West Fairlee Skier Takes J2 Freestyle At Junior Olympics

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Mar. 12, 2008 – Rocket-fast skis and a challenging course propelled West Fairlee, Vt., skier Tara Geraghty-Moats to win the J2 girls 5 km Freestyle race at the 2008 Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships today, March 12, 2008, in Anchorage, Alaska.

“My skis were awesome, the fastest they have been all year,” says Geraghty-Moats.

The home-schooled 15 year-old approached the race with a two-part strategy.

“The first part of the course had long climbs and the second part had more hills, with lots of ups and downs. I went 95 percent on the first part and then all-out for the second half.”

A 2-inch dusting of snow on Wednesday morning surprised race organizers and teams. The new snow slowed down competitors’ skis, but it did not discourage them.

The young skier was not happy when she saw the snow this morning.

“But then I thought everyone has to deal with the same conditions,” says Geraghty-Moats. “So, I just went out there and did my best.”

The 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships continue at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2008, with the classic mass start races.

About the 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships

More than 400 athletes and 94 coaches are participating in the 2008 Junior Olympics at Kincaid Park. Locally, 52 Alaskans are competing in the races, attended to by 14 coaches.

More than 350 young athletes from the Lower 48 are competing from regions across the country including New England, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, California and the Rocky Mountains.

For detailed event and race schedule visit www.2008JuniorOlympics.org.

About Anchorage’s Kincaid Park

Kincaid Park, one of Anchorage’s major outdoor recreation centers, hosts more than a million visitors a year according to the Anchorage Parks & Recreation Department. The area contains more than 1,400 acres of forest boasting more than 50km of trails. Although the park serves both winter and summer outdoors enthusiasts, it is best known for the world-class Nordic skiing and biathlon facilities that have hosted national and international events.

More than $6 million has been spent by public and private organizations to ready the park for the 2008 ski season.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.

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