Star Journal Report

More than 15 teams and over 350 high school and middle school racers took to the Nordic ski courses at the Ced A. Vig Outdoor Classroom Jan. 5-6 for the Ascension Northwoods Nordic Hodag Challenge Cross Country Ski Race.

For Rhinelander, the top boys and girls varsity finishers were Levi Smith and Emma Hjelle; boys and girls junior varsity top racers were Zach Goodrich and Anna Wood. In the middle school division, Jett Biolo was the first Hodag to cross the line for the boys and Gracie Berger was the top girl.

The two-day event featured skate ski races Saturday and was scheduled for pursuit classic style races Sunday. However, due to the warm temperature Sunday, the Sunday event was changed to a skate format.

Race organizer Brian Hegge said the weekend went well.

“Skiers, parents and spectators all provided an unending number of thank yous to Northwoods Nordic and the volunteers,” Hegge said. “Given the low snow year and melting snow conditions, the skiers and coaches were extremely grateful to even have an event.”

The event would not have been possible, he added, without the hundreds of hours the club and ski families put in prepping the course and the support of sponsors.

“The facilities at CAVOC are just fantastic for the event.”

Hegge said the third annual race will take place in the same place, same weekend, same format, only hopefully better weather.

Photos by Bob Mainhardt.