DATES OF FRIDTJOF NANSEN SKI RACES
The Fridtjof Nansen cross country ski race was created and instituted by Karl Andresen, founder and first president of the Eau Claire Ski Striders. Since the inception of the race from 1974 through 2014 there have been 27 races plus a local “fun” race held; 13 were cancelled because of lack of snow or poor weather. All races were held at the Eau Claire Golf and County Club through 1996. In 1997 the site was moved to the Tower Ridge Ski Area.
Dates of Fridtjof Nansen race each year from 1974 through 2014:
Year Day, Temperature, Conditions
1974........................................... Feb. 17, Sunday, 34 degrees, sunny; glazed old snow
1975........................................... Jan. 5, Sunday, 26 degrees; newer snow
1976........................................... Jan. 31, Saturday, mid to upper 20's; newer snow
1977........................................... Feb. 12, Saturday, 37 degrees; marginal conditions, old snow
1978........................................... Feb. 11, Saturday, mid 20's; newer snow, soft track
1979........................................... Feb. 10, Saturday, minus 5 to zero degrees; new, light, dry snow
1980........................................... Feb. 9, Saturday, mid 20's, high 27 degrees
1981...RACE CANCELLED.... Feb. 14, Saturday, warm (high 40's) and lack of snow
1982........................................... Feb. 13, Saturday, 21 degrees; slower snow
1983........................................... Feb. 12, Saturday, 33 degrees; new snow
1984........................................... Feb. 11, Saturday , 36 degrees; granular wet snow
1985...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 26, Saturday, lack of snow
1986........................................... Jan. 25, Saturday, 15 degrees, windy
1987...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 24, Saturday, lack of snow
1988........................................... Jan. 23, Saturday, 8 to 10 degrees; 1" new snow
1989........................................... Jan. 21, Saturday, 34 degrees; race shortened (sparse snow), sunny
1990...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 20, Saturday, lack of snow
1991........................................... Jan. 19, Saturday, 35 degrees; slower soft snow
1992........................................... Jan. 18, Saturday, minus 2 degrees; race shortened-cold weather
1993........................................... Jan. 16, Saturday, 24 degrees, new snow
1994...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 15, Saturday, extreme cold weather
1995...RACE CANCELLED..... Jan. 14, Saturday, lack of snow
1996........................................... Jan. 13, Saturday, 38 degrees; sunny
1997........................................... Jan. 11 & 12, Saturday & Sunday, minus 7 to zero degrees
1998........................................... Jan. 24 & 25, Saturday & Sunday, 25 to 29 degrees; new snow
1999........................................... Jan. 23 & 24, Saturday & Sunday, 28 to 33 degrees; new snow
2000........................................... Jan. 22 & 23, Sat. & Sun.; 15 to 19 degrees Sat., 5 to 9 Sunday, new snow
2001........................................... Jan. 20,21, Sat., Sun.; 6 to 20 degrees, trace of recent snow over old snow
2002........................................... Jan. 20, Sunday, mid twenties, recent snow
2003...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 19, Sunday, lack of snow
2004...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 18, Sunday, lack of snow
2005........................................... Jan. 22, Saturday, 17 to 21 degrees, 11" new snow the night before.
2006...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan. 21, Saturday, lack of snow
2007...RACE CANCELLED.... Jan.20, Saturday. Only 1 inch of base resulted from recent 5" low moisture snow.
2008...NO RACE .........................Ski Strider decision
2009...NO RACE.........................Ski Strider decision
2010..............................................Jan. 24, Sunday. Wet snow falling, slushy, 32 degrees.
2011..............................................Jan. 16, Sunday, new snow, 10 degrees, very little wind.
2012...RACE CANCELLED…...Jan. 15, Sunday. Warm temps (52 on Jan. 10) forced cancel, but 4 inches new snow,Thursday, Jan. 12, provided good skiing on the day race would have been held.
2013…Main race cancelled……..Jan. 20, Sunday, 5 degrees, just enough new snow to hold North American Junior Championship Nordic combined races and local “fun” race.
2014……………………………..Jan. 12, Sunday, 31 degrees race time, partly sunny. High of 41 degrees later.
Data from Eau Claire newspapers and from entries in personal logs at time of each race.
Submitted by Dave Weiss.