Member Biographies
Current Members
Dave Christopherson, St. Anthony, MN
Number of years skiing: More than you.
Occupation and other interests: Retired Environmental Researcher at Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Biking, hiking, lots of kinds of music.
Kevin Ivens, Champlin, MN
Number of years skiing: 46
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Skinnyski Series Skier of the Year ‘08-‘09.
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Assistant Ski Coach at Champlin Park High School; runs Ivenski Summer Training Program for juniors.
Occupation and other interests: Industrial Maintenance. Beer-making, running, mountain biking.
Paul Olson, Andover, MN
Number of years skiing: 25
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Back in the day… 4th at Mesabi, 5th at State, quite a few top 3 at JOQ’s, 3rd, 4th 5th finishes in 35 km Vasaloppet and many bonking experiences.
Occupation and other interests: Mechanical/packaging engineer for Northland Automation and Engineering Inc. Enjoy downhill skiing, waterskiing, road and mtn biking, scuba diving, Frisbee, running.
Nathan Porath, Northfield, MN
Number of years skiing: Since 1998
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 8th at MN State Meet in 2000, 28th at 2009 Birkie 50k skate, 6x winner of the Vasaloppet 35k skate (Dala).
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Currently an assistant coach at Northfield High School
Occupation and other interests: Dentist at Midwest Dental in Faribault. I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife Nichole and kids Greta, Anna, Jack, and Freya.
Mary Beth Tuttle, Pine Springs, MN
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava:Volunteer high school Nordic ski coach
Occupation and other interests: Physical Therapist. Swimming, biking, running.
Bonnie Weiskopf, Grant, MN
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| Bonnie and her 5 kiddos circa 2010 |
Number of years skiing: 28
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: National Collegiate Cross-Country Skiing Champion (NCSA) 7 times from 1987-1990 (includes freestyle, classic, and relay titles). World University Games team 1991. Olympic Trials 1992 & 1994 (multiple top 10 finishes). Great American Ski Chase 1st overall female 1993, 2nd overall female 1994.
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) coach 2002-present. MYSL Battle Creek Youth Ski Club leader 2007-present. Minneapolis Ski Club coach spring 2010. Founder/organizer/coach MYSL East Metro Dryland Training Club.
Occupation and other interests: Engineer (3M August 1997-June 2009), currently working on startup ideas for my own engineering business. Mother of five, ages 14-23. Photography. Running, biking, soccer. Camping, outdoor adventures, family activities/travel. Church
Craig Cardinal, Northfield, MN
Number of years skiing: 22
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 7th at the 2019 Birkie Classic, 33rd at the 2015 & 2016 Birkie Skate
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Assistant Cross Country and Head Nordic Ski coach at Northfield.
Occupation and other interests: Process Engineer at Sheldahl. Running and racing marathons and ultramarathons, Canoeing, Bicycling on paved and gravel roads, Camping.
Andy Schakel, St. Paul, MN
Number of years skiing: 27
Occupation and other interests: Physician. I enjoy spending time with my lovely wife, family, and especially trying to keep up with our son!
Erik Pieh, St. Paul, MN
Number of years skiing: Since 8th grade
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Volunteer groomer of Columbia Golf Course, University of Minnesota Nordic Ski Club Alumni
Occupation and other interests: Mechanical Engineer; bicycling and bicycles, running, canoeing, backpacking, backcountry camping and my wife, Elspeth.
Number of years skiing: all my life; racing since age 16
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Volunteer high school ski coach at Mahtomedi and skiing memoir, Going the Distance: Piecing Together a Life of Adventure.
Occupation and other interests: Nurse Practitioner; hiking, paddling, and adventuring trips (especially in the mountains), writing, reading, cooking, and spending time with my husband, Erik.
Ben Mullin, Lindstrom, MN
Number of years skiing: 16
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 200th place male at 2019 Birkie. Yes, the LAST place to qualify for the elite wave.
Occupation and other interests: Systems Engineer; mountain biking, trail running, adventure hikes with my wife, nerdy stuff on the computer or in the shop, Nordic Race Analysis
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| Artie and his son |
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Maintaining Elite wave placement for the past 5yrs with a 64th place in the 2019 Birkie. Organizing and completing three 100km rollerski events.
Occupation and other interests: Outside of the time skiing with friends I enjoy spending time with my wife and son. For work/career I’m residential real estate appraiser with U.S. Bank.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: sharing a podium with Jessie Diggins and Caitlin/Heidi Gregg
Occupation and other interests: Machine Learning Engineer. Besides skiing I like to mountain bike and run, visit friends who live in cool places, and compare bagel shops - sometimes during long bike rides or skis.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 1st Riverview Loppet (Classic) 2021, Age group wins (Classic) Mora Vasaloppet
Occupation and other interests:
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 1st at SISU Ski Fest 2023, 13th in 50k freestyle Birkie 2021, 17th in 50k freestyle Birkie 2022, 3rd in 50k skate at Mora Vasaloppet 2022, 1st in 50k skate at Pepsi Challenge. Lots of races out West prior to 2021 that don't matter much.
Occupation and other interests: Chief Services Officer of energy consulting company (Cadeo Group). Do triathlon in the summer. Also stay busy canoeing, camping, gardening, and cooking.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Got run over by a car while rollerskiing in college; lived to tell about it without any broken bones and just some road rash
Occupation and other interests: Worked with Dave Christopherson at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (the rest is history). Otherwise has two young sons.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career:
Occupation and other interests: Violin maker extraordinaire.
2009: 19th at Birkie (3rd in age group); 1st at Tour of Anchorage 40k; 4th at Mora Vasaloppet 42k classic; 2nd at City of Lakes Loppet 25k Classic.
2008: New Years Day - crashed while practicing kamikaze downhill’s and partially tore knee ligament, missed most of the season but managed to squeak into the Birkie elite wave. World Masters Championships in McCall Idaho.
2007: 1st overall female in Minnesota Skinny Ski Series; 4th at Fosavatn Ski Marathon in Isafjordur, Iceland
Occupation and other interests: Industrial Hygienist at 3M, coach basketball, canoe, run, hike, cook Indian food, Minnesota Orchestra season ticket holder, read good stuff when I have time. 1979-1983: played basketball for Concordia and Texas Christian University. 1982: Toured Asia with Athletes in Action basketball team.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 23rd place, 2022 Classic Birkie
Occupation and other interests: works for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and growing garlic on his hobby farm.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 67th place, 2022 Classic Birkie; skied the real 2023 Mora Vasaloppet!
Occupation and other interests: Sales guy; double pole specialist
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Uberlegger
Occupation and other interests: Longtime Industrial Tech high school teacher at Irondale. Head XC and Nordic ski coaches at Irondale.
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career:
Occupation and other interests:
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career:
Number of years skiing: 18
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: While nothing formal, I try to be a great ambassador for the sport, and ski with non-racing family and friends regularly.
Occupation: Chemistry professor at Macalester College.
Years skiing: I reluctantly skied as a freshman in high school when urged by my parents to take up an extracurricular activity. Little did I know that I would fall in love with the sport as an adult and start racing and actively training in 2016.
Other interests: When I’m not skiing, I can usually be found doing something creative. Typically, this involves making movies. My films of various genres have toured film festivals around the world and I’m currently working on one about Nordic skiing. In addition to filmmaking, I enjoy playing piano and composing orchestral film scores as a hobby. I also host a gaming group where we play all sorts of nerdy tabletop RPG’s and board games. My partner Emily and I have two cats and a dog and love to cook and travel the world.
Years skiing: since 2014 when I moved to Minnesota for Vet school; first Birkie in 2015
Vakava Alumni
Number of years skiing: since 1982
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 2 top-10 Birkies and several top-10 finishes at US Nationals in ‘90s, World Cup race at Thunder Bay ’94.
Occupation and other interests: Software Engineer. Assistant Nordic Coach for Roseville Area High School. Gardening, sewing, crochet, beading, sustainability, home brewing (throws a good party).
Derek Wallen, Apple Valley, MN
Number of years skiing: This is my 3rd year skiing with Vakava
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 51st at the 2009 American Birkie.
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Graphic design for Finn Sisu
Occupation and other interests: Graphic Designer at Curb-Crowser in Minneapolis. Road biking, trail running, swimming, disc golfing
Brent Oja, Greenville, SC
Number of years skiing: 14
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Groomer at Battle Creek
Occupation and other interests: IT manager for ScanSource Inc. located in Greenville, South Carolina.Work travel for the past year - this will be an "interesting" race season...
Other interests include hiking, guitars, and beer.
Michele Oja, River Falls, WI
Number of years skiing: 6
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: 2007 MN Skinnyski Series Skier of the Year, 2008 MN Skinnyski Series Overall Winner
Occupation and other interests: Executive Assistant to CEO at JCAHPO. Spending time with my family - Brent (teammate and #1 workout partner (currently missing in action)), Patrick (23), Katelyn (22), and Emily (14). Also enjoy swimming, hiking, biking, and gardening.
Kathleen Dewahl, St. Paul, MN
Number of years skiing: 20
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: NCAA qualifier 2008, All-American 1K sprint 2001.
Number of years skiing: Since 2009
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Annual sunrise to sunset solstice skis
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Co-founder and running and skiing coach for All Things Project AK
Occupation and other interests: Physical therapist and co-founder and coach for All Things Project AK. Running, hiking, drawing, reading, writing, eating peas, playing piano and cello
Andrew Kromroy, St. Paul, MN
Number of years skiing: 10
Most significant skiing accomplishment(s) from entire career: Top ten at Tour of Anchorage '04.
Involvement in skiing outside of Vakava: Assistant Nordic ski coach at Saint Paul Academy for the past two years.
Occupation and other interests: Project manager for a Commercial Construction Company.
Rob Edman, St Paul, MN
Number of years skiing: 21
Rob started skiing in 8th grade as a way to stay active between the fall cross country running season and the spring track season. After limited himself to recreational skiing during college, Rob returned to competitive skiing in 2009 and joined Vakava in 2012. In addition to skiing, Rob is a competitive trail runner with multiple top-10 finishes including the Birkie trail marathon, Superior 50, and Superior 100. Rob's favorite ski memory is the 2014 City of Lakes Loppet, when he had a good finish for himself but also helped teammate Mary-Beth to victory in the Womens' race.
