January 23 (Jackson, NH): Team Atomic skiers David Chamberlain (Bethel, ME) and Kate Underwood (Woodstock ,VT) won easily at Sunday’s Banknorth Eastern Cup at Jackson, NH. Chamberlain, en route to the World Nordic Ski Championships in Oberstorf, Germany next week, skied the mass start 20km classic course in 1hr 02:26, over four minutes ahead of Coastal Nordic Ski Club’s Ben Knowles (Cumberland, ME). Second place was a terrific result for Knowles, who was just 10 seconds ahead of 3rd place Alpina/Madhus’ Nick Trautz (Cabot, VT).
Several junior skiers attempted the 20km (12.4mile) distance and surprised many, including themselves, by finishing in the top 10: Kevin Cutts (Putney Ski Club) placed 4th, Rusell Currier (Maine Winter Sports Center)—6th, Shane MacDowell (Burke Mountain Academy) —9th and Sam Marshall (Ford Sayre)-10th
In the Women’s mass start15km race Atomic’s Kate Underwood and Green Mountain Valley School’s Laura Spector took an early lead at the top of the Yodel Trail and never let up. Skiing conservatively, in preparation for next weekend’s Banknorth Craftsbury Marathon, Underwood pulled ahead in the middle of the race to finish just 15 seconds ahead of Spector. Gunstock Nordic’s Katrina Howe (Gilford, NH), Craftsbury Nordic’s Hannah Dreissigacker (Morrisville, VT) and Ford Sayre’s Dorcas Wonsavage (Etna, NH) traded leads through the wind-swept Eagle Mountain House trails until Ford Sayre’s Alice Nelson caught them in the final four kilometers and captured 4th. Last year’s Jackson Jaunt winner, Katrina Howe (Gunstock Nordic), crediting her skis’ kick on the hills, finished a strong third.
Men’s Overall Top 10 Results
Banknorth Eastern Cup 20km Classic