Let it Snow
CAN THE CRAFTSBURY OUTDOOR
CENTER PULL OFF THE SUPERTOUR
FINALS AFTER A WARM WINTER?
By Tim Reynolds
The bookends of the winter are a precarious time to
host races in New England. There might be great skiing
in November, like this year, and no snow for most of De-
cember. Or there could be Nor’easters dumping powder
across the region in April, like last year. Or, like this year,
there might be summer-like conditions in March.
So it’s no surprise that New England venues aren’t will-
ing to host big races too early or too late in the season
— unless that venue happens to be the Craftsbury Out-
door Center.
This year, the rustic ski center in Vermont’s Northeast
Kingdom opened the nordic season for New England,
saw high-level races moved to its trails mid-season, and
plans to close the winter out this week with the SuperTour
Finals and Long Distance National Championships.
That is, unless the Vermont weather has anything to say
about it.
In early December, the Outdoor Center, with the help
of a recently installed snowmaking system, managed to
pull off the Eastern Cup Openers on a scant 1.6-kilome-
ter loop. They were one of a few venues open for cross
country skiing in New England at that time — if not the
only venue.
In what has been a frustrating winter season for the whole
region, Craftsbury has, in large part due to its snowmak-
ing capacity, managed to maintain solid skiing conditions.
More than 400 competitors are expected at Craftsbury’s Super Tour Finals.
KRIS DOBIE
