NHSC claims Aroostook Cup
PRESQUE ISLE — After coming in like a lion, the March weather turned mild on March 2 with a calm breeze, warm temperatures and light snow for the annual Himie Towle Memorial Ski Frolic.
Held at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, the citizen’s ski event serves as the final stop on the Aroostook Cup tour. In keeping with past years, more than 100 participants took part, ranging in age from kids under 8 years old to masters over 70.
While in a year, the best junior biathletes from around the world will be taking stage on the Nordic Heritage Center trails, this past weekend local skiers were the focus in the day’s premiere event – a nine-kilometer freestyle race.
In the men’s field, Raleigh Goessling of Fort Kent’s 10th Mountain Ski Club won the day, with Erik Fosnaes of the Nordic Heritage Sport Club taking second and Welly Ramsey of Caribou’s Northern Skiers Club finishing in third.
On the women’s side, Katrina Howe of 10th Mountain finished first, with Emily Ramsey of Snowy Mountain Trails in Stockholm second and Sarah Gahagan of Nordic Heritage Sport Club taking third.
In the largest turnout in recent history of youth skiers, kids from both sides of the border took advantage of the fresh snow and exciting trails. In the girls’ events, Abby Streinz, Abigail Rossignol and Paige Murphy each won their age divisions. Winning on the boys’ side were John O’Meara, Noah Schwarz and George Ferland.
In the Aroostook Cup club competition, retaining the title was the Nordic Heritage Sport Club of Presque Isle/Fort Fairfield. Taking second place was the 10th Mountain Ski Club of Fort Kent, and Snowy Mountain Trails Association of Stockholm finished the season in third.
Clubs will be recognized, along with individual Aroostook Cup winners, at the end-of-season celebration to be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 23 at the Caribou Country Club.
For a full listing of results from the March 2 race and a look at the Aroostook Cup standings, visit www.GoAroostooOutdoors.com.
As series sponsor, the Maine Winter Sports Center officials heaped their praise on all of the hosting organizations, events sponsors, volunteers and participants that came out for this year’s Aroostook Cup series.
Frolic combined two events on one day in Caribou
CARIBOU – It is a rare occasion in cross-country skiing that all of the elements of the sport come together to make a perfect day. The February Frolic in Caribou, held Feb. 24, was such an occasion. With temperatures near 30 degrees, no wind, light snow falling and perfectly groomed trails, participants in the day’s events could focus entirely on the simple joy of skiing.
The event, a collaboration of Caribou Parks and Recreation Department, the Northern Skiers Club and the Cary Medical Center, brings together two Nordic ski events for a full day of fun and racing action. In the morning, racers and ski touring enthusiasts took part in the five-kilometer New Year’s freestyle event at Caribou High School. In the afternoon the focus shifted to the Caribou Country Club for the annual Henry Anderson Ski Dag, a five-mile classic race and tour.
In the first race of the day, the 5K freestyle event, Seth Hubbard of 10th Mountain Ski Club skied to the win, followed by Lance McKenney of Nordic Heritage Sport Club and Will Sweetser of Snowy Mountain Trails. On the women’s side, Katrina Howe of 10th Mountain Ski Club won, with Lauren Jacobs of Penobscot Valley Ski Club in second and Emily Ramsey of Snowy Mountain Trails taking third.
In the afternoon’s classic ski event, Jacob was the women’s winner, with Howe taking second and Ramsey third. Hubbard took first among men, while Kamran Husain of 10th Mountain Ski Club was second and McKenney third.
The overall male and female winners of the day, with the best combined time from both events, were Hubbard and Howe.
