January 02, 2012 (Rumford, ME) – Earlier on New Years Day the situation was promising at Black Mountain in Rumford, Maine, site of the 2012 US XC Nationals but athletes from across the nation will have to put their collective readiness on hold for at least 24 hours, and perhaps longer, according to a release issued moments ago.

The text reads in part… “Due to significant overnight rain, all racing and the scheduled welcoming ceremony for the 2012 US Cross Country Championships at Rumford’s Black Mountain of Maine have been postponed. Based upon deteriorating conditions the jury has decided that there will be no racing or skiing today…”  A second posting came a few minutes later saying…”Please stay off the snow. Further information after the jury meets later.”

The stage is set for nine days of exciting ski competition in this well known ski town in Western Maine. Hosted by the respected Chisholm Ski Club the venue is welcoming about 450 athletes from both the US and Canada. Following untold hours of snow making and work on the course thing were looking good until Mother Nature pulled the plug.

“We were here last year and there wasn’t too much snow, now there’s more snow and the tracks are so good this year with all the snow making they have done,” said veteran ski serviceman Peter Hale of Madshus at the venue yesterday. “They have also realigned the sprint course since last year to make a better course than ever… the track deep, wide, clean. This is a superb venue for racing in general.”

A web site posting on the Chisholm Ski Club web site said that the jury will meet on Tuesday, hinting that races could be canceled for more than 24 hours. There was heavy rain overnight in Western Maine and the temps are warming. The weather, however, calls for a low Tuesday of 9 degrees F and a high of 11 degrees F, hopefully insuring colder temps are on the way.

We will continue to update our readers as soon as more information becomes available.