March has rolled around and with it some of the best snow conditions of the year! For many of us that coincides with our best ski fitness/endurance of the season. Happily enough this is also the time of year that the region’s big touring center host ski marathons and relays. Whether you are looking for a fun long distance adventure with family and/or friends, looking for something a little higher paced or some goofy fun with teammates, each event has something for you!
On March 11th JacksonXC hosts the Long Haul Loppet – final event in the NENSA Marathon and Zak series. This is another fabulous course that offer big loop skiing through beautiful mixed forests, while winding its way through the Ellis River trails at JacksonXC. This event offers a rolling start, meaning you can begin anytime between 9 and 10am. This gives you the chance to start at your own pace or choose which group of family and/or friends you want to ski with. This event offers 22.5 and 12.6km distance options in either technique. Come out and enjoy some great March skiing!
The final NENSA Club Cup event of the season is appropriately a team affair. The New England Club Relay Championships take place on March 25th at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. This is an excellent opportunity for sporting your favorite team attire – be it tutus and glitter, Superman costumes, old national team suits, or some outlandish outfit, there is room for all. Not to mention there will be a plethora of witty team names. Bring three of you friends (or more for multiple teams) and have a blast in the woods at Craftsbury. And if that wasn’t enough fun, the National Relay championships will be happening the same day, so you can cheer on your favorite elite skiers. Additionally NENSA will be handing out its end of season Zak and Club awards. So bring lawn chairs, snacks & cowbells to make a day of playing in the March snow and sun with the Eastern Ski Community!
For more details on this month’s cross country ski event choices, check out the links below: Rangeley Loppet and Burt Kettle Classic, Hard’ack, Long Haul Loppet, The New England Club Relay Championships
