The 7th Annual New England Women's XC Ski Day, sponsored by TD Banknorth is a cross country event “for women, by women,” inspired by similar events in Norway (the Inga Lama) and Alaska (the Anchorage Women's Ski Day). Every woman interested in learning or improving her time on cross country skis is welcome to participate. Women are also encouraged to make it a weekend and stay at the Mountain Top Inn & Resort, or the close-by Vermont Inn and Best Western Inn in the Killington area, while enjoying Mountain Top's miles of ski touring and snowshoe trails, horse-drawn sleigh rides, or ice skating. Plus it's a quick jaunt over to Killington for alpine skiing, restaurants and night life!
Event organizers Trina Hosmer, of Stowe, VT, and Anne Donaghy, of Meriden, NH, started these clinics to share their love of the sport with other women. “To teach women the joy of gliding that lies just beyond the plodding walk usually taught to new skiers” said Trina Hosmer, a member of the United States' first women's Olympic XC Ski Team in 1972. They are both very excited about holding Women's Ski Day at Mountain. Top Inn.
“Mountain Top is a beautiful location with well groomed, easy terrain just outside the door of the resort. Their staff has been exceptional to work with. We can't wait to ski their trails. And they have the perfect facility for our extended lunch hour with speakers and raffle, which is such a big part of our event,” Donaghy added. Lunch at Mountain Top Inn is included in the registration cost. Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, an avid and accomplished cross-country skier, will be the featured guest speaker at lunch and will be helping to conduct the raffle drawing
The instructors provide three clinic periods through the day, ranging from Beginner classic or skate technique, Intermediate classic or skate and Uphill/Downhill classic or skate. The instructors (all women) include former Olympic, National team, and collegiate skiers who know how to make skiing fun. An optional, fun 1KM relay takes place in the afternoon with prizes for sister-sister, mother-daughter, relative-relative, friend-friend and oldster (minimum combined age 100) divisions.
Every year New England Women's Ski Day raises money for a local women's charity. This year the event will support the Rutland County Women's Network and Shelter, a non-profit, community-based organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual violence in Rutland County.
For more information and to register online, go to www.nensa.net or mail to: Event Directors, P.O. Box 104, Meriden, New Hampshire 03770. Cost is $20 for NENSA members and $25 for non-NENSA members before Jan. 27, 2008. Registration is limited to 200 participants.
Source: www.nensa.net
