December 27, 2005 – The Dartmouth XC Ski Touring Center at Occum Pond was the center of one of the largest women’s only cross-country ski clinics in the country, last Saturday. As the sun shone, the snow softened and over 200 women came to take part in the 4th Annual New England Women’s XC Ski Day, sponsored by Banknorth. A cross-country event “for women, by women”, it was inspired by similar events in Norway (the Inga Lama) and Alaska (the Anchorage Women’s Ski Day).

The list of instructors read like a history book, and included former Dartmouth Women’s XC Ski Coach, Martha Rockwell, 4time Olympian and Dartmouth skier, Nina Kemppel, Ford Sayre’s 3x Olympian, Dorcas Wonsavage, Sally Swenson -mom to Dartmouth’s 2x Olympian, Carl Swenson, and Lyme’s Margaret Caldwell, wife of Olympian Tim Caldwell.

Event organizers Trina Hosmer, a member of the United States’ first women’s Olympic XC Ski Team in 1972, and Anne Donaghy, of Meriden, NH, started these clinics to share their love of the sport with other women, and particularly, as Hosmer states” To teach women the joy of gliding that lies just beyond the plodding walk usually taught to new skiers.”

The instructors provided three clinic periods through the day, with clinics ranging from Never-Ever classic or skate technique, Beginner skate or classic, and Intermediate Uphill/Downhill classic or skate. Lunch was sponsored by the Hanover Inn, and other local sponsors responsible for the shuttles and facilities included the Dartmouth XC Ski Center, Ford Sayre, Lead Dog Consulting and Peggy Sadler and Paul Gross of Designer Gold.

New England Nordic Ski Association Media Director and Women’s Day Instructor, Dorcas Wonsavage said before the event: “We need to show more women, mothers and professionals especially, who are strapped for time and energy as it is, that cross-country skiing is a beautiful, graceful outdoor sport, and a lifetime fitness activity they can share with their friends and their daughters.”

Every year New England Women’s Ski Day raises money for a local women’s charity and this year they are supporting WISE, Women’s Information Service, an Upper Valley United Way member (www.wiseoftheuppervalley.org).

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