Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. - A small group of Michigan Tech skiers kicked off the 2009-10 season in West Yellowstone, Mont., Nov. 26-29.

The week of competition opened with the classical sprint races. Sophomore Petter Sjulstad was the top finisher on the men’s team finishing 44th in 4:28. Freshman Sondre Sandvik crossed the line in 55th (4:35) and graduate assistant coach Andrew Joda was 88th (5:06).

Freshman Henna Rikonen-Purtsi tied for 44th place with Michigan Tech alum Kristina Owen in a time of 5:31. Sophomore Melanie Hoffman finished 89th (6:15).

Senior Jesse Lang finished 49th in the 15-kilometer freestyle race in 34:53 and Joda was 82nd (36:54).

Sophomore Jackie Pribyl was the lone Tech woman in the 10-kilometer freestyle race finishing 77th (29:34).

In the classical race, Sandvick finished 83rd in 33:52 over the 10-kilometer course and Rikonen-Purtsi finished 72nd (18:57) in the five-kilometer race.