Great Bear Chase photos: some winners

Skiers set off for the start of the 2008 Great Bear Chase races on Sunday, March 9, in Calumet. The classic and freestyle races combined attracted 472 skiers. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2008 Adam Johnson of Brockit.com. Reprinted with permission.)

CALUMET -- Skiing conditions were excellent and the turnout was great for the 28th Annual River Valley State Bank Great Bear Chase cross-country skiing races Sunday, Mar. 9, 2008, at Swedetown Trails in Calumet. The 26-km Classic and 26- and 50-km Freestyle races combined attracted 472 skiers -- mostly from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

Brittany Drengler, 17, of Wausau, Wis., is all smiles after her first-place win in the women's 26-km Classic race. Her time was 01:29:14.6. The finish of the race was again on Fifth Street in downtown Calumet. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

"Conditions were fantastic," said race coordinator Dave Mayo-Keily. "Swedetown groomers: Dave T-11, Steve R and Pat S did a wonderful job of creating a perfect course. Nothing but rave reviews from skiers."

Mayo-Keily also expressed appreciation for the many volunteers who made the race a success.

"Overall the event was a huge success," he said. "Volunteers are a big reason for that. We utilized probably over 100 volunteers to put on the race, and without them it simply wouldn’t happen."

Anders Osthus, 25, of Duluth, Minn., heads for a number-one finish in the men's classic 26-km Classic race. His time was 01:11:07.4. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Jared Cregg, 19, of Houghton, finishes second in the men's 26-km Classic. His time was 01:14:00.2. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Justin Young, 20, right, of Green Bay, Wis., takes third place in the men's 26-km Classic, followed very closely by Scott Nesvold, 40, of Washburn, Wis., who was fourth in the race. The time recorded for both was 01:16:09.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Another Copper Country native son, Ryan Tervo, 20, of Chassell, glides in for a fifth-place finish in the men's 26-km Classic. His time was 01:18:15.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Daniel Putman, 17, of Green Bay, one of the youngest winners, heads for a sixth place in the 26-km men's Classic race. Putman's time was 01:19:43.0. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Answea Lundberg, 18, of Roseville, Minn., takes seventh place in the 26-km men's Classic with a time of 01:20:05.6. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Jim Mullen, 51, right, of Hazelhurst, Wis., heads for ninth place in the 26-km men's Classic, with a time of 01:21:3.6. Behind him, but a few seconds faster is Jukka Lyly-yrjanainen, 42, of Elk Grove Village, Il, who finished eighth with a time of 01:20:56.8. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

At the Finish on Calumet's historic Fifth Street, the atmosphere is festive. Roberta Kozloski, left, celebrates the finish with Christine Demerath. Both from Green Bay, they skied in the 26-km Freestyle race. Demerath placed fourth in her age group, and Kozloski fifth. Both had a recorded time of 01:46:30.2. In the background is the Keweenaw Heritage Center (former St. Anne's Church) where skiers were served refreshments. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Frank Fiala, owner of the newly opened Fifth and Elm Coffee House, welcomed skiers and spectators needing good, hot coffee, espresso drinks or a snack during and after the race. Later that day, Fiala volunteered to help with the traditional skiers' spaghetti dinner. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)


The Fifth and Elm Coffee House (at the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, of course) is located just around the corner from the Calumet Theatre. Owner Frank Fiala recently restored a former gas station building to create the new café. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

For complete results of the Bear Chase race visit the Bear Chase Web site.