Meet the DXC Board of Directors
Jake Morgan
President
I got into cross country skiing after growing up a downhill racer and freestyle skier in Montana, then switching to cross country because my brother was involved with it. I raced at St. Scholastica in college, and then coached full time for four years in the Twin Cities. My wife and I moved back to Duluth in 2020 and I joined the DXC board to continue to be involved in the skiing world and to reconnect with the Duluth ski community. In my real life job, I work for the Duluth Housing Authority. I also volunteer as a wax tech/coach for the Scholastica ski team during the winter.
Nick Lansing
Treasurer
I only moved to Duluth in 1995 so still can’t call myself a Duluthian. A lifelong runner, nordic skiing was a boring, silly endeavor. My central Wisconsin hometown was flatter than Kansas. Our family always skied together which meant swishing around flat pine barrens as fast as my slowest siblings and non-athlete parents. Fast forward a few decades when a torn meniscus sentenced me to a lifetime of “low-impact activities.” Once I finished sulking, I got a cheap pair of skis and realized skiing isn’t boring when you have: A – real terrain; B – deep snow; C – no little brothers
When I’m not skijoring with Heidi the Wonder Hound, you’ll find me selling ads offering underwriting sponsorship opportunities for Minnesota Public Radio. Other activities include hiking, dog-walking, mountain biking, listening to the Twins choke in the late innings, and sitting in the forest wondering where the deer, grouse and turkeys went.
Favorite Local Trail: Backwoods Biathlon- Skijoring at Boulder Lake followed by target practice at the nearby United Sportsmen range.
Kate Meisner
Trails; Programming
I learned how to skate ski while living in Alaska years ago, and have now lived in the Duluth area for 10 years and embraced the XC ski culture here. Since then I have also learned how to classic ski, which I absolutely love, and have become obsessive about wax. I am passionate about spreading the fun of skiing to all types of people.
In my free time I like to run, hike, go on impromptu ski-adventures, and serve as a volunteer coach for the Cloquet/Esko/Carlton Nordic team. I am an Academic Advisor at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, where I hope that one day they will have a ski team!
Waylon Munch
Membership; Trails
I stumbled into a local ski swap a few years ago with no clue what I was doing and no plans other than to start exploring the wealth of ski trails in the area. I've since found my way to over 100 different trail systems in the midwest and am excited to share my love of ski trails with the community. When I'm not skiing or obsessing over the skinnyski map, you can find me at the back of the pack in the mountain bike scene and working my day job in the energy conservation field.
Mark Wallis
Ski Sparks
I started skiing in the woods near my house on wooden skis. I’ve since transitioned to “plastic” skis and groomed trails, and have even done some races (Mora & Birkie), but I still love the peace of simply being out in the woods on snow. I get nostalgic at the smell of pine tar.
I’ve served on the DXC Board on the Trails Committee and am currently helping with the DXC SkiSparks program. It is enjoyable and rewarding to help teach children the joy of skiing.
Erik Julsrud
Secretary
Hi, my name is Erik Julsrud. I serve as the secretary for the DXC and lead the oversight of the Lester Amity Chalet. I am on my bonus year of my first term with the DXC. I would classify myself as an enthusiastic recreational skier. (I love everything skiing!) A couple skiing highlights for me have been skiing all the cross-country ski trails of Duluth in a year, completing 26 Birkebeiner (exhausted), being a 2014 Birkie warrior (with my wife and best friend), and organizing a kids vs. snow skiing group. I look forward to meeting you out on one Duluth’s fantastic ski trails.
Sara Hendrickson
Grant Writing
Greetings! My name is Sara Hendrickson and this is my second year serving on the DXC Board.
I enjoy all things outdoors! I am an avid Nordic and downhill skier in the winter and love
canoeing, backpacking, climbing and camping in the summer! That is why I love living in
Duluth!!! I have been on skis since a very young age but really started to get into Nordic skiing
as an adult. There are so many fantastic opportunities and trails in Duluth to ski! I have skied 6
Kortelopets and have loved all of them! My family also enjoys Nordic skiing! Currently my
daughter is on her high school ski team and can’t wait for the first snowfall, my son is on his
college’s ski club team, and you can find my husband on the ski trails pretty much every
evening in the winter!
Dan Maki
Capital Campaign
I took up skiing again after returning to Duluth with my family in 2015 as a way to stay active during the winter. I love skiing as it can be enjoyed by people of all ages & abilities, is a great family activity, and our area has many trails to explore. I joined the DXC Board in 2018 and in my professional life, I'm a financial advisor with Ascential Wealth Advisors.
Eric Chandler
Communications
My parents put me on skis when I was about 2 years old and I bashed around the back yard. I raced on XC skis in high school and college. I finished my 18th Birkie this year. I was a KidSki coach off and on over the years and my kids ended up both racing for East, where I tried to screw up their skis as a wax crew volunteer. My life has been enriched by the outdoors, especially by XC skiing, and that's why I like serving on the DXC Board. This is my second time on the Board. The first was as a founding Board member from 2004-6. When I'm not blaming my ski wax for my slow speed, I'm making America mad 150 people at a time as an airline pilot.
Jonathan Rova
Programming
Jonathan Rova has been a part of the Duluth ski community for a while if his first stint in the city is included. Although a south Minneapolis kid he last moved here with his family from up the shore in Grand Marais. He has skied from birth and participated in a bunch of races from the historic Chester Park to the historic Vasaloppet. (They were racing in Chester before the first Vasaloppet). Outside of his efforts in our ski community he does pastoral work, writes theologically and most importantly supports his family. Unafraid to wear tights in cold weather or questionable situations you might see him skiing around or waxing prophetic.