February 7, 2009 (Londonderry, Vermont) – Viking Nordic Center in Londonderry, Vermont is introducing a new spin on the weekly time trial race: a self administered, GPS enabled time trial that allows skiers to ski versus themselves and others over a set course when they want to – and when they think they can ski the fastest. Each week points are given to participants based on finishing place and the number of entrants. At the end of the season the winner gets a plane ticket to next year’s American Birkebeiner in Wisconsin.

Several ski areas have a low-key race series, usually held in the mid-week evening hours under the lights. These races typically draw a handful or two of local skiers out into the cold after work. And while Viking has a lights and hosts night races for colleges, high schools and Bill Koch Leagues, they worried that hosting the standard mid-week race series would only let a tiny portion of their skiers participate. So Viking is using technology to introduce a new format to the weekly time trial race: having racers self start after registering and then using GPS to monitor and time the racer’s progress.

The setup is such that skiers aren’t bound to show up at a specific time or day. While this is more convenient for local skiers the big news is that this means that weekend skiers can see how they rank too. Potential racers who might be too intimidated to lineup alongside experienced racers can ease into the race scene and still participate. It also adds a new element – picking the best snow conditions during the week. Each week points will be awarded based on place and number of entrants. At the end of the series the skier with the most points will win a round trip plane ticket to the 2010 Birkebeiner in Wisconsin. To foster a sense of camaraderie that would normally come out of face to face racing a detailed web page will be maintained with results for each week, overall standings and some commentary.

For more details please see Viking’s click here or call Malcolm McNair, general manager at 802-824-3933.

Viking Nordic Center has a 40 Km trail system in Londonderry, VT. Known for their pretty and diverse trail system. Viking is one of the first commercial Nordic ski centers in the USA, having first opened in 1970. The center features a café, a full service ski shop, a clubhouse for groups using the center, two warming huts, and a 4-bedroom guesthouse. Viking is located in easy to reach Southern Vermont, an hour from Albany, two hours from Hartford or Worcester.