January 18, 2013 (Leavenworth, WA) – For the 11th year, Leavenworth Winter Sports Club is producing a women’s only winter event to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for The Wellness Place in Wenatchee. LWSC typically raises about $3,000 at this event. Women are welcome to cross-country ski or snowshoe on the 8-kilometer trail on Sunday, February 3rd. The Leavenworth Fish Hatchery hosts the start of the event while the participants use the back part of the Icicle River Trail. Those registered by Jan. 23rd receive a free event shirt and avoid the late fee. Registration is $16-$26. Day of event registration starts at 8 a.m. and the “race” starts at 9:30 a.m. Timing is optional per participant’s choice. A prize will be given to “Best Dressed Chick.” Refreshments will be provided along with many raffle prizes.

LWSC is proud to announce that our own local skier, Siri Healy, will be our official race starter. Siri Healy has been a resident of Leavenworth since 2001. In 2011, at the age of 34, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma. She is a survivor and a true inspiration.

Please see the attached document for links to Siri’s blog, 2012 event photos and more. Thanks!

More about Chicks on Sticks 2013 HERE.

Read Siri Healy’s Blog HERE.

December 20, 2012 (Mazama, WA) – The Methow Valley’s elite skiers, Sadie and Erik Bjornsen, are home for Christmas with huge wins in the Super Tour. Both brother and sister came away from the competitions in Canmore, Canada, last week, as the US Nordic Ski Team’s 2012 Super Tour Leaders. The Bjornsens are determined to represent the U.S. in the 2014 Olympics and will be competing internationally this ski season with the hope of continuing their winning streak.

The Bjornsen siblings are hosting the Cascade Challenge Ski Camp, a free Nordic ski clinic, for members of the Methow Valley Nordic Ski Team ages 6 thru 13. 50 kids have registered in advance for this fun-filled morning with our local Nordic champions.

The camp will run from noon to 3 PM on Sunday, Dec. 23, at the Mazama Community Center (at the junction of Lost River Road and Goat Creek Road). The center will be open by 11:30 a.m. for those who are registered.

“Sadie and I are super excited to be hosting our annual kids ski camp at the Mazama Community Center this Sunday,” said Erik. “As of this morning the camp is full with 50 young skiers signed up.” “This is our way of giving back to the Methow Valley Nordic community that has encouraged and supported us since we first began skiing,” said Sadie.

Sadie keeps an active blog about her ski activities at www.sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com, as does Erik at www.erikbjornsen.com.

The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation (MVNSEF), a 501(c)(3) organization, has created the Elite Opportunity Fund to provide financial support to eligible graduates of the Methow Valley Junior Nordic Team program who have been selected by a “national governing body” in one of the Nordic disciplines (USST, USBA) to compete in sanctioned international events or training camps. The MVNSEF recognizes the considerable financial difficulties faced by promising post-junior team skiers in their efforts to compete and succeed at the international level, and the very limited support provided by the USSA.

December 18, 2012 (Seattle, Washington) – Madshus, the world’s oldest ski company, announces the growth of its US sales force with the appointment of Chad Willems as its new sales representative for Washington and Oregon.

Peter Hale, long-time NW rep and race services director, will continue representing the brand in ID, MT and AK, as well as the inland northwest to include the Methow Valley and the Spokane area, while Chad takes over Washington and Oregon.

“We will all benefit from Chad’s perspective and experience. He is highly versed, enthusiastic, and keenly active in the full spectrum of our sport including racing, family and backcountry skiing,” Hale said.

Chad Willems has an extensive background in the Nordic retail business and worked as a store manager, Nordic buyer and a very effective on-the-floor salesman at a shop that was a key Madshus dealer. In his free time, Chad enjoys competitive cycling and found Nordic skiing to be a great way to train for cycling. Chad currently resides in Bend, Oregon where he is a very active part of the Nordic skiing community.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to represent Madshus and an activity that I love,” Said Willems. “I’m enjoying reconnecting with folks in the retail and Nordic skiing community that I’ve gotten to know over the years, and meeting some new ones as well,” he said.

As the brand continues to grow, Madshus is expanding its international presence, with a strong focus on North America. Madshus sales staff can look forward to increased POP materials, technical information, new Madshus store signage for Nordic Departments, and more. Madshus is expanding their exposure with a wide variety of websites and social media, including their new Facebook page. “Like” Madshus now to keep up with latest news.

For more information on Madshus, please visit www.madshus.com. Northwest retailers interested in connecting with Chad Willems can email him at chad@cascadetrailsrep.com