More than 160 women attend clinic taught by ‘distinguished’ women
By Peter Mullen
Staff Writer

NEW GLOUCESTER – Kristi Bancroft waited on her cross country skis for the sister-sister relay race at Pineland Farms. While she was enjoying her day, it wasn’t something she often did.

“My sister got me to come,” said the teacher from West Paris. “I really feel out of my element here. I am a singer and a guitar player so I told her that if I have to do this, she has to sing.”

Considering the sister in question is Leslie Bancroft Krichko (1980 and 1988 Winter Olympic Games), if she can sing like she can ski, then strike up the band.

This was just one of the stories as more than 160 women gathered Sunday, Feb. 1, at the New Gloucester campus

for 2004 New England Women’s Ski

Day.

“There is a real special bond when women teach women,” said Krichko. “There is something created and people relax and are able to learn. The clinics are short but even in the 45-minute time, you see people changing their form and excited about it and talking to each other about when they are going to go out. That’s what it’s all about, growing the sport.”

The New England Women’s Ski Day is in its third year and is modeled after a pair of events a world apart.

The seed was planted in Lillehammer, Norway, and picked up by Anchorage, Alaska. The organizers in Alaska accidentally planned their event for Super Bowl Sunday. It is now a tradition.

Closer to home, event founders Trina Hosmer (1972 Winter Olympics) and Anne Donaghy of the New England Nordic Ski Association kept an eye on the Alaska program and decided to start one up in New England.

“I have observed that women definitely are into fitness, but they are not cross country skiing,” Hosmer said by e-mail from Tasmania. “The number of master’s (over 30) women’s cross country skiers has not grown at all and, if anything, has declined in the years I have been competing. I had participated in a women’s only tennis clinic and I felt a model like this should work in cross country skiing as well.”

The schedule for the day included an equipment expo, the ability to “test drive” equipment, and participation in four rounds of clinics to improve technique. During lunch, attendees could learn more about nutrition and tips on waxing skis. The day ended with the relay races.

“The philosophy of the founder of this event, Trina Hosmer, is that if a woman can feel how to glide on skis rather than trudge, then they will be immediately hooked,” said Dorcas Wonsavage, Media Coordinator for NENSA.

Even with the lack of natural snow, the day drew people from all over New England.

Jessica Harold and Lindsay Nason, both seniors at Freeport High School were glad they participated.

“It’s really cool,” said Harold. “It’s awesome to talk to people at the highest level and I like to see them ski. It is a positive sport.”

“It’s nice to see everyone come together with women teaching women,” said Nason. “It’s nice to meet other people.”

“Everything is just wonderful,” said Meredith Atkinson of Massachusetts. “The group lessons, the clinics, and ability to work with and be taught by women our age is really great.”

Atkinson made the trip with three of her friends, all teachers.

“I’ve been on skies two times in my life,” said Susan Gilmore. “The first time was when I was young and it was wonderful. I didn’t come to it easy but I will practice.”

“I’m impressed with all the well-known skiers that are donating their time,” added Susan Garland.

The roster for the day was a who’s who of women’s cross-country in the United States.

“We have a distinguished group,” said Donaghy. “Dorcas Wonsavage is here (1988, 1992, 1994 Winter Olympics), Sue Long, Sally Swenson (mother of current cross-country star Carl), and Joan Benoit Samuelson.

Samuelson, the gold medalist in the first women’s marathon at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, is a student like just about everyone else.

“Having Joan here works at two levels,” said Donaghy. “One, she has the stature so that women are inspired by her and two, that she participates in the clinics with us. She is very unassuming. She is very one of us.”

Samuelson wanted to be a ski racer growing up but broke her leg. She took up running as part of her rehabilitation. The runner’s place as one of Maine’s favorite “sons” puts her in a unique position.

“That’s what’s fun,” said Donaghy. “She picked up cross-country skiing much later. Only the past 6-8 years maybe. She picked up a brand new sport. That means a lot to other women here the same age.”

“I think it’s a great day,” said Samuelson. “It brings all levels of abilities to one venue. Nordic skiing is a wonderful event. It’s a very liberating activity, especially since it is a winter sport and you know what our winters have been like the past couple of years.”

The Olympian thinks events like this are very important. Wonsavage agrees.

“It’s whole-body exercise,” said Samuelson. “You can do it with young children either in a sled or you can get your young children up on skis. It becomes a family event.”

“The cross section of people are definitely the people that we’ve been focusing on,” said Wonsavage. “Primarily mothers, so they can bring this back to their families and to their daughters. It’s a way that women can be coached by women. It’s a chance for them to see their heroines and people whom they can model themselves after. Here they are being coached by women that are healthy, fit, and have careers.”

Hosmer is proud of what she has helped start in New England but she knows there is still more work to do.

“Obviously I would like to have more women attending,” said Hosmer. “But I feel we need some kind of follow-up. We need to encourage these women to continue to keep skiing and working on their technique all winter. We need to have the same women come back year after year and bring their friends.”

Or maybe challenge their sisters.

pmullen@sunjournal.com

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