March 4, 2006 – The TD Banknorth New England Bill Koch League Festival is biggest festival of cross-country skiing for young skiers in the country, and it got off to a fast start today, on the Gould Academy fields in Bethel, ME. Over 400 young skiers are taking part in this weekend-long event. Named after 1976 Olympic silver medalist and Vermont native, Bill Koch, New England’s Bill Koch League programs for young skiers, and the annual Festival is a celebration of youth skiing and the smiles and ski-play pay tribute to him.

Just as in the Olympic Games, t the skiers marched in an Opening Ceremonies parade, in groups representing their districts. Since the theme for this Festival is “Maine Woods and Wildlife”, the kids dressed up as lumberjacks and guides, moose and bears.

The first events were the “Lollipop Races” – 100meter races for kids ages 4-7, with chocolate moose lollipops for every finisher. Then came a new event – a 3person-by-1, 2 or 3 lap classic team sprint. Teams of three boys or three girls from the same district and of the same, 2-year age group, classic raced around a 300meter loop, to tag off to their teammate – once for the youngest group, ages 8-9, twice for ages 10-11, and three times for the older kids, ages 12-13.

For those who were done racing, there was a ‘Mini-Marathon’ ski tour in the woods of Newry, or the ‘Terrain Park’, where skiers could test their tricks on the jump, the slalom course, or the very popular, 2-level, 12″ wide “rail”.

The evening program features a sit-down pasta dinner at Gould Academy’s dining hall, followed by live entertainment by the group “Under the Song Tree”, a slideshow, and the graduation of the 13-year old J3 skiers, who will ski as J2s next year.

Tomorrow the Festival continues with the individual freestyle races at Black Mountain of Maine, in Rumford, ME.

For a list of attendees, Team Sprint and Individual Freestyle results, and photos visit the Bill Koch Festival website at www.billkochfestival.org/2006