Junior Scandinavian Championship “Scando Cup”; Mammaste, Estonia, Feb 14-27, 2012
The Scando Cup trip is the first exposure to international racing and racing travel for U.S. athletes. Traveling to Scandinavia and putting on a race bib is an eye opening experience. Athletes come back with a new appreciation of the dedication and focus needed to succeed internationally. Coaches attending the trip also gain valuable experience in the trials and tribulations of international racing and coaching. The 2012 J1 Scandinavian Cup Team trip will receive up to $12,000 in support from NNF. This support comes from both individual contributions made to NNF and also from funds contributed from the 10 USSA Junior Olympic divisions. This total support fully funds the volunteer coaches’ expenses while subsidizing overall trip expenses. Athletes are still responsible for approximately $1500 in expenses.
2012 US J1 SCANDINAVIAN CUP TEAM
Women
Nichole Bathe, Fitchburg, WI – Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC)
Heidi Halvorsen, Greenwich, CT – Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS)
Julia Kern, Waltham, MA – Cambridge Sports Union (CSU)
Anika Miller, McCall, ID – Stratton Mountain School (SMS)
Sloan Storey, Ketchum, ID – Sun Valley Ski Educational Foundation (SVSEF)
Teagan Yutrzenka, Anchorage – Alaska Winter Stars (AWS)
Men
Kyle Hanson, Fairbanks, AK – Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
John Hegman, Huntington, VT –Burke Mountain Academy (BMA)
Eli Hoenig, Sudbury, MA – Cambridge Sports Union (CSU)
Adam Martin, Wausau, WI – Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC)
Thomas Rabon, Turner, ME – Burke Mountain Academy
Maxfield Scrimgeour, Steamboat Springs, CO – Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC)
*Patrick Caldwell, Lyme Center, NH – Stratton Mountain School (SMS) qualified but will attend Youth Olympic Games.
Kate Barton, Head Coach of the J1 Trip states, “We are headed to Estonia with a very strong J1 team this year! The athletes excelled against a strong field at US Nationals, and now have a month to continue training at home before we depart for Otepaa, Estonia and our J1 Scandinavia Cup pre-camp. From there we head east to Mammaste to race against the best juniors Scandinavia has to offer. We’re looking forward to a fun trip and some exciting racing! Go USA.”
Support Tomorrow’s Stars Today
This NNF contribution is part of NNF’s record $83,000 investment in Cross-Country Pillar Projects for 2011/2012. The National Nordic Foundation exists to help America’s young, dedicated, and driven Nordic talent realize their, and America’s, long term potential in sport and in life. The biggest hurdle facing American Nordic racers is gaining consistent access to international quality coaching, training, and racing experiences from ages 15 through 25. Providing future generations of U.S. Nordic athletes earned access to a progression of high-quality international competitions, their life enriching lessons, represents this nation’s greatest Nordic development opportunity and funding need. The National Nordic Foundation and its Pillar Projects exist to fulfill this need. Please donate to the National Nordic Foundation and support tomorrow’s stars today as their quest for athletic accomplishment on the trails prepares them to achieve their potential in life while inspiring others to do the same. Please Donate $25 or $2500 Here Now!