Wet and wild REI Frosty Freestyle

Sat, Jan  11, 2014 - By Mike Muha

Huron Meadows Metropark in Brighton Michigan has had the best conditions in recent memory all season long, including 14" of snow a week ago, followed by a brutal cold. The day before the REI Frosty Freestyle, conditions had warmed and the trail was in premo condition.

And then it rained over night...

Racers this morning found a very skiable race course. Much of the course was firm to somewhat soft for skating, although tracks were quite soft, and more experienced classic skiers skied in the skating lane.

Start of the men's 15K. (Photo: Lisa Kaniewski)

But there were also elements of a steeplechase: melt water settling into low areas on the course, with water and mush levels boot-high. The groomers worked to make channels to drain the water away before the race, but there were still some interesting areas where skiers had to choose to go around, jump over, or plow through. One of the leaders found himself face first in wet slop in an unfortunate fall near lots of spectators. Can you say "waterskis"?

Fortunately, the rain mostly stayed away during the race, with just a couple short showers during the race. And the post race festivities were top notch.

Ken Dawson, Doug Cornell, and Robin Luce in the 15K skate. (Photo: Mark Irish)

Even with the water, there was plenty of snow and racers used their A-pair of skis.

In the 15k Michigan Cup race, Alex Vanias (Team Athletic Mentors) was the fastest skater of the day, winning in 50:09, a minute over teammate Dan Yankus (51:06) who finished in a near photo finish with Jim Michel Samuels from the Cross County Ski Headquarters.

Team NordicSkiRacer's Ali Crocker took her second win in as many years with a time of 54:13. The time was good enough for a 8th place finish overall, including men. Multi-Frosty Freestyle winner Cheryl Darton (Cross Country Ski Headquarters) was second in 1:01:08, with Amy Joss third in 1:01:40. Brenda Carlson (Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop) was 4th in 1:02:35.

Erin Lipp and Sara Goble finish 1-2 in the Women's 5k Skate. (Photo: Lisa Kaniewski)

Top finishers for the men in the 15K classic were Aaron Croff (Team NordicSkiRacer), Brad Plymale, and Martin Wooledge (Straits Striders) in 1:27:41, 1:35:12, and 1:38:09. The women's podium consisted of Gwen Stevenson (Cross Country Ski Headquarters), Caitlin Noble, and  Julie L Williams with time of 1:47:58, 1:47:59 (close!), and 1:54:11.

In the 5k Skate Division, Reid Goble (Team NordicSkiRacer) finished first in 18:36, followed by Sean Brownell  (Traverse City West Nordic) and Tim Brownell (Traverse City West Nordic) in 19:14 and 19:53. Traverse City Central's Erin Lipp was the top women with a time of 19:22, just edging out Sarah Goble (Team NordicSkiRacer) by one second. New raver Rylee Raye Robinson (Team NordicSkiRacer) took third in 26:53.

Left to right: Gregory Edmond, Rebecca Davis, and Frank Rynalski. (Photo: Mark Irish)

Jacob Danes (Straits Striders), Robert Schneider (Hilltoppers XC), and Jonathon Vibbart were the top 5K classic men, finishing in 36:59, 38:18, and 42:03. Jodie Haberkorn (Team NordicSkiRacer), Deb Godmer (Team NordicSkiRacer) and Alexis Howard were the fastest classic women, with times of 41:03, 41:24, and 45:06.

5K Classic males
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Jacob Danes	Straits Striders	488	12	1	Fastest Time	36:59
2	Robert Schneider	Hilltoppers XC	752	51	1	M 50-59	38:18
3	Jonathon Vibbart		743	28	1	M 20-29	42:03
4	Larry Herbert	XC Ski Headquarters	427	61	1	M 60-69	47:53
5	Cliff Fleenor		405	46	1	M 40-49	48:01
6	Will Fleenor		406	17	1	M 16-17	48:24
7	David Howard		467	41	2	M 40-49	48:30
8	Joseph Ward		727	30	1	M 30-39	48:34
9	Seth Fleenor		404	12	1	M 12-13	55:50
10	Marvin Stevenson	XC Ski Headquarters	725	79	1	M 70-79	58:31
11	Gregory Edmond		718	44	3	M 40-49	1:03:59
12	Deepak Dashairya		739	34	2	M 30-39	1:23:10
5k classic females
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Jodie Haberkorn	Team NordicSkiRacer	764	35	1	Fastest Time	41:03
2	Deb Godmer	Team NordicSkiRacer	410	49	1	F 40-49	41:24
3	Alexis Howard		466	12	1	F 12-13	45:06
4	Vickie Blair		395	49	2	F 40-49	45:36
5	Mary Sue Brinker		721	61	1	F 60-69	45:37
6	Amy J Obenchain		715	36	1	F 30-39	46:18
7	Radhika Pasricha		749	35	2	F 30-39	46:32
8	Bert Richards		457	60	2	F 60-69	46:40
9	Kristen Meyers		744	24	1	F 20-29	47:49
10	A Trombley		490	48	3	F 40-49	50:29
11	Emily Fleenor		407	10	1	F 0-11	54:53
5k Skate males
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Reid Goble	Team NordicSkiRacer	706	14	1	Fastest Time	18:36
2	Sean Brownell	Traverse City West Nordic	477	17	1	M 16-17	19:14
3	Tim Brownell	Traverse City West Nordic	478	17	2	M 16-17	19:53
4	Tony Mathie	Wilderness Wildcats Nordic	450	15	1	M 14-15	20:14
5	Peter Shambaugh		424	14	2	M 14-15	20:16
6	Michael Edward Maring	Wilderness Wildcats	448	14	3	M 14-15	20:26
7	Garrett Ruffner	Team NordicSkiRacer	761	15	4	M 14-15	22:19
8	David Teddy		740	40	1	M 40-49	22:21
9	Dan Smith		453	23	1	M 20-29	22:23
10	Will Schneider	Hilltoppers XC	751	14	5	M 14-15	23:41
11	Andy James Samuels		449	13	1	M 12-13	24:52
12	Colin Wadsworth	Hilltoppers XC	738	14	6	M 14-15	26:00
13	Tim Mulhall	Team NordicSkiRacer	480	54	1	M 50-59	26:06
14	James Bandwell		408	54	2	M 50-59	30:03
15	Bruce Freeburger		483	62	1	M 60-69	32:33
16	Rex Blair	Team NordicSkiRacer	396	53	3	M 50-59	35:26
17	Daniel Buford		458	49	2	M 40-49	40:36
18	Doug Fowler		757	43	3	M 40-49	42:11
5k skate females
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Erin Lipp	Traverse City Central Nordic	474	16	1	Fastest Time	19:22
2	Sarah Goble	Team NordicSkiRacer	708	16	1	F 16-17	19:23
3	Rylee Raye Robinson	Team NordicSkiRacer	735	12	1	F 12-13	26:53
4	Gwen Wright	Hilltoppers XC	742	13	2	F 12-13	28:20
5	Amelia Seger	Hilltoppers XC	746	13	3	F 12-13	30:37
6	Linda McGiness	XC Ski Headquarters	402	63	1	F 60-69	34:31
15k Classic males
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Time
1	Aaron Croff	Team NordicSkiRacer	413	44	1	Fastest Time	1:27:41
2	Brad Plymale	Straits Striders	714	45	1	M 40-49	1:35:12
3	Martin Wooledge		418	50	1	M 50-59	1:38:09
4	Phillip Wadsworth	Hilltoppers XC	737	57	2	M 50-59	1:42:02
5	Kevin Podolski		705	43	2	M 40-49	1:42:34
6	Justin Noble		389	29	1	M 20-29	1:46:56
7	Deveaux Gauger		729	49	3	M 40-49	1:47:09
8	Ron Baker	XC Ski Headquarters	754	46	4	M 40-49	1:48:32
9	James Laughren	Team NordicSkiRacer	452	59	3	M 50-59	1:50:42
10	Stephen Lord		760	52	4	M 50-59	2:05:54
15k classic females
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Gwen Stevenson	XC Ski Headquarters	719	47	1	Fastest Time	1:47:58
2	Caitlin Noble		393	29	1	F 20-29	1:47:59
3	Julie L Williams		747	44	1	F 40-49	1:54:11
4	Brigid Mulroy Kahn		748	48	2	F 40-49	2:06:08
5	Denise Daberko	XC Ski Headquarters	756	40	3	F 40-49	2:16:12
15K Skate males
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Alex Vanias	Team Athletic Mentors	479	23	1	Fastest Time	50:09
2	Daniel Yankus	Team Athletic Mentors	425	32	1	M 30-39	51:06
3	Jim Michel Samuels	XC Ski Headquarters	451	47	1	M 40-49	51:06
4	Ryan John Harris	Team Athletic Mentors	426	22	1	M 20-29	51:32
5	Ryan Halstead	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	489	26	2	M 20-29	52:57
6	Glenn Goodman	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	428	47	2	M 40-49	52:58
7	Christopher Strahm	Polecats Nordic Ski Club	470	41	3	M 40-49	53:21
8	Clifford Onthank	Vasa Ski Club	461	60	1	M 60-69	55:32
9	Philip Tosteson		496	22	3	M 20-29	56:00
10	Alex Smith		765	29	4	M 20-29	56:42
11	Robert K Fairman	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	411	56	1	M 50-59	57:03
12	James Beebe	Grand Rapids Nordic	486	53	2	M 50-59	57:15
13	Steve Seager	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	447	55	3	M 50-59	57:22
14	Alex Dennis	XC Ski Headquarters	499	16	1	M 16-17	57:47
15	Larry Brownell	Vasa Ski Club	745	47	4	M 40-49	57:50
16	Don Camp	Grand Rapids Nordic	493	61	2	M 60-69	57:54
17	Tanner Pinney	XC Ski Headquarters	704	34	2	M 30-39	57:55
18	Allen Sorgenfrei	Team NordicSkiRacer	485	49	5	M 40-49	58:04
19	Scott Ries	XC Ski Headquarters	419	35	3	M 30-39	58:06
20	Valarian D Kanaby	XC Ski Headquarters	433	52	4	M 50-59	58:19
21	Ken Dawson	Team NordicSkiRacer	497	63	3	M 60-69	58:22
22	Douglas G Cornell	Team NordicSkiRacer	442	54	5	M 50-59	58:23
23	Robin F. Luce	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	435	62	4	M 60-69	58:24
24	Ethan Kennedy	XC Ski Headquarters	500	17	2	M 16-17	58:31
25	Dennis Curran		403	31	4	M 30-39	58:49
26	Jon Morgan	Team Athletic Mentors	472	49	6	M 40-49	59:13
27	Rene Carl Harde	Team NordicSkiRacer	436	47	7	M 40-49	59:26
28	John Britton	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	432	51	6	M 50-59	59:46
29	Doug Heady	Team NordicSkiRacer	468	56	7	M 50-59	1:00:20
30	William Brian Kaltz	Team NordicSkiRacer	423	66	5	M 60-69	1:01:26
31	Steve Vreeken	Vasa Ski Club	492	46	8	M 40-49	1:01:38
32	Ryan Robinson	Team NordicSkiRacer	734	47	9	M 40-49	1:01:59
33	John Kostrzewa	Vasa Ski Club	475	60	6	M 60-69	1:01:59
34	Ryan Darnton	XC Ski Headquarters	388	32	5	M 30-39	1:02:03
35	Leonid Tikh	Team NordicSkiRacer	471	49	10	M 40-49	1:02:10
36	Ian Kennedy	XC Ski Headquarters	701	45	11	M 40-49	1:02:58
37	Mike Everts	Straits Striders	454	52	8	M 50-59	1:03:11
38	Tim Cook	XC Ski Headquarters	731	50	9	M 50-59	1:04:11
39	Mike Davis	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	416	22	5	M 20-29	1:04:18
40	Lewis Trip	Team NordicSkiRacer	758	54	10	M 50-59	1:04:21
41	Cris E Jones	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	415	65	7	M 60-69	1:04:22
42	Devan Thielfoldt	XC Ski Headquarters	444	57	11	M 50-59	1:04:30
43	Jeffrey L Moore	Straits Striders	484	57	12	M 50-59	1:04:31
44	Stephen Smigiel	Grand Rapids Nordic	465	68	8	M 60-69	1:05:03
45	Anthony Percha	Team NordicSkiRacer	438	54	13	M 50-59	1:05:17
46	Joseph Brown	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	753	62	9	M 60-69	1:05:18
47	Scott Michael Hoffner		707	23	6	M 20-29	1:05:37
48	Mike Muha	Team NordicSkiRacer	400	56	14	M 50-59	1:06:01
49	Joel Donahue		722	36	6	M 30-39	1:06:14
50	Ted Bondie		414	52	15	M 50-59	1:06:24
51	Mike Temkin	XC Ski Headquarters	724	50	16	M 50-59	1:06:46
52	Frank Rynalski	XC Ski Headquarters	439	59	17	M 50-59	1:07:07
53	Chris Weingartz	Straits Striders	412	58	18	M 50-59	1:07:24
54	Dan J Nolan	Grand Rapids Nordic	712	62	10	M 60-69	1:08:40
55	Randy A. Kessler	Team NordicSkiRacer	443	59	19	M 50-59	1:09:11
56	David Darnton	XC Ski Headquarters	387	63	11	M 60-69	1:09:17
57	Tad Hill		741	35	7	M 30-39	1:09:40
58	Warren Samberg		716	40	12	M 40-49	1:09:54
59	John Hayes Harris	XC Ski Headquarters	429	59	20	M 50-59	1:10:09
60	John Nellis	Grand Rapids Nordic	730	20	7	M 20-29	1:10:23
61	Peter Johnson	Grand Rapids Nordic	462	68	12	M 60-69	1:10:33
62	Karl Trost	Straits Striders	713	55	21	M 50-59	1:11:41
63	William Haefner	Team NordicSkiRacer	431	76	1	M 70-79	1:12:09
64	Adam Lobbestael		728	26	8	M 20-29	1:13:34
65	Adam Danes	Straits Striders	487	46	13	M 40-49	1:14:11
66	Dan Brickert	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	397	43	14	M 40-49	1:14:15
67	Bill Heinrich		720	36	8	M 30-39	1:14:34
68	Kaoru Kawashima		709	33	9	M 30-39	1:14:55
69	Lee J. Ries	XC Ski Headquarters	420	65	13	M 60-69	1:15:14
70	Ernie Brumbaugh	Grand Rapids Nordic	469	67	14	M 60-69	1:16:17
71	John McKeon	XC Ski Headquarters	482	53	22	M 50-59	1:18:22
72	Rex Craig Donahey	Team NordicSkiRacer	473	58	23	M 50-59	1:20:48
73	Marvin Boluyt		723	60	15	M 60-69	1:21:02
74	Spencer Ruffner	Team NordicSkiRacer	762	62	16	M 60-69	1:21:18
75	Dale Alan Ernst	XC Ski Headquarters	434	50	24	M 50-59	1:21:36
76	Greg Worrel	Team NordicSkiRacer	481	59	25	M 50-59	1:23:39
77	Khalil Raffoul		710	48	15	M 40-49	1:26:31
78	Douglas Ball	XC Ski Headquarters	702	55	26	M 50-59	1:29:30
79	Philip Huyghe	XC Ski Headquarters	455	54	27	M 50-59	1:30:07
80	Jo Takase		401	32	10	M 30-39	1:30:12
81	Dave Reppen	Team NordicSkiRacer	717	45	16	M 40-49	1:32:21
82	Sam Gillespie	XC Ski Headquarters	445	56	28	M 50-59	1:34:06
83	Gary Faria	Team NordicSkiRacer	703	63	17	M 60-69	1:36:25
84	Daniel Rimer	XC Ski Headquarters	733	60	18	M 60-69	1:37:19
85	Tom Andrew Esper		755	42	17	M 40-49	1:46:33
15k skate females
Place	Name	Team	Bib No	Age	Age Group Place	Age Group	Gun Time
1	Alison Crocker	Team NordicSkiRacer	750	29	1	Fastest Time	54:13
2	Cheryl Darnton	XC Ski Headquarters	386	46	1	F 40-49	1:01:08
3	Amy Joss		421	47	2	F 40-49	1:01:40
4	Brenda Carlson	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	732	53	1	F 50-59	1:02:35
5	Rebecca Davis	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	417	24	1	F 20-29	1:05:04
6	Hilary Witbrodt	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	437	33	1	F 30-39	1:09:48
7	Linda S Weeks	XC Ski Headquarters	491	59	2	F 50-59	1:09:49
8	Claire Ward		726	29	2	F 20-29	1:09:56
9	Karen Dawson	Team NordicSkiRacer	498	60	1	F 60-69	1:14:19
10	Christine Seager	Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop	446	51	3	F 50-59	1:18:24
11	Tara Connolly	XC Ski Headquarters	494	25	3	F 20-29	1:25:16
12	Maria Iwaniec	Straits Striders	430	63	2	F 60-69	1:26:17
13	Lavinia Raffoul		711	48	3	F 40-49	1:29:54
14	Christine Causley	Team NordicSkiRacer	759	48	4	F 40-49	1:47:38
15	Sophie Jane Miles	XC Ski Headquarters	495	30	2	F 30-39	1:58:23
16	Leigh Whetstone	XC Ski Headquarters	409	40	5	F 40-49	2:06:56