Sisu races into Downtown City Square

By CHARITY SMITH

csmith@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood - For the first time in the history of the Sisu Ski Fest, racers took off from ABR Trails in Erwin Township and headed for the finish line in Ironwood's Downtown City Square. In years past, the race had finished in the parking lot that was once there, and before on nearby Aurora Street.

"It was great, there was a lot of room for spectators and people loved the backdrop behind the stage. It's a big improvement," said race director Jackie Powers.

Powers said she had to pull together a real "Ironwood snow-shovel brigade" of volunteers to take care of shoveling the Downtown City Square on Friday to make way for spectators to enjoy the event. She said the city workers were dealing with the roads, so she got a group of volunteers together to clear off the tables, fire pit area and walkways. Six people shoveled the square after 20 inches of snow fell in the city over three days. "It was just one of the unexpected fun little challenges," said Powers.

According to Powers, 777 people registered for the event, but only 613 skied in the race. Anna Engle, a veterinarian from Fairbanks, Alaska, reserved her Christmas vacation time to return home to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, ski in the Sisu for the third time. She said that the weather, which was in the 20's was "actually kind of warm for the Sisu," and she was having a great time reuniting with friends.

"At first, I was like,'I'm going to die. This is too little layers,' but you warm up like that. That's the best part about cross country skiing is you warm up like that no matter how cold it is," said Zack Miller of Madison, Wisconsin, who said he thought he had not put on enough layers at first, but then thought he had put on too many.

Miller said the snow was soft, but it was a really great day for cross country skiing. "I didn't quite get the time I wanted but it was still a really fun day," he said. "It was awesome."

Michah Johnson of St. Paul, Minnesota, skied the 15K classic as warm up for the Birkie 55k classic race on Feb. 26 in Hayward, Wisconsin. "I thought this was a good prep for (the Birkie.. I had no expectations, but I went out there, started out cold, but the wind died down and it was very nice. Some parts of the trail were slow, but overall, a great course and a good time," he said.

Hazel Kemp, of Duluth, Minnesota, who took fourth overall, said she has always wanted to race in the Sisu. "It seems fun and you get a pasty at the end," she said. All racers were treated to a pasty.

"From my end, Sisu 2022 was pretty close to perfect," said Powers. "The participants totally respected our COVID-19 protocols. The weather was perfect. The course was pretty close to perfectly groomed. The finish in City Square was full of spectators. There were no injuries or incidents - everyone seemed to have a great experience."

The skiers were expected to wear masks at all indoor locations and on the buses to protect against the spread of COVID, in light of the recent surge of cases.

The race was won by first time Sisu racer David Joda, of St. Paul, Minnnesota, who did the 30K classic race in 1:43:54, ariving in the City Square around 11:15 a.m.

"It was good. It was a little slow-going with the wind in sections. Nice course Really well groomed. I've skied at ABR a bunch but I've never done this race," he said. "It was fun."

Joda said his dad and uncle were competing in the skate race so he decided to race as well.

Overall winners

30K Classic Female

1. Kim Rudd of Plymouth, Minnesota, With a run time of 2:11:44

2. Kelly Skillicorn of Winona, Minnesota, With a run time of 2:13:13

3. Kim Hughes of Waunakee, Wissconsin, with a run time of 2:14:14

30 K Classic Male

1. David Joda of St. Paul, with a run time of 1:43:54

2. Benjamin Bauer of Cloquet, Minnesota, with a run time of 1:46:01

3. Ethan Anderson of Rogers, Minnesota, with a run time of 1:49:50

30K Freestyle Female

1. Marit Ross-Sonnesyn of Minneapolis, with a run time of 1:41:56

2. Mari Hardel of Duluth, with a run time of 1:47:01

3. Mary Beth Tuttle of Pine Springs, Minnesota, ith a run time of 1:48:17

30K Frestyle Male

1. Adam Swank of Duluth, with a run time of 1:29:48

2. Nick Ross of Minneapolis, with a run time of 1:29:51

3. Dan Wood of Bozzeman, Montana, with a run time of 1:29:53

15 K Heikki Lunta Classic

Female

1. Heidi Ledermann of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, with a run time of 1:18:02

2. Mary Kay Johnson of Chanhassen, Minnesota, with a run time of 1:18:28

3. Rachelle McPherson of Ironwood with a run time of 1:22:11

Male

1. Will Andresen of Ironwood, with a run time of 0:58:11

2. John Garrett of Hayward, with a run time of 1:06:07

3. Mark Nienstaedt of Rhinelander, with a run time of 1:06:54

15K Heikki Lunta Freestyle

Female

1. Hazel Kemp of Duluth, with a run time of 0:53:04

2. Linnea Ousdigian of St. Paul, with a run time of 0:53:41

3. Paulette Niemi of Ironwood, with a run time of 0:55:17

Male

1. Cyrus Hamlin of Houghton, with a run time of 0:48:07

2. Devon Byers of Ironwood, with a run time of 0:50:54

3. David Collins of Ironwood, with a run time of 0:51:23