This year’s Gunstock Freestyle was a great collaboration between the Gunstock Nordic Association and the Holderness School. Lacking enough natural or machine-made snow at Gunstock, the event was moved to the Holderness School who provided a groomed 1.4km machine-made loop. Skiers at the event were rewarded with several inches of new fluffy snow – which is a good recipe for lots of smiles. It also made for slow driving and soft skiing conditions. Several of the racers noted that the snow made it tough, but it was a really fun race.
The participants had to do either five loops for the 7km race or 3 laps for the 4km race. Many of them remarked that it was a really fun course, with lots of rolling terrain and fun woods sections! Parents and spectators could see about half of the course from the stadium area. The skiers came from all over New Hampshire and a few beyond that, with the largest contingents coming from Gunstock, Ford Sayre, Holderness and Plymouth programs. Many of them were so excited to be on snow and quite of few spent extra time skiing before heading home. A big thanks to the Gunstock Nordic Association and the Holderness School for pulling off a great event!