January 19, 2011 (Truckee, CA) – Be a part of history!  On Sunday, March 6, 2011 cross-country ski racers will gather to embark on the 35th annual Great Ski Race.  The Great Ski Race covers 30 km beginning at the Tahoe Cross Country Center in Tahoe City to the Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee.  Race registration is available now at www.thegreatskirace.com  Prices go up on February 16th so sign up now!

The Great Ski Race is the main fundraising event for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a non-profit all volunteer organization.  Team members, along with community supporters, organize The Great Ski Race, which continues to be one of the largest Nordic ski races west of the Mississippi. Race proceeds are used primarily to purchase equipment for the Team and to support winter survival and avalanche education programs sponsored and conducted by the Team.

The Great Ski Race has gone from 60 racers being manually timed in 1977, to more than 600 racers with electronic timing in 1985, to more than 800 racers in 2001. In 2005 all records were broken, with 1109 registered racers, 1029 finishers, and the fastest men’s and women’s times yet!  “The Great Ski Race has been a favorite event among Tahoe locals as well as Nordic racers since its inception,” said Doug Read, the Team’s Great Ski Race director. “The race is not only demanding, but also lots of fun for all participants. Don’t forget to save some energy for the big party that takes place at the finish line, complete with live music and dancing!”

Registration fees: $55 before February 15th; $65 February 16th-March 5th; $75 if registering on race day; and juniors 18 and under are $25.  The entry fee buys a pre-race package, a 5-color T-shirt, refreshments and a hot lunch at the finish, a chance to win one of numerous prizes – plus live music by Downbeat so you know there will be dancing at the finish! And, of course, donations above and beyond these amounts to the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team are always appreciated. (All donations above and beyond race fees are tax-deductible; non-profit tax ID #94-2737988.)  All race fees are non-refundable.

2011 sponsors included Tahoe Cross Country, Northstar at Tahoe, Tahoe TV, GU and GU2O Sports Drinks, the Cottonwood Restaurant, Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge, Jarco Commercial Real Estate, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Boulder Nordic Sport, Paco’s Ski and Sport, Sierra Nordic, Resort at Squaw Creek, Toko Wax, Sunnyside Steakhouse and Lodge, Adventure Sports Journal, Gensburg and Sons Construction, and Granger Excavating

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for 2011, visit the website at www.thegreatskirace.com for more information.

Conceived in 1976, the Team has more than 100 members who fulfill many different functions in the organization such as rescuing lost alpine and cross-country skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers, locating downed aircraft, rescuing stranded hikers and climbers, educating the public about mountain safety, and many other support functions.  For more information, contact Pam at 530-546-7393 or visit the race’s website at  www.thegreatskirace.com
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