Entering its fifth season of existence, the Minnesota Skinnyski Series has seen some of its most passionate and fierce competition not in the various age groups, the overall, or even the skier of the year categories.  Instead, the most heated competition has always been for the coveted traveling team championship trophy.

This is a rivalry that, while still rather young, has risen rapidly up the lists of the greatest sports rivalries of all time.  In fact, I give you a completely unbiased opinion about what the top five greatest sports rivalries are (note: might actually be biased).

5.  Bemidji State Beavers vs. Alabama Huntsville Chargers (College Hockey)
4.  Irondale High School vs. Mounds View High School (High School Sports)
3.  Norway vs. Italy (Nordic Skiing, specifically the men’s 4x10 km relay)
2.  Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (Any Sport)
1.  Peters Cheaters vs. Finn Sisu Vakava (Nordic Skiing)

Peters Cheaters and Finn Sisu Vakava have defined the team competition over the past four seasons of the Minnesota Skinnyski Series.  In 2006, the first year of the Series, Peters Hansen formed the “Cheaters” and collected the trophy, defeating Vakava and team Skinnyski.  In 2007, the coveted trophy changed hands as Vakava struck back to defeat the Cheaters.

During the memorable 2008 season a group of four teams challenged for the trophy, with Müven-Grüven and Hoigaards/Breadsmith making a move for the top, but in the end it seemed as if Vakava would hold onto the ski for another year.  However, at the Minnesota Finlandia, Peters Cheaters struck in force and stunned Vakava to take the trophy back.  This ended with Peter’s now infamous/famous (depending on who you ask) video acceptance speech at the end of year banquet.

And finally in 2009, Finn Sisu Vakava and Peters Cheaters fought to the bitter end with the Cheaters once again ending up on top.  As one member of Vakava noted after the Finlandia, “Those cheaters are just too good at cheating.”  This was followed by another infamous/famous appearance of Peter Hansen at the banquet, where he not only accepted the trophy but also doled out his own “awards”.

This leads us to the 2010 MiSSeries season.  The past four years have seen the team competition gobbled up by two teams, but it is not too late for you to rise up and challenge the hegemony.  Teams are consisted of up to 12 skiers, but that doesn’t mean all 12 skiers score for each race they compete in.  Instead, only the top 3 male AND female skiers of each team score points per race.  These points are determined by your age group placement.  Therefore, it is entirely possible for teams of 3-6 skiers to take on the mighty rivals and add a new twist to the MiSSeries team competition.  

Now the challenge is in your hands.  For too long have the Cheaters and Vakava fought for the glory.  Let us see teams rise up from skiing hotbeds around the state such as Duluth, Mora, St. Cloud, Winona, and Bemidji to challenge the Metro area empire. 

Teams have until Friday, January 22nd to register , and there is no fee to compete. 

The question is: Are you ready to accept the challenge?