Nice day for a Ski Race

Ah, what a lovely Minnesota sight! A Viking bellowing out the signal for the start of the Barnelopet on a bull horn!









The kids went down to Riverside park for the free race. It was the first annual Barnelopet sponsored by The Sons of Norway (closest chapter, Anoka, Minnesota- we are after all in the heart of German Catholicville).

All the kids had a great time and received medals (very nice, I might add).

The Sons of Norway really put out a nice spread and had such great people volunteering. There were tons of homemade goodies and hot cocoa. Two people were making fresh rosettes and krumkake

They also had runic letter key so that the kids write their names in runic, several large swords, axes and even a chain mail tunic!

We forgot our camera and didn't factor in Graham participating either. He was all for it and thanks to our neighbor Lisa Z. for taking the photos! As it turned out, her kids are in the ski club and so many other families we knew! We had no idea! Jack's physical ed. teacher gave the kids sign up sheets so they could get the info about the free race home to the parents. She also has been taking them XC skiing for class. The kids seem to love it!


Graham showing great form for his very first time on skis

Jack coming in for the big finish

Graham

receiving

his

medal after

finishing the

3-5yr old

race.

The race for the littles was 400m

Jack was in the 9-11 year old group and it was 2.1k I believe. But, being the hardcore competitor as usual, Jack decided to do the older kid's race as well. I believe that was 4k and involved several hills (ones that I've struggled to get up in the past). He was worn out and sore by the time we loaded up to go home. He had blisters on his heels (tied his boots too tight?) and needed a good, hot soak in the tub last evening. However, he was gung-ho to get to school to show off his medal (like I said, all kids got them). His phys-ed teacher was out there skiing also and helping and cheering on the few kids from their school that came out for the race (four, I think). She was out there with Jack encouraging him and skiing right along with him for that last big race. He needed that, he might have given up. He was second to last to come in and like I said, worn out. The kids that started off that race were in the ski club, much older (like 12-16yrs) and skate skiing like they were taking a daily stroll. What a beautiful sight! I only wish I could skate ski, but since I have that herniated disc, I'll be sticking to classical ski for the rest of my life (most likely).

Here's hoping for more snow (warm weather and rain in the forecast) so we can get out there again soon. My back is doing better and some steady, take-it-easy skiing would be great exercise for me.