January 12, 2003 – Aspen Colorado's Simi Hamilton and Burke Mt. Academy's Liz Stephen head the U.S. Scandinavian Cup team that was named Friday by the U.S. Ski Team at the conclusion of Chevrolet U.S. Cross Country Championships in Rumford, ME. The team will travel to Tallin, Estonia for the J1 Scandinavian Cup Championships January 19th. They will compete against age group national teams from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia.

Joaquin Goodpaster (Tahoe City, CA), Dominic Henriques (Truckee, CA), Justin Singleton (Eagle River, AK), Simon Thomas-Train (Lake Placid, NY), Jack Harris (Bellevue, ID) will join Hamilton on the men's team. Cassidy Edwards (Traverse City, MI), Laura Spector (Lenox, MA), Ashley Quiggle (Crested Butte, CO), Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) and Hannah Dreissigacker (Morrisville, VT) joint Stephen on the womenís team. Gunnisonís Jeff Banks and Sun Valleyís Pat Casey will coach the team.

Stephen is only in her third year skiing cross-country, but came on strong with two wins in the J1 Class at U.S. Senior Nationals. She is a medal threat in Estonia. Hamilton is one of the fastest sprinters the junior ranks, and should be a threat in that event and the 5k skate. Both Stephen and Hamilton are first year J1's, meaning they will be eligible to make the team in 2005 and really kick some butt.

The National Cross-Country Ski Education Foundation (NCCSEF) raised $10,000 to save the 2004 J1 Scandinavian Cup Team. After the U.S. Ski Team moved funding to their World Cup teams, the trip faced cancellation if the funds were not raised from private donors. The NCCSEF has announced they have an additional $10,000 pledged to support the 2005 & 2006 teams. Fundraising is ongoing and contributions are welcome.

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 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 Reid@NCCSEF.org or at 651-698-1908.