First Ever Ski Festival for Recreational Cross Country Skiers



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Contact: Greg Fangel, President

North Star Ski Touring Club

(651) 770-9381

[email protected]

January 14, 2001 


 



First Ever Ski Festival for Recreational Cross Country Skiers






The early snow this season has brought cross-country skiers out in droves
and has created increased excitement for the sport. More snow has now come
as final preparations are being made for the first ever North Star Ski
Festival.


The Ski Festival will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2001 from 11:00AM to
3:00PM at Hyland Park Reserve in Bloomington, MN. A registration fee of  $18
includes cross-country ski lessons, long sleeve T-shirt, water bottle, hot
and cold treats and more. Youth 14 and under are � price. Registration
starts at 11:00AM with skate, classical or youth ski lessons at 11:30,
12:00, 12:30 and 1:00PM. Also included will be door prizes,  bonfires along
the trails, new ski demos by Fischer skis, marked loops patrolled by safety
personnel, youth instruction by the Minnesota Youth Ski League and expert
advice from experienced skiers. This is an excellent opportunity for people
to find out more about cross-country skiing.


The Festival is designed to bring attention to the sport of cross country
skiing and its health benefits. The Ski Festival is sponsored by the North
Star Ski Touring Club, REI and Hennepin Parks. The North Star Ski Touring
Club (NSSTC) based in the Twin Cities has nearly 1600 members and has been
promoting the sport of cross-country skiing as well as all non-motorized
sports since 1967. NSSTC is a non-profit organization that has a history of
donating funds to youth ski programs, clearing and maintaining ski trails
throughout Minnesota, and funding various ski trail improvement projects.
One of the club�s recent benevolent donations was to the Minnesota Youth Ski
League.
Adults and children that have not skied much before will benefit from the
instruction provided by experienced club members. The proceeds from this
event will be used for further development of cross-country skiing in
Minnesota.

According to Paul Nordell, of the Minnesota DNR there are about 500,000
people in the state of Minnesota that say they cross-country ski. �The Twin
City area has more cross country ski trails than any other major
metropolitan area in the world,� says Ahvo Taipale of Finn Sisu Ski Shop of
St. Paul. Taipale, a native of Finland and Greg Fangel, President of the
North Star Ski Touring Club are involved in the development of the first
North American indoor, year �round cross country ski facility to be built in
the Twin City area.

More information on the Ski Festival is available on the North Star website
at www.north-stars.org or by calling the Festival Hotline at 651 773-3432


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