Sports

Golfing in Duluth

A buddy and I are hoping to do our first round of golf in Duluth this weekend. Just wondering what courses you would suggest to a couple novice guys, who haven’t swung the clubs on a course for probably two years now.

I see there are Lester and Enger, which do you prefer? Also would they mind a couple of guys out there who might be a little shotty?

Video Archive: Ball Scuffing

Aug. 5, 1987: Paul Guggenheimer mans the KBJR-TV sports desk to deliver the news that Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro has been suspended for possession of an emery board and sandpaper. Plus, highlights of a Twins/Angels game; the downside is the Twins lose, the upside is they went on to win the World Series that year. (more…)

Duluth & North Shore Kayaking on NPR

NPR’s weekly sports show ended with a feature on the area’s whitewater kayaking. Hear Only A Game’s story on SoundCloud.

Some terrific photos are on the show’s Flickr stream, too.

Dan Spooner of the Hill City Squad

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

Video by Hunter Gulan

Vikings Fumble

Well, I don’t really follow football, and now here’s another reason to despise the world 0f big, corporate sports. Message sent and received–athletics is a place where freedom of speech will kick your football on down the field. Boo team Vikings!

Chris Kluwe’s release by Vikings sends message that gay-marriage talk is not tolerable in NFL

Homegrown Kickball Classic 2013: ‘I can’t see the base because it is covered in mud, like my eyes.’

kickballFriday pitcher Chad Lyons arrived at the field 45 minutes early, presumably to claim the field for his team in some sort of ceremonial ritual that involved his old high-school soccer cleats and a cigarette.

It worked. Friday took the 2013 Homegrown Kickball Classic, 7-5.

Rainy conditions throughout the week forced the game to be played away from its usual location, Chester Bowl. After a 20-minute search for car-floormat-bases, the action was underway at Observation Park.

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Rollerdames!

The Rollerdames crushed Fargo! (Those ND gals skate with their shoulders instead of their feet!) (more…)

Boston Marathon Tribute Run

The board of directors of the North Shore Striders will dedicate our next group run to those affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon. We encourage runners and non-runners alike to come out in support for those injured on Monday.  There will be a free-will offering collected at the run that will be sent to the One Fund Boston, Inc. to help those afflicted by the attack. Everyone is encouraged to wear a race shirt or blue and yellow as a visual show of support.

The Run will meet at the Rose Garden parking lot at 6 p.m. on Monday,  April 22, and be approximately 5k.

Second chance for entry to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Security Jewelers is auctioning one of its sponsor entries to Grandma’s Half Marathon on eBay. One hundred percent of proceeds go to the Salvation Army.

Duluth Snowboarding Crashes Video

While filming for our last snowboarding video we gathered some great crash footage! Enjoy! Video by Higher Base Media.

Duluth Snowboarding Video

This is a video of Mitch Larson snowboarding all over Duluth and at Mont du Lac. It was created by Higher Base Media. (more…)

Running group for moms

Hello fellow Duluth/Superior mamas out there. Now that it’s “spring,” it’s the time we all start to think about getting outside and running again, or to start running. We’re starting our season off with a kickoff breakfast at the Miller Hill Perkins on Saturday, March 23, at 9 a.m. The hope is to offer people a chance to get to know each other a little prior to going running together to ease some of the pressure to going to something new. (more…)

Spirit Mountain Snowboarding

Mountain biking at Mont du Lac

Mont du Lac Recreation has been building mountain bike trails that are amazing. Last summer a shuttle was offered to take riders from the bottom of the trails to the top. This summer promises to be an amazing one as well, with shuttle dates to be announced. 

Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team 2013

Yes, this weekend marked the crowning moment in Minnesota high school hockey — the opportunity to rank the best flow from the state tourney. Duluth and Hermantown were well represented on 2013 All Hockey Hair Team. (more…)

CrossFit Duluth

CrossFit has finally made it to Duluth!

Lift-accessed mountain biking at Spirit Mountain this summer

Starting May 23, Spirit Mountain is set to start running its lifts for mountain bikers. As of now there are two amazing trails that are an absolute blast to ride! If you want to try mountain biking this is a perfect opportunity for you. (more…)

Ski and board club enrolling for 2014

ArrowSki club is a recreational club for skiers and boarders from age 6 to 16. The mission is to foster self-esteem, friendship, confidence and a lifelong love of boarding and skiing through the alpine experience, exploration and fun. To find out more call ArrowSki at 218-525-8085 or e-mail arrowskiclub @ yahoo.com.

Snow Day *Perk* Attention: Parents, students, Mayor Ness and everyone else. Thom Storm is awesome!

I propose the City of Duluth creates a Thom Storm Day!

This man has done so much for the youth of our city through his works at Chester Park/Chester Bowl over the years and he continues to do so.

He just sent out an email this afternoon regarding the winter storm. How is this for fore-thinking and helping parents out if the kids are out of school, and who need to go to work for a few hours tomorrow, if they can get there:

If schools are closed tomorrow due to snow, I intend to open the chairlift from 11-4:30, so parents can go to work, & kids can have something fun to do.  I already have early morning grooming of the hill, and snowplowing of the road arranged.  The final piece to the puzzle would be to get some parents to operate the concession stand.  Volunteers would be needed from 10-45am to 2pm and 1:45-4:45pm.  If you would be available to help out, please email me back by 5pm today if possible.  This would only take place if schools are closed.  If schools remain open, the lift will be open it’s regular hours of 4:30-8:30, and volunteers for the concession are already signed up for those shifts.

Thanks for your consideration.

Thom Storm
Executive Director
Chester Bowl Improvement Club
1801 E. Skyline Dr.
Duluth, MN.  55812-1154
(218) 724-9832
[email protected]

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Behind the Scenes at Northland Competition

PDD Calendar intern Shannon Kinley takes us behind the scenes of Duluth events in this new series.

Over 800 figure skaters from across the United States and Canada met in Duluth this past weekend for the Northland Competition, one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest. The 34th-annual gathering was organized by the Duluth Figure Skating Club.

“This year is by far the biggest we have had so far in terms of skaters,” said Kathy Jensen, co-chair of the competition. “We are very pleased with the turnout.”
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Mont Du Lac Recreation Snowboard Video

New old Nordic ski trails at Spirit Mountain

Have you checked out the newly redone cross country ski trails at Spirit Mountain? Thanks to a lot of hard volunteer work, the trails have been redesigned and brought back to life.

Lots of details at my Best North Shore blog.

The 1962 UWS Football Squad

SSC-Football-1962

Today on PDD we present the 1962 gridders from the “Wisconsin State College Superior,” now known as the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Why? Well the fine folks at UWS’ Jim Dan Hill Library have digitized copies of the Gitchee Gumee, the college’s yearbook — from its inception in 1909 through 1972, when it ceased publication.
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Mont du Lac Snowboarding

Mont du Laps, Episode 2

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

This video is a collaboration between Mont du Lac Recreation, Jambox Shred Gear and videographer Hunter Gulan, featuring riding by Dan Spooner, Kai Sandal, Paul Lavold, James Olson, Jackson Brown and Danny Kiolbasa.