BETHEL — While the Bethel Outing Club was celebrating its 41st birthday, it was the young local skiers who got the gift! Billie Weisberger, Abe Crooker, Anna Szeglia, Preston Stack, Cecilia Crooker, Althea Weisberger, Will Colby, Lucy DeCato, Kristin Maikath, Gwendolyn Stack, Isla DeCato, Lillian Smith, Tess Smith, Jack Furneaux, Reece Pierce, Clark Colby, Kaiden Manjourides, Mallory Raymond and Rosie Barstow were sponsored by the BOC to attend the Bill Koch Festival the weekend of March 5th and 6th. The Bethel Outing Club generously paid the registration fee and a night’s hotel for the skiers and parents.

Saturday’s weather provided the skiers with warm temperatures and rapidly changing race conditions. Wade Kavanaugh, the chief waxer and a team of dads, kept up with the snow turning icy and prepped the skis for a day of classic relay racing for 19 skiers from kindergarten through 8th grade.

On Sunday Mother Nature turned the dial to cold and rainy. However, it didn’t stop the skiers from putting glitter on their sunburned faces and skate racing a very fast course. Visit the Bullitt Time Website at www.bullitttiming.com/events/BKL-Fest-2022 to see results.

A good time was had by all. While waiting for one’s turn to race, the skiers could try out a terrain park, obstacle course, biathlon, and more. It was a genuine festive atmosphere with music, food, vendors, giveaways, and skiers making friends. This was especially true of the middle school crowd, where many of the skiers that had been competitors during the season were now teammates representing Maine.

Congratulations to all the skiers for a successful season.