The Team Borealis mountain bike team was a little closer to home for their last regular season races on Oct. 3-4 at Crosby-Ironton.
Thirty teams from around the state met at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area with over 1,000 sixth through 12th grade mountain bike racers.
The Ely riders felt right at home on one of the more technical courses of the season while they navigated single track trails appropriately named Bobsled and Haul Road.
The junior high boys were met with rain on Saturday, making the conditions a little more challenging.
Riders tested the limits of their tires in the mud while the taconite slurry flinging off wheels limited visibility.
Borealis results: Seventh grade D2 - 3.75 miles - James Townsend 2nd 19:03, Sawyer Kannas 24th 20:48, Porter Franciskovich 47th 24:24, and Gordon Smith 48th 24:2.4 Eighth grade D2 Boys 3.75 miles - Mason Lee 74th 25:00.
The rain cleared on Sunday for some exciting high school races.
Freshman girls - 7.5 miles - Beck Sponholz 9th 37:28 Freshman boys D2 - 7.5 miles - Max Ice 76th 45:59 JV2 girls - 7.5 miles - Addison Kannas 2nd 37:29, Siiri Nelson 19th 42:31 JV2 boys D2 - 7.5 miles Gabe Hinkhouse 54th 41:01 Varsity boys - 15 miles - George Sponholz 37th 1:07:56 Borealis qualifiers will race at the Oct. 10-11 Minnesota Cycling Association State Championships at Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm.
“Racing at Redhead is always fun because it’s a great venue and a short drive for us compared to all the other courses we race throughout the year,” said Coach Mark Sponholz.
“It’s especially exciting this year because it’s the state championship, so we’ll see over 80 teams from throughout the state coming to compete. The Cuyuna and Redhead courses suit our riders well. They’re rocky courses with some technical sections, similar to conditions we ride everyday at Hidden Valley.”
The coach said state feels extra special this year.
“Mountain biking is unique as a high school sport in Minnesota because athletes have to qualify into the top levels through their performance over several years. Only about 100 boys in the entire state have qualified into the top varsity level so we’re excited to have our first rider ever (George Sponholz) racing at that level.”
The state championship race venue and spectator parking are at the St. Louis County Fairgrounds in Chisholm.
Saturday, Oct 10: 10:30 a.m. Seventh grade D2 Boys: James Townsend, Sawyer Kannas, Porter Franciskovich 1 p.m. 9th grade girls: B e ck Sp o n h ol z, Ava Wohnsen Sunday, Oct 11: 8:30 a.m. JV2 girls: Addison Kannas, Siiri Nelson 3 p.m. Varsity boys: George Sponholz
