With highs below zero, even state's skiers will be challenged mightily

John Gaps III, Des Moines Register vis AP

Snow flies from spinning wheels as Kelly Bittner tries to back her buried car off the median in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday. Pushing on the back is her stepfather Kevin Heinzeroth.

NWS forecaster: "It's going to be some of the most brutal temperatures ... of the season."

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

Last update: January 17, 2008 - 11:54 PM

This weekend's blast of Arctic air will separate the Minnesota meek from the Minnesota mighty.

As the Alberta clipper sweeps south from Canada, carrying 15 mph to 20 mph winds (and gusts of up to 35 mph) temperatures in the Twin Cities tonight could fall to about 15 below and windchills could hit 30 below. Up North, temperatures readings of 24 below are expected and windchills could reach a face-frosting 60 below.

By Saturday, the high temperature in most parts of the state won't even crack 0.

In Duluth, temperatures will creep up to a high reading of minus 11, but a 15 mph wind will make it feel like 50-below.

"It's going to be some of the most brutal temperatures, combined with the wind, of the season," said Byron Paulson, National Weather Service forecaster.

Those conditions have put the 24th annual Pepsi Challege Cup Race, featuring a 48-kilometer Nordic ski race at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, on ice. "It's the first time in 24 years that the race had to be cancelled," said John Filander, winter sports director.

About 700 participants were expected for the five Pepsi Challenge citizen races. Although the racers build up a some heat, the volunteers who work the aid stations and the finish line would have been out in the cold for four to five hours.

"The only people who would have been warm would have been the people who work inside the timing building and the ones who make the pea soup for the finishers,'' said Deb Maki, race coordinator.

But the high school alpine race is still a go for Saturday at Giants Ridge. "The skiers are only on the hill for 45 to 50 seconds,'' Filander said. "But we're advising that the kids don't strip down to their lycra (racing suits). They should race in their warm-ups."

Giants Ridge will close its ski runs at 4:30 p.m. instead of its regular 8 p.m. closing time on Friday and Saturday.

In St. Cloud, the Greystone Challenge Nordic high school ski meet also has been cancelled for Saturday.

But in the Twin Cities area, Buck Hill in Burnsville and Welch Village Resort in Welch will be open for business as usual despite the arctic plunge.

At Buck Hill, Don McClure shrugged off the frigid temps. "By Minnesota standards, it will be cool but not bitter,'' he said. "One bright spot is that our sales for face masks and goggles will go way up.''

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788