Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Participants celebrate small race after larger race is cancelled
ON JAN. 10 AT the Historic Ironwood Depot, volunteer Sue Spaete at right helps first-time skier Myah Paul of Ironwood, age 6, stay steady during a downhill run at the Sisu Ski Fest Depot Dash. For more coverage of the event, see page 20.
By BRENDA MOSELEY
Ironwood — “Medals, hot chocolate and cookies for all.”
That’s what the organizers of Sisu Ski Fest’s Depot Dash on Jan. 10 promised kids 10 and under, and it’s also what they delivered at the Historic Ironwood Depot Park.
But even better than the treats and rewards for most kids was the chance to ski the dash — a loop trail created by Sisu volunteers.
Although the Jan. 11 Sisu Ski Festival adult races were cancelled due to lack of sufficient snow, there was more than enough to keep young skiers happy.
In fact, Laura Johnson of Bark River said her husband, Nick, had planned to ski in the adult race, but when they learned it was cancelled, they decided to make the most of the situation, in part by taking their kids to the Depot Dash.
Laura was holding Aubrey, their 1-year-old daughter, as they watched Nick ski the Dash course with their daughter, Brook, 3. Laura said she was “delighted by the snow here and happy to make it a weekend in Ironwood.”
Children could bring their own cross country skis or borrow them at the event, and many skied for the first time. Included among them was Eli Lehrkamp, 3, who was guided by his mom, Bri Lehrkamp, of Gurney, Wisconsin.
