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Double Trouble on Skis
By: Rachel Iannazzo
 Skijorning is a somewhat unfamiliar winter sport to most people. However, for twins Andrea and Erika Larsen, it has become a part of their favorite sport, Nordic Skiing. Skijorning is a part of the Nordic Skiing family and involves one or more dogs that pull the skier over the snow. In the case of Andrea and Erika Larsen, whether they are at a local golf course or at their cabin, Carmen, their dog, has become a great weekend training partner.
Although they claim to have very different personalities, it is clear that Andrea and Erika Larsen both share the same athletic talent. Andrea and Erika are two very important members of the SLP/STA Nordic Ski team. They were encouraged by friends in cross country running to join the Nordic Ski team when they were in seventh grade, and they have been skiing ever since.
As members of the Nordic Ski team, Andrea and Erika compete in both classic and skate races. Each type of Nordic Skiing involves the ability to transfer one's weight completely from one ski to the next, but skate skiing tends to be faster than classic skiing. Most of the races that the team competes in throughout the season are either classic or skate races. However, bigger competitions often combine the two. Each person on the Nordic Ski team competes in both classic and skate races, but Andrea and Erika agree that skate skiing is more fun.
Andrea and Erika both competed very well throughout the Nordic Skiing season. "The season was really fun this year, and I think Erika and I both improved a lot," described Andrea. They each placed in the top half of nearly every race throughout the season. Andrea was even able to come out in fifth place in a race that consisted of 150 people and was named All- Conference.
The Nordic Skiing season recently ended with sections, which both girls competed very well in. Coach Michael Miller described Andrea and Erika as, "great to have on the team." He went on to say, "not only do they ski fast but they bring a great sense of humor and cheerfulness to the team. Each, of course, in her own way." It is quite obvious that Andrea and Erika support each other completely, and with the helpful training from their dog Carmen, they are already looking forward to next season.
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