Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Joe Sathe Interview
Joe Sathe’s commitment to the Hopkins Nordic Ski program has made him a leader on the team.
Joe is involved in a variety of activities including music, basketball, and baseball all year round, but he started to focus on Nordic skiing four years ago and last year realized a personal goal he set as a sophomore and became a team captain. We sat down with Joe this week and asked him to share some of his experiences.
HN: How did you choose to participate in High School Nordic skiing?
Joe: I actually joined the team half-way through my 8th grade season. I had heard that there was a team and I had attended MYSL ski school and thought it would be fun to try again. The reason that I was late joining the team is because I had been playing basketball at North but when the season ended I decided to end my basketball career with Hopkins for good. It was a good decision.
HN: How do you prepare for a new season of Nordic skiing?
Joe: Unfortunately, for the past two seasons I have come in somewhat unprepared because instead of training and staying in good shape I participated in the musical theater program at the High School. In the summer however I cross train for Nordic by being on a rowing team.
HN: Have you met the goals you set for this season…how about… for your high school career?
Joe: This year I have most definitely met my goals. They were to teach new skiers how to ski and make the team a more fun and welcoming place where kids would want to go. I shouldn’t say I have met the goals because the season isn’t quite over we still have a week left.
HN: What are the biggest challenges facing a new Hopkins Nordic team member?
Joe: I think the hardest thing for a new skier is getting used to the happenings of the team, from pasta parties to what types of skis to have and also what type of wax to use. (I don’t even know waxing stuff all the time.)
HN: What’s the biggest surprise you’ve encountered as a team captain?
Joe: The biggest surprise that I have encountered as a captain is the amount of respect that comes with the title. I felt like everyone knew who I was, parents and skiers alike, and I thought it was really great, it made the job almost completely stress free.
HN: What are the best and worst parts of being a team captain?
Joe: Honestly there are not a lot of hard things about being captain, as long as you work hard, are a good leader, and set a positive example it really is just a lot of fun to do. I guess if I had to pick the worst part it would have to be not being able to give all the skiers everything they wanted, like spots on team, different types of uniforms, and stuff like that. But I knew that that would be the case coming into the position so it wasn’t a surprise but it was still hard sometimes. The best part for me was seeing everyone finish races. As times got lower, morale got higher and it was so much fun to see kids that I had taught how to ski achieve so much this year.
HN: What will Joe Sathe be doing next year?
Joe: Next year I will be attending Hamline University in St. Paul. Although they don’t have a ski team I will continue with the sport in my free time as much as I can.
Joe is involved in a variety of activities including music, basketball, and baseball all year round, but he started to focus on Nordic skiing four years ago and last year realized a personal goal he set as a sophomore and became a team captain. We sat down with Joe this week and asked him to share some of his experiences.HN: How did you choose to participate in High School Nordic skiing?
Joe: I actually joined the team half-way through my 8th grade season. I had heard that there was a team and I had attended MYSL ski school and thought it would be fun to try again. The reason that I was late joining the team is because I had been playing basketball at North but when the season ended I decided to end my basketball career with Hopkins for good. It was a good decision.
HN: How do you prepare for a new season of Nordic skiing?
Joe: Unfortunately, for the past two seasons I have come in somewhat unprepared because instead of training and staying in good shape I participated in the musical theater program at the High School. In the summer however I cross train for Nordic by being on a rowing team.
HN: Have you met the goals you set for this season…how about… for your high school career?Joe: This year I have most definitely met my goals. They were to teach new skiers how to ski and make the team a more fun and welcoming place where kids would want to go. I shouldn’t say I have met the goals because the season isn’t quite over we still have a week left.
HN: What are the biggest challenges facing a new Hopkins Nordic team member?
Joe: I think the hardest thing for a new skier is getting used to the happenings of the team, from pasta parties to what types of skis to have and also what type of wax to use. (I don’t even know waxing stuff all the time.)
HN: What’s the biggest surprise you’ve encountered as a team captain?
Joe: The biggest surprise that I have encountered as a captain is the amount of respect that comes with the title. I felt like everyone knew who I was, parents and skiers alike, and I thought it was really great, it made the job almost completely stress free.
HN: What are the best and worst parts of being a team captain?
Joe: Honestly there are not a lot of hard things about being captain, as long as you work hard, are a good leader, and set a positive example it really is just a lot of fun to do. I guess if I had to pick the worst part it would have to be not being able to give all the skiers everything they wanted, like spots on team, different types of uniforms, and stuff like that. But I knew that that would be the case coming into the position so it wasn’t a surprise but it was still hard sometimes. The best part for me was seeing everyone finish races. As times got lower, morale got higher and it was so much fun to see kids that I had taught how to ski achieve so much this year.HN: What will Joe Sathe be doing next year?
Joe: Next year I will be attending Hamline University in St. Paul. Although they don’t have a ski team I will continue with the sport in my free time as much as I can.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ian Wilson Interview
Click here for a link to the whole news segment
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pursuit finish on YouTube
Connor finishes around the 6 minute mark and Jack has a really cool move at the end of his race (and gets mentioned by name).
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Perfect Ending to the Boy's Nordic Season
Congratulations to the entire Hopkins Nordic team on an excellent season, from those who had never skied before to those who competed in the MN State High School championships in Biwabik. After the first race of the day, Hopkins followed Forest Lake and Duluth East in third place. By the end of the day, the Hopkins boys skied to an outstanding second place finish at state.
Highlights of the day's events included having TWO sets of brothers on the Hopkins team: Eric Ruud and Christian Ruud, Greg Furlich and Jon Furlich. Perhaps a first at the state meet. Ian Wilson topped off his high school career of skiing with a seventh place overall finish (Ian started in 14th place after the first race of the day and climbed 7 spots!). Connor followed Ian, also winning the MN All-State award, finishing 16th overall.
Jack Hinkens, aka the newbie, was heard to say, "My skis were so fast, I just couldn't stop passing guys". Jack posted the THIRD fastest skate race time on the course and moved from a place in the sixties, to 27th overall. Eric Ruud also moved up a million places for a solid 4th place finish for Hopkins. Christian, Jon, and Greg rounded out the Hopkins performance and all had outstanding races. Photos of the race are courtesy of Skinny Ski.
Friday, February 13, 2009
2009 State Nordic Ski Results
The State meet results are in...
Hopkins Boys are second!!
Ian Wilson near the end of his seventh place finish!
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
State Meet Qualifiers
The State Meet Qualifiers slide show was shown at the Nordic Ski Coach Association banquet last night at Giant's Ridge. Dave Johnson posted all of the photos to the Marshall School photostream on Flickr. Check it out...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Jack Hinkens Interview
Read Jay Richard's interview with Jack Hinkens on the Skinny Ski website.
(Photo: Bruce Adelsman skinnyski.com)
Monday, February 9, 2009
State Meet Slide Show
On Thursday evening, Feb 12, 2009, at the State Meet Banquet hosted by the Nordic Ski Coaches Association there will be a photo slideshow of the state qualifying teams and individuals. Here is a preview of the Hopkins Nordic team photos.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Section 6 Champs!
(photo: Judy Griesedieck)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
Everyone did their part!
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
The Hopkins Boys
The Hopkins Boys
In the pursuit, Connor and Ian blasted past Ben Hulbert (Edina) on "the wall"; Jack gave it his all time best effort, including a near-tumble at the finish; Eric Ruud saved the day by moving up 3 places to cement the Section 6 Championship for Hopkins Nordic! Kudos also to Christian, Greg and John who rounded out the team and skied perfectly. A big thank you to Ben Smith, one of our alternates, who loaned Connor his skate boots for the final race. The Hopkins boys team beat Eden Prairie by 4 points.
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
The Hopkins Girls
The Hopkins girls had a good day and many had their finest races of the season. None of the girls will move on to the state meet, but all spectators agreed that the Hopkins Nordic girls were the sweetest, smartest, and prettiest on the trails! Congratulations and a hearty thank you to the coaches for their outstanding efforts on the season.
The Hopkins girls had a good day and many had their finest races of the season. None of the girls will move on to the state meet, but all spectators agreed that the Hopkins Nordic girls were the sweetest, smartest, and prettiest on the trails! Congratulations and a hearty thank you to the coaches for their outstanding efforts on the season.
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)
(photo: Bruce Adelsman SkinnySki.com)Note...All of Bruce Adelsman's photos are available for purchase from the SkinnySki website.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Thank You Loppet Volunteers!
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