March 8, 2005 – Six Team Rossignol athletes did what few athletes would ever consider attempting. Traveling to Rangeley, ME this past weekend Team Rossignol racers were part of a an ambitious group of skiers who were to attempt the first race of the prestigious “Double Challenge” Banknorth Series. The two ski marathons kicked off with The Banknorth Rangeley Loppet 44 kilometer skate ski event.

The race was underway on Saturday morning followed by the Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods 50 kilometer Adventure event on Sunday. Only the heartiest of competitors attempted this distinctive challenge of combining two long distance ski marathons in one weekend. Blue skies and crisp cool temperatures in the single digits greeted skiers from throughout the U.S. in the Rangeley Loppet event. Leading hard out of the start, Eli Enman who skis for Team Rossignol teamed up with Colin Rodgers and Brayton Osgood of the Maine Winter Sports Center to create an insurmountable lead over the other 450 competitors. With one kilometer to the finish, Enman made a surge to take the win in 2:04.59 over Osgood and Rodgers in 2nd and 3rd place. JoAnn Hanowski of Duluth, MN who also skis for Team Rossignol placed first for the women in a time of 2:32.23 and led the charge for five of her teammates. Kim Rudd and Jamie Misner of Mnpls, MN. in second and third respectively along with 4th and 5th places for Diane Holliday Welsh of Duluth, MN and Gretchen Czaja of Woodstock, VT.

Immediately after the Rangeley Loppet, the small group of indomitable athletes who were attempting the “Double Challenge” began preparing their classic skis for the Sunday’s Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Adventure Race. Starting at the Great Glen Ski Touring Center in Glen, NH, this unique event circumnavigates Mt. Washington on an adventurous and challenging connection of trails to finish 50 kilometers afterward at the famous Bretton Woods resort. Eli Enman threw caution to the wind as he led out of the start and continued to take the lead over this extremely hilly course. Fighting major leg muscle fatigue throughout the last 10 kilometers, Enman managed to hold his lead into the finish to win his second major race in as many days in a time of 3:00.03. and take the prestigious “Double Challenge” award. EnmanwinsGGtoBW
In the women’s event, it was Anne Rasmusen of Holderness, NH who placed first in the race but the “Double Challenge” award went to JoAnn Hanowski who had a combination of first and third in the two events. Hanowski, the 2004 race winner was quoted as saying “ I wanted to go out conservatively after feeling fatigue from the yesterday’s win but I’m happy with my race overall”. 4th and 5th place went to Team Rossignol athletes Trina Hosmer of Pelham, MA and Jamie Misner of Mnpls, MN. Eli Enman, an Olympic hopeful, operates the Sleepy Hollow Ski and Bike Center in Huntington, VT. while his teammate JoAnn Hanowski is an avian ecologist at the University of MN in Duluth, MN.