November 21, 2012 (West Yellowstone, MO) – With plus temperatures, just patches of snow present in West Yellowstone proper, and a meager forecast for fresh powder in the next days, race organizers and athletes have been left scrambling for the season’s start to the 2012/13 U.S. SuperTour in Montana.

A Wednesday (Nov. 21) evening coaches meeting reached clarity on the weekend’s races, next week’s Supertour stop in Bozeman, Montana, and five additional U.S. Nations Group start rights for the Canadian World Cups in Quebec City and Canmore during the first two weeks of December.

On Friday, racing begins with a point-to-point, nine-kilometer interval start skate race on the plateau above West Yellowstone. This race replaces the 10 and 15 kilometer skate races originally scheduled for Saturday on the Rondezvous ski trail system just across the street from downtown.

On Saturday, a non-FIS scored skate sprint on the plateau is scheduled. Race organizers have not given up hope that a storm could bring enough snow to hold the original sprint race (including knockout rounds!) in West Yellowstone. A final decision will be made at noon on Friday (Nov. 23). If a full sprint program happens, this race will count towards the World Cup qualification start spots.

For next week, the Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF), a community program out of Bozeman, Montana, is stepping up in a big way to ensure there’s more racing. BSF Nordic Director Dragan Danevski just confirmed that the Bohart Ranch Ski Resort has decent-enough snow coverage, and will hold the following races:

– Thursday – Nov. 29 – Skate Sprint, full program
– Saturday – Dec. 1 – Classic Sprint, full program
– Sunday – Dec. 2 – Classic Distance Races

West Yellowstone start list HERE.

Check back with SkiTrax for the latest results and information as races in North American begin in ernest from now until April.