February 28 -March means the Maine events for New England’s cross-country skiers. Starting with the TD Banknorth Bill Koch League Ski Festival in Bethel this weekend, and ending with the TAMC International Spring Series in Presque Isle, March 19-26th, Maine will host the best youth, J2, High School skiers and returning 2006 U.S. Winter Olympians this month.

While Bethel Outing Club, Gould Academy and Black Mountain in Rumford are hosting 400 young skiers this weekend, Rangeley, Maine is hosting the TD Banknorth Rangeley Lakes Loppet. The Loppet has moved to its new home at the base of Saddleback Mountain, but still features 25 and 50km events for the ski racer or the ski tourer. Known as the event for the “gliding gourmet”, the Loppet has food stations along the way piled high with homemade fudge, cookies, hot chocolate, soups and rolls at would make even a serious racer slow down as they skied past. This freestyle event begins at 9:30am for the racers, 9:50am for the tourers/non-timed participants. Registration is limited to 500 – visit www.rangeleyxcski.com or call 207/864-4309 for more information.

The following weekend is one of the best events on the entire nordic schedule. The TD Banknorth Eastern J2 Championships is for racers ages 14 and 15. This is their chance to shine as racers, no longer young skiers, as they prepare for the rigors of high school and junior racing. The Chisholm Ski Club at Black Mountain in Rumford will host J2 teams from Maine, NH, VT, MA, CT and NY beginning Friday, March 10th, with the 5km freestyle, wave start. Saturday is the 5km classic and the 1.2km sprints. The overall winners will be determined after Sunday’s 4x2km mixed gender, mixed medley relay. Spectators are welcome, and the new Lodge provides excellent views of the course. Visit www.chisholmskiclub.org for more information.



Then comes the event every High School skiers hopes to qualify for – The TD Banknorth Eastern High School Championships. The Nordic Heritage Center, in Presque Isle, ME will host this event, which features hard-fought competition for the overall title between teams from ME, VT, NH, MA, CT and NY. Friday, March 17th the races start with the 5km freestyle. Saturday the Freestyle sprints are in the morning and a 4x3km mixed gender, mixed technique relay in the afternoon. Last year the title came down to the final race, and Sunday’s race will be the 7.5km classic.

Meanwhile, elite racers from around the country and around the world will be starting to check out the trails. The EHSC are also the beginning of the TAMC International Spring Series, hosted by the Nordic Heritage Ski Club, the Caribou Ski Trails, presented by TD Banknorth and NENSA.

Olympians Kikkan Randall, who had a 9th place finish in the sprints, and Andy Newell, who placed 16th in the Torino Olympic sprints, will be racing this week. March 18th-26th will feature Elite Sprints, (3/18), 10/15k classic (3/19), Team Classic Sprints (3/21), Freestyle sprints (3/23), 5/10km Freestyle (3/25) and the National 30 and 50km classic Championships (3/26). For a complete schedule, visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org.

NENSA will post pre and post event press releases, photos, and results, as well as updated schedules and contact information for each event at www.NENSA.net