Race Previews

Seriously Cool Awards...

Thursday, 21 July 2011 03:00

Chisago Sprint Preview - One of the many cool things about the Chisago Lakes Triathlon is it's reverence for Swedish stuff. The Chisago Lakes Area, which encompasses the villages of Lindstrom, Shafer, Center City and, of course, Chisago City, promotes itself as "America's Little Sweden," thus it's appropriate that race organizers "Swedish-icize" their event.

They do so in a number of ways. For instance, serving nummilicious Swedish pancakes and ice cream after the event. And finishers stride beneath a large blue flag adorned with a golden cross.

And this year, awards winners (in both the sprint and the half) will receive totally cool and beautiful Dala Horses (photo L), which are very important in Swedish culture. Gloria, CLT founder/director and one who is always on the lookout for cool ways to upgrade her events, sent us this cool verbiage about Dala Horsies:...

Since Viking Times, the horse has been considered a holy animal. In many cultures throughout history, wooden horses have been carved as children's toys. In central Sweden, wood scraps from the local furniture-making trade, paint-pigment from nearby copper mines, and long winter evenings bred the development of the Dala Horse. Traditions vary in giving credit to woodsmen and to soldiers for originating the craft. Dala Horses from the Nusn