Clear, Cold Weather Greets Racers at Junior Olympics

Temperature Drops and Trails Firm Up at the 2008 USSA Junior Olympics Cross Country Ski Championships

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Mar. 14, 2008– Young cross-country skiers from around the country were greeted by a stunning view of Denali today at the 2008 USSA Junior Olympics Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage, Alaska. Competition continues through March 15, 2008.

“It’s clear and cold, just how we like it,” says Steve Patterson, Junior Olympics race secretary. “The trails are so hard you could bounce a dime off of them. I hope it doesn’t warm up too much today.”

With temperatures hovering around 17 degrees Fahrenheit this morning, Junior Olympians made their way to Kincaid Park for the Classic Mass Start.

“The cold snap firmed up the stadium area,” says Patterson, “making it possible for us to have the mass starts there today. It’s great for the skiers and for the spectators.”

The 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships continue through March 15, 2008.

Start Schedule for March 14, 2008 (All times are AST)

OJ Boys 10:00 a.m.

J1 Boys 10:45 a.m.

OJ Girls 11:45 a.m.

J1 Girls 12:45 p.m.

J2 Boys 1:45 p.m.

J2 Girls 2:15 p.m.

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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