October 16, 2003 – To Team Rossignol Racers, Sponsors, and Friends: This past Friday evening we lost one great person. Geno Marsolek 52, died when his Pitts S2D stunt plane crashed into Island Lake near Duluth, MN. Geno skied for Team Rossignol's Local Hero Program along with his wife and world-class marathon skier JoAnn Hanowski. Geno was not a very big person in physical size being 5'6″ but his magnetic personality and energy level were that of two men. He was the type of guy who made you feel very special when you were around him.

Geno attacked life with a passion in everything he did, whether it was his profession as an engineer, his sport of cross country ski racing, his love for flying, or his concern for his wife and friends. Geno only knew 110%.

It is not very often you meet someone as kind and genuine as Geno Marsolek. For those of you that knew Geno, he left behind a part of him in all of us. We will miss him dearly.

Jim Fredericks Director of Nordic Racing