Booming Hopkins Nordic Ski Team Poised for Another Strong Year

Just 14 students were on the Hopkins High School boys' Nordic ski team in 2001, when Rob Fuhr began as the team's coach. Thanks to a developmental program he started to introduce youngsters to the sport, Hopkins High's Nordic ski program has grown to 53 girls and 58 boys this season. Once again, the team is regarded among the state's best.

Last season, the boy's varsity team won its section and placed fourth at the state meet. Connor Benton, of Hopkins, placed fourth individually as a junior, and Fuhr fully expects him to compete near the top again this year. Benton's sister, Sarah, placed 25th at last year's state meet as a freshman.

Among other top Hopkins skiers are 17-year-old senior Christian Ruud, of Minnetonka, and for the girls, junior Julia Lavanger, of Hopkins.

"I'm just excited there are so many more people doing it," Lavanger said.

Fuhr pointed to Ruud, Lavanger and the Bentons as possessing the drive, time on the snow and racing experience to separate them from the competition. Ruud, a six-year Nordic ski veteran, also competes on a club rowing team in the off-season and wants to continue his athletic career into college. His favorite part of being on the Nordic ski team: the atmosphere.

"You have to learn to love people when you're stuck with them in a mini-bus for three hours in the cold," he said.

Fuhr continues to develop younger athletes–many of them underclassmen and middle schoolers. Freshman Kaylen Heiberg, eighth-grader Sienna Ellingson and sophomores Harris Dirnburger and Bjorn Leach were all new varsity letter winners last season. Ellingson, in particular, stands out because she's already gunning for a spot at the sectional meet, despite this being only her second year on the team.

Conditioning is a key to training. After a half-hour run in 15-degree cold one November practice, the team split into groups for circuits of exercises with names like "star jumps," "frog leaps" and "superman." Daily, two-hour workouts are the norm. Sometimes the team will go out after school and not return until 7 p.m.  

Yet Fuhr's race strategy remains simple: Go as hard as you can and support your team.

"Strategy can only work in the context of really skiing all out," he said. "Great technique, strength, endurance, concentration."

Hopkins skiers' face steep competition. The entire conference is top-notch, Fuhr said, adding that the Section Six meet boasts the quality of a state meet.

Cranking out race winners is secondary to Fuhr's focus on an inclusive environment and introducing students to a sport that generates a lifetime of activity. His main goals are motivating the athletes to "work out, have a great time and compete."

The team's only weakness, in Fuhr's opinion?

"A lack of snow."

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If you go …

What: Nordic ski team's first meet

When: 3:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Elm Creek Park Reserve – 12400 James Deane Parkway, Maple Grove