March 19, 2004: The Heat is on, but so is the Spring Series!
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March 27 – April 4: Colorado International Spring Series
The tour de France of cross-country skiing coming to Colorado
The Colorado International Spring Series is a little more than one week
away, and despite a heat wave of epic proportions, things are shaping up for
an incredible week of racing and socializing with some of the world's best
cross country skiers. Our primary venues are definitely feeling the
pressure, but race director Nathan Schultz skied the courses and backup
sites today and says that the CISS is 100% definite.
Schultz reports: “overall the snow cover is still good, but a few exposed
spots and forecasted warm temperatures will cause us to re-route several of
our primary courses. The first backup site still has over three feet of
snow and will provide two great courses for us if we have to go there. Our
secondary backup sites at two different alpine areas are unlikely to come
into play, even if the heat continues for the next two weeks, but they will
be there if we need them.”
On-line registration is available at www.springseries.com, as is a complete
schedule of events. This event is not just for the pros! Juniors and
recreational skiers racing in the citizen category will be at the starting
line too, with merchandise prizes for citizens and juniors classes valued at
over $15,000!
Races are scheduled from March 27 – April 4 at Devil's Thumb, Snow Mountain
Ranch, Sol Vista and Mary Jane ski areas. In addition to the individual
days of competition, there will be three exciting overall competitions based
on cumulative time, sprint points and climbing points.
The opportunity to finish off the season in Colorado's sun and compete for
$15,500 in cash prizes has drawn one of the best elite cross country ski
racing fields to American soil since the 2002 Olympics!
2002 Olympic Gold Medalist Claudia Kuenzel will be joined by her German
teammates Jens Filbrich (ranked 6th in the world), sprinter Dirk Klessen,
Rene Reisshauer and Antje Maempel. Norway will be represented by Joergen
Aukland, winner of the 2003 Worldloppet, Unni Odegard, Fredrik Aukland, and
Anders Hallingstad; Russia by Ivan Babikov. After a strong showing on the
World Cup, the Canadian men's team will be challenging the US Team for North
American bragging rights.
We have a great schedule of races and social events, so we hope you'll join
us!
For more information see www.springseries.com, contact race director Nathan
Schultz at (303) 413-0562 or Sharon Cutler at 303-499-5058.
Please pass this along to skiers and spectators; this is a great event for
Colorado and US Skiing!
