February 27 – Over 350 young cross-country skiers were registered for the annual TD Banknorth Bill Koch League Ski Festival before the snow fell, insuring that the event will be one of the biggest celebrations of winter fun on and off skis for kids ages 4-13.
The town of Bethel, Maine, and Gould Academy, with support from Black Mountain in Rumford, have prepared a weekend full of exciting, ski, snow, and Maine-related events. Beginning on Friday, March 3rd, the race courses behind the Bethel Inn will be open for preview – many of the children from the 13 districts in New England are excited to race with fellow skiers in their 2-year age groups, from Lollipoppers (ages 4-7), J5 (8-9), J4 (10-11), to J3/8th grade (12-13).
The Festival begins with Opening Ceremonies and a Parade, on Saturday morning. The theme for the Festival is “Maine Woods and Wildlifeâ€, so kids will march in dressed as bunnies, moose, loggers or skiers. While the Lollipop races and the classic relay races continue throughout the day, non-competitive skiers can take part in a mini-marathon ski tour of the Gould Academy trails, or play at the Fun Park – a terrain park for cross-country skiing, with gates, bars, bumps, bells and flags.
The hungry skiers will gather for a spaghetti dinner at the Academy’s dining hall, complete with entertainment from “Under the Song Tree†a trio voted best “Folk Artist of the Year” by Jam Music Magazine for 2002, a slide show, and the graduation ceremony for all 13 year old J3s who will be skiing as J2s next year.
Sunday’s events include ski orienteering, the Freestyle individual races, and a skiathalom – a course that includes slalom and ski jumps – dog-sled demonstrations, and the Fun Park, plus “trolling for Trollsâ€, a surprise for the participants that has yet to be explained!
A celebration of winter and cross-country skiing, the Bill Koch Festival has always been a wonderful chance for kids to make new ski friends, ski in new places, try new events, and solidify their love of the sport.
For a complete schedule, visit the TD Banknorth Bill Koch Festival website, at
http://www.billkochfestival.org/2006