April 24, 2008 (Minneapolis, MN) – More than 90 people attended this year’s Minnesota Nordic Ski Association (MNSA)/Minnesota Skinnyski Series Banquet April 5. Held at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, attendees enjoyed the MiSSeries awards presentation and a moving presentation of the MNSA Lifetime Achievement Awards

The Minnesota Skinnyski Series is the premier citizen skier series in the Midwest. Skiers can participate in the Series in several ways:

Overall Competition This category rewards the best skiers when age is factored in – with the male and female winners going to Iceland to ski in the Fossavatn Ski Marathon.
Age Class Awards for the top skiers in each age class.
The Skier-of-the-Year Award goes to a dedicated skier who shows the most improvement one year to the next.
Team Award is for the team that does the best in the Series events overall.
158K Club goes to each skier who competed in all of the Series events.

2008 marked the third year of the Series, which includes the Boulder Lake race in Duluth, the Pepsi Challenge in Biwabik, the Governor’s Cup in Little Falls, the City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis, the Mora Vasaloppet USA, and the Minnesota Finlandia in Bemidji.

The 2008 Overall Champions were 43-year-old Michelle Oja and 56-year-old Michael O’Connor, who each earned a trip to Iceland to ski in the Fossavatn International Ski Marathon on May 3. Age class award winners included Al Wellnitz in the 80+ category and Wally Hed in the 75-79 age category – showing that in Minnesota skiing never ends.

Richard Spielberg took the Skier-of-the-Year award and will compete for free in all of the Series events next year. The Team Award was reclaimed by Peter’s Cheaters, led by captain Peter Hanson. The Cheaters just edged Finn Sisu’s Vakava Racing Team for the crown. Finally, 15 skiers joined the 158K Club by skiing all of the 2008 Series events.

The 158K Club votes on the prestigious Skier’s Choice awards. This year the Best Overall Event award went to the City of Lakes Loppet and the Minnesota Finlandia, the Best Grooming Award went to the City of Lakes Loppet, and the Most Heroic Effort Award went to the Mora Vasaloppet USA, who toughed out the Vasaloppet despite truly arctic temperatures – with windchills in the -30s.

At the banquet the Minnesota Nordic Ski Association awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award to Anne Rykken of St. Paul and posthumously to Mike Marciniak of Cloquet. Mr. Marciniak’s family accepted the award on their father’s behalf. Marciniak was a dedicated advocate for cross country skiing and coached skiing throughout his life. Anne Rykken’s achievements included her work with the Como Park Ski League, the Minnesota Youth Ski League and as a coach at Minnehaha Academy.

For more information about MNSA, visit www.mnnordicski.org. For more information about the Minnesota Skinnyski Series, visit www.minnesotaskinnyskiseries.com.