Results: Parrott, Rand, and Thompson win during Frosty Fest Weekend

Tue, Jan  16, 2024 - By Mike Muha

It was another miracle at Huron Meadows Metropark: There was no snow...and then there was. But a winter storm arrived just in the nick of time. Without the storm, the Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic race would have been on a 1km man-made snow loop. With the extra snow the storm dumped off, the loop was extended to 2.6k. It was a tough early season to make snow, with most nights near or above freezing making it difficult to make snow.

Eric Parrott didn't let it go to waste, finishing first in both Saturday's Frosty Freestyle and Sunday's Krazy Klassic. Karin Rand and Ellen Thompson were first for the women on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Complete results can be downloaded (PDF) or you can see them on the RF Timing web site. [UPDATE Feb 8, 2024: Mike Temkin finished in front of Tony Percha in Frosty 15K. Results updated. UPDATE Jan 25, 2024: Devon Thielfoldt results for the Krazy Klassic were missing. His results have been added to the download.]

Frosty Freestyle

Saturday's race looked like it was going to be cold - mid-20's but high winds and low wind chill. But many people said they overdressed as most of the course was sheltered from the wind. The course used part of the man-made snow loop, Buck's Run, but much of Buck's was covered in debris from the high winds. Instead, the race course was extend to a section of trail just east of Buck's Run, creating a 2.6km loop that was largely flat. A wide skate lane and tracks were made possible by 6 inches of dense snow that fell on Friday. The skate lane was firm and tracks were deep. Tracks disappeared in one 200 yard section of trail as overhanging trees block much of the snow. (There are plans to widen this section of the trail for next season).

Eric Parrott (Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team) and training partners Glenn Goodman (Vasa Ski Club) and Stephen Smigiel Jr. (GRNST) duked it out on the race course as in training, with Parrot winning in 41:11 for the 5 lap, 13km Frosty Freestyle. Goodman was only 4 seconds behind, with Smigiel just another 7 seconds behind Goodman.

2024 Frosty Freestyle men's podium Stephen Smigiel Jr (3rd), Eric Parrott (1st) and Glenn Goodman (2nd). Unfortunately, I did not get the women's podium picture... :-(

Karin Rand (Team NordicSkiRacer) skied away from the field in the women's division - including most of the men, winning in 42:44. Elizabeth Carlson (University of Michigan) took second in 45:51 with Rebecca Davis (Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop) third in 49:04.

In the 5km, Henry Hayes, Skipper Hayes, and Rayne Newmister (Team NordicSkiRacer) were the top three in 12:06, 14:37, and 15:40. Sage Brownell (10:55), Shirel Temkin (12:01), and Birgit Sorgenfrei (15:23) were the top three women.

Krazy Klassic

Temperatures dropped lower than expected for Sunday's Krazy Klassic. It was around 6 degrees at race time, with a fierce wind. Fortunately, only a couple short sections were directly in the wind. The course was double or triple-tracked except for that 200 yard section under overhanging trees. All the lead skiers doublepoled the mostly flat course. This was somewhat challenging as the last section of trail to the lap point / finish line were directly into the wind. The number of laps was reduce to four (10km) because of the cold and wind,

Ellen Thompson (Team NordicSkiRacer) took off like a rocket at the start and held off teammate Sarah Newmister (who was slowly reeling her in) to win in 45:32. Newmister was just behind in 45:53. Deanna Spencer finished third in 45:58.

Sarah Newmister (2nd), Ellen Thompson (1st), and Deanna Spencer (3rd) in the 2024 Krazy Klassic

Eric Parrott again persevered against a pack of skiers in a sprint finish to take first for the second day of the weekend. Parrott's time was 33:08. Kevin Vazquez (Team NordicSkiRacer) was second in 33:11 followed a second later by Sean Newmister (Team NordicSkiRacer).

Sean Newmister (3rd), Eric Parrott (1st), and Kevin Vazquez (2nd) in the 2024 Krazy Klassic

The 5k race was reduced to 2.6k, again, because of the cold. Erica Aittama was easily the top women in 15:22, with Lorin Zimmerman second in 20:12 and Avery Ludlow (Team NordicSkiRacer) a few seconds behind in 20:41. For the males, Jason Coleman topped the podium in 15:21 followed by Allan Frazher in 18:18. Douglas Dusseau and Beckham Haberkorn (Team NordicSkiRacer) sprinted side-by-side to the finish, with Dusseau taking third by half a ski length.

Frosty Fest Champs

Ellen Thompson (Team NordicSkiRacer) and Eric Parrott (Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team) has the lowest total race time across the two races and won the special Frosty Fest Championship trophies!

Ellen Thompson and Eric Parrott