Caribou prepares for annual youth ski festival

    On Saturday, March 14, Maine Winter Sports Center will head to the Caribou Ski Trails, the site of the 2009 Aroostook Youth Ski Festival.     Supported by the Northern Skiers Club, this annual event is for youth ages 5-13 and includes a variety of activities.
    Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the snow dash will start things off at 9:40 a.m. Additional events include cross-country barrel sprints and jump turns, a scavenger hunt and radar gun/speed skiing.
    Because the festival invites such a wide age range, children and youth will be grouped accordingly. With registration only $12 and lunch provided, Aroostook Youth Ski Festival promises to be a worthwhile event, focusing on helping Aroostook County youth improve their skills on skis and overall fitness levels.
    “It’s an opportunity to get kids together outside doing some really fun things, but without the pressure of competition,” said Eileen Carey of MWSC. “It’s about having fun.” Carey is anticipating a significant turnout, as past festivals have seen as many as 300 youth attend.
    Mark Shea is heading up the event and is hopeful at all of the pre-registration that has already occurred. With the event less than a week away, he is looking forward to more youth from the St. John Valley, as many Aroostook County youth have already signed up.
    For more information, visit www.youthskifest.org, or contact Mark Shea at 227-7465.