HANCOCK - Four-year-old Sam Karinen wasn't the first to cross the finish line at the Maasto Hiihto trails during the third annual Barnelpet Sunday, but he was certainly putting a strong effort into gliding along on his cross-country skis.
Sam was one of the participants in "the children's race," which Wayne Stordahl, president of one of the event organizers, Sons of Norway Ulseth Lodge, said had an encouraging turnout.
"It's starting to catch on," he said.
Stordahl said many of the participants Sunday were members of the Copper Country Ski Tigers youth cross-country ski group.
The Barnelpet, which is also sponsored by the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, Portage Health and the city of Hancock, began in 2008 after members of the Sons of Norway learned it's an important event in Norway, and decided to try a local version, Stordahl said. There are four course lengths in the race: 1, 2, 4 and 6 kilometers.
The weather Sunday was mostly sunny and not very cold, which Stordahl said may have helped with turnout.
One of the participants in the race was 7-year-old May Amelia Shapton. Her mother, Martha Shapton, said she participated last year and seemed to enjoy it.
Martha Shapton said since parents can ski with their children, it's a good family event.
"I think it's great," she said.
Although there was a time keeper at the finish line, Martha Shapton said the event isn't really a competitive race, which she liked, also.
"That's what's nice," she said.
Stordahl said he was pleased participants were not just from Houghton and Hancock.
"There's kids from all over the area," he said. "The whole community got involved in it."
The top three finishers in each course were:
1k - 1. Ethel Karinen with a time of 6:42; 2. Sam Karinen, 11:30; 3. Sage Resh Chimner, 12:33.
2k - 1. Heidi Karinen, 11:26; 2. Jason Aho, 15:11; 3. Mike Fraley, 15:25.
4k - 1. Sal Sharp, 19:45; 2. Oscar Karinen, 19:46; 3. Galen Resh Chimner, 27:25.
6k - 1. Pete Karinen, 24:13; 2. Zeb Featherly, 27:12; 3. Thomas Lyle, 40:25.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com.
