Jon Jaehnig/For the Gazette 52 young skiers registered for the non-competitive event. All participants received medals and were welcomed to hot chocolate and snacks at the chalet upon completion of 1K, 2K, 4K, or 6K courses.

HANCOCK — The 13th annual Barnelopet Youth Ski Races took place Sunday afternoon at the Maasto Hiihto Ski Trails in Hancock. The event, hosted by the Sons of Norway and the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club and sponsored by the Keweenaw Community Foundation and Steve Zutter, is a free and non-competitive event designed with the intent of getting children and families encouraged and involved in cross-country skiing.

“Skiing started in Norway as a way of getting around in the winter,” said organization member and event organizer Wayne Stordahl. “We offer kids and kids the opportunity to ski, with their parents if they want to. … They can choose the level of (difficulty).”

The KNSC provided volunteers and is involved in maintaining the Maasto Hiihto ski trails throughout the winter.

“Barnelopet is to encourage kids to get out there and ski and have a good time. It’s non-competitive. The interest is to keep the sport going,” said KNSC president Jay Green. “It helps to bring back the social aspect. The sport used to be much more social but it’s since become more athletic and competitive.”

Attendants were invited to register for 1K, 2K, 4K, or 7K tracks. Starts were staggered so that all skiers were on the trails at the same time but took different trails. There were 52 youth registrants at the event and it is unknown how many adult family members took part.

Jon Jaehnig/For the Gazette The 13th annual Barnelopet was held at the Maasto Hiihto ski trails in Hancock on Sunday. The free event by the Sons of Norway and the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club was to encourage young skiers and their families to take to the trails.

Adult family members were also invited to accompany skiers on snowshoes or fat tire bikes if they wished.

“When we moved up here around 2001, we were looking for activities to do in the winter,” said Jennifer Eikinberry, a mother of three children taking part in the event. “(Barnelopet) is one we’ve done every year since my youngest was 3 years old, so this will be our 10th year.”

Participants with the fastest times for the 6K course were Alaina Eles, who finished in 30:21, and Corbin Eikenberry, who finished in 42:00. Fastest times for the 4K course were Jerome Bowe Pierce, who finished in 27:05, and Molly Kisiel, who made it in 28:11.

The best times for the 2K course were Jasper Ausema, who made it through in 13:02 and Olavi Kautala, who finished in 14:08. Finally, the fastest times for the 1K course were Colin Penfold at 14:32 and Michael French at 14:41.

All participants received a medal and were welcomed to hot chocolate and snacks at the chalet.

For more information on the Sons of Norway, visit sonsofnorway5.com. For more information on the KNSC, visit Keweenaw Nordic.org.