Sports
Babe Ruth visited Duluth
. . . in 1926. For the story of that visit see the latest posting at the Reference@Duluth blog.
2013 in Slow Motion – Local Action Sports
We have had the opportunity to experience countless incredible adventures this past year. We hope you take advantage of our area and all of its unique offerings. No matter what your passion, this beautiful city has something for everyone to enjoy. 2013 was a great year for us and we hope it was for you too! Can’t wait to see what 2014 will bring for Higher Base Media.
Employment at Chester Bowl
Snow making started a couple weeks ago at Chester Bowl. With this snowstorm and the stolen lift chair returned, the hill should be ready to go for the projected December 14 opening date.
Thom Storm, who has operated the ski program at Chester since the 70s, is planning to retire at the end of the 2015 ski season. Clearly, those are going to be some big shoes to fill, and the Chester Bowl Improvement Club is looking to hire someone to begin working with Thom this year.
Also hiring:
ski instructors and snowboard instructors.
Check the links for more info.
Snowmaking photo by Jeremy Kershaw.
Old Seven Bridges Road sled hill
I remember fondly tubing down a hill on Seven Bridges Road. You used to be able to rent tubes from the chalet. They have a nice lighted trail system for cross-country skiing at Lester Park. What would be needed to get the sled hill going again?
Fond du Lac Park’s Winter Sports Center: The Lake Placid of the Northwest
The subject of Fond du Lac’s old Winter Sports Center came up on PDD once before, about a year ago. Earlier this week, I came across this Feb. 4, 1940, Duluth News Tribune clipping at the Duluth Public Library, reporting on construction of the ski jumping hill and amenities.
The floods of 1972 marked the end of this western Duluth attraction, when the ski jump was removed due to erosion.
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Motorcycle Trials at Spirit Mountain
August 23-25 of 2013 marked the weekend of the American Motorcyclist Association NATC Motorcycle Trials Rounds 9 and 10, which were held at Spirit Mountain. This is a short video recap of some of the riding that took place that weekend. The event was quite amazing to watch. These riders have unbelievable skill and balance and have definitely honed their craft. If you ever have the chance to see this type of competition in person I highly recommend it!
Watch Proctor Rails in Minnesota State High School Football Tourney
Proctor’s football team plays St. Croix Lutheran in the AAA semifinal game today at 2 p.m. You can watch live from the Channel 45 internet stream. Good luck Rails!
Watch Tourney Live Now – Click Here
Update: St. Croix Lutheran won the game 3-0, kicking a field goal with six seconds left.
Pascal Dupuis pulls out two teeth
Former Minnesota Wild forward Pascal Dupuis, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, catches a high stick from his teammate Kris Letang, then pulls out two teeth on the bench without missing a shift.
Rollerdames!
Saturday was Rollerdame action — at least for the last half of the game. The Harbor City Roller Dames A/B teams were divided, one team to represent Superior and one to represent Duluth. For the first half, the game was played in increments, as each skater would score 4 points, then call off the “jam.” So the game progressed in inches until about the half.
Video Archive: Meet the Bulldogs
In case you were wondering about the 1987 basketball team roster.
Women’s Rugby in Duluth
Are you familiar with rugby? Would you like to learn about this up-and-coming sport? Two former ruggers are interested in bringing women’s rugby to the Duluth area. Rugby is a great way to stay active and have fun at the same time. No experience is needed to start playing. Contact us for more information: duluthwomensrugby @ gmail.com.
Video Archive: 1988 Denfeld Hockey
Part of the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament experience is the creation of a cheesy music video highlighting the school and the team. The Hunters did not disappoint with this clip. Yes, there are all the mullets and protruding bangs you would expect, along with plenty of guitar air-jamming.
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Roller Derby Results
Last night, at Hodgins Berardo Arena in Coleraine, on the Iron Range, there was roller derby action.
Grand Rapids, which like Duluth now fields two derby teams (the Attackonites and the Iron Range Maidens), struggled valiantly against the dual powerhouses of Harbor City Roller Dames’ Shipwreckers and Nautikills. Last time, I got tagged by the Dames for talking too much trash (c’mon, I grew up watching wrassling, cut me some slack), and I didn’t even see this bout, so I’ll let someone else do color commentary in the comments. Little help, please?
15 to 31 Miles on Foot? Why Not…
Ahem. If I may, I would like to do some modest promotion for an upcoming 25k/50k run on Sept 29th. It’s called the Lightfoot, and it is a low-key, free, self-supported get-together of a run on the county roads north of the Woodland/Lakeside areas. Lightfoot provides a route, start location, and some cheering (perhaps cowbell) at the start and finish – BYO water, snacks, and emergency evacuation plan. It should be a great way to meet some fellow runners, or make an adventure out of a training run for a race later in the fall, or, if you’re the competitive sort, come out and see if you can run 25 or 50k faster than the rest of the folks who show up. Officially enter the Lightfoot by sending a postcard (because I like getting postcards), and see you in September. Details are up on Northland Runner or at duluthgravel.wordpress.com. Happy Trails!
Running race through the tunnels on I-35
Saturday, Sept. 14, will be the inaugural Tunnel 10K running race, starting at Fifth Avenue West and heading east on the freeway through the tunnels. At the 5K point you will turn around and finish where you started. This race is part of the Northshore Inline Marathon series of races. There is also a half-marathon running event, a half-marathon skating event, a 26.2 mile roller-skiing marathon and, of course, the race that made us famous, the 26.2-mile Northshore Inline Marathon.
Mountain Biking at Spirit Mountain
By now you have probably heard that Spirit Mountain has been running chairlifts this summer for mountain bikers. There have been people here to ride from all over the country and even from Canada. These trails are getting some well-deserved attention and I want to let everyone know that if you have ever wanted to try mountain biking, now is the time to do it. With all of the other great areas to mountain bike in our beautiful city, such as Piedmont, Lester and Hartley, Duluth is making a name for itself across the country as a mountain-biking destination!
The above video by Higher Base Media is of the trail Candyland at Spirit Mountain.
Grandma’s Marathon 2013 Double: Embrace the Suck
Eric Strand embarks on his second annual 52.4-mile journey from the finish line to the starting line to the finish line of Grandma’s Marathon.
“Candyland” at Spirit Mountain MTB Park
Great video on Candyland Spirit Mountains new MTB Trail.
Women’s Flat Track Derby News
The WFTDA is excited to extend full membership status to 22 additional leagues today, following their successful completion of the WFTDA Apprentice Program. The new Class C members can now enjoy the benefits of full WFTDA membership, including competing in sanctioned games and being eligible for rankings.
This group includes two leagues in Japan and one in Columbia, the first leagues from Asia and South America to achieve full member status. The WFTDA already has full member leagues in North America, Europe and Australia.
Congratulations to: Harbor City Roller Dames, of Duluth, Minnesota, USA (more…)
Golfing in Duluth
A buddy and I are hoping to do our first round of golf in Duluth this weekend. Just wondering what courses you would suggest to a couple novice guys, who haven’t swung the clubs on a course for probably two years now.
I see there are Lester and Enger, which do you prefer? Also would they mind a couple of guys out there who might be a little shotty?
Video Archive: Ball Scuffing
Aug. 5, 1987: Paul Guggenheimer mans the KBJR-TV sports desk to deliver the news that Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro has been suspended for possession of an emery board and sandpaper. Plus, highlights of a Twins/Angels game; the downside is the Twins lose, the upside is they went on to win the World Series that year. (more…)
Duluth & North Shore Kayaking on NPR
NPR’s weekly sports show ended with a feature on the area’s whitewater kayaking. Hear Only A Game’s story on SoundCloud.
Dan Spooner of the Hill City Squad
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Video by Hunter Gulan
Vikings Fumble
Well, I don’t really follow football, and now here’s another reason to despise the world 0f big, corporate sports. Message sent and received–athletics is a place where freedom of speech will kick your football on down the field. Boo team Vikings!
Chris Kluwe’s release by Vikings sends message that gay-marriage talk is not tolerable in NFL
Homegrown Kickball Classic 2013: ‘I can’t see the base because it is covered in mud, like my eyes.’
Friday pitcher Chad Lyons arrived at the field 45 minutes early, presumably to claim the field for his team in some sort of ceremonial ritual that involved his old high-school soccer cleats and a cigarette.
It worked. Friday took the 2013 Homegrown Kickball Classic, 7-5.
Rainy conditions throughout the week forced the game to be played away from its usual location, Chester Bowl. After a 20-minute search for car-floormat-bases, the action was underway at Observation Park.
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