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Expert Advice
Since the doors opened in 1978, Finnsisu has developed
an expert staff unmatched in the industry. Our staff
can help you find exactly the right equipment and
fit to match your needs from international competitor
to weekend tourer.
Over the years we've worked with Nordic skiers, coaches,
clubs and schools at all levels of competition from
around the country.
Finnsisu has provided the ski community with coaching,
coaches education, product selection, stonegrinding,
waxing, race course design, race event promotion,
product development, as well as being goodwill ambassadors
of cross-country skiing throughout the midwest.
Finnsisu also runs one of the largest Masters cross-country
ski training programs in the country. Sisu Skiers,
with well over 100 participants, range from nationally
recognized masters skiers to those simply seeking
the enjoyment of the sport.
Expert Staff
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Ahvo Taipale - Owner
- Finnish born native
- Started Finn Sisu in 1978
- Member of the Finnish Ski Coaching Association
- As coach lead the University of Minnesota
women's team to two national titles
- Numerous age class wins, including races
such as Vasaloppet and Kortelopet
- Coaches the Sisu Skiers training group
- Started Team Birkie with Steve Gaskill
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Armen Hitzemann
- Started in the ski business in 1982
- 20 American Birkebeiner finishes
- Leads St. Paul Circuit Training Group
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Tom Novak
- Started in the ski business in 1971
- Ski tuning since 1975
- In 1980 began work in the cross-country
ski business
- With Finn Sisu since 1992
- 25+ years cross-country skiing ("middle pack"
racer, retired. Current "fitness" skier)
- Expert stonegrinder
and tuner
- Sisu Skier
- Plays hockey
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Devin Arenz
- Started skiing from the time he could walk
- Likes Peltonen... a lot
- Builds and races canoes
- Won the Mora Vasaloppet in 2007
- Great all-around guy
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Aaron Smith
- Started skiing in 1998
- Started at Finn Sisu seasonally in 2003
- Maintains and updates the website and online store
- Studies prosthetics and orthotics at Century College
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Tony West
- Student Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
- Started skiing in High School
- Started working at FinnSisu in 2007
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Emily Tobin
- Skied since 1992
- Employed at FinnSisu seasonally, since 2005
- Studying Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota
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Nichole Porath
- Soft goods buyer at FinnSisu since 2005
- Began skiing in 2006, Sisu Skier for 2 years
- Top 10 finish in the 2007 Mora Vasaloppet, finished 137th in the 2008 Birkie
- Competes with the Run 'n' Fun race team
- MBA candidate at the U of M Carlson School of Management
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Fred Kueffer
- Regularly leads the Monday night wax clinic at FinnSisu
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