Skiers flocked to this year’s Quarry Road Opener to kick off the winter racing season. Despite no natural snow, the organizers at Quarry Road put together a ribbon of artificial snow for the ski community to enjoy. Rain on Saturday made way for blue sky and sunshine during the Opener. This year’s course was very similar to 2021, but was run in the opposite direction. Racers set out in 15 second intervals in groups of 20 to minimize congestion on the short loop. It was a dizzying affair of laps, with athletes needing to keep a careful count to ensure they skied the correct distance.
This year’s field of racers surpassed 150! It spanned all ages and abilities. There was a large group of collegiate skiers with Harvard and UNH making the longer drive to compete against Bates, Bowdoin and Colby athletes. It was great to see a growing number of local high school programs including Edward Little, York and Spruce Mountain mixing it up with the likes of Gould Academy and the Quarry Road Ski Club. New this year was the addition of Para Nordic racers. Two ParaNordic racers made the trip to Quarry Road to wet their appetite for fast gliding on snow. The timing of their starts allowed them opportunities to race alongside the able-bodied athletes.
Late in the day the middle school racers had their turn to have their fun in the sun. The final race of the day saw bunch of particularly speedy lollipoppers cruising around the Quarry Road meadow, with big smiles!
Up next racing action moves from Maine to Craftsbury, Vermont for the Silver Fox Trot, hosted by the Ford Sayre Ski Club on Saturday December 1oth. Here’s the LINK to register.