Back to Houghton - Supertour Nordic Ski Race

 It was great to be back in Houghton working with one of the best race crews around. Great folks -smiling faces all around.

Our hosting the January Supertour race was a last minute change. It was moved to Houghton in the fall after the closure of its previous home, and the organizing committee did a great time on short notice getting the event planned, volunteers recruited, and sponsors assembled.

And of course the all-volunteer race crew, veterans all from 3 previous national championship races and countless regional events, pulled it off without a hitch.

It was a complex series of races, with 2 starts areas, 4 courses and nearly a dozen race categories each day. A sprint test event was held Friday evening, then classic races on Saturday and freestyle skate races Sunday - races for all ages and abilities, from 5 year olds to grandparents, from beginners to members of the national development teams from the US and Canada. And the Race Secretaries, the Timing Crew, the Stadium Crew, the Announcer, the Officials all did a bang-up job.

It's quite inspiring to see both the youngest and most inexperienced putting out their best efforts as well as the elites carving up the course at unimaginable paces. Standing at the Nexus seeing the seemingly endless chain of skiers winding up and down the hills on all sides as the course winds it way to the finish is a true spectacle sure to give you shivers.

It was a treat to help with the event and experience the camaraderie of the crew and the excitement of the participants.