April 2, 2008 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – The CXC Skier Gala, to be held on the University of Minnesota campus Sunday, April 6th, will honor over 50 Midwest Nordic Olympians as a part of an exciting Nordic celebration. Included are 12 cross country skiers, 8 biathletes, 31 jumpers and three Nordic combined athletes. Recognized in the tribute will be seven local American Birkebeiner champions. This program will be a fitting reflection of our tremendous Nordic heritage.

Speakers for the afternoon include co-masters of ceremonies Chad Giese and Dick Beardsley, representatives of the University of Minnesota athletic department and alumni association with a tribute to Ahvo Taipale and his National Champion Teams, US Ski Team head coach Pete Vordenberg, and current athletes Garrott Kuzzy, CXC Team and Caitlin Compton, US Biathlon. The City of Minneapolis Mayor, R.T. Rybak, a big supporter of the sport of xc skiing, is also planning to attend the event, subject to unforeseeable conflict.

The Skier Gala dinner program will take place at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota, Memorial Hall. Several hundred people are expected to attend. This event kicks off a grass-roots support for our US Ski Team in pursuit of podium finishes at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada

Complete information is posted at www.cxcskiing.org. On behalf of USSA and USST, Central Cross Country Skiing, the Minneapolis Silent Sports Foundation, and the Skier Gala organizers, thank you in advance to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, for helping to make this event a great success.


Skier Gala Program
– 3:30 PM Reception
– 4:00 PM Program starts
– 4:30 PM Dinner served with virtue tour of U of MN new Stadium
– 5:15 PM Keynote speakers present
– 6:15 PM Silent auction ends/results
– 6:30 PM Closing Remarks

Dinner cost: $50 per person, $25 under 20 years old, or $600 per sponsor table seating 10 people; payable to SILENT SPORTS FOUNDATION, P.O. Box 2827, Minneapolis, MN 55402; or on-line here. Silent Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation supporting athletic educational programs and services. Dinner proceeds benefit the CXC Junior Development Program and the US Ski Team. Please reserve space by April 3, 2008. Space are limited, and once space are filled by April 3, there are no door registrations.

Door Prizes and Silent Auction for World Cup memorabilia and other XC related items.

McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak St. SE, Memorial Hall
Minneapolis MN 55455