Rochester Active Sports Club (RASC) is a nonprofit club based in Rochester Minnesota, designed to promote nordic skiing, mountain biking and road biking in SE Minnesota.
 
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Heartwood Ski Camp - CANCELLED


 

We are sad to let you know we made the decision today to cancel the Heartwood Ski Camp scheduled for January 7 – 9, 2022.

 

The decision was made based on the significant increase in Covid-19 transmission over the past few weeks with the arrival of the omicron variant and input that it will likely increase even more in the days ahead.  The health and safety of RNST skiers, coaches and volunteers is our primary concern and we do not want to put that in jeopardy.  

 

We had hoped that requiring vaccinations by all attendees and testing prior to departure would be sufficient to safely conduct the ski camp. Unfortunately, the omicron variant is proving to be highly contagious.  Just 1 or 2 RNST participants becoming infected could lead to the virus spreading across many people while riding on a bus, living in the cabin, or sharing a meal.

 

Everyone who paid for the Heartwood Ski Camp will receive a full refund. Details on the refund process will be provided in the near future. Our heartfelt thanks to the Heartwood Resort and Rochester City Lines for their flexibility and understanding regarding our decision.


The Rochester Nordic Ski Team will be conducting the annual ski weekend at Heartwood Retreat Center in Trego, WI on January 7 - 9, 2022.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a lot of skiing and have a great time with your ski team.  Skiing on the Birkie trail is included in the ski camp.


Heartwood Ski Camp Flyer


The ski camp cost is $230 and includes lodging for two nights, coach bus transportation, six meals at the lodge, and cross country ski passes.  Online registration is currently open at the link listed below.  Note that you must be an RNST member to sign up for the Heartwood trip.  If we have to restrict the number of skiers on the trip, priority will be given to skiers based on when payment is received.


2022 Heartwood Ski Camp Online Registration


NOTE: All skiers attending the ski camp must be vaccinated


Please read the Heartwood Information document to learn everything you need to know about the ski camp.


Heartwood Information Document




Rochester Nordic Ski Team on a Saturday pole hike and workout on the trails of Cedar Ridge Farm 




RNST Season Kick-Off Meeting

November 16th


Here is a recording of the RNST season kick-off meeting held via zoom on Tuesday, November 16th.


RNST 1st Year Informational Session

For those of you interested in finding out more about the RNST, we held a zoom meeting on October 26th. You can view a recording of the zoom meeting below.

Video of informational session


Returning skiers do not need to attend the above informational session.

Returning and New Skiers Register

here for the 2021-2022 Season


Note: We have updated (10/28/21) our COVID guidelines for the 2021/2022 ski season.


RNST COVID plan 2021-22.pdf


If you need more information about the 2021/2022 Ski Season, it can be found in the handbook for the coming season. 
2021-2022 Handbook



RNST End of Season Zoom Session - April 5th


Recording of the RNST end of season celebration zoom session can be found below.



RNST End of Year Celebration - Slides Only

Here you can download the RNST end of Season Slides only



Thank you to North Star Ski Club


Ski Bindings


Thanks to the North Star Ski Touring Club, last year we were awarded a grant of $2860 to cover the cost of replacing all the old bindings on our club skis. The new bindings were delivered last fall and we have replaced the bindings on ~65 of our 115 pairs so far.


The pile of old SNS bindings after the upgrade to the new Prolink bindings on over 60 pairs of club skis!


As many skiers still have boots with the older SNS bindings, we will maintain a subset of our skis with the older bindings until next year. Due to the very high demand this year, Tyrol Ski & sport have rented out all their boots with both types of bindings. Next year we expect 90% of the skis to have the new Prolink bindings, but will keep in store some of the older bindings for the few skiers with older style boots.

A big thanks to the NSSTC for the funding to help with this project!


 

Find out more about the NNSTC by clicking on the image above.




Policies for handling Covid during the 2020/2021 season

(updated 12/30/2020)

A group of RNST coaches, led by Joan Rabe have worked on a set of policies to address the impact of Covid-19 on the 2020/2021 ski season. Below are 3 plans that cover all aspects of our training plans for the coming season.


COVID-19 Skier and Parent Practice Expectations.pdf

RNST COVID Plan Summary.pdf (Summary of Full Preparedness Plan for easier reading)

RNST COVID-19 Full Preparedness Plan.pdf (Full wording)


Please familiarize yourself with these plans before registration

so that you are aware of the limitations that COVID

has placed on our plans for the coming the season. 


RNST Marketplace

Do you have some nordic ski equipment that your kids grew out of?
Are you looking for some used nordic ski equipment for your kids?
Check out:
RNST Marketplace!
It's simple Google Doc for use by any RNST member or parent.
Add an item with your contact information to sell or browse to buy!

RNST Zoom Sessions

If you missed the first 2 RNST zoom sessions, you can catch up with everything here.  Also - please note that all additional zoom videos will now be placed under the "Remote Practice Videos / links" page shown on the left side bar 


RNST - Nov 30th

RNST - Dec 1st

Power Point Presentation

Season Overview and Information

(Presented at First Year Skier Meeting)

Click Here

Mail Chimp/Remind will be turned over

to new contact information after November 9. 

Please register by this date

for your contact information to be smoothly added to

the 2020-2021 season communication.

UPDATE:  RNST Ski Pick Up

(10/31/2020)

Ski pick up available now! 

We are cancelling our Ski Pick Up

at Mayo High School on November 9. 

All skiers are asked to contact Michael O'Connor

to arrange non-contact pick up at his home.

Please arrange pick up by November 9, 2020


Once you have registered and paid to lease your skis,

contact Michael O'Connor at RNSTequipment@gmail.com

to schedule a time to pick up.



RETURNING SKIERS

Need skis?

We will have plenty of skis this year to rent.

If you need to rent a pair and have already registered,

please contact Kristin Sorenson at rnstmembership@gmail.com.


If you need to rent a pair and have not already registered,

make the appropriate selection when you register.

SKI Pick Up on Nov 9 CANCELLED.

Please contact Michael O'Connor to pick up skis

once you have registered and paid.


First-Year Skier Informational Meeting

Wed, Nov 4, 2020

6:00-7:00 PM

Zoom Meeting

Sign Up Here:  https://forms.gle/KefxHQqp7mTmSwMr8

Zoom link will be sent after sign up.

We would like to answer all of your questions

as you consider the Rochester Nordic Ski Team this season.

Skiers and Parents are encouraged to attend.






For Full Program Information
2020-2021 Handbook


2020-2021



Great video summing up the RNST 2019 / 2020 season (thanks to Nickolas Van Camp for putting this together)



Cancellation - RNST Banquet

Out of an abundance of caution, we can cancelling the RNST End-of-Season Banquet scheduled for Thursday 12th March in John Marshall H.S.

We will follow-up with additional e-mails and notices on next steps for lettering, ski return etc.






Ian Torchia with RNST skiers and RNST coach Henry Walker, after his 2nd place finish in the American Birkiebeiner


Star Tribune - Article on RASC / RNST


By Doug Shidell, Special Writer to the Star Tribune

 

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Heartwood Ski Camp

January 10 - 12, 2020


The Rochester Nordic Ski Team held their annual ski weekend at Heartwood Retreat Center in Trego, WI on January 10 - 12, 2020. they also spent time on the famous Birkie trail. 



Note: Lots of additional RNST photos are also on:

  • Facebook, go to the Rochester Nordic Ski Team Facebook page
  • Instagram, go to RNST4751


Winona meet - Dec 14th 2019




The Rochester Nordic Ski Team traveled to Winona on Saturday 14th for a fun pair of races - an individual 5 km event and a team relay event. Below are the results of all the Varsity, Junior Varsity individual races, along with the relay results. Photos of the event have been posted on Facebook and can be found here. Thanks to Anna Sortland for taking all of these and uploading into Facebook.


Varsity Boys

Varsity Girls

Junior Varsity Boys

Junior Varsity Girls

Team Relay


Apologies for the delay in posting these results. We were missing some results and wanted to have everything together before posting!





Congratulations to RNST Alumni, Laura Cattaneo, who finished 3rd in the Rollerski Loppet up in Minneapolis, behind Jessie Diggins and Caitlin Gregg.

Also check out the video clip on the RASC Home page where Jessie talks about upcoming fundraiser for Ian Torchia on Nov 23rd

Thanks to Ian Torchia for two great dryland training clinics on August 17th. If you missed the opportunity to attend one of these clinics, we are hoping to have Ian back in Rochester for another clinic in November.

Check out the RASC home page for video clips from the morning session from local news channels.






ABOUT IAN TORCHIA:
Ian Torchia began skiing the day before he turned 2, but was on his Mom’s back long before then, sliding around Rochester’s golf courses during the winter months. He grew up a runner, chasing his older brother Mike around on the roads and trails and cross country skied in the winters as a member of the Rochester Nordic Ski Team. During his junior year in high school, Ian won the American Birkebeiner Korteloppet race and it was later that year, at his 1st Junior National championship in Fairbanks, Alaska, when Ian decided to cross-country ski at the collegiate level, breaking away from his 4 siblings’ tradition of running in college.  He attended Northern Michigan University under the direction of legendary ski coach Sten Fjeldheim, and accumulated 6 All-Americans, tied for most in program history. His junior season, he became an NCAA champion in the 20k freestyle in Steamboat, Colorado. He was a member of the US Development Ski Team for 3 years training alongside the nation’s best skiers.  Ian earned a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and is currently pursuing skiing at the professional level with the Stratton Mountain School T2 Elite Team, a professional ski team that boasts of 3 Olympians, including Gold Medalist Jessie Diggins.  Ian recently got engaged to his fiancé, Kameron Burmeister, who he coached to a 2:42 marathon at Grandma’s, an Olympic Trials qualifier!  He is stoked to come back to Rochester this summer to teach and inspire the next generation of skiers!
  
Dryland Clinics with Ian Torchia are sponsored by the Rochester Active Sports Club and the Rochester Nordic Ski Team



Congrats!


RNST and RMBT Member, Noah Billings, won the U16 category and was 30th overall at the USA Triathlon 2019 Winter National Championships held at Theodore Wirth Park on March 13, 2019!


The Winter National Championships included a 6.5 km ski, 18 km of on-snow fat bike, and a 6 km run on the same on-snow course as the ski.


Congratulations, Noah!


RNST Olympics

Congratulations to all of the RNST skiers who participated in the RNST Olympics on Thursday the 28th February.


Thanks to Robb Welch for all the photos.

Mora Vasaloppet

Congratulations to all of the RASC and RNST alumni skiers who participated and survived this year's Mora Vasaloppet. This was a cold race, with temps below zero F for the entire race! Several RNST alumni and coaches were on the podium at the Mora Vasaloppet, as follows:



Vasa (54km freestyle)

F18-24 / 1. Laura Cattaneo

M35-44 / 2. Danny Whipple


Classic (42km classic)

F18-24 / 1. Rose Doda


Dala (36km freestyle)

F18-24 / 2. Elena Cattaneo

M65-74 / 2. Michael O’Connor

F55-64 / 2. Kristin Welch


The RASC/RNST haul was a total of two red and four blue Dala horses. Congratulations also to all the other RASC skiers who braved the cold and got out to ski on Saturday.


Winona Meet - February 2019


Thanks to Anna Sortland for a photo album from the recent meet in Winona. Click here to see the album which has ~120 photos from the meet.


Rochester Invitational Wrap Up

Coach John Resman


Congratulations to all of the skiers participating in the Rochester Nordic Ski Invitational on Saturday, January 26!  A total of 114 skiers participated in the race with 61 RNST members joining skiers from Red Wing and Winona. 

The skiers raced a 5.4K trail in the freestyle (skating) technique. In addition to the usual golf course trail, a small section in the woods and a new loop on the driving range was added to the course.  First year skiers traversed a slightly shorter 4.7K course which didn't include the loop on the driving range.

A timely 5" snowfall a week ago was just enough snow to cover up the icy track and provide good conditions for the race.  None of this would have been possible without the grooming and course repair efforts by volunteers (led by Dave Greymont) and Park and Rec grooming.

The skiers showed much determination and persistence while on the race course in 5 degree temps and slow snow conditions.  It was not an easy day for racing, but the skiers discovered it can be done!  

Winona captured the boys individual titles with Ryan Meyer leading the varsity skiers and Braden Fritz earning the junior varsity championship.  Jakob Ratelle (varsity) and Charlie Busch (junior varsity) finished first among the Rochester boys.

In the girls races, Anni Skillicorn of Winona finished first among varsity girls with Hadley Jensen leading the Rochester girls across the finish line.  Congrats to Rochester's Natasha Sortland who was the junior varsity girls individual champion. 

Rochester's Natalie Drake was the first girls finisher in the First Year 4.7K Race.  Jon Keillor finished first among the Rochester first year boys skiers.

Winona won the team competitions in all four divisions (boys/girls varsity/junior varsity) with Rochester finishing second in all divisions.

The Rochester Nordic Invite results are posted on the RNST meet results web page.  There are also photos of the invite on the Post Bulletin web site.

Thank you to Great Harvest who donated the baked goods for post-race refreshments.  Be sure to thank them for their support when you visit their store.

Thank you to the coaches and parents who volunteered at the race.  Your efforts made for a very smooth-running ski race and a great experience for all. Special thanks to Mike Trantow for organizing the Rochester Invite. 

Nice job everyone at the meet - especially the first-year skiers!  The coaches are proud of the progress the skiers have made this winter despite the limited on-snow time.  It's great to see everyone embracing the Minnesota winter and enjoying the outdoors!


Here is a link to photos from the meet, courtesy of the Post Bulletin photographer (57 photos).


Victoria's Fundraiser

Thanks to everyone who participated in our annual RNST team fundraiser on Sunday January 13th. A total of $1300 was raised, simple by team members and friends dining at Victoria's on that day. Funds from this event help to support maintenance of the ski trails in Quarry Hill and Essex Park.

Many thanks to Kristin Sorenson who organizes this fundraiser, and to Victoria's restaurant for their generosity. 


Maplelag Ski Camp

January 4 - 6, 2019


  


Photos from Maplelag time trial


Thanks to Anna Sortland for all the photos from the time trial



Maplelag's famous Sunday buffet!



Pre-practice meeting in the main room in Maplelag

(photos courtesy of Finola O'Sullivan).


Many thanks to Dave Greymont for the 2 videos above from the RNST Olympic events.



RNST Olympics





Many thanks to Maureen Dewey for all the great photos from the RNST Olympic events. Here is a link to over 100 photos from today's events.


We have also added a link to a large set of photos from the Rochester Invite (thanks again to Maureen for taking all of these). You can access the photo set here



Victoria's Fundraiser 


Many thanks to everyone who supported the fundraiser and to Victoria' restaurant. This year we raised $1200 for the team and trails!



Group photo - Maplelag 2018


Rochester Nordic Ski Team 

2018-2019 Google Calendar


Orientation dates, ski practice dates, wax clinic, etc...

You can add it to your own Google Calendar by following the instructions at this link:


https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/37100?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=1


The email address to enter is rnst3128@gmail.com. 


Calendar is also available at tab above!


Registration/Orientation Information

Meet your Coaches!

RNST Coach Bios.pdf



 
Here is a very helpful checklist for both RNST skiers and coaches, to help you understand the terminology used by the coaches and allow you to self-check your technique !  
Thanks to Joey Keillor and Henry Walker for all the work on this.




Ski Meet Info 

With the ski race season upon us, you may have questions on the format of the ski races and what preparations should be done.  The documents below will answer many of your questions.

RNST Lettering Requirements for the 2017/2018 season


Attention RNST Skiers: Here are the key lettering Changes for the RNST for the 2017/2018 season

These are unchanged from the 2016/2017 ski season

  • ·        The 1st year of participation on the Rochester Nordic Ski Team is an introductory year. Skiers will be learning the techniques of skate skiing and building skills and endurance.  First year skiers will not be eligible to earn a Varsity Letter.
  • ·        The 1st year skiers do NOT need to meet the usual lettering requirements (attendance, meets, etc) during this 1st year.
  • ·        The 2nd year and every year after that, the usual criteria will be used to determine if a skier is eligible to receive a letter
  • Full details can be found here
Facebook Page for RNST





Follow RNST on Instagram

@ rnst4751



Watch the Best Skiers in the World - a great way to learn how to be a better skier!

Cross-Countryski.US: 

This is a excellent source for all the major FIS nordic ski competitions. Here you can find full video coverage of all the major events from Eurosport in English.
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