CABLE, Wis. — In near white-out conditions, Rochester native Ian Torchia won the 43-kilometer American Birkiebeiner classic-style ski race in 2 hours, 39 minutes — seven minutes ahead of the competition. “The tracks basically disappeared, and I was following the snowmobile that was videoing me,” he said. “That combined with plowing through five inches of snow, I was saying some prayers out there in that final 45 minutes” Torchia said the victory was an ultimate point in his career. To conquer the Birkie he said he trained nearly 2-1/2 hours a day.
Torchia. Trained 900 hours in past year. Holds a Junior National Championship title. On the Northern Michigan University ski team.