Medical - Explore Big Sky
Medical - Explore Big Sky
Medical - Explore Big Sky
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exPlore<br />
First annual<br />
<strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong><br />
nordic<br />
Festival<br />
<strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong><br />
March 4, 2011<br />
Volume 2 // Issue #6<br />
First annual <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> nordic<br />
Festival huge Success<br />
by emily stiFler<br />
King of the Mountain Gunnar Kristiansen<br />
cranked from the top of the<br />
Lone Mountain Ranch trail system<br />
in 15 minutes, 10 seconds. Second<br />
place was Dan Cantrell, at 15:11.<br />
Abbie Digel and I brought up the<br />
rear, with 41:10.<br />
Between us, the field was made<br />
of 15 other competitors between<br />
age seven and 40. Abbie and I<br />
stopped to take photos and talk to<br />
race coordinators, LMR employees<br />
Herb Davis and Chris Nelson.<br />
When we decided to get serious, we<br />
descended the 1600’ vertical and 10<br />
km pretty dang fast. We schussed<br />
through the S-curves, falling snow<br />
hitting our teeth as we laughed.<br />
The King, Kristiansen, is a 27-yearold<br />
MSU grad originally from<br />
Hemsedal, Norway.<br />
“Montana is like Norway on steroids,”<br />
said Kristiansen, who raced<br />
for MSU, and was previously one of<br />
the top nordic junior racers in the<br />
world. “This race was harder than<br />
I thought it was going to be, but it<br />
was super fun,” said Kristiansen.<br />
explorebigsky.com<br />
He added, “Nordic is one of those<br />
sports that everyone can compete<br />
– slow or fast, you still have a good<br />
time.”<br />
In addition to this grassroots evening<br />
race, the first Annual Nordic Fest<br />
drew 150 total participants and competitors<br />
to eight other events. The<br />
weeklong festival accomplished its<br />
goal of being family and community<br />
friendly.<br />
Festival organizer, Katie Smith, says,<br />
“It’s wonderful that the <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> community<br />
and Lone Mountain Ranch<br />
could create a fun event for every<br />
level of skier to enjoy.”<br />
In addition to the King and Queen of<br />
the Mountain, the family sprint races<br />
and Nordic Terrain Park showcased<br />
the growing enthusiasm for Nordic<br />
skiing in <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong>. At the Mad Wolf<br />
Classic, the week’s culmination, 21<br />
racers sped down from the top of the<br />
Lone Moose lift dressed in hilarious<br />
costumes. Dan Cantrell, not slowed<br />
down by his pink and purple muumuu,<br />
led the pack the entire race,<br />
while a pirate on touring skis found<br />
his own way down the course.<br />
march 18, 2011 17
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