FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Holiday Relays -- December 20th

We're back in school, so it won't belong until we see snow! Please consider the Holiday Relays for a guaranteed snow, early season event on your schedule, if it's not already there.

Founded thirty-some years ago by Pat Lanin, the event has migrated form Hopkins to Phalen to its current location at Troll Hollow. While no longer in the Metro, the event not only has guaranteed snow, but the short and not too technical course, skied twice around, means that skiers are never far from coaches, teammates, and spectators. This can be extremely important to young skiers, many of whom are skiing their lifetime-first race, often lacking both speed and confidence. The excitement of relays and the constant presence of others is very encouraging to them, as opposed to feeling lost in the far reaches of a longer course.

Trollhaugen is a very welcoming location for the relays, not only a good ski area for relays, but close-in parking for buses and spectators, and their convention center provides a great building for warming and award presentations. Speaking of which, we go ten-deep in each of the four races (boys/girls, classic/skate) for individual split time medals, plus medals for all four skiers on each of the top three relays in each race. Plaques are awarded to the top overall boys and girls schools, and the Bill Simpson traveling trophy is presented to the school with the fastest overall time for all four races.

This year, the Minneapolis Ski Club also produced a training log which was given to all participants, as well. MSC director and Olympian Kevin Brochman, long-term Roseville coach John Strand, and Mark Stange serve as race directors. In the words of Bob O'Hara, "You run a very organized race and the kids have a great time." We hope you can join us this December 20, 2008.