News Release
Anchorage Trail System Puts Top U.S. Athletes on Fast Track : Anchorage’s Kincaid Park Gears Up to Host the 2008 USSA Junior Olympics Cross Country Ski Championships
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Mar. 7, 2008– The best young cross country skiers in the land will traverse one of the hottest trail systems in the nation during the 2008 USSA Junior Olympics Cross Country Ski Championships, March 9 – 15, 2008, in Anchorage, Alaska.
“Many of these athletes will go on to be Olympic-caliber competitors,” says Diane Moxness, executive director of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA). “It is an honor to host a race like the Junior Olympics. We’re expecting a solid week of fantastic races.”
More than 400 athletes and 94 coaches will participate in the 2008 Junior Olympics at Kincaid Park. Locally, 52 Alaskans will compete in the races, attended to by 14 coaches.
“We have so many great clubs that get our Alaska kids off to a phenomenal start,” says Moxness. “Programs like Alaska Winter Stars, APU Nordic, Alaska Nordic Racing, Fairbanks AK Ski Team (FAST) and Fairbank X-Country allow young cross-country skiers to hone their skills to take the sport to this national level of competition.”
More than 350 young athletes from the Lower 48 will compete from regions across the country including New England, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, California and the Rocky Mountains.
The 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships begin on Sunday, Mar. 9, 2008, with the Parade of Athletes and Opening Ceremonies. Racing begins at 10 a.m. AST on Mar.10, 2008 with the Classic Sprint Qualifying Rounds.
For detailed event and race schedule visit www.2008JuniorOlympics.org.
About Anchorage’s Kincaid Park
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 Moxness. “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 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
