November 12, 2003 (Anchorage, AK)  – The inaugural cross country SuperTour opens this weekend at Kincaid Park in  Anchorage. Recent snows have boosted track conditions.

“I just spoke with Matt Pauli [of the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage, race organizers]  and he says the conditions are improving rapidly with a storm dropping snow  in Anchorage, which should make for good race conditions at Kincaid Park. This will be a good start for the winter,” U.S. Nordic Director Luke  Bodensteiner said Wednesday. “I know everyone's eager to race.”

Poor snow in Fairbanks last weekend forced cancellation of what were to have been  the first two races, but conditions in Anchorage “are coming along nicely,” Bodensteiner said. Organizers were prepared to shift the races to Hatcher Pass if Kincaid wasn't ready. Classic races – a men's 10-km and women's 5-km  – are scheduled for Saturday with freestyle races – again, men's 10-km and  women's 5-km – Sunday.

Olympians Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK), a  student at Alaska Pacific University, and Aelin Peterson (Fairbanks, AK) plus  one of their teammates from the 2003 World Championships, Dave Chamberlain  (Bethel, ME), are expected to lead the field for the first  races.

“Aelin and Dave  have said their goal this season is to win the SuperTour overall title,” according to Bodensteiner, “so we know they'll be raising the level for everyone. It's good to get the racing started.”

The next SuperTour races  are set for Thanksgiving Weekend – Nov. 28-29 – in West Yellowstone,  MT.