December 2, 2003 – The National Cross-Country Ski Education Foundation (NCCSEF) recently announced that it had reached its fundraising goal of $10,000 US to save the 2004, J1 Scandinavian Cup Team. The trip faced cancellation if the funds were not raised by December 1. The NCCSEF also announced that there is an additional $9,000 US pledged to support the 2005 & 2006 teams. Fundraising is ongoing and contributions are welcome.

The fund drive received a boost from a $5,000 US donation from a California skier last month and the goal was reached thanks to commitments from the Connecticut based Larsen Fund and numerous private donors. The donors included J1 Scandinavian Trip Alumni, who contributed nearly $2,000 US.

“We are thrilled the NCCSEF was able to raise the funds to continue to put our best young athletes into competition in Europe,” said U.S. Ski Team Development coach Chris Grover. NCCSEF President Reid Lutter said “We see this trip as a vital first step on the international development pipeline that would have been lost this year without our donorsí generosity.”

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association will continue to provide logistical support and competition uniforms for the J1 Scandinavian Cup Trip. Podiumwear custom sports apparel has signed on to provide commemorative jackets for athletes receiving NCCSEF support during this competition.

The J1 Scandinavian Cup Team will be named at the conclusion of the tryout races at Chevy Trucks U.S. Senior Nationals in Rumford, ME on January 8th. Gunnisonís Jeff Banks and Sun Valleyís Pat Casey will coach the team.

The National Cross-Country Ski Education Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for U.S. cross-country skiing development programs. Over the past five years over $50,000 US has been granted to U.S. development programs from the NCCSEF Future Fund. In addition to the $10,000 raised for the J1 Scandinavian Cup Team the NCCSEF will grant $15,000 to other U.S. Development programs this year.

For more information or to make a contribution contact Reid Lutter at the <www.nccsef.org/”>http://www.nccsef.org>www.nccsef.org www.ussa.org <Leave a Reply

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