Traverse City Record-Eagle

Sports

February 7, 2012

Vasa trail is 'holding up'

Decision on race will be made today

BY DENNIS CHASE dchase@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — An official announcement will come this evening, but it appears the North American Vasa cross country ski race will be a go for this weekend.

"We had people skiing on the trail (Monday) and it's holding up pretty well," said Pete LaPlaca, Vasa president. "It's fast, but quite skiable."

On Saturday, approximately 70 volunteers, split into five teams, hauled in snow to cover bare or thin spots on the trail.

"We moved a lot of snow," said Dr. James Woodburne, who led the work bee.

"The conditions are amazingly good," he added. "I'm amazed at how the snow held up with all the warm weather we've had the last week and a half."

Another work bee is planned for this morning.

"We want to finish up a few remaining problems," Woodburne said. "We should be OK."

Veteran skier Milan Baic has been on part of the trail and said he's "shocked" at how well it's held up given the 40-plus degree temperatures. He said his wife agreed after skiing in the "Soup-er Bowl" outing Sunday.

"When she came back, I said, 'It was pretty good, wasn't it?'" Baic asked. "She said, 'It was great.'"

LaPlaca said his biggest concern now is safety.

"(Race director) Lisa Taylor and I met with the ski patrol Sunday morning for about two hours and typically they come up and roam around the course," LaPlaca said. "This year we're going to use the Birkie (Birkebeiner) approach and position them at specific areas by the downhills that we consider the most dangerous. Right now, conditions are very fast. They've been iced up. We've roughed them up with the groomers as best we can."

LaPlaca said work will continue on the trail daily to optimize skier safety and enjoyment.

He said officials might juggle wave assignments to minimize traffic and congestion on the course.

LaPlaca said that because of the lack of snowfall it's been "virtually impossible" to form good tracks for the classic skiers. Therefore, officials are allowing classic race skiers to switch to a freestyle race without charge. LaPlaca also said some skiers who originally signed up for the 50K freestyle are switching to the 27K.

"They've communicated with us that they haven't been on snow or haven't had enough time on snow for the 50K," he said.

The Vasa is part of the American Ski Marathon series. The Mora Vasaloppet, scheduled for Sunday in Minnesota, was canceled.

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