Nordic Skiing

Head Coach

David Beeksma, MA
David Beeksma is in his second year as the Men's and Women's Nordic Ski Team head coach.  Coach Beeksma has also been the head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach for the past three seasons.  He was an All-Conference Nordic Skier in high school.  Coach Beeksma attended North Dakota State University where he participated in Men's Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track.

Coach Beeksma holds Master's Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Clinical Psychology and is completing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.  He lives in Ashland with his wife,Kathy and four children, Jenny (17), Rebecca (14), Nathan (10), and Amanda (9).

Assistant Coach:

    Blaise Sopiwnik
Coach Sopiwnik brings a great combination of enthusiasm and experience to the coaching staff. He was a multiple state championship competitor for Frederic High School, Wisconsin, in both Cross Country and Track. He competed in Cross Country and Track for one year at Augustana College in Sioux Fall, South Dakota. He then transferred to Northland College and was a member of the Cross Country team for the next three years. Coach Sopiwnik is a two time UMAC champion for the LumberJacks. He graduated from Northland in 2003 with a degree in Environmental Studies .  Along with distance running, Coach Sopiwnik is an avid nordic skier.

Coach Sopiwnik currently works for Edmunds and Company restoring log cabins and spends his free time fly fishing, sailing, and eating Italian food. He lives outside of the town of Washburn and enjoys long runs in the Chequamegon National forest.