World Junior Nordic Ski Championships

Another update on the World Junior Cross Country Ski and Biathlon Championships. Today Casey Smith from Winthrop and a member of the Methow Valley Junior Nordic team finished 30th in the 12.5K individual biathlon event in Nove Mesto, Slovakia. Casey was the top American finisher. Yesterday Sadie Bjornsen finished 17th in the 15K pursuit at the U23 World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. Last Friday, her brother Eric finished 14th in the 1.4K classic sprint race in the World Junior Championships. Both were the top American finishers in their events. Congratulations to Casey, Sadie and Eric, and to the Methow Valley Junior Nordic race program for training such great skiers.

Another BlueBird Day in the Methow

Deb Thorlakson, Midge Cross, Karla Kephart-Segale, Colleen Ryan and Hannah Dewey skiing across the Rendezvous on Sunday, January 30, 2011. Photo by Kristen Smith.

U23 World Championships

Sadie Bjornsen finished 23rd today in the 10K women's freestyle event at the U23 World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. She was the top American finisher, 3 minutes behind the winner Krista Lahteenmaki of Finland, who finished an entire minute ahead of the second place skier. Congratulations Sadie!

World Junior Results

In the first race at the World Junior Championships in Otepaa, Estonia, a 10 K freestyle, Eric Bjornsen finished 57th out of 101 racers. Good job! Stay tuned, his sister Sadie races tomorrow. Both are alumni of the Methow Valley Ski Education Foundation Junior Nordic Team.

Methow Racer Wins 2011 Apple Invite

Derek Alumbaugh, son of Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Director Bret Alumbaugh, captured the Apple Invite "King of the Hill" trophy at Mission Ridge this past weekend. Derek, racing in the boys J-4 class, finished first in Saturday's slalom race and followed that up on Sunday with another first in the giant slalom. Congratulations Derek!

Methow Valley skiers at World Junior Championships

Sadie and Eric Bjornsen will be competing this week in the World U23 and World Junior Championships respectively this week in Otepaa, Estonia. You can follow their races at http://www.tehvandi.ee/njwsc/. Good luck to both of them! In addition, Casey Smith will be competing in the World Junior Biathlon Championships beginning January 29 in Nove Mesto, Slovakia. You can follow his races at http://www3.biathlonworld.com/en/events/do/showevent.html?EventId=BT1011JWRLCH__. Good luck Casey!

"PERFECT" skiing

The MVSTA groomers say the trails are "PERFECT". All the lower trails, plus Meadowlark and Blue Jay were groomed last night. The skate skiing is fast and fun, so give it a try.