Men's & Women's Nordic Skiing
Coach: Will Andresen
Will Andresen has been a competitive runner and skier for most of his life. In high school, he ran track and cross-country, setting a high school record in the 3200 meters. In college, Andresen was a member of the Northern Michigan University Ski Team, serving as team captain in his Senior year. While at Northern, he qualified for the NCAA National Championships and was the lead-off skier on the NCSA National Champion relay team. Andresen continues to pursue his duel passions for running and skiing. He is a wave 1 Birkie skier and a 2:51 marathoner. Currently, Andresen is training for his second 100 mile trail run this summer.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach this new team. My coaching philosophy will be to create individual training and racing programs to meet the specific background, talents and goals of each athlete.”
Gogebic Community College - located in Ironwood, Michigan - has created a new men’s and women’s Nordic Ski Team for the 2009-2010 season!
Ironwood is usually the first place in the Midwest to have plenty of snow and great early season skiing. And Ironwood has some of the best ski trails in the Midwest, including ABR and Wolverine ski trails. Plus, the college is built on a ski hill with its own small Nordic ski trail on campus.
The team will compete in Central Collegiate Ski Association races plus a few citizen races.
All travel expenses, entry fees and team uniforms – plus season passes at both ABR and Wolverine Ski Trails - will be covered by the college.
This new program may be a perfect fit for skiers passionate about the sport and wanting to spend more time on snow to meet their skiing goals.
Skiers will also have the opportunity to compete on Gogebic’s new cross-country running team.
"Two year programs can help kids develop, get more Americans in a
position for ski scholarships and be a great alternative. More
opportunities means a stronger pipeline. Stronger pipeline means
American Nordic Skiing will only get better! I'm excited about Gogebic,
a great setting for a ski team...I hope to recruit one of their
graduates some day!"
Eli Brown, Director of Skiing
University of Utah
"Every fall I spent in the UP I would travel to Ironwood in the
important early season to get on their early snow and great trails. Of course the
important part was putting in the hours, eating a loaf of bread for
lunch and then putting in more hours. But putting that time in up in
Ironwood was not only perfect training but a real joy."
Pete Vordenberg
Head Coach, U.S. Ski Team
"I have been coaching at Northern Michigan for the past twenty years and
during this time we can always count on having good skiing early and
late in Ironwood. Most of the skiers here at NMU get 5.5 to 6 months of
on snow skiing time, this is one of the reasons that our ski team has
produced many Olympians and 67 NCAA All Americans as well as several US
National and Junior National champions.
I am very pleased to hear that GCC has started a Nordic ski program,
this is much needed and will serve as a great development tool for those
skiers trying to improve their chances to become a serious recruit for
the four year D1 and D2 college ski programs."
Sten Fjeldheim, Head Coach
Men's and Women's Nordic Ski Teams
Northern Michigan University
Check out more Nordic Ski Team information Here!
2009-2010 Tentative Schedule
| Date | Meet |
|---|---|
| December 12-13 | Grand View X-C Ski Challenge - Ironwood, MIchigan |
| January 2-3 | Stormy Kromer Pursuit, Iron County, Wisconsin |
| January 9 | SISU Ski Fest, Ironwood, MIchigan |
| January 23 | Minneapolis Super Tour 10/15K Classic |
| January 24 | MSP Super Tour 5/10K Freestyle |
| January 30 | Telemark Super Tour 5/10K Classic |
| January 31 | Telemark Super Tour 10/15K Freestyle |
| February 13 | CCSA Championships, Ishpeming, MI 5/10K Classic |
| February 14 | CCSA Championships, Ishpeming, MI 10/15K Freestyle |
| February 20 | NCAA Central Region Ski Championships, Houghton, MI 5/10K Classic |
| February 21 | NCAA Central Region Ski Championships, Houghton, MI 10/15K Freestyle |
Interested in becoming a Student-Athlete at Gogebic Community College? Fill out this form.
Will Andresen, Coach
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Running and Nordic Ski Teams
Gogebic Community College
104 E. Harding Avenue
Ironwood, MI 49938
906-932-2064 (home)
715-561-2695 (work)