April 11, 2012 (Argentina) – The Andino Ushuaia Ski Club, Marcha Blanca Race Organization, and their partners are pleased to announce Argentina’s inaugural International Month of Cross Country Skiing scheduled for August 2012 near Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Four events comprise the schedule, including a weekend of ski instruction intended mostly for local skiers, a “Mini Marcha Blanca” for skiers aged 13 years and under, the 26th Annual Marcha Blanca 21/7km freestyle race, and the 2nd Annual Ushuaia Loppet 42 km freestyle ski marathon.

Race Director Pablo Valcheff says, “The Mes internacional de esquí de fondo (International Month of Cross Country Skiing) is intended to continue on the success of the last few years while also growing at a sustainable rate.” Last winter’s Master Classes gave hundreds of Fueguino skiers the chance to improve their skiing and spend a day on skis in the Valley of Tierra Mayor, both at Centro Invernal Tierra Mayor and at Cerro Castor. The Ushuaia Loppet will again trace the Marcha Blanca course twice in the opposite direction. The Marcha Blanca passes the quarter century mark in 2012. And the Mini Marcha is a chance for kids to enjoy an event of their own.

Apart from the events associated with the Marcha Blanca, the Club Andino Ushuaia is developing a roughly 1.5 km sprint course at the Francisco Jerman Nordic Ski Area just 10 minutes north of Ushuaia. The trails will be widened and the hope is to begin running FIS compliant sprint races there as soon as possible.

More information is available at www.marchablanca.com or www.clubandinoushuaia.com.ar