Relay Day – What to Expect

The relays are arguably the most exciting spectating all week. There are four starts. J2 boys at 8 a.m., J2 girls at 9 a.m., older junior and J1 boys at 10 a.m. and older junior and J1 girls at 11 a.m. Each region can field as many relay teams as it has skiers to fill the teams. For the J2 boys and girls this will mean about 20 teams per start as there are ten regions. For the OJ/J1 races this will mean around 25-30 teams all starting together. Each team’s lead competitor skis 3.3 kilometers before tagging off to a teammate, who then skis the same 3.3 kilometer loop. Each relay team has three competitors. See full schedule.

Fans will be able to see the competitors each time they come through the stadium and, with a little jogging around, multiple times on course. Bells will be ringing, drums played and cheering galore!

Each region will throw their best competitors out there to win the relay crowns. Watch for New England to try to continue their dominance. Alaska will also be tough. But with the Midwest on home turf and with a sympathetic crowd, the six titles (OJ, J1 and J2 – boys and girls) are anyone’s to grab. Watch for the Midwest’s J1 boys to do well and, with Jessie Diggins on the older junior team, the girls cannot be counted out.

Plan to park at the Mortenson Construction parking lot (northwest corner of Highway 55 and Wirth Parkway) and take the convenient shuttle bus to the start. Or park at Wirth Beach and ski to the venue.

The Midwest Junior Championships follow the Junior Olympics competition – all the best young skiers in the Midwest compete in relays and ski games! Visit www.midwestjuniorchampionships.com for more information.