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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula January 19, 2004 Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club information provided by Dean Woodbeck. Text © 2004 Michele Anderson. Photos © 2004 Kaye Helminen, Brockit Solutions, and Michele Anderson, as noted.

Heikinpäivä, p. 2: Heikinpäivä Hiihto ski race photos

The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club sponsored the Heikinpäivä Hiihto cross-country ski races that began at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Maasto Hiihto trails in Hancock.

Men and women cross-country skiers take off for the 15k Heikinpäivä Hiihto race at the Maasto Hiihto ski trails in Hancock on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004. (Photo © 2004 by Michele Anderson)

First-place overall winners of the Heikinpäivä Hiihto races were as follows: Men's 15k: Jonathon Rulseh of Three Lakes, Wis., 0:52:59; Women's 15k: Shawn Oppliger of Hancock, 1:01:41; Men's 5k: Keith Helminen of Laurium, 0:22:12; Women's 5k: Karen Jarvey of Calumet, 0:25:52; Boys' 2.5k: Jay Woodbeck of Hancock, 0:08:28; Girls' 2.5k: Olivia Orr of Hancock, 0:08:38; Boys' 1k: Zebulon Featherly of Atlantic Mine, 0:05:45; Girls' 1k: Veronica Booth of Laurium, 0:06:47.

Kaoru Kawashima, 23, of Houghton skis the Heikinpäivä Hiihto Men's 15k race. Kawashima finished eighth overall (0:59:27) in the race and second in his age group. (Photo © 2004 by Kaye Helminen, Brockit Solutions. Reprinted with permission.)

While first-place, 15k winner Rulseh is only 19, the second-place overall went to 37-year-old Troy Kinnunen- Skidmore of Calumet, who finished the course in 54 minutes, just one minute and one second behind Rulseh.

Mike Meyer, 34, of Hancock, negotiates one of Maasto Hiihto's "macho" hills during the Men's 15k race. Meyer finished fourth in his age group (1:16:39). (Photo © 2004 by Kaye Helminen, Brockit Solutions. Reprinted with permission.)

In the Women's 15k, second-place overall went to Wendy Sharp of Atlantic Mine, who was just about 2.5 minutes behind winner Shawn Oppliger.

Julia Friend of Houghton nears the finish line of the Women's 5k race. Friend finished third in her age group. (Photo © 2004 by Kaye Helminen, Brockit Solutions. Reprinted with permission.)

The Men's 15k race attracted 26 skiers, some from as far away as Milwaukee, Rhinelander, Bennet and Three Lakes, Wis. The four women who completed the 15k race were from Hancock, Atlantic Mine and Calumet.

Staying warm in the Maasto Hiihto Chalet, Chris Van Domelen, Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) treasurer, prepares the awards for the Jan. 17, 2004, Heikinpäivä Hiihto ski races. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

In the 5k races, overall second-place went to Brian Varnstad, 19, of Marquette (0:24:38), and Amber Young, 15, of Hancock (0:27:23), both of whom were first in their age groups.

Proud Dad, Dan Maki of Ahmeek, poses with son Joel Maki, 9, who finished first in his age group and fifth overall in the Boys' 2.5k race (0:11:35). Not pictured but appreciated is Joel's Mom, Ardys, who was busy helping the scorekeepers in the Chalet at Maasto Hiihto. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

In the 2.5k races Alan Toczydlowski, 10, was second overall (0:08:40) but first in his age group. Louise Oppliger, 10, was second overall in the 2.5k (0:09:24) and also first in her age group.

Elise Cheney-Makens, 6 (almost 7), of Houghton, crosses the finish line of the 1k Heikinpäivä Hiihto race on Jan. 17. Elise (0:09:20) was fourth in her age group out of the 14 skiers in the Girls' 1k race. Is that Mom braving the wind and cheering her on in the background? (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Last to start the race were the 1k racers, 26 in all, ages 4 to 7, who braved the strong wind that suddenly appeared in the late afternoon, adding an unexpected wind-chill factor to their race.

Dylan Giardina, 6, of Houghton, heads for the finish line of the 1k Heikinpäivä Hiihto ski race. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

In the Boys' 1km race Booth Griffin, 5, of Laurium, was second overall and first in his age group (0:08:26). Isabel Sharp, 7, was second overall and in her age group in the Girls' 1k (0:07:26).

Five-year-old Sal Sharp of Atlantic Mine finishes third in his age group (0:09:48) in the Boys' 1k Heikinpäivä Hiihto ski race on Jan. 17, 2004, at Maasto Hiihto. Not pictured is his Dad, Ray Sharp, Keweenaw Now columnist, who volunteered as race starter. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

For complete results of the Heikinpäivä Hiihto ski races visit the Keweenaw Trails Web site.

Note from Dean Woodbeck: Jim Dufresne, a writer for Booth Newspapers, featured Maasto in his Sunday feature yesterday (Jan. 18, 2004). Booth newspapers includes most of the non-Detroit city papers (Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, K-zoo, Saginaw, Flint, Jackson, Bay City, and Lansing. Read the article.

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