER
1. Jared Alexander. 2. Pete Wier. 3. Irwin Mulnick. 4. Nicki Humpries. 5. Neal Davis. 6. Andy Forbes.
7. David Reddick. 8. David Hinchman. 9. Carol Rank. 10. Sally Elliot.
11. Kan Wier. 12. Jeff Snyder. 13. Shauna Unser. 14. Mike Murphy. 15. Karla Eitel. 16. Barr Quarton.
17. Leigh Ward. 18. Nancy Murphy. 19. Sean Warren. 20. Sandy Kollenberg.
21. Pamela Davis. 22. John Gladics. 23. Patrick Harren. 24. Kathy Muench. 25. Biran McColl. 26.
Steve Meunch. 27. Merideth Chaudoir.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /outdoors _page.php 3/1/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Pope wins all- American honors at X -C championships
Margaret Pope earned All-American honors with two top-10 finishes at the Junior National Cross -
Country Ski Championships in Soldier Hollow, Utah, last week
A total of 400 skiers from 10 regions of the country competed in distance and sprint races featuring
both freestyle and classic techniques.
Pope, skiing for the Intermountain Region, excelled in the freestyle races winning eighth place in the
10 kilometer skate and fifth place in the skate relay.
Anika Miller of McCall, skiing for the New England Region, placed 18th in the classic sprint and 28th in
the 5km classic.
Both Pope and Miller currently attend ski academies out -of- state, Miller in Stratton, Vt., and Pope in
Sun Valley.
Pope also received recognition in the Intermountian Region, comprised of skiers from Utah, Montana,
Idaho, and Wyoming, as most - improved skier of 2012.
Miller is the daughter of Tuck and Cindy Miller of McCall and Pope is the daughter of Clem Pope and
Jodie lea of McCall.
http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php
Page 1 of 1
3/15/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
McCall resident named to telemark national team
Chris Henery of McCall has been named to the national team of the United States Telemark Ski
Association for the 2012 -13
Henery earned a spot on the team after competing for
many years on the national and World Cup circuit, a news
axis "
release said.
The US national team athletes will compete in regional,
national and World Cup Telemark events this coming winter.
ep
Telemark skiing is often referred to as "free heel" skiing.
Similar to a Nordic set up, the telemark boot is connected to
the ski at the toe of the boot, allowing the skier to raise their
l
rear heel to make a turn.
+ �"
The telemark turn looks as though the skier is doing lunges
z �`
down the hill while carving their turns.
While telemark skiing is often used as a way to hike and
Cl— HM'1 otrtec;,llsholvsrl�- tonuTUtevnfft
ski in the back country, this style of skiing is also seen at
I.—Potou the u b—d te,m of the orated
many resorts.
St,tes TAemvlc Sla.is ,twu
Telemark racing began in the US in the 1970s. It is now a World Cup sport but it is not yet an Olympic
event.
http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 7/26/2012
EQUIPMENT
INSPECTION
Photo by Matt Moehr / for Thp ct�-hi ...._
— -•••u n�� n un '5unday during the Payette La kes Ski Club Ski Swaplheld at Payette
Lakes Middle School in McCall. The events raised money for the Little Ski Hill and
Bear Basin Nordic Center, both of which received their first snowfall this week.
Outdoors Page The StarNews
NORDIC BR( WHIIRE
OPT - Tins is the cover of
the new McCall Nordic
gtnde to cross mtmttgv
siding m the uea The
brochtwe, available at
Nlecan btvshxWes.
Provides ridonnatton ""
five Nordic ski areas as
well as the N167all Area
Pass, "Inch is available
for the seas"",seve"
class or five dins W to
for details
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 10/4/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of I
McCall Area Nordic Pass goes on sale
The McCall Area Nordic season pass is on sale now at Home Town Sports, Gravity Sports and The
HUB in McCall.
The season pass allows skiers to use Nordic areas at the Bear Basin Nordic Center, Ponderosa State
Park, Jug Mountain Ranch and The Activity Barn.
An individual pass costs $135 and a family pass costs $250 until Nov. 30, when prices will increase by
$20.
Proceeds go toward trail grooming and to support the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which operates the
Bear Basin Nordic Center.
http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 10/25/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall's Miller sets world record in SkiErg World Sprints
Anika Miller of McCall set a new world record at the Concept2 SkiErg World Sprints held earlier this
month.
The international race of 1,000 meters was held locally at
Rudy's Gym in McCall, where Miller, 17, posted the fastest
time among all 357 women on the Concept2 SkiErg fitness
device.
The elde -level Nordic skier posted a time of 3:51.4 to break
the previous world record for girls ages 13-18.
Other top finishers included Kurt Wolf, 10th place, Men
age 30 -39; and Eric Messinger, at 3:26.8, for 7th place, Men
age 40 -49.
Sally Elliott was the winner among women age 60 -69,
setting a new world record for that age group with a time of
441.1.
The competition is held annually at fitness faciRies and ski
clubs all over the US and in many foreign countries. A total
f 855 S t 8 t t d th
ifi GL ',Ta
,A IN
A IQer,M
o entrants in ages o 8 es a e speed. -
Other McCall results included
Women: Karen Lannom, 4:59.0,40-49-, Toni Slaymaker, � ^Ys Y7 "'
4:59.2, 50 -59; Sara Wolf, 4:48.7, 30 -39, Nancy Hatfield, -?nutai l,htler wouics trr way toward a«wid record
w the Concept_ StaErg u��elnue uiute her father,
5:13.02, 50 -59; Ellen Holm, 5:56.2., 60-69. ! Thdt, keeps time
Men: Wes Keller, 3:35, 40 -41; Randy Acker, 3:37.01, 40-49; Andrew Armstrong, 3:58.5, 19 -29; Jeff
Hunteman, 4:05.4, 40 -44; Joe Slaymaker, 4:59.2, 50 -59, John Sommerwerck, 4:16.7, 60-69: Ben
Hippie, 4:20.3, 50 -59; Curt Mack, 4:31.3, 50 -59; Lewis McLin, 4:36.6, 70 -79; Larry Swan, 4:1, 60-69,
Jim McAllister, 4:56.2, 60-69,
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 11/21/2012
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
McCall's Miller finishes second at W. Yellowstone Nordic race
BY AUDREY MANGAN
for The Star -News
Anika Miller of McCall placed second at the USSA SuperTour Nordic race held last Saturday at West
Yellowstone, Mont.
Miller, 17, took the silver medal in the 1 6 kilometer sprint
race, coming in 4.59 second behind winner Sophie Caldwell
of Stratton Mountain, Vt.
The West Yellowstone sprint race was a qualifier and
results have no bearing on team selection for the upcoming
World Cup sprints in Quebec.
Miller, a senior at McCall- Donnelly High School, battled
symptoms of a muscle ailment called compartment
syndrome last winter while she attended Stratton Mountain
School in Vermont.
Now that the health of her legs has improved she has been
able to log more hours
"This is the payoff of all that training," Miller said. "This
course actually favors my kind of skiing. I'm not really good
at scrambly, tight uphill courses."
Pbmo by Fum56m nom
Ainka t,hller rwshes tmvd the tunsh at the
Yellowstone 16 kilometer spimt m Sahu 6% it
lvest Yellowstone. Mont
Miller's prologue performance has her excited for the true sprint tests in Bozeman, Mont., this
weekend.
Like many of her competitors, her primary goal this winter is to compete in a World Cup bib in
December.
"That's what we're going for, so I'm psyched," she said.
(Audrey Mangan is an associate editor for FasterSkier.com.)
Page I of 1
http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com /pages /prep_schools _page.php 11/29/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Rec district to groom X -C trails this winter
The Southern Valley County Recreation District is joining with Lake Cascade State Park and Cascade
Medical Center to open the trails at Hasbrouck Ranch as soon as there is enough snow for a base.
The cross - country ski committee has recommended a $25 season vehicle pass which can be hung
from the rear -view mirror while parked at the trail. One -time users may pay $5 per skier.
"Fees need to be collected in order to keep this program alive," district board President Bob Zach said.
Season passes will be available at Fit Express, 208 N. Main Street in Cascade, or application
envelopes can be found at the trail head for mailing to the rec district.
Passes will then be mailed back to the purchaser with coupons for various "apres -ski" treats from local
merchants. Donations will also be accepted.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 12/13/2012
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Bear Basin Nordic Center to open for skiing today
The Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall will open for cross- country skiing today.
About 10 kilometers of trails will be groomed by today with more trails groomed as conditions warrant,
manager Ed Roper said.
Fee are $10 per day for adults, $5 for youth and $5 for snowshoers.
The center is located just west of McCall off Idaho 55 near the Little Ski Hill.
The area is operated by the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which also operates the Little Hill.
For season pass information and grooming updates, go to www.mccallnordic com.
http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/outdoors�_page.php 12/13/2012
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page
Miller named to world championship Nordic team
Anika Miller of McCall has been named to the U.S. Ski Team's U18 Trip and Junior World
Championship teams.
Miller, a senior at McCall- Donnelly High School, was selected based on age -group rankings after three
races at U.S. nationals.
She will race at the Junior World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, Jan. 12 -28.
Points were awarded to athletes like they are on the World Cup (100 points for first, 80 for second,
etc.) and added together from their best two out of three races.
Athletes are named to each team from the top of the ranking lists after pre - qualified athletes.
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 1/10/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
McCall's Miller finishes strong week at U.S. X-C championship
Anika Miller of McCall finished a strong week at the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships with a
trip into the semi - finals of the women's freestyle sprint.
Miller, a senior at McCall - Donnelly High School, posted the
fourth - fastest time in the 1.5 kilometer qualifier on the
Olympic course at Soldier Hollow, Utah to advance into the
rounds of the freestyle sprint championships.
Miller easily won her quarter -final round to advance into
the semi - finals heats consisting of the remaining top 12
skiers.
r -
Miller led her semi -final heat until a tactical error coming"
into the finishing cost her a trip to the finals.
AML, ton. d t 161 . fu. r %ght. lrnds hft srun-
"I kind of forgot I was racing World Cu skiers and not Natwu„tatdminoug ps aoss otwm slate¢
9 8 P tJanond Cliaminoustups
juniors,' she said. "I can usually take a race out from start to
finish on this course but not against this group."
Miller was the only junior to advance into the semi -final rounds.
The national championships were also the selection races for skiers to be named to the U.S. Ski Team
for the upcoming Junior World Championships to be held in Liberec, Czech Republic, starting Monday.
Miller was the youngest member to be selected to the U.S. team and this will be her first world
championships.
She is currently the top ranked junior in the United States and is ranked 14th overall.
" Anika performed at a very high level at nationals,* U.S. Ski Team Coach Brian Fish said. "I don't
mean as a younger athlete, but at a high level against a very competitive field."
Miller has been selected to start in the classic sprint on Monday and the 5km freestyle on Wednesday
at the upcoming junior worid championships.
Page
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 1/17/2013
Outdoors Page
McCall Nordic skiers race at Sun Valley festival
Several McCall skiers raced in the Sun Valley Nordic Festival held last week near Sun Valley.
Kurt Wolf was a member of the Idaho team that won the race among state teams at the annual
Boulder Mountain Tour held on Saturday.
Wolf, who is parks supervisor for the city of McCall, was a member of the five -man, five -woman team
that bested teams from eight other states.
Wolf also paced second in the men's age 30-34 division at the Boulder Mountain Tour and 16th place
overall.
He also placed sixth in the 10 kilometer classic -style race held Jan. 31 as part of the 2013 AXCS
National Masters race.
In the Boulder Mountain Tour, Andrew Amstrong placed ninth in the men's age 18 -24 division, and Jeff
Huntsman placed 20th in the men's age 40-44 division.
Irwin Mulnick placed 20th in the men's age 50.54 division, and Art Troutner placed 17 in the men's age
55-59 bracket followed by Dan Ostermiller in 29th place and Curt Mack in 31st place.
Mark Jensen finished in fourth place in the men's age 60-64 division followed by Michael Murphy, who
placed 30th. Bill Thomas placed 25th in the men's age 65-69 bracket.
Female entrants from McCall included Lisa Ostermiller, who placed 25th in the women's age 50 -54
bracket, and Nicki Humphries, who finished fifth in the women's age 55-59 bracket followed by Carol
Troutner in 27th place.
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/7/2013
The StarNews Page 1 of
Gebhards leads McCall Nordic racers at Soldier Hollow
Thomas Gebhards of the Payette Lakes Sports Nordic team scored a win and a fourth place finish in
the Super - Qualifier at Soldier Hollow, Utah, this past weekend.
Gebhards skied to a decisive 11- second win in the 3 kilometer J3 Boys freestyle to start off the
weekend.
"It was an interval start race so I was stoked to find out I won," he said
Gebhards' win solidified his position at the top of the regional points list and he is the current points
leader for the J3 Intermountain Cup.
The Super - Qualifier Races featured the top 650 cross-country racers in the Western US and takes
place annually at the Olympic Venue at Soldier Hollow Utah.
Gebhards has started the season with four wins and two second place finishes at the Intermountain
Cup races this season.
"Thomas has been super consistent at the top of the leader board and he's showing that he's the top
skier regionally in his age group," coach Andrew Armstrong said. "He's well on his way to winning the
Intermountain Cup"
Gebhards finished the weekend with a fourth place in the mass start race on Saturday.
Other McCall racers competing at the Super Qualifier included:
J4 Girls - Abby Griffith: 24th Skate, 26th Classic
• J2 Girls - Ashlee Robinson: 62nd Skate, 70th Classic.
• J3 Girls - Emma Griffith: 44th Skate, 46th Classic.
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Page The
Re- Mastered Nordic race draws 121 entrants
A total of 121 entrants took part in the first annual McCall Re- Mastered Race last weekend at
Ponderosa State Park and Jug Mountain Ranch.
Saturday's distance races were held at Ponderosa park
using the course that served as the venue for the 2008
Masters World Cup that drew 1,000 international
competitors._
On Sunday the event moved to Jug Mountain Ranch for a
hill - climbing event.
The weekend's oldest racer was Thomas Welty of McCall,
-"
89, who skied the 15 kilometer course on Saturday in a time
of 1:20:29.
M., D) ante ❑auea
K t Wolficorim to keep Ins k:K1 wild, "Wh
Abby Griffith of McCall was the youngest racer by 15 years
[exuen wd D[ntt Groc r mal r tlun']xnsmt hung
in the hill -climb event on Sunday. Grath competed in the
at
youth races that moming but sought greater challenges.
Ponderosa State P:vk
"it is our goal to grow this event over the next few years and give Idaho another event similar to the
Boulder Mountain Tour which takes place annually in Sun Valley," said organizer Kurt Wolf of McCall,
who won two races during the weekend.
"We are already working on corporate sponsors to help with awards, cash prizes, and the overall
quality of the event," said Wolf, who is also parks supervisor for the city of McCall.
Here are the top finishers for the weekend:
PONDEROSA PARK
SATURDAY
45 Kilometer
Men: 1. Kurt Wolf (McCall) 2. Joe Jensen (Boise) 3. Eric Jensen (Boise) 4. Matt Grover (Boise) 5.
Andrew Armstrong (McCall).
Women: 1. Jessica Jensen (Boise) 2. Sara Armstrong (McCall) 3. Julie Welly (McCall) 4 Nicki
Humphries (McCall) 5. Denise Jantzer (McCall).
30 Kilometer
Men: 1. Jeff Wilhelm (Boise) 2. Jeffrey Gasser (Boise) 3. Irwin Mulnick (McCall) 4. Cory Nelson
(McCall) 5. Clyde Cody (Boise).
Women: 1. Brook Kinzer (McCall) 2. Liz Paul (Boise) 3. Karen Morrow (McCall) 4. Liz Cody (Boise) 5.
Sharon Bjornson (Boise).
15 Kilometer
Men: 1. Neal Davis (McCall) 2. Dan Ostermiller (McCall) 3. Steve Antell (McCall) 4. Curt Mack
(McCall) 5. David Reddick (McCall).
Women: 1. Pavia Clouser (McCall) 2. Lisa Ostermiller (McCall) 3. Michelle Reagan (McCall) 4. Kan
Wier (Washington) 5. Regan Charldon (Boise).
JUG MOUNTAIN RANCH HILL CLIMB
SUNDAY
Men: 1. Kurt Wolf (McCall) 2. Andrew Armstrong (McCall) 3. Jeff Hunteman (McCall) 4. Jeff Wilhelm
(McCall) 5. Caleb Zurstadt (McCall).
Women: 1. Sara Armstrong (McCall) 2. Julie Welty (McCall) 3. Brooke Keinzer (McCall) 4. Michelle
Reagan (McCall) 5. Sid Batman (McCall).
Page
http: / /www.mccallstamews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/14/2013
Page The StarNews
Fraah <rtn mitc. I— r.lthn, __._..
Fresh snow is usually a good thing for skiers, but it hurt the turnout at Saturday's Payette Lakes Ski
Marathon to mark the 75th anniversary of the Payette Lake Ski Club.
A total of 43 entrants took part in either the 30 kilometer
race or the 15km race at Bear Basin Nordic Center west of
McCall.
The smaller turnout was due to a dump of eight inches of
snow the night before that distracted many would -be racers
to more powdery pursuits, organizer Jared Alexander said.
"Believe me, the last thing I wanted to be doing was putting
on skinny skis on a powder day but the race must go on,"
Alexander said.
Daryl Hegerle of Boise was the winner of the 30km race,
posting a time of 1 hours, 37 minutes and 26.10 seconds.
0
i
That was nearly two minutes faster than second -place ft.. wns 5tr- —b,U.M
finisher Jimmy Bryan of McCall, who finished with a time of Gann cah-ar(k of McCall g.-es lug au nshele,ces
the status Lue of Sattndac's Nwtte takes Sla
1:39:40.50. Marathou
Anika Miller of McCall blew away the field in the 15km race with a time of 52:53.60, or nearly three
minutes faster than second -place finisher Thomas Gebhards of McCall.
Here are the local overall finishers for the 2013 Payette Lakes Ski Marathon:
30 KILOMETERS
2. Jimmy Bryan, McCall. 4. Caleb Zurstadt, McCall. 5. Jeff Hunteman, McCall. 6. Julie Welty, McCall.
7. Brooke Kinzer, McCall. 9. Art Troutner, McCall. 11. Neal Davis, McCall. 14. Kent Graefe, New
Meadows. 17. Karen Morrow, McCall. 20. Michael Murphy, McCall. 22. Karen Kessler, New Meadows.
15 KILOMETERS
1. Anika Miller, McCall. 2. Thomas Gebhards, McCall. 3. Jared Alexander, McCall. 6, Sage Fox,
McCall. 8. Tom Bates, McCall. 9. Michelle Reagan, McCall. 10. Ashley Robinson, McCall. 11. Carolyn
Troutner, McCall. 12. Ben Hippie, McCall. 14. Pam Davis. 15. Marilyn Olson. 16. Ginnell Hellhake,
McCall. 17. Sid Bateman, McCall. 18. Ken Mulle, McCall. 19. Emma Griffin, McCall. 20. Thomas Welty,
McCall.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/28/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of I
Nordic program helps youths excel on skins, cH!
BY KYLA SANX -1-FR
for The Star-Naxos
Thomas Gebhards was quick to point out the advantage of training for Nordic skiing in his hometown
of McCall.
"You get to be out in the wilderness and I love to ski its r "
really fun," he said.
Gebhards, 12, is just one of the top skiers that has
emerged from the McCall Mighty Mites Nordic program,
head coach Tuck Miller said. <r +�
"Right now we have the number one ranked J1 girl, Anika�
Miller, in the United States and number one ranked J3 boy, •'�
Thomas, in the western half of the country," Miller said. a
Anika Miller, 17, who is Tuck Miller's daughter, recently 1
competed at the World Junior Championships and has been Po >w r n.s r.He b,xy .sw r
racing internationally for the U.S. Nordic Ski team the past blWidi rhdm-Thtft Norchc cwhTwk 1.tdl®
several months. goes wstnrftow to team memh is lxiore a recent
tra=4 sessou at Bea Bash Norche Ceuter nest
Gebhards won the overall IM Cup in his age group, of
beating out skiers that were older than him from Idaho,
Montana, Utah, Oregon and Washington.
Anika Miller and Gebhards both started skiing when they were just toddlers, Tuck Miller said.
He hopes there are future stars among the 60 youths, ages five to 17, that he oversees with his four
assistant coaches.
The club rotates its practices, training on Nordic trails at Jug Mountain Ranch, Bear Basin Nordic Area
and Ponderosa State Park.
"The little kids ski two to three times a week and the older kids begin dry-land training and practice in
May," he said.
The skiers compete in classic skiing and freestyle skiing, also known as skate skiing.
"It's two separate techniques, kind of like what downhill and slalom are in alpine skiing,' Miller said.
The McCall Mighty Mlles is an independent group and is not affiliated with any other ski organization in
the area.
http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 2/28/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
Miller anchc.rs gold- medal tO,%/ leq at -C jum,—,! nationals
Anika Miller of McCall helped her Intermountain Team win a gold medal on Tuesday at the U.S. Cross
Country Junior Nationals at Birch Hill Recreation Area in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Miller, a senior at McCall- Donnelly High School, anchored the 3-by -3 kilometer classic relays in the
Junior 1 division.
The Intermountain squad edged the Midwest squad by 3.7 seconds and Alaska by 4 seconds.
Miller passed Nicole Bathe of the Midwest team shortly after reaching the top of the grueling
Sidewinder climb with just over a kilometer remaining. She then held off Bathe and a hard - charging
Marion Woods of Alaska.
On Monday. Miller placed second in 5km interval -start freestyle race in the J1 division.
Miller will race in the 1.25 km sprint freestyle event today before finishing the week in the 1 Okm mass
start classic race on Saturday.
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Page 1 of 1
3/14/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
McCall's Miller vnns sprint at X -C Junior Nationals
BY NIATIAS S_aLUU
for The Star -News
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Spectators watching halfway through the U.S. Cross Country Junior National
Championship girls sprint race last Thursday must have wondered
whether three Norwegians were on
their way to a sweep.
At that point, twins Tiril and Lotta Wang seemed in control,
while fellow Norwegian Lisa Kvamme trailed slightly and
American Anika Miller of McCall fought to stay close.
,
The next time spectators in the Birch Hill Recreation Area
stadium spotted the skiers, one tough climb and several
hundred meters later, many must have been shocked to see
Miller an route to a clear win.
,ltuuka DWlrt of MW A, iRzht, keep r4 -uith
"I really wanted to (win) said Miller, a senior a McCall-
Noncepm racers dtamg the tee vk spimt at the
"n.1 awua NaUmalscross -eo umTim,esin
Donnelly High School. "I was like'You know, the U.S. needs
P.whwks..11aska. lasteeek
to be on top today.'"
The win of Miller, of Team Intermountain, was no fluke considering that she finished the qualifying
round in first as well.
But keeping up with the Norwegians, who competed as guests and were not eligible to claim medals,
was no easy task.
"I was really worried coming up that first hill because they were just hammering,' Miller said.
Miller quietly stalked the Norwegians and then charged past them on the final East Ramp uphill.
"I was kind of neck- and -neck with them coming up the last hill and then just off the top they just didn't
have enough left, I guess," she said. "And so I hammered the top and hoped they didn't have too much
of a draft and just went for R."
It was a risky strategy that could have backfired had the Norwegians hopped in Miller's slipstream and
sling - shotted past her at the bottom of the hill leading into the flat finishing stretch. Instead she won
going away in 3 minutes, 4.14 seconds.
Miller started the Junior Nationals week with a second place in the 5 kilometer Freestyle and anchored
the Intermountain girls team to a win in the 3x3 Classic Relay.
"I was a little jittery in the first race and don't think I skied my best," she said. "I started to come around
in the relay race and felt super strong in all my heats in the sprint race."
Miller's week finished with a 13th place finish in the 10 kilometer Classic Race.
"I was super fired from the sprint races and was pretty average today," she said. "But I'm bringing the
first gold medals ever for a McCall skier at Junior Nationals so I'm pretty psyched'
(Matias Saari is a correspondent for wwW fasterSKter Ct
http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /Prep_schools _page.php 3/21/2013
Page The StarNews
McCall's Henery named to U.S. Telemark's national team
Chris Henery of McCall has been named to the United States Telemark Ski Association's roster for the
2013 -14 U.S. Telemark National and Development teams.
The national team athletes will compete in regional,
national and World Cup telemark events this coming winter.
Henery will compete for the national B team.
Henry, 37, was born in Pocatello. He started cross -
country skiing at age 7 and then started alpine skiing at age
12, according to his online profile.
"I began telemark skiing when I was 18 and that was it;
Henery said. "It became obvious to me that telemark skiing
was the way for me"
Telemark skiing is a form of downhill skiing using bindings
where the boot is attached only at the toe, similar to those of
cross - country skiing, allowing the heel to come up from the
ski. Because the heel is free, it allows the skier to go into a
lunge position in order to turn.
s
.A
r V Us Td mat sV M..aro•
On' Henn- of McCall has been uamed to the 0 S
Telm wk Slti AssonaUon s mstet fca the coamg
season
The U.S. team will compete in a variety of events, including giant slalom gates, jumping, a 360- degree
banked turn and a Nordic skate section.
World Cup events include a classic, sprint classic, and parallel sprint classic. The first World Cup
races of the season will be held Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in Hintertux, Austria.
Each team member supports themselves and they do not train together during the season, association
Administrator Linda Hobbs said. Racers must earn a living, save money for travel and train on their own,
Hobbs said.
Telemark racers from the Steamboat Springs, Colo., Winter Sports Club and other Colorado locations
fill 10 of the spots on the national teams. Ten racers from New England, a region that has seen
resurgence in telemark racing, also earned team nominations, a news release said.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 11/14/2013
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall's Wolf wins relocated Ranch Race at Ponderosa park
Kurt Wolf of McCall won the 20 kilometer event of the Ranch Race held Saturday at Ponderosa State
Park in McCall.
A total of 45 racers took part in the 20 km skate -style race while 15 racers took part in a 10 km race.
The race was originally scheduled for Jug Mountain Ranch near McCall, but was moved to Ponderosa
due to insufficient snow conditions, organizer Jeff Hunteman said.
Sunday's scheduled race, which was supposed to be a classic style event over courses of 5 km and
10 km, was cancelled, Hunteman said.
Here is a list of local finishers where home towns were available:
20 Kilometers: 1. Kurt Wolf, McCall. 7. Jeff Huntsman, McCall. 29. Rob Morrow, McCall, 37. Forest
Behm, New Meadows. 41. Karen Morrow, McCall,
10 Kilometers: 3. Ed Miller, Donnelly. 4. Matt Galyardt, McCall. 11. Alexis Martin, McCall. 15. William
Thomas, McCall.
Re- Mastered
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Page 1 of 1
1/23/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Re- Mastered Nordic event to cover two courses Feb. 8 -9
Nordic skiers will be challenged by two courses during the 2014 McCall Re- mastered Nordic Event on
Feb. 8 -9.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, Ponderosa State Park will host the race on the same course that was used
during the 2008 Masters World Cup, which drew 1,000 competitors from two dozen nations.
The Ponderosa race will be a freestyle race over lengths of 15 kilometers 30 km and 45 km.
On Sunday, Feb. 9, the venue will switch to Jug Mountain Rench for classic -style races of 5 km and 10
km.
For registration information, go to mccallremastered.com_ For questions, write to
mccallremastered@gmail.com
Page 1 of 1
a es /outdoors �a e. h 1/23/2014
g g PP
Outdoors Page The StarNews Pagel of 2
3 -Way Race tests young skiers in downhill, Nordic
The McCall Winter Sports Club hosted the 69th Annual 3 -Way last weekend.
About 60 athletes competed in slalom and giant slalom
events at Brundage Mountain Resort with the Nordic event
held at the Little Ski Hill west of McCall
y e
A +
A
Competing racers were from the winter sports club,
formerly known as the McCall Ski Racing Team, Anthony
h. ,Imlms from last treekeuds Little SLa Hil l
Lakes Ski Area near Baker, Ore, and the Little Ski Hill.
is W
i 1ml smnis B mn o = IIo s n>e
Independent racers also took part.
TU
(Ue Bovs). _fie Frvssell (U8 G"). Tenor miller
(iho Gsls), and (:uad,v Lamm (T TL (;u1S)
Here are the results of local racers:
LITTLE SKI HILL 3 -WAY
U8 = age 5 -7, U10 = age 8 -9, U12 = age 10 -11
All skiers listed are from the McCall Winter Sports Club unless otherwise noted. PLSC = Payette
Lakes Ski Club. IND = Independent. ALSRA = Anthony Lakes Ski Racing Association
All -Around - Men
U8: 1. William Pooser. 2. William Hurlbutt. 3. Liam Jarvis. 4. Conrad Alexander (PLSC).
U10: 1. Gabriel Lamey. 2. Luke Barinaga. 3. Camas Alexander (PLSC) 4. William Denker. S. Walker
Harvey.
U12: 1. Marcus Barinaga. 2. Quinn Nichols. 3. Nicholas Gebhards, 4. Elijah Bader - Hellstrom. 5.
Nathan Maybach. 6. River Woodruff.
All -Around - Women
U8: 1. Alison Russell (IND). 2. Molly Maybach.
U10: I. Terra Miller. 2. Lauren Woolsey, 3. Piper Lamm, 4. Morgan Shaw ( ALSRA). 5. Nekane Powell.
6. Amelia Pooser.
U12: 1. Cassidy Lamm, 2. Dakota Hughes. 3. Renato Russell (IND).
GIANT SLALOM - MEN
U8: 1. Liam Jarvis. 2. Canyon Woodruff, 3. William Hurlbutt. 4. Roman Welker. 5. William Pooser. 6.
Cooper Harvey. 7. Ulrich Warner ( ALSRA). 8. Shae Warner ( ALSRA).
U10: 1. Gabriel Lamey. 2. Luke Barinaga. 3. William Denker. 4. Tristan Walker. 5. Andrew McCurry - 6.
Vance Vinson. 7. Games Alexander (PLSC). 8. Jason Manolopoulos. 9. Jake Dahl. 10. Avrey Morwood
( ALSRA).
U12: 1. Marcus Barinaga 2. Quinn Nichols. 3. Elijah Bader - Hellstrom. 4. Nicholas Gebhards. 5. Jacob
Armstrong. 6. Nathan Maybach. 7. River Woodruff. 8. Elann DeLint ( ALSRA). 9. Ben Amt.
Giant Slalom - Women
U8: 1. Alison Russell (IND). 2. Lakots Hovey. 3. Molly Maybach. 4. Alexandre War. 5. Sydney Garber.
6. Isabella Pyle. 7. Maddi Dahl. 8. Ella Shaughnessy.
LIM 1 _ Terra Miller 2, Lauren Woolsey. 3. Piper Lamm. 4. Nekane Powell 5. Mysti Gardner. 6.
Morgan Shaw ( ALSRA). 7. Amelia Pooser. 8. Amelie Nichols. 9. Quinn Bohannon ( ALSRA).
U12: 1. Cassidy Lamm. 2. Dakota Hughes. 3. Rensta Russell (IND). 4. Maggie Murphy. S. Lily
Paquette. 6. Sophie War.
Slalom - MEN
U8: 1, William Pooser, 2. William Hurlbutt. 3, Cooper Harvey, 4. Ulrich Warner ( ALSRA). 5. Conrad
Alexander (PLSC).
U10: 1. Gabriel Lamey. 2, Luke Barinaga. 3. Welker Harvey. 4, Tristan Welker. 6, Vence Vinson. 6.
Jake Dahl.
U12 1. Marcus Barinaga. 2. Quinn Nichols- 3. River Woodruff, 4. Jacob Armstrong. 5. Nicholas
Gebhards. 6. Elijah Bader - Hellstrom. 7. Elann DeLint ( ALSRA). 8. Nathan Maybach. 9. Ben Amt.
Slalom - Women
U8: 1. Alison Russell (IND). 2. Molly Maybaoh. 3, Lakota Hovey. 4. Alexandra War. 6. Sydney Garber.
6. Isabella Pyle. 7. Maddi Dahl.
U10: 1. Lauren Woolsey- 2. Piper Lamm. 3. Nekane Powell. 4. Terra Miller. 5. Morgan Shaw ( ALSRA).
6. Amelia Nichols. 7. Natalie War. 8. Quinn Bohannon ( ALSRA).
U12: 1. Cassidy Lamm. 2. Dakota Hughes. 3. Lily Paquette. 4. Renate Russell (IND). 5. Sophie War.
6. Maggie Murphy.
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1/30/2014
■
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall's Woods named to junior national Nordic team
Ai iana Woods of McCall has been selected to compete at the 2014 Junior National Cross - Country Ski
Championships next month in Stowe, Vt.
Woods, 14, will compete for the Intermountain Division team of the United
States Ski and Snowboard Association in both classic and freestyle races at the
championships, to be held March 3-8.
Woods, the daughter of Chris and Stefanie Woods of McCall, currently attends
Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, Mont.
"She made junior national the first year you can possibly go," Stefanie Woods
said. "It is really hard to make B as a first -year racer to the junior nationals, so we
are excited for her" T. -.
-Anma (l'aod5
Arian Woods began competing in Nordic events at age 5 as a member of the
McCall Nordic Ski Team. She won the classic race in the 2013 Western States Nordic Ski Festival and is
ranked 10th overall in the Intermountain Division.
Woods qualified for the junior nationals by performing well in three qualifying races this season, the
most recent held at Soldier Hollow, Utah. She is one of nine competitors on the Intermountain Division
team headed to Stowe.
Woods hopes someday to compete in the Winter Olympics in biathlon, which combines Nordic skiing
with shooting. She currently trains in biathlon with at Bridger Ski Foundation, Stefanie Woods said.
Back To
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2/13/2014
O
Page The StarNews
McCall's Wolf vrins McCall Re- Mastered race by 1 second
Kurt Wolf of McCall won the McCall Re- Mastered 46 kilometer skate race on Saturday, edging Joe
Jensen of Boise by just under one second.
Wolf, who is parks supervisor for the city of McCall, finished the course in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 42.1
seconds, or 9 /10th of a second ahead of Jensen, who finished at 2:19:43.0.
Ponderosa State Park was the site of the race, using the same course used during the 2008 Masters
World Cup, which drew 1,000 competitors from two dozen nations.
Wolf also won Sunday's 10km classic race, besting
second -place finisher Alan Johnson of Spokane by 17
seconds with a time of 36:22.1.
Jug Mountain Ranch was the original planned venue for
Sunday's race, but the site was moved by organizers to
Ponderosa due to poor conditions at Jug Mountain Ranch.
Here are local finishers from the weekend:
McCall Re- Mastered
1
Pooh for The SIrNCwv by Mm MocAe
Rauch-:lueteis from Pocatello gets aliead of the
twck dmw the start of the McCall Re- Rastered
Nordre event on Sattw&w at Ponderosa State Park
Saturday
45km Skate Race - Men: 1. Kurt Wolf, McCall. 7. Jeff Huntsman, McCall, 16. Rob Morrow, McCall. 24.
Todd Arndt, McCall. 25. Jan. Ekel, McCall. Women: 5. Brandi Bolli- Humphrey, McCall.
30km Skate Race - Men: 6. Art Toutner, McCall, Women: 2. Karen Morrow, McCall.
15km Skate Race - Men: 1. Dan Ostermiller, McCall. 2. Kent Graefe, New Meadows. 5. Matt Ingram,
McCall. 6. Scott Reagan, McCall. S. Witiiarn Thomas, McCall. 9. Steve Muench, McCall. 10, Thomas
Welty, McCall. Women: 1. Michelle Reagan, McCall. 3. Marcia Witte, McCall. 4. Kathy Muench, McCall,
Sunday
10km Classic Race - Men. 1. Kurt Wolf, McCall, 5, Jeff Hunteman, McCall. 7. Rob Morrow, McCall. 10.
Ken Mulls, McCall. Women: 1, Karen Morrow, McCall, 3. Brandi Bolli- Humphrey, McCall.
5km Classic Race - Men: 1. Thomas Welly, McCall.
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Outdoors Page The StarNews
Kurt Wolf of McCall placed 12th out of 625 finishers at the 39th Boulder Mountain Tour held Feb. 1
near Ketchum.
Wolf finished with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes, 4.1 seconds over the 32 kilometer course. His time
was four minutes behind the time of winner Sylvan Ellefson of Vail, Colo.
Other local finishers were: 32. Andrew Armstrong, McCall, 94. Jeff Hunteman, McCall. 109. Chris
Welch, McCall, 233. Dan Ostermiller, McCall, 274. Nicki Humphries, McCall, 394. Michael Murphy,
McCall. 603. William Thomas, McCall.
http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php
Page I of I
2/1.3/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page I of 1
McCall's Henery competes in Telemark World Cup
Chris Henery of McCall competed last week at the Telemark World Cup held in Steamboat Springs,
Colo.
The international field included the top racers from Germany, France, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden,
Canada, Slovenia, Great Britain and the United States.
Henry placed 18th and 27th in two men's classic races held on Feb. 12. The event included giant
slalom gates, a 360 - degree turn and two long Nordic skating sections.
The U.S. men were led by Tanner Visnick of Steamboat Springs with a seventh-place finish. The U.S.
women were led by Madi McKinstry, also of Steamboat Springs, with a fifth -place finish.
Henery finished 20th in the men's sprint last Thursday and 23rd in the men's parallel sprint held on
Friday.
The parallel sprint is a heed -to -head competition on parallel courses with the athletes entering one
banked turn boarder -cross style before finishing a quick Nordic skate to the finish.
Telemark is a form of downhill skiing using bindings where the boot is attached only at the toe,
allowing the heel to come up from the ski. Skiers go into a lunge position in order to turn.
http: / /wNvw.mccallstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/20/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page I of I
Flu does not deter McCall racer at Nordic nationals
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -Naas
A bout with the flu did not prevent Ariene Woods of McCall from competing in three of four events at
the 2014 Junior National Cross - Country Ski Championships last week in Stowe, Vt.
Woods, 14, competed for the Intermountain Division team of the United States
Ski and Snowboard Association in both classic and freestyle races. I
The flu bug decimated the Intermountain team, said Ariana's mother, Stefanie � S
Woods. ifl
"One athlete An skied with was on an IV," Stefanie Woods said. "Despite the flu
they kept a great attitude and tried to recover."
Woods and most of her teammates were forced to sit out the first event held on
March 3 and she finished below expectations in the other events.
"Her coaches told her she should sit it out and just not ski at all, but she is a Ph rob,S m. we d,
team player and very loyal to her teammates,' Stefanie Woods said. -'—a % wds `oaq�tes
m tlu dam, slnmt
chnwg last week's iwwr
In last Friday's freestyle race she had moved from 44th to 21 st position when natioluds cross- comth,
her one of her poles broke with just 2 kilometers remaining. She was forced to sta Fares m stmm. N't
finish with one pole on the uphill course and fell back in the final placings. On Saturday, Woods and the
rest of her teammates managed to place 12th out of 21 teams in the relay while battling their lingering
illnesses.
Woods began competing in Nordic events at age 5 as a member of the McCall Nordic Ski Team. She
won the classic race in the 2013 Western States Nordic Ski Festival and is ranked 10th overall in the
Intermountain Division.
Woods currently attends Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, Mont. She plans to compete next
season and hopes return to the junior nationals, her mother said.
httpJ /« ,NN ,NN,.mccaflstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 3/13/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Bear Basin Nordic Center offers special pass sale
The Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall is offering a discounted pass to those who have season
passes for Nordic trails at Ponderosa State Park or Jug Mountain Ranch.
Discounted passes cost $5 for youth, $15 for adults and $30 for families if purchased by Thanksgiving
Day, Nov. 27.
Bear Basin passes are on sale at Home Town Sports and Gravity Sports in McCall. Purchasers should
show their Ponderosa or Jug Mountain passes.
Bear Basin Nordic Center is operated by the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which also operates the Little Ski
Hill west of McCall.
lutdoors _page.php
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11/20/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Bear Basin Nordic Center to open to skiers today
Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall will open for skiing today.
Trail fee are $5 for youths and $10 for adults with a flat $5 fee for snowshoe trails.
When in full operation, Bear Basin has 25 kilometers of Nordic trails, all of which are dog- friendly.
The center is offering discounted passes to those who have season passes for Nordic trails at
Ponderosa State Park or Jug Mountain Ranch.
Youths can get a $5 discount on the regular $45 pass, adults can get $15 off the regular $100 pass,
and families can get $30 off the regular $250 pass If purchased by Thanksgiving Day. Incorrect
information was listed in The Star -News last week.
Bear Basin passes are on sale at Home Town Sports and Gravity Sports in McCall. Purchasers should
show their Ponderosa or Jug Mountain passes.
Bear Basin Nordic Center is operated by the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which also operates the Little Ski
Hill west of McCall.
>ors _page.php
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11/26/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Ponderosa State Park opens Nordic snowshoe trails
Ponderosa State Park has opened its winter trails for Nordic skiers and snowshoers.
"The trails are groomed, but classic track will need more snow before it can be set," Park Ranger Terri
Bryant said.
Passes are now on sale for snowshoeing and skiing. Daily passes cost $5 per person, with season
passes costing $35 per person, $50 per couple and $75 per family.
Passes are on sale at the park visitor center. Skiers entering the park must also pay the $5 per car
entry fee each time they enter or display their Idaho State Parks Passport sticker.
-s /outdoors _page.php
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11/26/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
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_page.php
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Outdoors Page The StarNews
Hasbrouck Ranch X -C passes now on sale
Season passes for the Hasbrouck Ranch cross - country ski trails near Cascade are now on sale.
The Southern Valley County Recreation District is selling the season passes for $25. A daily pass cost
$5.
The passes allow skiers to park at the Hasbrouck Ranch Nordic Trailhead off Cabarton Road, and
proceeds go towards maintaining and grooming the five miles of trails.
Passes can be purchased at the recreation district office at 208 N. Main St. in Cascade.
oors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
12/11/2014
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall completes Nordic ski maps for Bear Basin, Ponderosa
New maps of Nordic and snowshoes trails at Bear Basin and Ponderosa State Park have been
completed by the city of McCall Community Development Department.
Both maps are available free at local sporting goods stores and at McCall City Hall. They are also
available free for both Android and iOS mobile devices.
The mobile apps work outside of data coverage and rely on the internal GPS of phones, so do not use
up data plans except when downloading the apps for the first time.
Hard copies of the map can also be downloaded at www.goo.gl /eSPnX3.
There is also a summer trail app and map for Bear Basin, and a summer map for Ponderosa State
Park should be completed by May.
For questions, contact McCall GIS Technician John Drlessen at 315 -3927 or)dflessen@mccall.id.us.
)age.php
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Outdoors Page The StarNews
Winter Start Race draws entrants from age 4 to adults
Entrants from age 4 to adults took part in the Winter Start Race held Saturday at Bear Basin Nordic
Center by the McCall Winter Sports Club.
Here Is list of the top finishes in the various race divisions.
All entrants are from McCall unless noted.
1 K (Boys): 1. Chase Galyardt (Age 6) 2. Steel Messenger
(Age 5) 3. Eli Arndt (Age 5).
1K (Girls): 1. Shelby Mendia (Age 6) 2. Anna Morgan (Age
5) 3. Murphy Hellhake (Age 4).
3K (Boys): 1. Nicky Gebhards (Age 11) 2. Camas
Alexander (Age 10) 3. Gavin Galyardt (Age 9).
3K (Girls) 1. Terra Miller (Age 10) 2. Sara Neuhoff, Eagle,
(Age 11) 3. Abby Griffith (Age 12).
5K (BoyslMens): 1. Thomas Gebhards (Age 14) 2. Sage
Fox, Eugene, Ore. (Age 16) 3. Vasia Nelson (Age 13).
5K (Girls/Women): 1. Leigh Bailey (Adult) 2. Sophie Call p e'° ""nto the '
Gavin Galyatd[, to, of McCall pats effort into the
McManus (Age 11) 3. Emma Griffith (Age 14). start ofthe3 kilometer ram during saturda,/s
Winter Start Race.
10K Men: 1. Kurt Wolf (Adult) 2. Randy Acker (Adult) 3.
Jeff Hunteman (Adult).
10K (Women): 1. Julie Welty (Adult) 2. Cory Corbett (Adult) 3. Jamie Van Middendorp (Adult).
oors _page.php
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Outdoors Page The StarNews
Gebhards competes in Jr. National qualifier
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club competed last weekend in the Intermountain
Division's first Nordic Junior National Qualifying races of the season in West Yellowstone, Mont.
On Saturday, Gebhards placed third among U16 boys in a 5 kilometer skate race and
raced to sixth place on Sunday in a 5km classic race.
\ His results put him in a good position to be named to the IMD's team that will compete at
Junior Nationals in early March. The IMD represents skiers from teams from Idaho,
Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Thomas There are still two more qualifying weekends of racing before the Junior National team is
Gebbards named. The next race will be on the Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow in Heber City, Utah
and the final qualifying race will be held in McCall on Feb. 21 -22.
The McCall race will feature a classic technique sprint race and a mass start skate race. To volunteers
during the races, contact Katie Morgan at development Qmccallwintersportsclub.org
ors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
1/22/2015
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Wolf takes first place in McCall ReMastered Nordic race
Kurt Wolf of McCall came in first overall at the McCall ReMastered Nordic race held Saturday at
Ponderosa State Park.
A total of 110 skiers registered for the race, held on the same course that was used for the 2008 World
Masters Cup.
The course was firm but covered with tree debris from the previous weekend's warm spell. Hand-
shoveling of snow and careful grooming by the Ponderosa staff brought the course to near -ideal
conditions.
Wolf is parks supervisor for the city of McCall but is also a gold -level sponsored skier with Rossignol
and a technical rep for Boulder Nordic Sport for Holmenkol and Ski'Go Wax.
Wolf also is a lead organizer of the McCall ReMastered Race.
"I hope to double the size of this event to help McCall maintain its status as a Nordic ski destination,"
he said. He also hopes to start drawing more elite -level skiers to the event to race alongside citizen
racers.
Saturday saw freestyle races covering 15 kilometers, 30km, and 45km. Sunday was a free ski day with
an after -party held at Jug Mountain Ranch.
Here is the list of local finishers from Saturdays races by age divisions. All names listed are from
McCall unless noted:
2015 McCall ReMastered Skate Race
45 KILOMETERS
Women 40-49: 1. Julie Welty.
Men 20-29: 1. Andrew Armstrong.
Men 30-39: 1. Kurt Wolf.
Men 40-49:6. Jeff Hunteman. 9. Todd Arndt. 12. Caleb Zurstadt. 13. Tom Bates. 14. Forrest Behm,
New Meadows.
Men 50 -59: 2. Randy Acker.
Men 60-69:2. Rob Morrow.
30 KILOMETERS
Women 30 -39: 1. Milena Arthur. 2. Brandi Bolli- Humphrey.
Women 50-59: 1. Nicki Humphries. 3. Karen Morrow.
Men 30 -39: 1. Jess Asmussen.
Men 60-69: 5. Rick Hudson. 7. Edward Miller, Donnelly.
15 KILOMETERS
Women 40-49: 1. Pavia Clouser. 2. Michelle Reagan.
Women 50 -59: 1. Lisa Ostermiller. 2. Leigh Bailey. 3. Sally Nutt. 4. Sherry Summerfield.
Women 60-69: 1. Gusti Laidlaw. 2. Kristin Christensen.
Men 49-49: 1. Kent Graefe, New Meadows.
Men 50-59: 1. Dan Ostermiller. 2. Ben Hippie.
Men 60-69: 1. William Thomas. 2. Paul Christensen.
Men Over 70: 1. Thomas Wetly.
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 1/29/2015
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall's Gebhards take 2nd in Junior National qualifier
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club skied to a second place overall in the U16 Boys
Sprint Race sat the Super Qualifier for the U.S. Junior National cross country championships held at
Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Gebhards took the silver medal in a race that featured 115
racers and was the top finisher from the Intermountain
Division of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
The event attracted 740 junior skiers across all age
classes and was held at the 2002 Olympic ski trails. Skiers
came to the race from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah,
Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Gebhard's results from this and other qualifying races this
season continue to put him in a good position to be named
to the Intermountain Division's team that will compete at
Junior Nationals March 8 -14 at Boreal Mountain Resort in
Soda Springs, Calif.
The final qualifying races will be held in McCall on Feb. 21-
22 at Ponderosa State Park and feature a classic technique
sprint race and a mass start skate race.
Po .byrohn GebbW,
McCall's Thomas Gebhards (4) pursues eventual
winner Noel KeeHe (t) from Steamboat Springs,
Colo., during last weekend's Nordic races at Soldier
Hollow, Utah.
Volunteers are needed and should Katie Morgan at development ®mccallwintersportsclub.org.
Fors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
2/5/2015
Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Results noted from ReMastered youth races
Here are the results from the youth division classic race held as part of the McCall ReMastered Nordic
race held recently at Ponderosa State Park.
The race was held on the same course that was used for the 2008 World Masters Cup.
All racers losted are from McCall:
1 K Boys (5-7 yrs old) 1. Chase Galyardt (6:42). 2. Steel Messenger (8:29). 3. Eli Arndt (15:19)
1 K Girls (5-7 yrs old) : 1. Willow Henshal (9:01). 2. Audrey Orme (10:34). 2. Keelee Burns (10:45)
3 K Boys (8 -10 yrs old): 1. Camas Alexander (18:23). 2. Gavin Gallyardt (18:26). 3. Diesel Messenger
(21 :16)
3 K Girls (8 -10 yrs old): 1. Terra Miler (18:32). 2. Ella Klasner (21:38). 3. Sophia Monahan (23:09)
5 K Boys (10 and up) 1. Thomas Gebhards (19:03). 2. Vasya Nelson (24:08). 3. Jack McManus
(31:06)
5 K Girls (10 and up): 1. Emma Griffith (26:02). 2. Sophie McManus (32:05). 3. Abby Griffith (32:08)
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/5/2015
Outdoors Page The StarNews
Gebhards to seek berth on Jr National X-C team
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club will try to clinch a trip to the Junior National Cross
Country Ski Championships at this weekend's final qualifying race in McCall.
More than 225 athletes from around the Intermountain West will gather at Ponderosa State Park for
the third and final qualifing race for the junior nationals, to be held March B -14 at Boreal Mountain Resort
in Soda Springs, Calif.
Gebhards will race for the McCall Winter Sports Club, which will have about 35 skiers entered in this
weekend's races.
This weekend's racing starts at 9 a.m. Saturday with a classic sprint race. Men's and women's racers
will start in 15- second intervals in timed races.
On Sunday, mass start freestyle races will begin at 9 a.m. with courses ranging from 1 kilometer to 10
km depending on age class.
There is no admission fee for spectators, but all those entering Ponderosa State Park must pay a $5
per car entry fee.
Gebhards skied to second place overall in the U16 Boys Sprint Race at the second super qualifier held
Jan. 30 at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Gebhards took the silver medal in a race that featured 115 racers and was the top finisher from the
Intermountain Division of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
If Gebhards races well this weekend, he will earn a spot on the Intermountain Division's team that will
compete at the Junior Nationals.
Among the ski clubs expected to attend the McCall races are from Boise, Sun Valley, Bend, Ore.;
Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Park City, Utah; and West Yellowstone, Mont
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2/19/2015
Outdoors Page The StarNews
McCall's Gebhards lands berth on Junior National X -C team
Final qualifier held at Ponderosa State Park
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club secured a trip to the Junior National Cross
Country Ski Championships following last weekend's final qualifying race in McCall.
Gebhards, 14, finished in third place both days in the
Men's U16 age division and ended up the second- ranked
skier in the division.
He will compete with the Intermountain Division team of
the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association at the junior
nationals, to be held March 8 -14 at Boreal Mountain Resort
in Soda Springs, Calif.
More than 225 athletes from around the Intermountain
West gathered at Ponderosa State Park in McCall for the
third and final qualifing race for the junior nationals.
Gebhards won his quarter -final heat in the classic sprints
on Saturday by nearly three seconds and then took third
place in the semi -final race. He finished third in the finals
about 8 -1i2 seconds behind winner Zach Williams of Sun
Valley.
In Sunday's five kilometer free skate, Gebhard again
finished third behind Williams, this time 12 seconds off the
winning pace.
About 35 skiers for the McCall Winter Sports Club entered
in this weekend's races. Here are results for other McCall
skiers:
• U16 women's classic sprint qualifier: 30. Emma Griffith
U14 women's classic sprint qualifier: 11. Abby Griffith.
U14 men's classic sprint qualifier: 12. Lyle Nelson.
U12 women's classic sprint qualifier: 4. Sophie McManus.
5. Sofia Monahan.
• U12 men's classic sprint qualifier. 3. Camas Alexander.
4. Diesel Messenger.
• U10 men's classic sprint qualifier: 2. Jack McManus. 4.
Gavin Galyardt. 5. Solomon Arndt. 6. Jack Carey.
Pbe fu tLe Sm -Nrn by Guy E,aa
AT TOP: McCall's Thomas Gebbardt(g36) enters
the first comer during the men's freestyle race at
• U8 men's classic sprint qualifier. 1. Chase Galyardt. 2.
Ponderosa state Park on Sunday. ABOVE: Gary
Steel Messenger. 4. Conrad Alexaner. 5. Eli Arndt.
Giberson assists an exhausted Katy Bonaaw from
Park City on Sunday after Bonaacci completed the
to kilometer freestyle race at Ponderosa State Park.
• U14 men's 3 km free race: 19. Hudson Van Middendor p'
Nordic racers from throughout the Intermountain
West were hoping to qualify for the Junior National
Cross Country Ski Championships next month in
• U14 women's 3 km free race: 11. Abby Griffith. 12.
California.
Emma Daniels.
• U12 men's 2 km free race: 2. Nathan Maybach. 3. Camas
Alexander. 4. Diesel Alexander.
• U12 women's 2 km free race: 3. Sophie McManus. 5. Olivia Bingaman. 6. Ella Klassner. 7. Sailor
Van Middendorp. 8. Sofia Monahan.
• U10 men's 1 km free race: 2. Jade McManus. 3. Gavin Galyardt. 4. Miles Denning. 5. Solomon Arndt.
6. Caden Skelton. 8. Jack Carey. 9. Henry Bennett.
• U8 men's 1 km free race: 1. Toby Klassner. 2 Chase Galyardt. 3. Sam Penny. 4. Steel Messenger. 5.
Billy Hurlbutt. 6. Conrad Alexander. 7. Finley Denning. 8. Eli Arndt.
• U10 women's 1 km free race: 1. Claire Warren. 2. Molly Mayback. 3. Catherine Bingaman. 4. Lilly
Daniels.
• U8 women's 1 km free race: 1. Willow Henshaw. 2. Keelee Bums. 3. 3. Anna Morgan.
• U6 men's 1 km free skate: 1. Steel Messenger. 2. Eli Arndt
U6 women's 1 km free skate: 1. Ana Morgan. 2. Finley Denning. 3. Keelee Burns.
Page 1 of 1
http : / /www.mccallstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 2/26/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Young McCall Nordic skiers attend ski festival In Utah
Several members of the McCall Winter Sports Club took part in the Youth Nordic Ski Festival held at
Soldier Hollow near Midway, Utah.
McCall skiers Chase and Gavin Galyardt, Jack and Sophie
McManus and Nicholas Gebhards were among more than
220 youths age 6 to 13 from Montana, Wyoming, Utah and
Idaho who participated.
Events included a mass start skate race, an obstacle
course, a classic race, and the ever - popular coaches race
down the obstacle course.
The youths got to try biathlon using air rifles, and were
treated to a tubing party and banquet by the race organizers.
Here are the results for McCall skiers: �b, ° —
Sophie McManus, 12, negotiates the obstacle race
Skate Race: U8 Boys – Chase Galyardt, 4th; U10 Boys — during the Youth Nordic Ski Festival.
Jack McManus 4th, Gavin Galyardt, 51h; U12 Boys –
Nicholas Gebhards, 51h; U12 Girls – Sophie McManus, 18th.
Obstacle Course: U8 Boys – Chase Galyardt, 7th; U10 Boys – Jack McManus 4th, Gavin Galyardt,
10th; U12 Boys – Nicholas Gebhards, 16th; U12 Girls – Sophie McManus, 42nd.
Classic Race: U8 Boys – Chase Galyardt, 5th; U10 Boys – Jack McManus 2nd, Gavin Galyardt, 8th;
U12 Boys – Nicholas Gebhards, 4th; U12 Girls – Sophie McManus, 12th.
Coaches Race: Coach John, 15th and no broken equipment or injuries sustained.
>rs _page.php
Page 1 of 1
3/5/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Nordic trails at Bear Basin, Ponderosa Park close for season
Low snow and high temperatures have led to the early closure of cross - country ski trails at Ponderosa
State Park and Bear Basin Nordic Center in McCall.
All trails at Ponderosa park have been opened to walkers, cyclists and dogs on leash. Vehicles can
still only drive to the Activity Center parking lot.
The closure comes two to three weeks earlier than normal, a news release from the Idaho Department
of Parks and Recreation said. Snow conditions are more like late April and early May than early March,
the release said.
Monday was that last day of grooming at Bear Basin, manager Ed Roper said. The area opened for a
week at Thanksgiving and then opened for the season on Dec. 18.
ors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
3/12/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page
McCall's Gebhards wins bronze at X-C junior national
McCall's Thomas Gebhards on Monday won third place in the first race of the 2015 Cross Country
Junior National ski championships at the Auburn Ski Club above Donner Pass in California.
Gebhards, 14, who races with the McCall Winter Sports
Club, won the bronze medal in the boys U16 skate sprint
race, finishing less than two seconds behind winner Sam
Biskup of Bend, Ore.
He qualified fifth for the elimination heats and advanced
through the rounds to the final in a field of 62 racers.
Monday's race was the first of four events in the national
championships. Gebhards competed on Wednesday in the 5
kilometer individual start skate race, but results were not
available.
On Friday, he will compete in the 5km classic mass start
race, and finish the event on Saturday with a 3x3km classic
team relay.
Pouo bT Ide G.EA�d.
McCall's Thomas Gebhards (5) figbts'ff the
competition on his way to a third -place "Wtom in
Monda}'s Cm Ckmintry Junior National
championships.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 3/12/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1
Weather, Illness hamper McCall's Gebhards at junior national X -C races
Illness and weather sidetracked McCall's Thomas Gebhards in his quest for more medals at the 2015
Cross Country Junior National ski championships.
Gebhards, 14, who races with the McCall Winter Sports Club, won the bronze medal in the boys U16
skate sprint race held March 9 at the Auburn Ski Club above Donner Pass in California.
Gebhards then took part in the 5 kilometer individual start skate race on March 11, where he finished
in 39th place.
"As he started to race, the weather changed and started to snow a heavy, wet snow that caused his
skis to run slow," said his father, John Gebhards.
"Later starters were able to make adjustments before they started and had better results," Gebhards
said.
Thomas Gebhards then came down with a cold, which caused him to drop out early from Friday's 5km
classic mass start race, his father said.
His illness also kept him from starting in Saturday's final event, a 3x3km classic team relay.
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 3/19/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1
�U
Thomas Gebhatds
McCall's Gebhards selected for national Nordic camp
Thomas Gebhards of McCall has been selected to attend the National Nordic Foundation U16 Camp
in July in Burlington, Vt.
The camp brings together the top U16 boys and girls from across the country for a week of intensive
training and ski sport education as one the first steps in the USSA National Development Pipeline.
In March, Gebhards, 14, won third place in the U16 skate sprint race at the 2015 Cross Country Junior
National ski championships at the Auburn Ski Club above Donner Pass in California.
ages /outdoors _page.php
6/18/2015
Star -News News Outdoors Page
New groomer will keep Bear Basin Nordic trails smooth
BY CHRISTIE GROB
for The Star-News
Ed Roper's smile was nearly as bright as the gleaming new trail groomer he will pilot this winter at the
Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall.
The new $140,000 groomer replaces the previous groomer
that was made for alpine trials but modified to groom the 25 - --
kilometers of cross - country trails at the Bear Basin center.
The Payette Lakes Ski Club, which operates the center,
received a two-for-one Idaho Parks and Recreation grant
through the Recreation Trails Program.
The dub needed to raise $40,000, which the grant would
match $80,000 for a total of $120,000. The club got off to a r
good start with $10,000 from the McCall local-option tax and +;
a successful fundraising drive kicked off by the Snow Ball
last December.
d.
rnao ra ru. sm -s..., b cwma can
The best machine available was a 2012 Piston Bully 100 Rd Roper checks out Bear Basin Nordic Center's
for $140,000. The club negotiated with the supplier to trade new trail groomer that was received just in time for
in an old groomer and pledged to raise the remaining money the 2015-16 season.
by the end of the 2015 -16 ski season, Roper said.
Not only will the groomer make a difference in the job of maintaining trails, there will also be a
difference in fuel economy, Roper said.
"The new groomer will use less than half the fuel of our former machine," he said.
The arrival of the new groomer comes as the Bear Basin Nordic Center will celebrate its 10th year of
operation this winter
The Payette Lakes Ski Club also operates the Little Ski Hill west of McCall.
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Page 1 of 1
10/1/2015
s �
7/ 16-
71 skiers kick off Nord - e season with Winter Start Race
Seventy -one athletes competed in the Winter Start Nordic Ski Race held on Saturday at the Bear
Basin Nordic Center near McCall.
The competition included the McCall and Bogus Basin
Nordic teams. The youngest racers covered a one - kilometer
loop while older youths and adults took part in a two - person
relay race at distances of two or three kilometers per lap.
Two skiers raced the relays solo with Maverick Mendia in
the four - kilometer race and Todd Arndt over the 12- kilometer
course.
Here are the top results:
Girls 1 Kilometer Individual
1. Darby Bates, 5 minutes, 38 seconds. 2. Lauren Mapp,
6:14. 3. Willow Henshall, 7:02. 4. Shelby Mendia, 9:57.
Boys 1 Kilometer Individual
1, Chase Galyardt, 4:11. 2. Solomon Arndt, 4:23. 3. Steel
Messenger, 4:43. 4. Sid Looney, 5:05.
4 Kilometer Relay (one leg per skier)
303
Pushing off from the starting line of Saturday s
Winter Start Race are, from left, Solomon Arndt,
Darbc Bates, Chase Gal, an t, Sid tone and
Mason Wayne.
1. Jackson Daniels /Aliya Brown, 13:30. 2. Emma Kerr /Blake Mercy, 13:47. 3. Cade Johnson /Sofi
Serio, 14:08. 4. Jack and Sophie McManus, 14:29.
12 Kilometer Relay (2 legs per skier)
1. Sam Benzing/Thomas Gebhards, 40:43. 2. Isaac Chnsman /Abram Brown, 41:29. 3. Brooke
Dunagan/Ted Yewer, 42:09. 4. Nick Edwards/Kade Aldrich, 44:08.
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Page 1 of 4
M¢Cal4 ID
9 OF
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at 1Ot26 All -
CNck fey Fer•uat
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Place Classified
View Classified Ads A n 3�—A— �1 ,4 ;,,,,�;,,., Junior Steelheads
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Hear Basin Nordic ('enter celebrates l0 years of operation
"We were losing the trails. We thought we were done. " did Roper
BY DAN GALLA611FR
for The Star -News
Chris Hundhausen will make the drive all the way from Pullman, Wash., to McCall to take in the
forested cross - country ski trails at Bear Basin Nordic Center.
"McCall is a favorite cross- country ski area of mine," said
Hundhausen a Washington State University computer
professor.
The cross - country network is celebrating its 10th
anniversary this winter after growing from a hopeful idea to
drawing cross - country skiers from afar .
Ed Roper helped develop and manages the 13 miles of
trails for all skill levels. The network began because
development near the Little Ski Hill was encroaching into the
previous trail system.
"The big thing is that about 10 years ago, we had nothing,"
Roper said. "We were losing the trails because of sales of
Boise Cascade land. We thought we were done."
Then - McCall Ranger Shane Jeffries and Gary Elliot of the
Payette National Forest believed the cross - country, system
was important enough to find a new venue, Roper said.
"We got this little corner of the forest, about 700 acres,"
Roper said. The trails are operated under a Payette forest
permit through the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which operates
the Little Ski Hill.
The ski network is on national forest ground, but there was
no room for access and parking. Dr. Paul Collins of Boise
allowed the organizers to use his adjacent land to reach the
site and park. Access was later rerouted, Roper said.
Easy to Challenging
i =
aai�n
TOP: Bill Stahlberg of McCall checks the trail map
at Bear Basin Nordic Center on Sunday. ABOVE: a
sketch of the proposed warming hat to be built at
the area.
There are several trail designations, from easiest to intermediate to more challenging. Each
designation covers about one -third of the total 13 miles.
The difficulty level is keyed to such things as trail steepness and the distance from the trail to the
trailhead, Roper said.
There are also trails just for snowshoers that run about three miles.
"You can see the Seven Devils Mountains, into Oregon," Roper said. "When you're up on the hill, you
can see the Salmon River Mountains, the big meadows at Bear Basin."
The trails are groomed daily, Roper said. "We might have a visitor from Seattle who came all the way
here," he said. "If we didn't groom that day, then it would be like we never groomed."
Last year, operators used $40,000 in fund - raising money as a match to a $80,000 state grant to buy a
Pisten Bully groomer to buff the trails. They are now raising the last $20,000 to pay off the groomer.
Bear Basin also relied for years on a yurt as a warming hut, but operators are now seeking $30,000 in
donations to build a manufactured but with wooden siding, a deck and picture windows that would be
hauled onto the site.
7,500 Visits
On a normal winter, Bear Basin will experience about 7,500 skier visits. About three - quarters of the
skiers on the hill now have season passes, Roper said.
An adult day pass costs $10 and $5 for children. A season pass is $100 for adults or $250 for a family,
which also includes alpine skiing at the Little Ski Hill. Dogs are welcome at $2 a day or $25 for the
season.
There are Saturday lessons arranged through the Little Ski Hill.
lose 3 of 4 games at
Las Vegas shootout
Respect Your (20-
year -old) Elders
The Activity Barn
opens beginner
slope, rails for
Brundage lessons
Nordic, alpine ski
camps available next
week
F&G notes new lake
trout. NF Payette
River fishing rules
Payette National
Forest seeks state
grants for trail
improvements
Back to Front Page
http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php 12/25/2015
Star -News News Main News Page
McCall's Woods skis for U.S. at world biathlon championships
16-year-old also excels in cross - country skiing
"It's all about who skis smart and can handle the mental aspect. "— Arian Woods
BY TOM GROTE
for The Star -News
Ariana Woods of McCall is in Romania this week representing the United States at the world
championships for youth biathlon racers.
Woods, 16, will compete in four events over the next week
at the Cheile Gradistei venue.
She skis with the Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman,
Mont., where she has attending since age 13. Woods was
raised in McCall and her parents, Chris and Stefanie Woods,
continue to live in McCall.
Biathlon combines cross - country skiing with rifle shooting
and tests a competitors ability to control their breathing and
heart rate while shooting after sprinting down a course.
At the works event, Woods competed on Wednesday in the
individual 10 kilometer race, but results were not available
She will continue on Friday with the 6km sprint, followed
on Sunday with the 7.5km pursuit and finish on Monday with
the 3x6km relay.
Woods first excelled at cross - country skiing and competed —by ALrBeW 4r —
at age 14 in the 2014 Junior National Cross County Ski Arian woods ssho—competing at US National
Championships. Biathlon Championships in Truckee, Calif. last
tear.
She said she tried biathlon while she was at the 2014
event, held in Vermont, and "I absolutely loved it!"
"In cross- country skiing races, it's really difficult to move from the back of the pack to the lead, but in
biathlon anything can happen," she said.
"It's all about who skis smart and can handle the mental aspect that comes with shooting," Woods
said.
She placed second at the U.S. national races and third place at qualifying races to earn a berth on the
world team.
Woods said she was "super excited" to be competing for a world title. "I am ready to put it all out there
in Romania for the team," she said.
Memories of McCall
Wood spends summers in McCall with her parents, who operate Backwoods Adventure, a canoe and
kayak rental business.
She has fond memories of growing up on skis in McCall. "Racing at Ponderosa State Park is still one
of my favorites," she said.
Even though she has done well at biathlon, Woods will continue to race in cross - country and will
compete in the junior nationals in Cable, Wisc., in March.
As for the future, Woods is keeping her options open. "Anything is possible; just have to take it one
day at a time," she said.
While attending the Bridger school, she takes online classes through the Idaho Virtual Academy, a full -
time online public charter school. She currently holds a grade -point average of 4.0.
Woods is the first McCall resident to compete in biathlon on a national or world level since Lyle Nelson
competed in four consecutive Winter Olympics ending in 1988.
Nelson still lives in McCall and is director of community relations and the Center for Health Promotion
at St. Luke's McCall.
Former McCall resident Glen Eberle competed with Nelson in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Eberle now lives in Boise and operates a company that make rifle stocks for hunting, the military, and
police departments.
http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/fp_stories_page-php
Page 1 of 1
1/28/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Armstrong, Wolf finish first, second in McCall Re- Mastered race
McCall's Andrew Armstrong and Kurt Wolf came in first and second in the men's 45- kilometer McCall
Re- Mastered Nordic race on Saturday at Ponderosa State Park while Julie Welty of McCall took second
in the women's race.
Armstrong crossed the line at 2 hours, 10 minutes and 23
seconds while Wolf finished just three seconds later. Joseph
Jensen of Matt Grover, both of Boise, completed the longest
competition for third and fourth.
Liv Jensen of Hailey won the women's 45km race with a
time of 2:43:47, while Welty secured second with 2:53:06.
Laura Theis of Ketchum was third, Jana Repulski of Boise
took fourth and Michelle Groenevelf of McCall was fifth.
Saturday saw freestyle races covering 15 kilometers,
30km, and 45km. Eighty -three skiers finished the event.
Sunday was a free ski day with an after -party held at Jug
Mountain Ranch.
S
a f >txss.Nc yuarr
Kurt Wolf (41) of McCall, Andrew Armstrong (to)
of McCall, and Joseph Jensen (23) of Boise, jockey
for position during Saturday's McCall Re-Mastered
Race at Ponderosa State Park.
Boise skiers Jeffrey Wilhelm, Nicholas Strohmeyer and
Michael Curtin won the first three spots in the 30- kilometer
men's race. Darla McRoberts, Barbara Kreisle and Hailey's Kirsten DeHart won the women's race and
Emily Mulnick of McCall was fourth.
Pete Fitzsimmons of Mountain Home took the men's race in the 15- kilometers and Matt McColl of
Boise was second. Nani Weiss of Boise won the women's race, Karla Eitel was second and Llona Ney
Clausen of McCall was third.
Here is the list of local finishers from Saturday's races by age divisions. All names listed are from
McCall unless noted:
McCall Re- Mastered Nordic Race
45 KILOMETERS
Women 40-49: 2. Julie Welty.
Women 30 -39: 2. Michelle Groenevelt.
Men 60-69: 2. Rob Morrow.
Men 50 -59: 1. Randy Acker.
Men 40-49: 6. Caleb Zurstadt. 7. Mark Gunderson. 8. Tom
Bates.
Men 30 -39: 1. Kurt Wolf.
Men 20 -29: 1. Andrew Armstrong.
30 KILOMETERS
Women 50-59:2. Karen Morrow. 4. Nicki Humphries.
Women 40-49: 4. Michelle Reagan.
Women 3039: 1. Brandi Bolli- Humphrey.
Women 20 -29: 1. Emily Mulnick.
BOCCE BALL WINNERS
�t "III
rroro � cy wn o�ew
Vickey Ainsworth of 11wm Falls and McCall and
Mel Edwards of McCall hold the trophy they earned
as champions of the second annual Winter Rome
Ball tournament held earlier this month at the
bocce ball courts in the Hotel McCall courtyard. A
total of 20 people participated in this year's event,
which was held in light snow.
Men 60-69: 1: Mark Jensen. 6. Steve Clautice. 8. Peter Pride.
Men 50-59:4. Irwin Mulnick_
15 KILOMETERS
Women 60-69: 1. Lllona Ney Clausen.
Women 40-49: 2. Karla Eitel.
Men Over 70: 1. Thomas Welty.
Men 60 -69: 2. Steve Muench. 3. William Thomas. 4. Ben Hippie.
http : / /www.mccallstamews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
1/28/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Ski racers compete at X -C qualifier in Boise
Sixteen members of the McCall Winter Sports Club Nordic Team took part in the first Intermountain
Division Junior National Qualifier cross - country race held recently at Bogus Basin Ski Area near Boise.
More than 200 youths age 14 to 19 from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah were hoping to qualify
for junior national event as a member of the Intermountain Division Team.
The two -day event included individual start classic and skate races. Thomas Gebhards led the team
by skiing to third place In the classic race and a second place in the skate race.
Here are the results for McCall racers:
Intermountain Division Junior National Qualifier
Classic Race
.4
U8 Boys: 1. Chase Galyardt. 2. Steel Messenger.
U10 Boys: 2. Sid Looney.
U12 Boys: 2. Jack McManus. 4. Gavin Galyardt. 6. Luke St. Clair. 7. Diesel
Messenger. 8. Soloman Looney.
so---
U14 Boys: 13. Nicholas Gebhards. 26. Nathan Maybach.
Photo by — W.
Claire Warren IeCkles
U16 Boys: 3. Thomas Gebhards. 32. Lyle Nelson.
the course at the Junior
National Qualifier at
U10 Girls: 1. Willow Henshall.
Bogus Basin Ski Area
near Boise.
U12 Girls. 5. Claire Warren.
U14 Girls: 19. Sophie McManus.
Skate Race
U8 Boys: 1. Chase Galyardt. 2. Steel Messenger.
U10 Boys: 2. Sid Looney.
U12 Boys: 3. Gavin Galyardt. 5. Soloman Looney. 6. Luke St. Clair. 7. Diesel Messenger.
U14 Boys: 10. Nicholas Gebhards. 20. Nathan Maybach.
U16 Boys: 2. Thomas Gebhards. 30. Lyle Nelson.
i. 3. Willow Henshall.
;es /outdoors�age.php
Page 1 of 1
2/4/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
Gebhards brothers take part In national X -C qualifier
Two brothers from the McCall Winter Sports Club competed the Junior National Super Qualifier last
weekend at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Thomas and Nicholas Gebhards took part in junior sprint
competition on the same trails were the 2002 Olympics were
held.
More than 700 skiers from nine Western states competed,
starting with a classic -style sprint. Nicholas Gebhards in the
U14 age class finished 37th and did not race the second day
due to illness.
Thomas Gebhards skied to second place in the U16 Boys
Sprint Race, finishing on top in the Intermountain Division.
He next competed in a five - kilometer skate race and placed
fourth, which put him in second place overall in the
Intermountain Division.
The results by Thomas Gebhards from the weekend and
other qualifying races should allow him to join the
Intermountain team at the Junior Nationals in early March in
Telemark, Wis.
Phdo by lrbe Gebbud�
Thomas Gebhards begins the course at the Junior
National Super Qualifier at Solider Hollow in Utah
lest Friday
:)age.php
Page 1 of 1
2/4/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
McCall's Woods competes In three events at world biathlon meet
BY TOM GROTE
for The Star -News
Ariana Woods of McCall competed in three events in the past week at the word championships for
youth biathlon racers in Cheile Gradiste, Romania.
Woods, 16, skis with the Bridger Ski Foundation in
Bozeman, Mont., where she has attended since age 13.
Biathlon combines cross - country skiing with rifle shooting SAMW
and tests a competitors ability to control their breathing and
heart rate while shooting after sprinting down a course.
"Agana showed a lot of talent on skis and the shooting i
range," said her coach, Jean Paquet. "The experience she is
gaining here will be so beneficial for her development in the
future."
Woods finished 79th out of 90 finishers in the 10 kilometer get o the co�r�
Ariana Woods prepares to get back on the course
individual event held on Jan. 27. She followed up on Friday after comple ting a shooting station during the
by finishing 76th out of 91 finishers in the 6km sprint. youth world biathlon championships in Romania.
On Monday, Woods competed with her fellow teammates from the United States in the 3x6km relay.
The team finished 16th out of 19 countries entered in the event.
Woods first excelled at cross - country skiing and competed at age 14 in the 2014 Junior National Cross
County Ski Championships. She tried biathlon while she was at the 2014 event, held in Vermont.
She placed second at the U.S. national races and third place at qualifying races to earn a berth on the
world team.
Woods is the first McCall resident to compete in biathlon on a national or word level since Lyle Nelson
competed in four consecutive Winter Olympics ending in 1988.
utdoors _page.php
Page 1 of 1
2/4/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
\I �
Nicholas Gebhards of
McCall tackles the
course during last
— lu,nd's national
qualdpag ,aces in
Bozeman, Mont.
Gebhards qualifies to race at junior national Nordic championships
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club qualified last weekend to attend the U.S. Ski and
Snowboard Association Junior National Championships for Nordic skiing.
Gebhards was named to the Intermountain team, which will compete at Junior Nationals in early
March in Telemark, Wise.
Gebhards, his brother, Nicholas Gebhards, and Lyle Nelson of the club attended the final
Intermountain Division junior qualifying races at Lindley Park in Bozeman, Mont.
All skied to personal bests in the freestyle sprint race. Thomas Gebhards won in the U16 age division,
while Nelson finished 28th. Nicholas Gebhards finished 11th in the U14 division.
Thomas Gebhards then skied to second place in the U16 group's classic 5- kilometer race and Nelson
finished 31st. Nicholas Gebhards came in 11th in the U14 group's 3- kilometer race.
itdoors _page.php
Page I of 1
2/18/2016
Star -News Alm Outd00rs Page
3 -Way at Little Ski Hill showcases alpine, Nordic skills
The McCall Winter Sports Club hosted the 71st annual McCall 3 -Way for alpine and Nordic racers age
12 and younger at the Little Ski Hill on Saturday and Sunday.
Along with an Alpine slalom and Nordic sprint, a dual giant
slalom event was held for the first time. Sixty -seven racers
took part, including competitors from Anthony Lakes near
Baker, Ore.
Here are the results for the McCall Winter Sports Club.
Overall Champions
U8 Girls - Tessa Beebe
U10 Girls - Taelor Brouse
U12 Girls - Terra Miller
US Boys - Cooper Harvey
U10 Boys - Liam Jarvis
U 12 Boys - Gabriel Lamey
Slalom - Girls U8
1, Tessa Beebe. 2. Shelby Mendia. 3. Greta Hall
Slalom - Girls U10
Phom fw the 1o. �r+s k� G- E-
Liam Jams, left, and Onen Lancaster take off front
the start gate during Sunday's dual slalom.
1. Faith Cooke. 2, Taelor Brouse. 4. Sydney Garber. 5. Alexandra War, 6. Lakota Hovey. 7. Isabella
Pyle. 8. Willow Henshall. 9. Audrey Orme.
Slalom - Girls U12
1. Piper Lamm. 2. Terra Miller. 3. Nekane Powell. 4. Eve Sprute. 5. Amelia Nichols. 7. Natalie War.
Slalom - Boys U8
1. Cooper Harvey. 2. Marcus Brouse. 3. Roan Jarvis. 4. Jack Henderson. 5. Chase Galyardt. 6. Cole
Cooke. 7. Harrison Wise. 8. Samson Ellis.
Slalom - Boys U10
1. Liam Jarvis. 2. Roman Walker. 3. Canyon Woodruff. 4. William Hudbutt. 5, Craven Lancaster. 6. Jude
Sprute. 7. Elliot Wise. 9. Andrew Scott. 11. Maximiilian Ellis. 12. Peter Costello.
Slalom - Boys U12
1, Walker Harvey. 2. William Denker. 3. Gabriel Lamey. 4. Tristan Walker. 5. Vance Vinson. 6. Maverik
Mendia. 7. Sam Tate. 9. Jack McManus. 10. Gavin Galyardt.
Nordic Sprint - U8 girls
1. Tessa Beebe. 2. Shelby Mendia.
Nordic Sprint - U10 Girls
2. Audrey Onne. 3. Willow Henshall. 4. Taelor Brouse.
Nordic Springs - U12 Girls
1. Ella Klasner. 2. Terra Miller. 3. Claire Warren. 4. Nekane Powell, 5. Lily Daniels. 6. Sofia Monahan.
7. Piper Lamm. Tie. Eve Sprute.
Nordic Sprint - U8 Boys
1. Chase Galyardt. 2. Cooper Harvey. 4. Jack Henderson. 5. Cole Warren. 6. Eli Arndt. 7. Harrison
Wise.
Nordic Sprint - U10 Boys
1. Toby Klasner, 2. Solomon Arndt. 3. Jack Carey. 4. Keaton Swift. 5. Sid Looney. 6. William Hudbutt.
7. Canyon Woodruff. S. Roman Walker. 9. Liam Jarvis. 10. Elliot Wise.
Nordic Sprint - U12 Boys
1. Jack McManus. 2. Gavin Galyardt. 3. Solomon Looney. 4. Sam Tate. 5. Gabriel Lamey. 6. Maverick
Mendia. 7. Vance Vinson. 8. Luke Barinaga. 9. William Denker. 10, Tristan Walker. 11. Walker Harvey.
Dual Giant Slalom - U8 Girls
http : / /www.mccallstamews.com/pap-es /outdoors _page.php
Page 7 of 2
2/25/2016
Star -News News Outdoors Page
McCall Nordic skiers place third at Youth Nordic Ski Festival
The McCall Winter Sports Club Nordic Ski Team placed third last weekend in the Intermountain
Division's season - ending Youth Nordic Ski Festival in Sun Valley.
Six first -place honors went to the 29 McCall racers who
participated in the event for skiers age 6 through 13.
The Nordic events included a skate race, obstacle course,
flying downhill and a classic ski race.
Here are the individual results for McCall Winter Sports
Club skiers:
Youth Nordic Ski Festival
Skate Race
U8 Boys - 1. Chase Galyardt. 4. Steel Messenger. 5. Cole
Warren. 6. Eli Arndt.
U8 Girls - 2. Finley Denning.
U10 Boys - 9. Toby Klasner. 12. Conrad Alexander. 14.
Keaton Swift. 16. Bryce Lannom. 20. Sid Looney. 21.
Solomon Arndt.
U10 Girls - 4. Molly Maybach. 9. Darby Bates. 19. Audrey
Onne. 20. Willow Henshall.
U12 Boys - 8. Jack McManus. 19. Camas Alexander. 27.
Gavin Galyardt. 29. Solomon Looney. 30. Luke St.Clair. 35.
Diesel Messenger. 36. Miles Denning.
Rdo (eVl ex TM. Wmatie pbew) M �klm. SldW
TOP: Chase Gall,vrd and Steel Messinger of the
McCall Winter Sports Club don their hero capes
before the start of a rare at the Youth Nordic Ski
Festival in Sun Vallee. ABOVE: Darby Bates of
McCall pushes her way over the murse.
U12 Girls -15. Ella Klasner. 26. Catherine Bingaman. 28. Claire Warren.
U14 Boys - 5. Nicholas Gebhards. 31. Nathan Maybach.
U14 Girls - 25. Sophie McManus. 62. Olivia Bingaman
Obstacle Course
U8 Boys - 1. Chase Galyardt. 4. Steel Messenger. 5. Cole Warren. 6. Eli Arndt.
U8 Girls - 1. Finley Denning.
U10 Boys - 1. Toby Klasner. 5. Conrad Alexander. 9. Sid Looney. 13. Bryce Lannom. 17. Keaton
Swift. 21. Solomon Arndt.
U10 Girls - 5. Molly Maybach. 10. Audrey Orme. 14. Darby Bates.
U12 Boys - 10. Luke St.Clair. 13. Jack McManus. 23. Solomon Looney. 27. Gavin Galyardt. 30. Miles
Denning. 31. Diesel Messenger. 34. Camas Alexander.
U12 Girls - 8. Ella Klasner. 26. Claire Warren.
U14 Boys - 2. Nicholas Gebhards.
U14 Girls - 38. Sophie McManus.
Flying Downhill
U8 Boys - 2. Chase Galyardt. 3. Steel Messenger. 5. Eli Arndt. 6. Cole Warren.
U8 Girls - 2. Finley Denning.
U10 Boys - 6. Keaton Swift. 9. Toby Klasner. 10. Solomon Amdt, 11. Bryce Lannom. 14. Conrad
Alexander. 19. Sid Looney.
U10 Girls - 5. Molly Maybach. 9. Audrey Orme, 12. Darby Bates. 18. Willow Henshall.
U12 Boys - 6_ Camas Alexander. 13. Luke St.Clair. 19. Diesel Messenger. 22. Jack McManus. 28.
Gavin Gayardt. 31. Miles Denning. 33. Solomon Looney.
U12 Girls - 17. Ella Klasner: 20. Claire Warren.
U14 Boys - 7. Nicholas Gebhards.
U14 Girls - 28. Sophie McManus.
Classic Race
U8 Boys - 1. Chase Galyardt. 3. Steel Messenger. 4. Cole Warren. 5. Eli Arndt.
http://www.mccalistamews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php
Page 1 of 2
3/3/2016
s News Outdoors Page
r
1. Josie Leslie. 2. Greta Hall. 3. Tessa Beebe. 4. Lyla Hall.
Dual Giant Slalom - U10 Girls
1. Faith Cooke. 2. Taeior Brouse. 4. Alexandra War.
Dual Giant Slalom - U12 Girls
1. Piper Lamm. 2. Terra Miller. 3. Nekane Powell. 4. Eve Sprute.
Dual Giant Slalom - U8 Boys
1. Cooper Harvey. 2. Marcus Brouse. 3. Jack Henderson. 4. Roan Jarvis.
Dual Giant Slalom - U10 Bays
1. William Hurlbutt 2. Liam Jarvis. 3. Max Ellis. 4. Jude Sprute.
Dual Giant Slalom - U12 Boys
1. Gabriel Lamey. 2. Luke Barinaga. 3. William Denker. 4. Tristan Walker.
outdoors _page.php
Page 2 of 2
2/25/2016
Star -News News Main News Page
McCall's Miller wins NCAA X -C skiing championship
M -D grad becomes first woman to win national title for Montana State
V had no idea hots 1'd done, actually, until my teammates jumped on me and were
screaming. " —Anika Miller
BY TOM GROTE
for The Star -News
Anika Miller of McCall won the 5 kilometer Nordic race at the NCAA Skiing Championships held last
week In Steamboat Spring, Cob.
Miller, racing with the Montana State University team,
became the First Bobcat skier to win an individual title at the
NCAA championships since 1978 and the first female MSU
skier to win a national title.
"When I finished, I had no idea how I'd done, actually, until
my teammates jumped on me and were screaming," Miller
said. "I had no idea. I just started crying,'
Miller, 20, finished first for the Bobcats in the 5K race with
a time of 13 minutes, 6.1 second on the Howelsen Hill
course.
"Anika had everything and more go her way today and she
went to the start line prepared to have a peak performance,"
MSU Nordic coach Matthew Johnson said.
"I'm really proud of her for the incredible effort she puts
into training every day, and excited she was able to
capitalize on that training and fitness when it counted most,"
Johnson said.
Miller's previous best finishes were four top 10s recorded
earlier this season in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski //'
Association. / ' `
lLo.o C".,e. Nm e.1we Lerveary IT
Miller attended McCall- Donnel High School. She spent `erfo M ller of the Anatitesher gold medal
N g pe performance et the NCM national sluing
one year attending the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont championships last Nit.
before coming back to McCall to graduate in 2013.
She is a junior at MSU and this is her third year with the Bobcat ski team. She is a dual major in
chemical engineering and pre -med.
Page 1 of 1
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Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 2 of 2
U10 Boys - 9. Conrad Alexander. 12. Toby Klasner. 15. Sid Looney. 18. Solomon Arndt. 19. Bryce
Lannom.
U10 Girls - 1. Molly Maybach. 9. Darby Bates. 20. Willow Henshall. 21. Audrey Orme.
U12 Boys- 10. Jack McManus. 11. Camas Alexander. 26. Gavin Galyardt. 29. Luke St.Clair. 31.
Diesel Messenger. 33. Solomon Looney.
U12 Girls - 21. Ella Klasner. 25. Claire Warren.
U14 Boys - 3. Nicholas Gebhards. 35. Nathan Maybach,
U14 Girls - 27. Sophie McManus.
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Star -News News Outdoors Page
ITao by bbo r,eWU.d.
McCall's Thomas Gebhards, right, sprints along the
course during the junior national cross-country
championships in Wisconsin.
Gebhards finishes third at X -C junior nationals
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club finished third in the sprint race last weekend at
the USSA Junior National Championships for cross - country skiing in Cable, Wisc.
Gebhards, who has been competing in the U16 Gass, also finished 16th in the freestyle distance race,
40th in the classic distance race and his relay team took seventh in an uphill time trial.
Warm weather made for challenging skiing, and races had to be rescheduled to move snow onto the
courses, said John Gebhards, father of Thomas Gebhards.
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McCall, ID
35 OF
Ught Snow
at 0215l PM
Atdvisorytl W I
Chek Inr F.-
—rm—_b Gary time
Racers sprint fmm the start of Saturday's McCall Re- Mastered race at Ponderosa State Park.
Jensen, Welty take top spots
in McCall Re- Mastered 2017
Joe Jensen Boise won the men's race while Julie Welty of McCall won the women's race during the
fifth annual McCall Re- Mastered cross - country ski race on Saturday at Ponderosa State Park.
About 80 participants skied either a 45 kilometer, 30 kilometer, or 15 kilometer race. Entrants came
from Utah, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and California, as well as a large group from Boise,
organizer Kurt Wolfe said.
Jensen, who has finished in the top three every year of the year, took the top spot on the podium with
a time of 2:12.27 followed by Wolf with a time of 2:13.23 and Andrew Armstrong of McCall with a time of
2:15.42.
Welty won the 45km race with time of 2 hours, 54 minutes 20 seconds. In second place six minutes
later was Jana Repulski of Boise followed 10 seconds after that by Margaret Hepworth of Boise.
Toby Klasner of McCall was the youngest participant at age 9 while Thomas Welty was the oldest
participant at age 73. Both races in the 15 km event.
Thomas Gebhards places high at Junior National Qualifier
Thomas Gebhards of the McCall Winter Sports Club posted top -five finishes in his age division during
a cross - country skiing Junior National Qualifier held last weekend in Ketchum.
Gebhards finished second in the U18 boys division during
at►i
the classic sprint race on Saturday of the two-day event. On
Sunday, Gebhards placed fourth in the 10 kilometer skate
race.
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The event was the second of three qualifiers for the 2017
X -C Junior National Championships to be held March 3 -11
iii _J ?
at Lake Placid, N.Y. The first qualifier was held Dec. 16 in
Jackson, Wyo., while the third qualifier will be held on Feb.
11 in West Yellowstone, Mont.
Teams participating last weekend were from Sun Valley,
Jackson Hole, Bozeman, Cody, Montana State Universit Y,
McCall's Gavin Galyardt (34) Passes a competitor
Park City, Salt Lake City, West Yellowstone and Boise.
during Sundays crossmontry ski race in Ketchum.
Also raring were skiers from Australia and Andorra preparing for the FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World
Ski Championships to be held at Soldier Hollow in Heber, Utah
starting on Monday.
Eleven racers from the McCall Winter Sports Club traveled to the event. Here is a list of McCall
finishers from both days of racing:
Saturday - Classic Sprint
Male U 18: 2. Thomas Gebhards.
Male U14: 4. Nicholas Gebhards. 23. Nathan Maybach_
Female U14: 14. Sophie McManus. 38. Ella Klasner.
Male U12 3. Jack McManus. 6. Gavin Galyardt.
Female U12: 5. Molly Maybach.
Male U10: 3. Chase Galyardt.
Male U8: 1. Cole Warren.
Sunday - Skate Race
Male U8: 1. Cole Warren.
Outdoors Index
Thomas Gebhards
places high at Junior
National Qualifier
Comment sought on
restoring habitat for
squirrel
Payette National
Forest notes free
winter travel maps
Friends of the
Weiser River Trails
seeks state grants
Cascade Nordic Ski
Club to host Ski to
the Moon on Feb. 11
Payette Lakes Pool
League Standings
Junior Steelheads
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Currant Frimnn
Mccall, ID
35 ^F
Light Snow
at 02.31 PM
AdVISOfVl V
Cllck ter Fanc
OUTDOORS / RECREATION — THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017
McCall Remastered Nordic race
to be held this weekend at Ponderosa
The fifth annual McCall Remastered Nordic ski event will be held on Saturday and Sunday at two
locations.
Saturday's skate races of 15, 30 and 45 kilometers will begin in a mass start at 10 a.m. at Ponderosa
State Park on the same track that hosted the 2008 Masters World Cup.
Packet pickup and same -day registration start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the park's Activity Center.
The trails at Ponderosa park will be dosed to the public until 1 p.m. Saturday.
The event on Sunday is a way to say thanks to volunteers and participants with a free ski day and
after -party at Jug Mountain Ranch.
Those who either skied or volunteered on Saturday can ski for free on Sunday.
For more information and to register, go to htip:/ /mccallremastered.com.
Little Ski Hill to host Hometown Races. ski part;
The Little Ski Hill and Bear Basin Nordic Center will be the SUN AND SUDS
site of the second annual Hometown Races and Apres Ski
Party on Saturday, Jan.28.
The event is for all family members who can race in one or
more categories or attend the Apres Party that includes
dinner, games, music and raffle prizes.
The day will begin with at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 with a Nordic
race at Bear Basin, where participants will race for the best
time in 1 km, 3 km, or 5 km distances.
The venue will shift to the Little Ski Hill at 2:30 p.m. with
the Vertical Challenge up -hill race, and also a downhill race.
The Vertical Challenge will see participants race uphill to
see who can claim the most vertical feet gained in one hour.
The downhill will see participants race downhill for the
fastest time through a combination of gates and obstacles.
The mood will turn festive at 3:30 p.m., when the Apres
Party and Dinner begins at the Little Ski Hill lodge. The
awards, prizes and raffle will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Online Registration for one or all event for adults is $25 per
person or $75 for teams. Youth prices are $20 each or $60
for a team. Entrants are encouraged to wear costumes.
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Phan la The Saar -Vwa by Gan Ema
,lason "d of McCall checks out the latest in skis
while enjoying a handcrafted beer during the Beer
and Gear festival held Saturday at Brundage
Mountain Resort near McCall. The festival included
a beergarden featuring local breweries as well as
demo skis and snowboards.
Cost for the dinner and party only are $15 for adults and $12 for youths.
Proceeds will benefit the McCall Winter Sports Club. For information, go to
http: / /mccallwintersportsdub org, write to hometownraces @gmail com or call (208) 918 -0234.
Outdoors Index
Little Ski Hill to host
Hometown Races,
ski party
Children's Forest
Winter Adventure
Sunday a taste of
adventure
Ice fishermen invited
to Hardwater Classic
Jan. 28 on Lake
Cascade
McCall Squirts post
2 -1 -1 record at Sun
Valley hockey
tourney
Little Ski Hill to hold
drawing for 2013 Ski
Doo Freeride
Womens Day Out/In
to benefit Habrouck
Nordic Trails
Valley, soil district
applies for Boulder
Meadows trailhead
toilet
Payette Lakes Pool
League Standings
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Junior Steelheads
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