Select members of the Gustavus men’s nordic ski team took part in the Grand View Cross Country Ski Challange held in Ironwood, Mich., on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. Junior Jens Brabbit led the way for the Gusties, finishing fourth overall in both the 10km freestyle (26:35.1) on Saturday, and the 10km classic (28:09.6) on Sunday. The Grandview Ski Challenge was the opening event of the 2009-10 season for the Gustavus men’s nordic ski team.
Skiers Andrew Poffenberger and Anders Bowman finished next in line for the Gusties in Saturday’s 10km freestyle race. Poffenberger placed 25th overall (28:28.4) while Bowman finished in 29th place (28:45.6). Bowman was the top Gustavus finisher in the Junior Olympic category on Saturday, finishing 11th out of 25 skiers. Other Gustavus finishers included Blake Gust in 50th place (30:10.6), Peter Larsen in 54th (30:40.4), and Andrew Tilman in 72nd (32:38.6). 96 skiers competed in the Saturday’s 10km freestyle race.
The Gustavus team saw an overall improvement in Sunday’s 10km classic race. Brabbit, Bowman and Poffenberger all finished in the top 20 overall. Bowman placed 14th (29:15.8), while Poffenberger finished right behind him in 15th (29:16.3). Zach Wagner finished next in line in 32nd (30:35.2). Bowman and Wagner finished in 5th and 10th place, respectively, out of 25 skiers in the Junior Olympic category in Sunday’s race. Rounding out the men’s team was Gust in 46th (31:03.6), Tilman in 51st (31:20.7), and Larsen in 53rd (31:30.7). 93 skiers recorded times in the Sunday 10km classic race.