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Bridger Ski Foundation to Host Para Nordic Skiing NorAm & Nationals
  
January 4, 2017
by:  
BSF Communications

PRESS RELEASE

BOZEMAN, MT - For the first time ever, Bozeman will be the site of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing Sit Ski Nationals, a Para Nordic NorAm and Nordic Festival on Saturday, January 7, and Sunday, January 8, at the Bridger Creek Golf Course. Some of the top Para Nordic skiers in the world will compete.

The Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) is the local organizing committee for the event and has begun a partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to provide coaching both on the trails and in the gym for some of the top U.S. Nordic Para athletes, who have begun training out of Bozeman this year.  Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply is the local title sponsor of the Para Nordic Skiing NorAm event. BSF has assembled a large crew of volunteers for the races, while the BSF grooming team is putting extra hours into preparing the race venue at the Bridger Creek Golf Course.

The event is the single largest collection of Para Nordic athletes in the U.S. each winter. Those who do well this weekend will be invited to race in the World Cup competitions, set to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea, March 6-16, 2017. With the 2018 Paralympic Games just a year away, the Bozeman event is also key for those hoping to make the U.S. Paralympic team.

SPECTATOR INFO:

Location: Bridger Creek Golf Course, 2710 McIlhattan Rd, Bozeman

Saturday, January 7

9:30 a.m. Sprint qualifications

10:30 - 11:30 Sprint Heats and finals

11:30-1: Sit-ski demonstration and clinic for the public

2:00 p.m. Distance Race

Sunday, January 8

9:30 a.m. Distance race

*Race times may be delayed due to extreme weather conditions.

Para Nordic Skiers Focus on Bozeman Training Grounds

The U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing program has proven its strength in recent years and is intent on increasing the numbers of participants who consider themselves Para Nordic skiers. Frequent Nordic skiers may have seen athletes training locally throughout the winter.

John Farra, Director of High Performance, Paralympic Nordic Skiing for the United States Olympic Committee, says, “We have started to make Bozeman one of our primary winter training facilities. Some of our top skiers and head coach have moved to the area, and we are excited to invite the larger group of athletes and coaches to this great Nordic ski community, and we hope Para Nordic events like this will be back more often in years to come.” 

Farra adds, “We are always looking for locations with strong clubs to host the event in different areas of the country where there are some Para Nordic clubs and we can get some local engagement with new Para Nordic athletes.”

New Bozeman resident Oksana Masters returns as both the 2015 and 2016 IPC World Cup Cross Country Overall Winner, and Andy Soule, a two-time Paralympian won five medals at the 2015 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships. The most experienced sit-skier on the course this weekend will be three-time Paralympian Sean Halsted.

Swithin McGrath, Executive Director of the Bridger Ski Foundation, says, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the USOC and these exceptional athletes and excited to be the organizing committee for this race. The Nordic trails in Bozeman and the surrounding area are world class, as is the community of Nordic skiers and coaches, and we’re excited to see more Para Nordic skiers take advantage of these venues and for our young skiers to share the same training grounds. Organizing any race is a lot of work, but we feel it’s important to support Para Nordic skiing—both for local athletes who may want to explore the sport and for U.S. skiers who are looking to compete at the highest levels.”

Farra notes that the Bozeman event is as much a ski festival as it is a national championship. New Para skiers will find lots of learning opportunities. Head Coach Eileen Carey, who now lives in the Bozeman area, will offer a sit-ski demonstration and clinic at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, between races. 

Bridger Ski Foundation grooms cross country ski trails at six venues in Bozeman, ensuring easy and free access to Nordic skiing for the whole community, in addition to providing educational and competitive programs in Nordic, Freeskiing, Freestyle, and Alpine skiing.

The event is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). As a World Para Nordic Skiing NorAm event, athletes from any nation are invited to participate, and those with an international competition license can score important IPC points, which are used to determine the number of slots each country gets to the Paralympic Winter Games, as well as an athlete’s standing internationally.

Athletes to watch:

Sean Halsted: An air force veteran, is the most experienced sit skier with three Paralympic Winter Games under his belt. Bio: http://www.teamusa.org/para-nordic-skiing/athletes/sean-halsted

Andy Soule: An army veteran, 2015 IPC World Cup Cross Country Overall Winner, and 2010 Vancouver bronze medalist. Bio: http://www.teamusa.org/para-nordic-skiing/athletes/Andy-Soule

Oksana Masters: A BSF member and Bozeman resident was the 2015 & 2016 IPC World Cup Cross Country Overall Winner. Also competes in other Paralympic sports, and has multiple Paralympic medals, including for Nordic skiing. Bio: https://www.paralympic.org/oksana-masters

Bridger Ski Foundation is a nonprofit ski club offering educational and competitive programs in Nordic, Freestyle, Freeskiing, and Alpine skiing. They also groom an incredible network of Community Nordic Trails in Bozeman.