Nordic ski team bigger than ever

With the first competition still two weeks away, the abundance of local snow has given the Sisters High School Nordic ski club a great jump start to the season.

In addition to good snow, the team is reveling in its biggest turnout in club history. Coach Lee Fischer, in his sixth year heading the team, is thrilled to have a number of returnees as well as a fresh flock of new faces on the squad that touts 18 members.

“It’s always good to have a strong core of experienced skiers to help pull the newcomers along,” he said.

Returning varsity level skiers include Jacob and Jeremy Evans, Kelly Crowther, Jena Rickards, Erin Kanzig, Rachel Sims, Ryanne Conrads and Maren Burck. New faces include Stefan Redfield, Nikki Thomas, Mac Gould, Jacque Bryan, Aubrey Cretsinger, Lucas Glick, Molly Blust, Kirsten Burck and Wesley Ford.

Nordic skiing for high school teams and clubs operates under the umbrella group of the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA) that also is the governing body of Alpine skiing in Oregon.

Teams representing some 20 schools are split into two divisions, Northern and Southern, for competitive league meets. The season culminates with a state championship meet February 24 and 25.

On December 31, Hoodoo Mountain Resort hosts an open race that will kick off the Outlaws’ season. Fischer invites skiers of all ages and abilities to join the all-comer’s meet scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Nordic area.

The first league meet of the year will be Thursday, January 5; a night-time meet at Hoodoo.

“We’ve never tried something after dark, so it’s going to be a unique and interesting competition,” said Fischer.

Nordic skiing involves two separate disciplines for competition: traditional (classic) style and skating. Races range from 3 to 5 kilometers, depending on conditions and most meets include a 3-x-1,000 meter relay. Team scores are determined by the placing of the top three racers from each team plus the points earned in the relay.

Fischer is assisted by his wife Peggy, Don Segal, Dave Brown and Tom Blust. Parent volunteers provide help with everything from transportation, to ski waxing parties and meet support.

Hoyt’s Hardware is helping sponsor the team again this year along with Mountain Supply and Cheerleader’s Grill of Bend. The biggest supporter of all, of course, is Hoodoo, which provides access for the team to practice and race.

Fischer can hardly wait for the races to begin. “I think it’s a great team,” he said.