Nordic Skiing, Boys and Girls

2026 Ski Camp – Trip Information 

We are hosting ski camp in Ironwood, MI.  Ironwood, MI is located, about 4 hours northeast of the Twin Cities.  There are 2 really nice ski areas in Ironwood - ABR and Wolverine Trails, have over 70km of ski trails.

Irondale has been going on a ski training trip for over 25 years!  Training camp is a season highlight for both skiers and coaches! Ski Camp gives all skiers (beginners-advanced) extended skiing opportunities for 3 days to work on skills and technique, build endurance, and bond with their teammates, coaches and parent chaperons.  We will be staying @ the AmericInn hotel - skiing @ ABR and Wolverine Trails.

2026 Trip dates: Monday, December 21-Wednesday, December 23, 2026!

Cost:  $TBD / hotel rooms went up in cost this year - increase in trip fee...
Please make checks to "Irondale Nordic Ski Foundation"  (If the fee is an issue, please contact Coach Torvi - we want everyone to attend camp!)

Nordic Training Camp Food Donations

Required Forms: Click on the link to download each form

Ski Camp Forms

• Health and Medical Release form (Required)
• MV COVID Home Screening Tool

RSVP for trip Please signup if you are planning to attend

Parent Chaperones

Ski Camp Chaperone Expectations

• Required Forms: Click on the link to download each form
• Volunteer Background Check Forms (Required)
• Volunteer Regulations/Information (Required)

2025 Summer Rollerskiing Information!

Details for summer workouts!

Captains will be leading rollerski workouts Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8-10am.  Meet at the ski room (new building in very back of Irondale).  

Make sure you always wear a helmet and gloves while rollerskiing!

Coach Torvi will be @ the ski room June 12 & 14 (First week of summer rollerkskiing to help hand out gear to anyone that needs rollerski gear). If you are not able to make these dates, just send an email to to coach Torvi to schedule a time to get gear!

If you are not able to meet at these times, we strongly encourage skiers to take rollerskis home and get some rollerskiing in on your own!

Training

The team has purchased 6 SkiErgs  (Strength and conditioning equipment that simulates double pole technique). The SkiErgs will be available during training sessions this summer!

• SkiErg Technique
• SkiErg First Workouts

Returning this summer - Log your summer rollerski hours and earn a T-SHIRT!!!

Link to log your summer rollerski hours

World Cup - Seefeld, Austria - Jesse Diggin's Win's!

• Women's 10km Mass Start

World Cup - Lillehammer, Norway

• Lillehammer Womens Skiathlon
• Lillehammer Mens Skiathalon

World Cup - Ruka, Finland

• Ruka Women's Sprint Final
• Ruka-Men's Sprint Finals
• Ruka Women's Classic
• Ruka Men's Classic
• Ruka Women's Skate Pursuit
• Ruka Men's Skate Pursuit

Head Coach

Chris Torvi
651-955-6068 cell
chris.torvi@moundsviewschools.org 

Assistant Coaches

• Mark Ahlers - Assistant coach
• Keith Gilbert - Assistant coach
• Zella Fruzyna - Assistant coach
• Anne Miller - Volunteer coach
• Peter Thor - Volunteer coach
• Gary Medin -Head groomer-meet day coach!
• Craig Stolen -Volunteer coach
• Kira Stolen -Volunteer coach

Captains

Captain Responsibilities:

To be a successful Nordic captain requires a love of skiing, hard work, patience, interpersonal skills and a desire to help the team be successful.

Captain’s Duties

1. Be a positive role model in all aspects of your Life

2. Encourage your teammates to reach their potential- encourage them to do their best every practice, work hard during core and strength sessions - listen during team meetings!
3. Take responsibility for team warm-up and cool down at races!
4. Must be willing to help coordinate summer workouts.  Commit to help lead summer workouts for the 9 weeks of summer before the start of fall sports!
5. Work with coaches to recruit more skiers to join Nordic!
6. Communicate with coaches any issues, concerns or problems.
7. Help younger skiers work on technique and feel part of the team.
8. Assist coaches with regard to daily attendance - being a role model of attending practice Monday-Saturday (Help lead Saturday practice)!
9. Assist coaches with gear to and from meets (tent, tarps, rollers)
10. Supervise the clean up of team camp after each meet!
11. Help plan "Carblo Loads" before meets!
12. All captains and parents of captains are expected to help with end of season banquet.
13. Work with team members and parents to provide treats for each meet.
14. Coordinate team apparel order at the beginning of season.

At the end of the season, the team will vote on captains for the next year.  Skiers that are interested in being a Captain for the next season should fill out the following form:

Nordic Captain Contract

---

Saturday Practices

Saturday Practices - we may have some Saturday workout during the season. Practices are in the morning and are always done by noon. If we don't have a scheduled practice - it is highly encouraged that kids get out and train on the weekend on their own!   The on snow part of our season is so short, it really helps skiers with strength and conditioning, as well as work on technique to get out and train on their own!  Once we have good snow - we often open the ski room both Saturday and Sunday for kids to get out and ski the trail if traveling to different locations is too difficult! 

 

Directions to Hyland Park Reserve

Directions to Elm Creek Park Reserve

Directions to Theodore Wirth Park

Directions to Rush Lake

In low snow years, we often ski @ Rush Lake during the week – Rush lake is a small lake within Long Lake Regional Park.

---

Carbo Loads/ Team Dinners

Each Year, Parents host a number of Carbo Loads/ Team Dinners for skiers the night before some of the races. The meals are great team building and bonding activities for our skiers and give everyone who attends a chance to get to know each other better over a meal.

Please consider signing up to be a Host (Your House) or a Co-Host (Helping at the Host's House). The Host and Co-Host are responsible for providing the main dishes (typically pasta, lasagna, mac and cheese etc.) and paper producers or dishes.

Attending skiers are expected to bring Desserts, Salads, Drinks etc.

• Middle Schoolers/Freshman- Drinks and bread
• Sophomores-Salad/veggies/fruit
• Juniors-Deserts
• Seniors-Themselves!!!

Carbo Load Host/Co-Host Signup Form

---

Meet Treats and Drinks

Each Year, we ask Parents to volunteer to provide drinks and treats for each of our ski meets. Nordic Skiing and Racing is very physically demanding and skiers really enjoy and appreciate a treat and drink after time trials and races. There are 2 spots for treats and 2 for drinks for each event. Parents can bring the treats or drinks to the meets if they are attending, or send them on the bus with the skiers if they are unable to attend the event.

Gatorade, juice boxes/bags and water work well for drinks, and cookies, bars, granola bars etc. work well for treats.

Treats and Drinks Signup Form

Renting Team Equipment

The team has a lot of skis, boots and poles for kids to use for the season.  The team likely has all the equipment first year skiers will need to ski (boots, poles and skis).  There is a minimal rental fee of up to $50.  We encourage skiers to purchase some gear as they progress through the program.  Your first purchase should be boots and then a set of classic or skate skis/poles.  Coaches can help with explaining what to get!

Rental Form

Equipment Guidelines

Coaches always recommend purchasing boots first - then a skate package (skis and poles) and then classic package.  

Ski Boots

Combi Boots- Combination Skate and Classic boots- These are suitable for most skiers, and allows skiers to only have 1 pair of boots.

NNN Bottoms

Skate boots

Classic boots

More advanced skiers will have 2 pairs: skate boots and classic boots.  Sometimes skiers will use their combi boots as classic boots. 

All new boots use the same binding system (basic name is NNN).  If you are looking at purchasing used boots - Please only purchase NNN boots.  There was and older boot/binding system called SNS.  They no longer make these bindings and we are trying to have everyone on the team with the same binding system!

Skis
 

• Classic Skis - Classic Skis should be roughly 10 inches longer than your height. Classic skis need to be flex tested / checked at a ski shop or by your coach
• Skate Skis - Skate Skis should be roughly 2-4 inches longer than your height- should be flex tested / checked at a ski shop or by your coach

Ski Bindings

New ski boots and binding are all basically the same type (They will basically be called NNN).  

Used ski bindings can come in 2 different types (SNS-Pilot or NNN) Ski boots and ski bindings need to be the same binding type - we highly recommend you purchase NNN boots and bindings!  If you have questions - make sure to ask a coach

Ski Poles

• Classic Poles- pole should be equal to the top of shoulder
• Skate Poles- pole should be equal to tip of nose

Waxes and waxing supplies

• Glide Wax
  • The team will provide glide wax for skiers throughout the season!
  • If you want to purchase your own glide wax, we recommend all skiers get spray glide wax.  This product is super easy to apply and shortens glide waxing time dramatically!
    • Rex Glide wax @ FinnSisu
    • Rex Glide Wax + Application
    • Ski Waxing Video
• Kick wax:  Team will provide kick wax throughout the season - Rode Kick Wax is what we primarily use: 
• Rode multi (2 ranges) + rosa
• Kick wax cork $5 (estimate)

Ski Bag- All skiers need a ski bag to store skis and poles!

Recommended ski bag - link coming soon...

Additional gear

Long underwear

Jacket/pants

Mittens/gloves

Water pack

Hat/buff

Ski Shops

• Finn Sisu
• Joe's Sporting Goods
• Hoiggards 

Season Passes

With our return to Section 4, we will be racing a lot @ Battle Creek

The team is ordering season passes for Ramsey Co -All Access trail passes (good at all Ramsey Co ski trails).  The team is covering the cost of the season pass for Ramsey Co - Battle Creek makes snow and this is where we will practice if there is not enough snow to ski @ Irondale Trails!

Theodore Wirth/Loppet Foundation pass($60) - this is an optional pass you can purchase yourself / online.   Make sure to select the all access pass - you will need a 1-time code to purchase a discounted pass. 

Coaches have discount codes for Wirth/Loppet passes - DEC 15 DEADLINE TO GET DISCOUNTED PRICE!!!

If your family skis a lot - it might be more beneficial to purchase the passes on your own.

Loppet Foundation offers a family discount.  The first pass costs $90, each additional pass cost $50 (same price as team discount pass) 

Link to Purchase Loppet Pass. 

3 Rivers parks offers the same type of discount.  The first pass costs $75, each additional pass cost $37.50 (same price as team discount pass)

Link to Purchase 3 Rivers Ski Pass.

2022-23 Race Results

Irondale Nordic Team has 2 fundraiser this season to help pay for items above and beyond what the school support can provide. These items include: Waxing and tuning supplies, rental equipment, Ski camp support. The fundraisers are for both the Girls and Boys teams.

Yard Waste Fundraiser!

Sunday, November 3- 11am-5pm (3 shifts)

Skiers and Parents are encouraged to participate in this year's yard waste fundraiser. We will assist residents with unloading leaf bags and yard waste from their vehicles. Residents help support Irondale Nordic with Voluntary donations.  We are working the Arden Hills Site this year!

• Map to yard waste site - Limited parking on site.  Please get dropped off or park @ Perry Park and walk to site!
• Yardwaste Fundraiser Signup Form
• Ramsey County yard waste Parental Consent Form

Silver Lake Village-Cub Foods Bagging Fundraiser TBD

Skiers and Parents are encouraged to participate in this year's Cub Foods Bagging fundraiser. We will assist shoppers with bagging groceries. Shoppers help support the Irondale Nordic Team with Voluntary donations.

Cub Bagging Fundraiser Signup Form

Glide Waxing Video - Swix

Another good basic video that show how to apply glide waxes.

Skinnyski

The most complete nordic skiing website in the midwest!  Make sure you bookmark this site and visit it often.

Finn Sisu

Local ski shop that the team uses for purchasing gear.

Finn Sisu is a dedicated nordic ski shop.  They carry all the gear that you will need and have very helpful, knowledgable staff.

Click here to see photos

Irondale Boys MVP:                Irondale Girls MVP:

2026 Elliott Samuelson Hamilton, 11  2026Azelle Besemann, 12

2025 Luke O'Rourke, 12                      2025 Azelle Besemann, 11

2024 Finn Rodefeld, 11                       2024 Siri Stolen, 12

2023 Noah Besemann, 12                    2023 Siri Stolen, 11

2022 Noah Besemann, 11                    2022 Siri Stolen, 10

2021 Declan Rodefeld, 12                    2021 Elizabeth VanLoon, 11

2020 Declan Rodefeld, 11                    2020 Elizabeth VanLoon, 10

2019 Nate Gahr, 12                               2019 Elizabeth VanLoon, 9

2018 Spenser Brown, 12                      2018 Emily Manning, 12

2017 McEwan Rodefeld, 12                  2017 Claire DuBois, 11

2016 Joey Jankowski, 12                     2016 Elizabeth Axberg, 11

2015 Tim Axberg, 11                             2015 Claire DuBois, 9

2014 Joey Jankowski, 10                     2014 Mattie Watts, 12

2013 Tyler Gilbert, 12                            2013 Mattie Watts, 11

2012 Tyler Gilbert, 11                            2012 Mattie Watts, 10

2011 Luke Jankowski, 11                      2011 Mattie Watts, 9

2010 Luke Jankowski, 10                      2010 Sarah Pieper, 11

2009 Luke Jankowski, 9                        2009 Johanna Holub, 12

2008 Ethan Evenson, 11                        2008 Ellen Roy, 11

2007 Aaron Hawkins, 12                        2007 Amy Fritz, 12

2006 Johannes Schirrmeister, 11         2006 Bethany Pierson, 12

2005 Peter Stanley, 12                           2005 Amy Fritz, 10

2004 Peter Stanley, 11                           2004 Bethany Pierson, 10

2003 Mike VanBeusekom, 12                2003 Amy Lyons, 12

2002 Dan Schlatter, 12                           2002 Amy Lyons, 11

2001 Tom Secord, 12                             2001 Amy Lyons, 10

2000 Tom Secord, 11                             2000 Erin Milway, 11

 

Top Boys Team Results:        Top Girls Team Results:

2023 2rd place SEC                        2023 5th place SEC

         3rd place Section 5                        2nd place Section 5

                                                                  16th place State Meet  

2022 3rd place SEC                         2022 3rd place SEC

                                                                    3rd place Section 5

2021 2nd place SEC

         2nd place Section 4

         16th place State Meet

2020 3rd place SEC                           2020 3rd place SEC

2017 3rd place NWSC                        2017 2nd place NWSC

2016 3rd place NWSC                        2016 3rd place NWSC

2015 2nd place NWSC                       2015 2nd place NWSC

          2nd place Section 5                          2nd place Section 5

         13th place State Meet                        14th place State Meet

*Starting in 2015 - 2 teams per section qualify for state meet!

2014 2nd place TCNSC                      2014 1st place TCNSC

                                                                       2nd place Section 5          

2013 1st place TCNSC                       2013 1st place TCNSC

         1st place Section 5

         5th place State Meet

2012 1st place TCNSC                       2012 1st place TCNSC

         2nd place Section 5 

2011 1st place TCNSC                        2011 1st place TCNSC

         3rd place Section 5

2010 2nd place TCNSC                       2010 2nd place TCNSC

2009 2nd place Section 5                   2009 3rd place TCNSC

                                                              2008 2nd place TCNSC

2007 2nd place TCNSC                       2007 2nd place TCNSC

2006 3rd place TCNSC                        2006 2nd place TCNSC

2005 2nd place TCNSC                       2005 2nd place TCNSC

2004 2nd place TCNSC                       2007 2nd place NSC

         2nd place Section 2

2003 2nd place TCNSC                       2003 3rd place NSC

                                                               2002 2nd place NSC

                                                               2001 3rd place NSC

                                                               2000 2nd place NSC

 

State Meet Qualifiers: (* Top 25 - All State)

                                                                   2026 Azelle Besemann, 12 - 24th (All State!)

2025 Skate Team Sprints -8th place        

          Luke O'Rourke, 12                             

          Erik Olson, 12

2024 Classic Team Sprints -7th place        2024 Classic Team Sprints -6th place

          Luke O'Rourke, 11                             Mia Nordberg, 12

          Gabe Hart, 12                                    Azelle Besemann, 10

                                                                   Siri Stolen - 33rd purusit

2023 Noah Besemann, 12 - 55th        2023  Girls Team Qualified

         Luke O'Rouke, 10 - 74th                    Siri Stolen, 11 - 64th 

                                                                      Mia Nordberg, 11 - 75th 

                                                                      Azelle Besemann, 9 - 86th

                                                                      Amelie VanLoon, 8 - 111th

                                                                      Renata Kikeh, 9 - 112th

                                                                      Sophie Stephens, 9 

                                                                      Addison Granlund, 9-16 place sprints

*2022 - state meet format changes -

5 pursuit skiers + 1 sprint relay team (2 skiers)!  

2022 Noah Besemann, 11 - 67th       2022  Siri Stolen, 10 - 60th

                                                                    Elizabeth VanLoon, 12 - 74th

2021 Boy's Team Qualified

          Declan Rodefeld, 12 -78th

          Tommy Davis, 12 -123th

          Simon Alexander,12 -135th         

          Noah Besemann, 10 -149th

          Tyler Merrell, 12 -157th

          Chris Hardwick, 12 158th

2020 Declan Rodefeld, 11 - 87th       2020  Siri Stolen, 8 -131st

                                                                 Elizabeth VanLoon, 10-135th                                      

2017 McEwan Rodefeld, 12 -54th   

2015 Boys Team Qualified                        2015 Girls Team Qualified

         McEwan Rodefeld, 10 -47th               Mary Heinks, 12 -75th

         Tim Axberg, 11 -58th                          Claire DuBois, 9 -88th

         Joey Jankowski, 11 -81th                   Elizabeth Axberg, 10 -91st

         Josh Tillman, 11 -105th                      Hanna Boleman, 12 -107th

         Corey Momsen, 12 -121th                   Lili Tapper, 12 -110th

         Marcus Schultz, 11 -148th                   Michelle Meyer, 10 -136th

         Michael Burgoyne, 12 -157th              Becky Gladder, 12 -148th

                                        2014 Mattie Watts, 12 -State Champion!*

                                                                            Sarah Tokos , 12 -96th  

2013 Boys Team Qualified                        2013 Mattie Watts, 11 -5th*
         Tyler Gilbert, 12 -5th*

         Bjorn Adelsman, 12 -16th*

         Nate Rhode, 12 -61st

         Joey Jankowski, 9 -65th

         Patrick Hennessey, 12 -90th

         Lucas Forster, 12 -111th

         Joe Kelner, 11 -114th

2012 Tyler Gilbert, 11 -34 th             2012 Mattie Watts, 10 -14th*

          Karl Holub, 12 -89th

          Luke Jankowski, 12 -101st

2011 Tyler Gilbert, 10 -52nd              2011 Mattie Watts, 9 -25th*

         Luke Jankowski, 11 -78th

2010 Luke Jankowski, 10 -43rd

2009 Ethan Evenson, 12 -67th

         Matt Schaffer, 12 -73rd

         Luke Jankowski, 9 -84th

*2009 - state format changes - all pursuit skiers in state meet!

2006 Johannes Schirrmeister, 11 -CL

2005 Peter Stanley, 12 -31 CL

2004 Peter Stanley, 11 -Pur

2003 Mike VanBeusekom, 12  -45 Pur  2003 Amy Lyons, 12 -22 Pur*

2002 Dan Schlatter, 12 -73 CL                2002 Amy Lyons, 11 -26 Sk

2001 Tom Secord, 12  -52 Sk

Race Fliers

Weimer Timing - link for all conference race results

• Fueling your athlete
• https://www.mysportscience.com
• https://thelongmunch.com/podcast/
• https://theiopn.com/podcasts/

Supplement safety:

• https://www.nsfsport.com

Protein powder:

• https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/whey-protein-isolate-vanilla
• https://shop.kleanathlete.com/isolate/12484087.html?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=popup

Collagen:

• https://shop.kleanathlete.com/klean-collagen-c-natural-tropical-fruit-flavor/14260267.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=US%20|%20EN%20|%20SEA%20|%20Brand%20|%20Proteins&gclid=ed0bdd741a0610747529b8eccc9681ef&gclsrc=3p.ds

Some Nutrition Bars and drinks:

• https://www.proteinpuck.com
• https://wholesale.kindsnacks.com
• https://aletenutrition.com/pages/bonkbreaker/

Fairlife:

• https://honeystinger.com
• https://www.rxbar.com/en_US/home.html?gclid=2d8c53aea21b105e8c6336367b3ea47a&gclsrc=3p.ds
• https://kizeconcepts.com
• https://jenscafebars.com

Good book for kids who want to make their snacks.:

• https://www.skratchlabs.com/products/feed-zone-portables