City Ski Meet a fun-for-all event

The timing couldn't have been better.

The conditions were perfect this year for the annual Cloquet City Ski Meet, an event featuring both ski jumping and Nordic ski races at Pine Valley. The sun was out, the temperatures were cold enough to keep the snow frozen, but not cold enough to freeze tiny fingers and toes. It hadn't rained yet. And the congenial atmosphere at the meet was just as sunny as the weather.

In addition to the many members of the now thriving Cloquet Ski Club - which meets every Sunday for skiing and every Tuesday and Thursday for jumping - there were a few surprise competitors Saturday.

Cloquet High School students Josh Sanders, Josh South and Caleb Swanson ski jumped for the first time ever in competition, going off the 10- and 20-meter jumps in mostly 1980s vintage outdoor wear. Cloquet High School physics teacher and alpine ski coach Ryan Zimny outdid his students though, jumping Pine Valley's intimidating 40-meter jump as well. (Find more photos and a video of Zimny's jump on the Pine Knot News Facebook page.)

The day finished with a series of Nordic ski races, starting with the youngest skiers and ending with teenagers and adults taking off for a 5.5K race in a mass start.