After last week’s snowfall, the Nordic Heritage Center has mid-winter conditions in the beginning of spring, just in time for the TAMC International Spring Series and U.S. Cross Country Championships. Many events have been planned to tend to both the elite skiers and to locals for competition.
Some of the best cross country skiers in America and Canada, including several members of the U.S. Olympic Team, will be at the Caribou High School Ski Center on Wednesday night, March 28, to race the Northern Skiers Cash Sprints. This action-packed team sprint is one of three races featured in the TAMC International Spring Series events. The Pursuit and Marathon events will follow on March 30 and April 1 at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle.
For the first time, there will be a County Middle School Sprint on Wednesday immediately preceding the elite Team Sprint on the same course with over 150 middle school skiers expected to participate at 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity for aspiring skiers to compete on the same course and interact with elite skier racers from around North America.
The elite Team Sprints will follow at 5 p.m. and the evening will conclude with a pasta dinner sponsored by the Caribou Rotary Club along with an award ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in the Caribou High School cafeteria. Both events are hosted by the Northern Skiers Club of Caribou and will require many volunteers to put on successfully. First time helpers are welcome and should come to the venue at 3:30pm for a job assignment.
Also, after eight years of tireless dedication to Aroostook County and Maine Winter Sports Center, Max Saenger will be leaving in late April. Please come to the Nordic Heritage Center for a March 30 celebration to honor all that Max has done for the county. The ceremony will occur at noon in the Nordic Heritage Center stadium directly after the TAMC US National Championship Pursuit Race.
Spectators are encouraged to attend the events, with music playing and live play-by-play commentary by Olympic biathlon commentator Chad Salmela. The Caribou Ski Center offers impressive vantage points over most of the 1 kilometer course to watch this fast-paced Team Sprint, in which each skier of the two person-teams will take turns racing two laps with exciting start, tag zone, and finish areas right in front of the fans.
Schedule of events:
Friday, March 30:
9 a.m. – 30km Men’s Pursuit Event; 11 a.m. – 15km Women’s Pursuit Event; noon – Awards and Special Ceremony to honor Max Saenger; 12:30 p.m. – Masters and Junior Event
Sunday, April 1:
9 a.m. – Women’s 30km Marathon; 9:05 a.m. – Junior and Masters Women 20km event; 11 a.m. – Men’s 50km Marathon; 11:05 a.m. – Junior and Masters 25km event; 11:10 a.m. open Citizen 12.5km Ski Race (only $10 entry fee)
For more information about the TAMC International Spring Series events and to follow the top MWSC skiers and biathletes visit: www.mainewsc.org.
