(Rich Landers)
Lou Slak, one of the fastest grandma's in town, has taught many Spokane-area winter goers the basics of cross-country skiing.
Her excellent form in Sunday's Spokane Langlauf says tons about her and the sport.
So does the finish-line rally in the same event at Mount Spokane for 5-year-old Annika Burns says it all (see second photo above).
Cross-country skiing is among the most efficient and ageless ways of enjoying fun and fitness through winter.
Following are links of some of my past Langlauf coverage to help you savor the rich history the even has had in our region's nordic community.
- Enjoy more photos of the 36th annual Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross-country ski race, with 180 finishers, and news about the sibling winners in this story .
- See 2015 Spokane Langlauf story and photos.
- See 2014 stories about Langlauf connections to the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.
- See 2013 Spokane Langlauf photos as Bauers take the podium.
- See 2012 Spokane Langlauf story and photos.
- See 2011 Spokane Langlauf story and photos.
- See collection of Langlauf photos through 2010.
- See 2009 Spokane Langlauf story and photos.
- See 2008 Spokane Langlauf story and photo of 8-year-old Lauren Potyk, who would grow up an become the women's overall winner in 2016.
- See 2007 Spokane Langlauf story and photo of Ben Whitmore, who introduce the tradition of background music for the event.
- See 2006 Spokane Langlauf story.
- Cancelled: See 2005 report that Langlauf was cancelled for lack of snow.
- See 1998 Spokane Langlauf , with 345 finishers and won in record time by Torin Koos, soon-to-be Olympian.
- See historical perspective and a timeline through 1998 on evolution of Spokane Langlauf.
Note: Langlauf organizers got a bit confused on when the race debuted over the years, starting around 1998 when they were saying it was the 20th annual event. While there were two notable races co-organized in the Spokane area in 1998 and 1999 (one at Downriver Golf Course) by current Langlauf director Tim Ray, the Langlauf debuted with that name in 1980. This year, race organizers reset the calendar correctly by calling the 2016 event the 36th annual Spokane Langlauf.
