FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 43rd Annual Marine O’Brien Cross-Country Ski Race

Breaking News: A drawing will happen on site to give away one entry to the 2015 American Birkebeiner. The 43rd Annual Marine O’Brien Cross-Country Ski Race will be held on Sunday, January, 26th 2014 at William O’Brien State Park located just north of Marine on St. Croix, MN on Highway 95. Skiers of all abilities are invited to the beautiful St. Croix River valley to participate in this fun-filled community and family event. Local residents are encouraged to come to William O’Brien Park to cheer on their friends and neighbors and make some noise for the finishers.

Again this year we are hosting the 25km classic and skate races “twice around the park”. The longer distance races are great tune-ups for those skiing February loppets. The 12.5km classic and skate races “once around the park” will continue to draw skiers of all abilities out to enjoy a beautiful day in William O’Brien State Park. Kid’s races, of age appropriate distances, are again in the afternoon this year when it is usually warmer, and now the kid’s races fall in line with the weekly ski meetings of the St. Croix Valley Ski Club.

Honoring the history of the race we are hosting the 6 km Out There Wood Ski Tour. So dust off those wood skis, oil up your leather boots, pull your wool knickers and socks out of the moth balls and get Out There for a fun ski tour.

Registration can be completed on-line at http://marineobrienskirace.zapevent.com prior to 11:59 1/24/2014. Sunday morning January 26th registration will be at the visitor center at William O’Brien State Park. It will begin at 9:00 AM and go until 30 minutes prior the start of each race. The first 100 adult skiers registered for the 25km and 12.5km races receive a 43rd Annual Marine/O’Brien Ski Race hat. Out There Wood Ski Tour is sponsored by Out There Nordic Sports and Camping of Rice Lake, Wi and is a great event that reminds us of where our sport has come from in the past 43 years. Traditional ski wear is encouraged.

Event start times are as follows: Out There Wood Ski 6 KM Tour will kick off the days activities at 10:10AM. The 12.5 and 25 kilometer classic races will start at 10:30 AM. The 12.5 and 25 kilometer skate races will start at 11:00 AM. Adult races pre-registration cost $35.00 with special pricing for High School athletes of $15.00. Day of race registration cost $45.00 for Adults and $25.00 for High School athletes. The Wood Ski Tour pre-registration cost $20.00 tour day $30.00.

The children’s races for ages 2-13 will feature the 3 and under “100 meter dash”, 4&5 “ 1/2 km sprint”, 6-9 “2 km thriller”, 10-13 “6 km mad dash”. Registration is from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Kid’s races will start at 1:45 PM. Kid’s race pre-registration $10.00 per child race day $15.00. 3 or more children from one family pre-registered $25.00 or $35.00 race day total. Kids 5 and under are free pre-registered or $10.00 race day. All participating children receive a ribbon upon completion of the race.

Come out and cheer on all the racers. Past participants of this race have gone on to become Minnesota State High School Nordic Champions, U.S. Ski Team Biathletes, U.S. Nordic Ski National Champions and Olympians.

The top 3 overall male and female finishers in the 25km Skate and 25km Classic races will receive oversized checks awarded immediately following the finish. The top 3 overall male and female finishers in the 12.5km will receive select items for local shops. Area merchants and manufacturers are donating prizes, gift certificates, and other goodies to be raffled off for a chance for all adult participants to win great prizes. All proceeds from the race will benefit youth skiing through the St. Croix Valley Ski Club and the William O’Brien Ski Trails, as well as, current and future local olympians.

Marine Ski Shop owners Ralph and Marian Malberg, Gary Olin, and Bill and Tina Hawkinson got this all going on wooden skis imported from Norway 43 years ago. The race used to start at the Marine Elementary School with a mad dash across the ball fields where it funneled into a single file track into the woods to get into William O’Brien State Park. Broken bamboo poles were the norm.

Come out and be a part of history.

For further information contact Everett Myers, phone 651-644-2800, e-mail [email protected]