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The Loppet Foundation :: News & Stories :: 2017 AXCS National Masters Named at City of Lakes Loppet

2017 AXCS National Masters Named at City of Lakes Loppet

By: J.D. Downing

The 2017 AXCS National Masters held in conjunction with the annual City of Lakes Loppet Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota wrapped up on Sunday with the naming of the honorary 2017 U.S. Masters XC Ski Team.

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Based on the top individual in each masters age group, the team was selected using a modified World Cup point system over the best 2 of 2 events at the NM2017. Because the Festival offers multiple race distances in both classic and freestyle techniques, in order to be eligible for the Masters Team designation, skiers had to race the specified official NM2017 distance offered each day.

Classic events on Saturday and freestyle events on Sunday both took place on 6 Kilometer and 4.8 Kilometer loops of nearly entirely manmade snow offering generally excellent race conditions. The race courses used for the NM2017 will make up the core of the extended courses to be offered next January 19-26, 2018 as the 2018 Masters World Cup comes to Minneapolis.

The skiers named to the U.S. Masters XC Ski Team will all receive a distinctive uniform piece from Podiumwear — the official sponsor of the U.S. Masters Team.

2018 Masters World Cup - Minneapolis, MN

2017 Women’s U.S. Masters XC Ski Team

  • F4 — Kitty Earl-Torniainen
  • F5 — Marian Delaney
  • F6 — Jan Guenther
  • F7 — Katherine Ellis
  • F8 — Victoria Shreve
  • F9 — Connie Meek
  • F10 — Abett Icks

2017 Men’s U.S. Masters XC Ski Team

  • M1 — Erik Pieh
  • M3 — Andy Schakel
  • M4 — John Munger
  • M5 — Piotr Bednarski
  • M6 — Scott Ellertson & Allen Hanson
    • (Note: unbreakable tie with both 1st and 2nd finishes)
  • M7 — John Gravlin
  • M8 — David Christopherson
  • M9 — Charles Duede
  • M10 — Bob Gray

Congratulations to all the 2012 U.S. Masters XC Ski Team athletes for their outstanding results at the NM2012!

AXCS would like to add a note of gratitude to the entire team at the Loppet Foundation for a wonderful weekend filled with great skiing.

For complete NM2017 results please visit loppet.org. For complete AXCS National Masters information please visit xcskiworld.com.