Nordic Insights is back, at least enough to send someone to 2027 U.S. Nationals in Cable. Please help us get there.

Nordic Insights staffer Peter Minde will carry the torch for the site’s fifth consecutive year of in-person, on-site reporting from U.S. Nationals. For most of those years, Nordic Insights has been the only news outlet at the venue in person. I can’t say for sure what will happen this January, but it seems more likely than not that we will once again be your only source for substantive long-form reporting from these races. There are certain things you can only learn by showing up, and Peter intends, once more, to show up.

Peter Minde is pushing seventy. He has had two total knee replacements in the last few years. He is still, well, showing up, in all sorts of inclement conditions, because he believes in this sport and wants to support it. I respect this.

I don’t yet know if Peter will drive from his home in Lake Placid to the venue in Cable or if he will fly; there is no elegant solution here. Driving is almost precisely 1,000 miles, one way, involving two international border crossings, while flying forces one to pay obscene sums for routes like Burlington–MSP, then rent a car for a week-plus upon arrival. Rough. I do know that, whatever option is chosen, it will not be a short, easy, or inexpensive journey.

I will lose money on this venture (by paying Peter out of pocket for his articles; the site has no income at present). Peter will lose money on this venture (because travel and gas and food and lodging are not cheap). You can help him lose less money, by donating here. Anything received in this GoFundMe will go toward Peter’s expenses; I will be sitting at a computer in Anchorage editing and posting, which is work, but not extortionate work.

If you are reading this appeal, you probably know someone who will be racing at 2027 U.S. Nationals. You are probably also torn about attending yourself, your regard for your son or daughter or friend or teammate notwithstanding, because the Wisconsin Northwoods are not necessarily the easiest place to get to. Please consider donating a fraction of your travel costs to help offset Peter’s. Thank you for your consideration, and, as always, thank you for reading.