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News Release

Trail System Puts Top U.S. Athletes on Fast Track: Anchorage’s Kincaid Park Gears Up to Host the 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Dec. 12, 2007– The best young cross country skiers in the land will traverse one of the hottest trail systems in the nation during the 2008 USSA Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships, March 9 – 15, 2008, in Anchorage, Alaska, thanks to major improvements at Kincaid Park.

“The venue upgrades at Kincaid Park are magnificent,” says Luke Bodensteiner, nordic director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). “The new sprint course at Kincaid will become one of the best we have in the nation.”

Kincaid Park, one of Anchorage’s major outdoor recreation centers, hosts more than a million visitors a year according to the Anchorage Parks & Recreation Department. The area contains more than 1,500 acres of forest boasting more than 50km of trails. Although the park serves both winter and summer outdoors enthusiasts, it is best known for the world-class nordic skiing and biathlon facilities that have hosted national and international events.

More than $6 million has been spent by public and private organizations to ready the park for the upcoming 2008 ski season.

“Anchorage is a winter city,” says Diane Moxness, executive director of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA). “Being able to host this competition highlights an ongoing commitment by the city and private sector to our young winter athletes and winter recreation.”

The Kincaid Project Group also completed work on a new biathlon range, one of the finest in the country. This month, NSAA Biathlon Committee will host the 2008 World Junior Biathlon Team Trials on the new range.

Upgrades to Kincaid Park include:

Raspberry Road Upgrade – City-funded road safety improvements include lighting, crosswalks, paved bicycle lanes and new signage.

Elliott’s Climb – Widened and extended to the race start area. The new configuration will reduce bottlenecks in early stages of races. Excess fill from the city road project was used to minimize impact.

Sprint Loop – A new trail north of the stadium parking lot is spectator-friendly and visible from the stadium.

Nordic Play Hill – Alders and brush were removed to create a safe, user-friendly, “learn-to-ski” environment.

Spectator Bridge –The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) installed a walking bridge from the parking lot to the spectator ridge. This area provides a great viewing platform for events, improving access to the stadium.

Lekisch Tunnel – The approach ramps up and over the tunnel were widened to create an exciting race profile. The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.

Media Contacts:

Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax

Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net

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