Boyne Highlands Classic

Boyne Highlands Classic
Boyne, Michigan
Sunday, January 8, 2006

Complete results and more photos on Nordic Ski Racer website

10K and 5K Classic Technique

10K

Place Name                 Age  Time   Group  Place
22    Detlef Berndt         48  42:10  M40-49   7
40    Daniella Gebhart      44  46:21  F40-49   2

5K

Place Name                 Age  Time   Group  Place
      Andrew Barbeau        13  19:15  M 0-13   1
      Katherine Mallinger   12  23:23  F 0-13   1
      Francis Mallinger     11  25:44  F 0-13   2
      Wendy Mihell          11  25:46  F 0-13   3
      Evelyn Steele         11  28:21  F 0-13   4

Story and Photos from Michigan Nordic Skier Website

Milan Baic makes it three in a row by winning the Boyne Highlands 10K classic. Milan's time of 35:07 bested second place finisher Christian Byar by 24 seconds. Third place finisher David Mclean's time of 35:54 was good enough to edge out up and coming junior racer Jesse Smith by 5 seconds. (Jesse had the 4th fastest time in Saturday's Chestnut Valley 12km Freestyle as well).

Julie Houle had a great race with a time of 44:30. Wendy Anderson - coming off a serious rollerski injury - and Daniella Gebhart finished second and third overall with times of 45:59 and 46:21.

Katherine Mallinger, Catarina Gulledge, and Kara Dornbusch won the 13 & under, J1, and J2 junior women's divisions. Andrew Barbeau, William Ward, Brendan Baic, and Jessie Smith were the13 & under, J1, J2, and OJ junior men's division champions.

The race started under bright sunny skies. Many of the 121 racers were surprised by how cold it was. Dawn in most northern Michigan communities brought temperatures in the mid to upper 20's and skiers waxed appropriately. But Boyne Highlands and the surrounding area was substantially colder, with temperatures 16F or colder. Temperatures did warm a bit, but many racer worried that they waxed too warm for both kick and glide.

Once out on the course, many racers wished they'd waxed even warmer for kick! The sun-drenched start area was a little slick, but skiers were fresh and could deal with it. After a few rolling hills, the course did a short loop on a golf course before the seniors darted right and up the first real climb in the woods (Juniors continued straight top complete the shorter 5km course) . Many racer had to herringbone in the skate lane up steeper hills because they couldn't get purchase in the hard, glazed tracks. Even the leaders struggled. As altitude increased, the snow got colder and a little softer, and more people could climb without resorting to a herringbone.

Skiers used a wide variety of kick wax with varying results: Swx V45, Toko Red, Blue Extra, various shades of Violet, Start Grip Tape - what worked for one didn't work for another. Technique - particularly weight transfer - was often the deciding factor whether a wax worked or not.

Downhills were thrilling - a couple with S-turns or a sharp turn at the bottom kept racer heart rates elevated!

A wide start area minimized tangled skis and poles

Eventual winner Julie Houle (235) paces Daniella Gebhart (265) up the first difficult climb

Andrew Barbeau (far right)

Catherine Mallinger (#159) and Francis Mallinger

Wendy Mihell (163) and Evelyn Steele (164)

Evelyn Steele (164)