November 1, 2005 – Getting kids to move more and eat more colors was the goal of the Vermont Public Health Department’s fall campaign to head off child and juvenile obesity and related health concerns. Team Rossignol members Jim Fredericks and JoAnn Hanowski were on hand at the Capital to help Governor Jim Douglas acknowledge the winning individuals and schools for their efforts to exercise more and to eat healthy. After roller-skiing up the marble sidewalk to the Capital, Fredericks and Hanowski talked to the crowd of 100 kids and their parents about how cross-country skiing contributes to life-long health, fitness and enjoyment of the outdoors. Governor Douglas then led a brisk walk around the Capital followed by healthy snacks, autographs and photo opportunities. The event was capped off with a drawing for a junior cross-country ski package donated by Rossignol Ski Company.

Earlier that morning, Fredericks and Hanowski were joined by Trina Hosmer of Team Rossignol for a kids dryland ski clinic in Stowe, Vermont. Hosmer and Hanowski had the 20 young skiers ages 5 to 14 hopping, bounding and “flying” up the hill using correct skate and classic technique. The goal of the session was to introduce kids to some off-snow but, ski-specific exercises that they could utilize before the ski season. More importantly, Team Rossignol members encouraged the kids to have fun skiing. Now that Hosmer is retired and a resident of Stowe, she promised the kids that she would be checking up on their progress through the winter. With Trina’s experience and help, look for some great future skiers coming from the Stowe area.