Kid sister at Blake saves family's best downhill act for last

Four siblings and 23 previous state meet appearances in the rear-view mirror and finally, the Ide family of Blake can claim a state champion.

Senior Nellie Ide, the last of three sisters and one brother to have competed at the Alpine skiing state meet, skied perhaps the best two runs of her high school career on Wednesday to win the girls' individual title in a combined time of 1:13.63. Her time was faster than the boys' winner as well.

Ide said the twin runs at Giants Ridge Ski Area in Biwabik, named Innsbruck and Helsinki, fit her style perfectly.

"I feeling confident and focused on having fun," Ide said. "The course was perfect both times. It was like my ideal course. I could just ski quickly and go for it."

Ide's older siblings — Maisie, Tessa and Roscoe — had all competed in the state meet in the past. Maisie was favored to win in 2011 but a spectacular fall in the first run ended her hopes.

"We've had Ides come through her for a super-long time," Nellie said. "It feels good to end it on a strong note as the last Ide coming through. They were saying 'Leave a good legacy for the Ides.' "

Orono senior Rosie Hust became the meet's hard-luck kid, finishing second for the third consecutive year.

"It gets a little bitterer every year," Hust said. "At least it was to my best friend."

Hust and Ide often room together when traveling to national meets.

"This year, we've spent 100 percent of the time together," Ide said.

"I've spent more nights sleeping in the same bed as Nellie than in my own bed," Hust said with a grin. "We travel a lot together."

In the post-meet interviews Wednesday, Ide was asked if winning the meet means she gets more than friendly bragging rights.

Chisago Lakes won the girls' team championship with 152 team points, just ahead of runner-up Lakeville North at 143 points. Senior Elizabeth Frischmon led the Wildcats with a fourth-place finish overall (1:16.94).