Volunteer of the Year:

Jay Richards (Maplelag), Section 8

              Jay does a great deal to help out the Nordic ski community year in and year out.  He puts in countless hours of work into the ski trails at Maplelag so that they are in amazing condition.  Jay is working nonstop from the breaking of the new trails to maintaining existing ones during the summer and the fall, all the way up to the very first snowfall of the winter.  Every coach and guest of Maplelag knows the Jay can make his trails skiable with a minimal amount of snow.  In such years as this one when we had very little snow and adverse weather, Jay and his staff from Maplelag were able to open a skiable trail in early December, and maintain a skiable course throughout the high school Nordic season by shoveling snow from ponds, parking lots, and out of the woods onto the trails.  When other areas of the state had very little snow for races, Jay and Maplelag were always willing to help out by co-hosting ski meets, grooming trails, opening up their facility, and providing extra trails for skiers on which to train. 

              Jay saved Section 8 by allowing us to hold our section meet at Maplelag at the last minute.  He facilitated our needs by creating two separate courses that were perfectly groomed, arranged for lunches to be made for parents, and opened up the Maplelag conference room for the award ceremony.  We could not have had a successful Section 8 meet without the help of Jay and his crew.

              Jay has always been an important resource when it comes to skiing.  Jay has helped the kids in the area by providing trail passes and ski rentals at free or reduced prices.  This has helped boost the kid’s Nordic skiing interest by allowing them to try, experience, and enjoy the sport for little to nothing.  Jay has helped the Detroit Lake ski team with equipment needs, his expertise and knowledge for several years.  When it comes to high school Nordic skiing, Jay has always been there for every coach, helping them with their racing needs, training questions, equipment concerns and groomed trails.

              Jay’s dedication to high school Nordic skiing and his incredible attention to detail with the grooming of Maplelag has made what seemed to be an impossible season, a success.