ELI ENMAN TAKES FIRST PLACE IN TD BANKNORTH GREAT GLEN TO BRETTON WOODS 50K NORDIC ADVENTURE
BRETTON WOODS, NH, Mar. 4, 2007 — Eli Enman of Huntington, Vermont skied to victory at the sixth annual TD Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure on Sunday, March 4. A 50 km and 25 km classical ski event, the course rounds the northern half of 6, 288 ft. Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. The winning time was 3 hours, 12 minutes and 5.43 seconds. Enman also placed first in the 2005 event and skis for Rossignol. This year’s field had 262 skiers participating. “We realized we had to break trail early, so no one was going to break away early. The battle really heated up on Jefferson Notch,†Enman said. Rounding out the top spots were second place finisher Justin Freeman, 2006 Olympic team member, of New Hampton, NH with a time of 3 hours, 13 minute 18.6 seconds, and placing third was David Herr, of Canaan, VT, with a time of 3 hours, 14 minutes, 17.21 seconds.
In the women’s division, Kathy Maddock, of Wilton, NH, finished first with a time of 3 hours, 25 minutes, 33.11 seconds. She placed second in the 2005 event. Finishing second was Martina Stursova, of Albuquerque, NM in 3 hours, 27 minutes, 34.88 seconds, and Lindley Van Der Linde, of Plymouth, NH took third place in 3 hours 31 minutes 35.05 seconds. Lindley won the 2007 White Mountain 30K and the 2007 Craftsbury Marathon.
In the 25 km option, Will Anderson of Norwich, VT took top honors with a time of 1 hour 35 minutes, 52 seconds. Finishing second in the men’s division was Tristan Baldwin with a time of 1 hour 35 minutes, 55 seconds. Tristan took second place in the 25K in 2005 as well. Chris City, of Belmont, MA took third in 1 hour 37 minutes, 23 seconds. First place in the women’s division went to Hanna Lucy of Intervale NH, finishing in 1 hour 55 minutes and 54 seconds.
Krietta Phillips, of Waitsfield, VT finished second in 1 hour 59 minutes and 35 seconds and Tiffany Teaford of Holderness, NH placed third with a time of 2 hours 2 minutes and 29 seconds.
A point-to-point event similar in format to the Canadian Ski Marathon or Birkebeiner of Wisconsin, the TD Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure began with a mass start at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch, NH. The course utilized the trails of the Great Glen and Bretton Woods Nordic Centers, a narrow connector trail into the White Mountain National Forest, trails of the U.S. Forest Service Dolly Copp system, forest roads not plowed during winter, and part of the Presidential Range Rail Trail. The use of the trails was made possible by working in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, the NH Department of Transportation, the NH Bureau of Trails, NH Fish & Game, and the local snowmobile clubs.
The greatest climb of the event took skiers to the top of Jefferson Notch, a 1600 foot climb to an elevation of 3000 feet. A long descent took the participants to the final kilometers on the Bretton Woods Nordic system, at the western base of Mt. Washington. An awards party with refreshments was provided for those participating in the Nordic Adventure. Bart Race Sevices provided timing.
From the panoramic views of the Northern Presidential Mountain Range on the Great Glen side to the grand Mount Washington Hotel coming into view as adventurers skied out of the wooded trails and crossed finish line adjacent to Bretton Woods’ Nordic Center, the course traveled through some of New Hampshire’s most scenic terrain. Both Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center and the Bretton Woods Nordic Area are part of historic New Hampshire properties. Great Glen Trails is the partner company of the 146-year-old Mt. Washington Auto Road. The 8-mile road to the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak, 6, 288 ft, Mt. Washington is America’s oldest manmade attraction. Bretton Woods is on the grounds of the Mount Washington Hotel, one of the last of the region’s grand hotels of the past. This National Historic Landmark opened in 1902 and was the most luxurious hotel of its day.
The change of terrain accompanied by potential extreme weather variations on the journey from Great Glen Trails to Bretton Woods can involve dramatic changes in temperature, wind, and conditions lending an element of the unknown to the challenge. Event Director Sue Wemyss, a 1984 Nordic Ski Olympian, said, “We are thrilled that so many people returned to our event this year after the unfortunate cancellation of last year. It was another great day for our unique event.â€
As with every year of the Nordic Adventure, conditions were in question right up to the last minute of the race. Thanks so abundant new snow, conditions proved to be favorable with intermittent snow showers and relatively warm temperatures in the high 20s.
The title sponsor for the event was TD Banknorth. Other sponsors included LL Bean, Swix, Atomic, Rossignol, Salomon, Cross Country Skier, The Master Skier, American Cross Country Skiers, Powerade, Dasani, Hammer Nutrition, Maxiglide, Nature Valley and SportHill.
Peak Organic Brewery and Southern Wine and Sprits provided refreshments for the awards ceremony. Sysco Foods provided food for the awards ceremony and aid stations.
This is the 13th of fourteen events in the nationwide American Ski Marathon Series. Other events include the American Birkebeiner.
For one minute of edited b-roll in broadcast quality MPEG2, go to whitemountianvideo.com/gg2bw.com
Final results, photos, and information are available at the event website www.GreatGlentoBrettonWoods.com
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is located on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. For more information about them visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com Bretton Woods Nordic Ski Area is on Rt. 302 in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Their website is www.mtwashington.com
