WEST YELLOWSTONE - They could be called the matriarch and patriarch of the West Yellowstone Rendezvous.
They're not, as neither had anything to do with actually starting the annual Nordic ski race, now in its 31st year. And both admit they're not the only people who have been around for as long as the race has been going on.
However, 68-year-old Ren E. Fugelstad, of Glyndon, Minn., and West Yellowstone's own Connie Cusick, a sprightly 52, have been skiing the annual event for 31 and 28 go-rounds, respectively.
Fugelstad was in on the first race back in 1980 and has skied the classic 25-kilometer and skate version once it was implemented in 1984. He began skiing in Bozeman at the age of 33 and credits Matt and Cliff Montain for getting him to strap on the skis and "pretty much changing my life."
Three years later, he was racing on the blades and has been ever since. Once skate racing came into existence, Fugelstad went through it until "about five years ago."
Fugelstad crossed the line in 2 hours, 2 minutes on Saturday and said he still gets the same rush he always has.
"It's really fun," he said. "It's a lot of work and year-round training, but it's really fun, a good time."
Cusick, a science teacher at West Yellowstone High, started the race when she moved here to teach at the school.
"It's a long winter, you got to have something to do," she laughed. "We have all these wonderful trails. It's a great resource."
Like Fugelstad, Cusick turned to skate skiing when it debuted but switched back to classic "probably more years ago than I can remember. The classic is the old school, so smooth and graceful."
"I can't believe that many years have gone by," she added. "It's a neat community event, its fun to be a part of it, its fun to participate in it. It's a West Yellowstone tradition."
Assistant race director Scott Carsley called both racers, as well as a few other long-timers, "institutions" of the race course.
Both said they have no plans on stopping anytime soon.
"I'm going to go until the year comes that I can't," Cusick said. "It's amazing to have had 28 years of good health and every spring been able to do it."
Asked how long he'll continue, Fugelstad quipped: "As long as this body will let me."
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Cusick isn't the only local involved. Carsley said a crew of 100-plus volunteers, mostly homegrown, helped this season.
The results sheet also contains the names of several West Yellowstonians among many Treasure State skiers, along with racers from as far away as Belvedere Tiburon, Calif. (Anna Cecchettini), Anchorage, Alaska, (Emma Garrard) or Stoddard, N.H. (Kenneth Henninger).
There were 642 finishers this year.
"We always have a very good turnout, a lot of faces and a very good time," Carsley said. "Weather turned out good today, conditions are good and it's something that brings this town together like you wouldn't believe. This town really supports this race, from the hundreds of volunteers to people racing in it. It's a great event for this community."
As usual, it started with "Mountain Men" Mike Bryers, Don Stanley and Gibson Bailey letting off a thunderous boom from a cannon to start each of the six races.
Bryers said their Colonel, Gray Carter, was missing due to other obligations and they missed him sorely. As for a quick look back at 28 years of firing the canon on race day, Bryers noted, "It looks always pretty much the same. A lot of lycra and skis."
Fourteen-year-old Brandon McLauchlon was the first to cross the 5K race, but can't seem to get over a touch of bad luck. McLauchlon didn't complete the 10K race last season and was set to do the 25K this year until a cold hit him a week before the race.
"It actually turned out pretty good," he said. "I had to bring it down some, but I'm going to do the 25K next year."
It was also a somewhat bittersweet finish for Montana State University sophomore skier Hans Nygren.
Nygren missed out on qualifying for next week's NCAA Championships this past weekend at the West Regionals and finished his Nordic season at West Yellowstone.
"Last one of the year ... it felt good to finish strong," he said. "We had a pretty good year. We didn't do as well at regionals in Steamboat, but we did all right. We had more than three qualify for the NCAAs, and I didn't qualify so I'm here instead of there."
Nygren was first in the 25K in 1:05.20.7 after finishing second last year.
"I just tried to hang on with Leif (Zimmermann) and Chad (Andersen) up there," Nygren said. "Those guys are incredible."
Zimmermann and Andersen, both of Bozeman, finished first and fourth in the 50K, respectively.
Gidal Kaiser can be reached at gkaiser@dailychronicle.com or 582-2670.
Results
Local top 20
2K
Female
7. Mara Lynch, Bozeman, 10:46; 9. Lily Stiles, West Yellowstone, 17:09; 11. Norah Shaw, Bozeman, 20:30; 12. Annika Mittelsteadt, Belgrade, 23:35; 14. Clara Wyatt, Bozeman. n/a.
Male
5. Rory Rasch, Bozeman, 9:06.3; 6. Sean Feeley, Bozeman, 9:06.7; 8. Kai Mittelsteadt, Belgrade, 10:04.0; 9. Seth Wyatt, Bozeman, 11:18; 12. Bridger Stiles, West Yellowstone, 18:59; 13. Sam Coffin, West Yellowstone, 19:00; 14. Kyle Watt, West Yellowstone, 19:56; 15. Landon Wyatt, Bozeman, n/a.
5K
Female
3. Marin Colette, Bozeman, 20:38; 8. Hanne Andersen, Bozeman, 22:06; 10. Monika Kwapisz, Bozeman, 22:30; 13. Allie Lynch, Bozeman, 23:59; 14. Bridgit Prichard, West Yellowstone, 24:32; 18. Fiona Shaw, Bozeman, 30:41; 20. Elizabeth Story, Emigrant, 32:33.
Male
2. Logan Diekmann, Bozeman, 19:05; 6. Tyson Odden, Bozeman, 19:37; 7. Uri Menalled, Bozeman, 19:46; 11. Henry Westesen, Bozeman, 20:20; 14. Andrew Meyer, Bozeman, 20:55; 15. Robert Kwapisz, Bozeman, 20:58; 16. Alex Wilson, West Yellowstone, 21:08; 20. Liam Diekmann, Bozeman, 22:15.
10K
Female
1. Madison Ekey, Bozeman, 36:38; 5. Kala Jauquet, Bozeman, 41:14; 6. Laurie Shammel, Bozeman, 42:18; 9. Justine Feeley, Bozeman, 42:49; 11. Jo Stevens, West Yellowstone, 44:36; 12. Natasha Sullivan, Bozeman, 45:32; 15. Elizabeth Watt, West Yellowstone, 46;16; 16. Embla Hagensen, Bozeman, 46:21; 18 Candace Hassinger, Gardiner, 48:32.
Male
3. Noah Andersen, Bozeman, 33:41; 7. Sam Miller, Bozeman, 35:36; 8. Alexander Diekmann, Bozeman, 36:06; 15. Michael Galloway, Gardiner, 42:00; 18. Nelson Story, Emigrant, 42:13; 19. Nathan Paulick, Bozeman, 42:21.
25K
Female
4. Kelli Sanders, West Yellowstone, 1:25:07; 6. Angelica di Silvestri, Big Sky, 1:30:26; 13. Yana Neely, West Yellowstone, 1:35:59; 19. Metta Gilbert, West Yellowstone, 1:38:14.
Male
15. Pat Becker, Belgrade, 1:17:17; 19. Kevin Jacobsen, Bozeman, 1:18:24; 20. Jed Norman, West Yellowstone, 1:19:08.
25K Classic
1. Shayla Swanson, Bozeman, 1:30:45; 5. Melissa Alder, West Yellowstone, 1:46:13; 7. Ruby Zitzer, Bozeman, 1:48:29; 12. Susan Benda, Bozeman, 2:05:54; 15. Brenda Holland, West Yellowstone, 2:09:29; 18. Connie Cusick, West Yellowstone, 2:17:04.
Male
3. Sawyer Kesselheim, Bozeman, 1:29:34; 10. Zach Heskett, Bozeman, 1:34:44; 13. Nick Johannes, West Yellowstone, 1:37:04.
50K
Female
1. Korie Steitz, 2:35:12; 5. Brandy Stewart, Bozeman, 2:49:05; 6. Kathryn Hickman, Bozeman, 2:50:10; 7. Liz McGoff-Hayes, 2:52:58; 9. Claire Anderson, Bozeman, 3:00:42; 12. Eileen Burke, Bozeman, 3:09:20; 17. Sarah Olson, Bozeman, 3:14:47.
Male
1. Leif Zimmermann, Bozeman, 2:13:02; 4. Chad Andersen, Bozeman, 2:23:37; 20. Jeremiah Kunzman, Big Sky, 2:37:48.
Local top 20
2K
Female
7. Mara Lynch, Bozeman, 10:46; 9. Lily Stiles, West Yellowstone, 17:09; 11. Norah Shaw, Bozeman, 20:30; 12. Annika Mittelsteadt, Belgrade, 23:35; 14. Clara Wyatt, Bozeman. n/a.
Male
5. Rory Rasch, Bozeman, 9:06.3; 6. Sean Feeley, Bozeman, 9:06.7; 8. Kai Mittelsteadt, Belgrade, 10:04.0; 9. Seth Wyatt, Bozeman, 11:18; 12. Bridger Stiles, West Yellowstone, 18:59; 13. Sam Coffin, West Yellowstone, 19:00; 14. Kyle Watt, West Yellowstone, 19:56; 15. Landon Wyatt, Bozeman, n/a.
5K
Female
3. Marin Colette, Bozeman, 20:38; 8. Hanne Andersen, Bozeman, 22:06; 10. Monika Kwapisz, Bozeman, 22:30; 13. Allie Lynch, Bozeman, 23:59; 14. Bridgit Prichard, West Yellowstone, 24:32; 18. Fiona Shaw, Bozeman, 30:41; 20. Elizabeth Story, Emigrant, 32:33.
Male
2. Logan Diekmann, Bozeman, 19:05; 6. Tyson Odden, Bozeman, 19:37; 7. Uri Menalled, Bozeman, 19:46; 11. Henry Westesen, Bozeman, 20:20; 14. Andrew Meyer, Bozeman, 20:55; 15. Robert Kwapisz, Bozeman, 20:58; 16. Alex Wilson, West Yellowstone, 21:08; 20. Liam Diekmann, Bozeman, 22:15.
10K
Female
1. Madison Ekey, Bozeman, 36:38; 5. Kala Jauquet, Bozeman, 41:14; 6. Laurie Shammel, Bozeman, 42:18; 9. Justine Feeley, Bozeman, 42:49; 11. Jo Stevens, West Yellowstone, 44:36; 12. Natasha Sullivan, Bozeman, 45:32; 15. Elizabeth Watt, West Yellowstone, 46;16; 16. Embla Hagensen, Bozeman, 46:21; 18 Candace Hassinger, Gardiner, 48:32.
Male
3. Noah Andersen, Bozeman, 33:41; 7. Sam Miller, Bozeman, 35:36; 8. Alexander Diekmann, Bozeman, 36:06; 15. Michael Galloway, Gardiner, 42:00; 18. Nelson Story, Emigrant, 42:13; 19. Nathan Paulick, Bozeman, 42:21.
25K
Female
4. Kelli Sanders, West Yellowstone, 1:25:07; 6. Angelica di Silvestri, Big Sky, 1:30:26; 13. Yana Neely, West Yellowstone, 1:35:59; 19. Metta Gilbert, West Yellowstone, 1:38:14.
Male
15. Pat Becker, Belgrade, 1:17:17; 19. Kevin Jacobsen, Bozeman, 1:18:24; 20. Jed Norman, West Yellowstone, 1:19:08.
25K Classic
1. Shayla Swanson, Bozeman, 1:30:45; 5. Melissa Alder, West Yellowstone, 1:46:13; 7. Ruby Zitzer, Bozeman, 1:48:29; 12. Susan Benda, Bozeman, 2:05:54; 15. Brenda Holland, West Yellowstone, 2:09:29; 18. Connie Cusick, West Yellowstone, 2:17:04.
Male
3. Sawyer Kesselheim, Bozeman, 1:29:34; 10. Zach Heskett, Bozeman, 1:34:44; 13. Nick Johannes, West Yellowstone, 1:37:04.
50K
Female
1. Korie Steitz, 2:35:12; 5. Brandy Stewart, Bozeman, 2:49:05; 6. Kathryn Hickman, Bozeman, 2:50:10; 7. Liz McGoff-Hayes, 2:52:58; 9. Claire Anderson, Bozeman, 3:00:42; 12. Eileen Burke, Bozeman, 3:09:20; 17. Sarah Olson, Bozeman, 3:14:47.
Male
1. Leif Zimmermann, Bozeman, 2:13:02; 4. Chad Andersen, Bozeman, 2:23:37; 20. Jeremiah Kunzman, Big Sky, 2:37:48.
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