Up North: Local fable inspires Northlanders to Ski in Jeans

‘There was a young man, who skied in blue jeans. His true zest was found, twin carving snow scenes. The name was Lars Svenski, and from Lutsen he hailed. A coffee barista by trade when not shredding the trails.’

That was the opening stanza of a tale located in the pages of a book titled, Fables of the North Shore.

Where two local artists from Tin Cup Designs teamed up and wrote some allegories for the Northland. With one such tale titled ‘The Wizard in Denim’. A story voicing how it is better to ski in jeans than not ski at all.
“It was part of an exhibit that we had at Fika Coffee up in Lutsen. Each of these five fables are highlighting treasures and life of the North Shore as well as different seasonal greatness,” said creators Natalie Salminen Rude and Jordan Sundberg.

“The Fables of the North Shore project really was begun at Fika Coffee. Joshua Lindstrom asked Jordan and I if we wanted to do a collaboration. So it was really his generosity that kind of jumpstarted the whole project,” added Salminen Rude and Sundberg.

The short story spurred an event this past Saturday dubbed “Ski in Jeans” at Mont Du Lac. Where organizers encouraging people to deck out in denim and hit the powder.

“Why not come and celebrate that spirit of getting outside no matter what and have a little fun having the freedom and casual joy of skiing in jeans. We are just so delighted, we knew that people from the community would show up because joy is the medicine for our times,” concluded Salminen Rude and Sundberg.