About Us

March 26, 2007, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association (MNSA) Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Norm Oakvik. The annual award is presented to a person who has spent their lifetime advancing cross country skiing in Minnesota. The 2007 award went to Norm Oakvik of North Minneapolis. Mr. Oakvik grew up in Minneapolis, the son of Norwegian immigrants. As a child, Norm’s parents fashioned skis for Norm themselves and taught him how to ski in Theodore Wirth Park.

Growing up, Norm competed in cross country skiing, alpine skiing and ski jumping, and in 1952 Norm was the first alternate on the United States Nordic Combined Olympic Team. In the 1950’s and 1960’s Mr. Oakvik became a one-man sales team for all things cross country skiing in Minnesota. He coached cross country skiing throughout the area, organized races, constructed ski trails throughout Minnesota, and especially in Theodore Wirth Park, and, because there were no alternatives, he even imported cross country skis from Scandinavia, which he sold out of his living room.

At the banquet it became obvious that Mr. Oakvik has had an impact that reached far beyond the Twin Cities area. People came from as far away as Bemidji to honor Norm’s spirit for cross country skiing. The 84-year-old Oakvik spoke of his appreciation for this new generation of skiers that have followed him. Norm still skis every day when there is snow available.

MNSA’s Lifetime Achievement award is on permanent display at the Mora Nordic Center in Mora, Minnesota.

A history of the North Star Ski Touring Club cannot begin without a few words concerning events prior to 1967-68, our first year of operation. In 1965-66, the the United States Ski Association formed a ski touring committee chaired by Norm Oakvik and then Bob Larson for the purpose of improving interest and participation in ski touring in the metro area and throughout the central division of USSA. Membership in that committee, besides Norm and Bob, included Jinny McWethy, John O'Bleness, James Rupert, and Dag Helgestad. A touring handbook was prepared and sent to forty interested parties. A two mile trail was cut near the Bush Lake ski jump and a schedule of eight committee sponsored trips was set up.

The earliest organized NSSTC effort was at Jonathan New Town, as it was then known, north and northwest of Chaska. [It's just "Jonathan" now, a pale imitation of the original development plan.] The owner, Henry McKnight, was a tour skier married to an ex-Olympic alpine skier. He gave the NSSTC the run of the unbuilt acreage of Jonathan and even loaned the club an old farmhouse for our club house. With Henry's help and equipment, club members laid out and built a trail system that formed the last portion of the Victoria-Jonathan-Chaska Ski Race and Tour, the famous "VJC." This was the first modern era (late 1960's) ski-touring trail system in the Upper Midwest, as distinct from a few private or municipal cross-country courses used by high school teams and USSA Central Division competitors.

1967-1968: Some of the people who belonged to the USSA soon discovered that funding was not dependable and that they really wanted their own club, with control over our activities. So NSSTC was formed by three people who shared a vision-Bob Larson, Norm Oakvik and Jinny McWethy. At a meeting at Dwight Johnson's house in the summer of 1967, nineteen members drafted a constitution and the North Star Ski Touring Club was born. Original committee members McWethy, Oakvik, Helgestad and Larson were joined by Shirley Esnough, Dwight Johnson and Lon Weidenhaft to form the nucleus of the new club. Lon Weidenhaft was elected the first president. Fifteen trips were planned including a ski clinic and USSA time trials.

1968-1969: Ray Esnough was elected president. There were 76 club members on the roster with 15 trips on the schedule. Norm and Dag lead thirty ski tourers on a trip to the Wyoming Bighorn Mountains, which included a mountain rescue by helicpter. Thankfully, there were no injuries, just hurt pride. Hoigaards began to receive requests for skinny skis and bought 100 pair from Norm Oakvik, who had at that time the only place in town to buy them--his house.

1969-1970: Helener Currier was elected president. Memberships increased to 69 single and 54 family memberships, a total of about 180 adults. The trip schedule began with about 18 trips but was revised to accommodate several additional trips in February and March. Activity began to increase at Jonathon, with trail work and remodeling of the old farmhouse later to be dubbed Oakvik House. Glen Bennington designed the club patch logo still used to this day, after winning a NSSTC contest.

1970-1971: This was probably the pivotal year in the history of NSSTC. With Glen Bennington now the president, the first general meeting of the year began with 900 to 1000 eager skiers crowding into the Prudential Auditorium to learn about ski touring and to view the newest in equipment. John Hollister was appointed VJC chairman and one of the first tour-races in the country was born with nearly 300 participants. Beginning in Victoria and winding its way through Jonathan, the first VJC was forced to an abbreviated finish, due to lack of snow, outside Chaska. Tim Heisel was the winner of that first tour-race and recipient of the Jonathan Cup donated by Senator Henry McKnight. Tim Knopp was one of the board members. Tim and Glen wrote a letter to the Hennepin County Park Reserve to impress upon them the potential growth of ski touring and to ask them to assess areas of trail expansion in the system. This was in effect, a foresighted effort to head off a rising tide of snowmobile encroachment. The year ended with 400 skiers in the club and a treasury of $226.46

1971-1972: Officers included Tim Knopp, President; Jacque Lindskoog, Joan Velander, Dwight Johnson, Dick Green, Ben Pawlak and Lucy Cook. President Tim Knopp compiled a trail guide for ski touring. July, 1971 heralded the first issue of the Løype, as we know it. The second VJC race was a real success with 873 skiers participating. 28 trips were listed in the trip schedule, including an instructional clinic at Jonathon and another western trip to the Big Horn Mountains.

Tim Knopp designed the club logo, the family of skiers all in a row, which is used extensively today as an indication of the NSSTC.

1972-1973: John Hollister was president. Telemark announced a 50 Km race from Hayward to Telemark, with the entry fee being $7.00. Wayne and Jacque ["Jackie"] Lindskoog and John Holmquist, long-time North Star members, completed the first Birkebeiner. The early races didn't proscribe women, they just didn't acknowledge them, period. Women were supposed to do the half-distance race along with the younger males, since called the "Korteloppet." Jacque sent in her entry for the long race hoping they'd assume it was a male with a French given name. She kept a low profile at the start, fearing they'd pull her out if they knew [and I suppose they would have]. When she finished, and they found she was a woman, they wouldn't include her in the finishing list. She did it again the second year and they finally gave her her medal but it was the third year before they had an official "Women's" class. Jackie has been recognized as the first woman to finish the Birkebeiner and her photo is on the wall at Telemark with the other first-place winners.

This year was highlighted by the USSA Nordic National Championships held at Hyland lake Park Reserve. The NSSTC was instrumental in providing manpower to haul snow and build a skiable racing track on the old Bush Lake competition trail. For the first time we were able to see the greats of cross country skiing; Martha Rockwell, Bob Gray, Mike Devecka, Mike Gallagher, and two promising teenagers named Tim Cladwell and Bill Koch.

1973-1974: Officers included Jinny McWethy, President; Marion Reinke, Lucas Von Hilst, Leslie Hollister, Tim Knopp, Bob Tokar, Connie Donnelly, Jack Parsons and Lee Mayer.

With the proliferation of new ski touring areas, the use of Oakvik House and the Jonathon trails system began to decline. The energy crisis forced the Board to adopt a policy of no trips outside of 150 miles from the Twin Cities except by chartered bus. 714 skiers participated in the NSSTC's VJC race and Don Lee edged out three-time winner Tim Heisel by 46 seconds.

Tim Knopp placed first his age class at the Telemark Birkebeiner and Jean Dick placed third in the 22 km Korteloppet. Jackie Lindskoog was once again the only woman entry in the long race.

Under Jinny's leadership the club ended a highly successful year capped by the formation of an umbrella organization of ski touring clubs later to be known as Minntour. Minntour was soon to become a major force in encouraging and promoting ski touring statewide, particularly in relationship to the state DNR and local county/municipal park departments.

1974-1975: Officers included Lucas Von Hilst, President; Wayne Lindskoog, Jack Parsons, Jean Dick, Pat Richards, Donna Pederson, Lee Mayer, Connie Donnelly, and Helener Currier.

Jean announced a trip schedule of no less than thirty trips including, for the first time, a trip for beginners only and another for singles only. This was a significant year since Lucas Van Hilst distinguished himself by helping form the nucleus of the newly created Single's Division.

Minntour began operations in earnest and joined with the Sierra Club to appeal a Forest Service decision allowing snowmobiles in the BWCA. Lee Mayer announced a membership total of 935, which translated to 2,000 total skiers in the NSSTC. Birkebeiner III listed four female finishers from the NSSTC. Jackie Lindskoog, P. Richards, B. Sandager and J. Dick.

1975-1976: Board members were Wayne Lindskoog, President; John Hollister, Craig Swan, Rick Whiting, Mary Lou Boice, Jean Dick, Pat Richards, Bill Miller, Bruce Sillers, Glenn Richards, Newell Searle, and Tim Knopp, Trail Development and Minntour Representative.

The trip schedule had 46 trips on it and for the first time three and four choices per weekend throughout the ski season were common. An aggressive trail development program began in earnest under Newell Searle's leadership and we began to think in terms of not just identifying potential areas but providing the manpower and funds to get the trails cut. Membership by early December reached 1,883 skiers. Public hearings began on the BWCA controversy with Knopp and Maloney becoming the two most wanted on the snowmobile "hit list".

Ken Rykken reported on new equipment which would revolutionize cross country skiing. Fiberglass skis, double camber, graphite poles and a whole new technique demanding upright posture, faster cadence and double poling were just around the corner.We finished the year with over 2,400 members.

1976-1977: Board members were Wayne Lindskoog, President; John Holmquist, Roger Freeberg, Pat Richards, Judy Rykken, Jane Lincoln, Rick Whiting, Bill Miller, Bud Pawlak, and Lee Radermacher with Goodman Larson as Minntour representative.

45 trips were scheduled for the season and the Løype continued to be a high quality newsletter with feature stories on many member's and their ski touring personalities. The VJC race was cancelled due to the weather and Oakvik House closed it's door permanently.

1977-1978: Board members were Jean Dick, President; John Holmquist, Roger Freeber, Pat Richards, Judy Rykken, Ron Bole, Frank Coune, Woody Engelking, Lucy Grams, Scott Knudson, Bill Steinbicker, Lee Radermacher, and Tim Knopp.

This was another year of "firsts" for the club. We held our first annual ski swap at Hyland Hills Chalet and our first annual 10K run at Hyland Park. Both were resounding successes with the swap grossing over $6,000. The single's division was in full swing with both a summer and winter schedule of activities. USSA announced formation of the Bill Koch League to encourage youngsters to participate in instructional and low key competitive nordic recreational activities. The VJC race, after a two year hiatus, had 900 skiers and the winner was Audun Endestedt with Wendy Brown winning the women's division. The Løype was chosen runner-up in a nationwide rating of ski club publications by the USSA, with article content and journalistic style receiving high marks.

1978-1979: Board members were Judy Rykken, President; Lee Mayer, Kathy Kelly, Pete Hawkins, Carol Jahoda, Anne Potter, Frank Coune, Woody Engelking, John O'Connell, Gary Gumble, Ron Reich, Goodman Larson and Tom Cooper.

Activities abounded not only during the ski season but in the off season as well. Jinny's bike ride to Jonathan was now an anual event. Single's Division members began to increase dramatically and in response the trip schedule and activities were expanded accordingly. The smoke began to clear on the BWCA issue and after a five year struggle, wilderness preservation had prevailed.

The ninth VJC race was held with 871 participants including Norwegian Consul General Sorhaug. This was the first year a European ski trip was on the schedule. This was to be the forerunner of a series of overseas trips to Austria, Poland and Scandinavia.

1979-1980: Board members were Leslie Hollister, President; Lee Mayer, Tom Rice, Bob Tokar, Gary Gumble, Anne Potter, Barb Hostert, Ron Reich, Jean O'Connell, Wayne Wise, Wayne Lindskoog, Bill Rolhouse, Tom Cooper, Scott Knudson and Arne Stefferud.

The single's division continued to grow phenomenally within our ranks and this year's schedule listed 16 trips for single's and 40 regular club trips. The VJC race was moved from the Jonathan area to Carver park, only to have it cancelled for the third time in it's history due to lack of snow. The official name of the event became the Victoria-Jonathan-Carver Tour/Race.

Under Scott Knudsons's leadership this club began to take an active part in assisting touring areas, resorts and parks in cutting and maintaining trails. NSSTC donated $300 to help rehabilitate the Wirth Park ski jump and $1000 to help light the trails at Theordore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. This tradition continues today and is probably our most significant contribution to ski touring in Minnesota.

1980-1981: Board members were Lee Mayer, President; Don Nelson, Betty Kobs, Lucy Grams, Judy Rykken, Jack Lynch, Rochelle Tascher, Laurie Hoffman, Jim Lincoln, Bill Weber, Scott Knudson, Wayne Lindskoog, Gill Rolshouse, and Tom Cooper.

The VJC was again cancelled for the fourth time in six years because lack of snow and we began to wonder if there wasn't a dramatic climatological change going on. An almost snowless winter with spring-like conditions forced the cancellation of numerous club trips and races, including the postponement of Birkebeiner IX.

1981-1982: Board members were Don Nelson, President; Terry Quam, Don Carlson, Anne Potter, Mel Peterson, Bob O'Hara, Linda Jacobs, Kathy Overby, Connie Donnelly, John Cook, Scott Knudson, Bill Rolshouse, and Bob Tokar.

The winter of '81-82 was a return to the ice age compared to the previous winter. Snow and extreme cold dominated the season and where trips were previously cancelled due to lack of snow, this year saw cancellations due to extreme wind chill and below zero temperatures.

1982-1983: Bob Tokar served as President and the need became apparent this year that a cross country ski pass would be needed to supplement the funding from the DNR for ski trails. Don Pusch and Tim Knopp actively worked with Bob in his efforts to get this concept of a skier user fee off the ground and we see today that these people laid some very necessary groundwork upon which to build. Our club donated $300 to a group called MUST (Minnesotans Using Ski Trails) to demonstrate our support and get the ball rolling.

1983-1984: This was the year that the Hot Line was born. John Holmquist and Don Nelson spent much time and energy reserching the possibilities, cost, location and other tangibles for the new system. A letter in the Løype announced the official closing of one of our favorite places for weekend skiing, Olympia Village at Upson, Wisconsin. Our very first trip there in 1969, included Will Steger and all his "funny" equipment.

1984-1985: President this year was John Holmquist. He instrumented a change which brought our single's division and main club meetings together. Prior to this time they were seperate.

1985-2000: To Be Continued! There are many articles to read and there is much research to do, completing this project. Stay Tuned!