Sofia BSF
BSF Nordic skier Sofia Shomento (front), shown here racing in the 2015 Junior National Championships, will be among the local skiers competing at Lindley Park.
Come out and cheer on our local Nordic athletes as they strive to qualify for the
Junior National Cross Country Championships
BOZEMAN, MT – Bridger Ski Foundation will host the third and final Junior National Qualifier for the Intermountain Nordic Division on February 13 – 14 at the Lindley Ski Trails in Bozeman. More than 250 athletes, ages 8 to 20, from 17 ski clubs and universities from MT, ID, UT, and WY are expected to compete.
If you haven’t seen Nordic sprint races before, the heats and finals are fast and exciting to watch. On Saturday, the Lindley trails will offer great spectating as skiers wind through the 1.6 km course and sprint up the final hill to the finish.
Where to watch: Start and finish area will be at the Lindley Center, 1102, E. Curtiss St.
The course is on the Lindley ski trails just off Highland St., between the hospital and Lindley Center. Cowbells encouraged.
Race Schedule: (complete schedule available on race website)
Saturday, February 13 The Skate Sprints
9:00 a.m. Individual Sprint Qualifying Races
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Elimination heats and finals
Sunday, February 14 Mass Start Classic Races
8:30 a.m. Youngest athletes (1 – 3 km)
10:00 a.m. Older athletes (5 – 10 km)
Parking: Spectator parking is available in the northwest corner of the Bozeman Health parking lot near the corner of Ellis St and Old Highland Blvd.
Qualification info: These are the season’s final races for skiers ages 14 years and older to qualify for the Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships in Cable, Wisconsin. Skiers earn points in each race, and the top skiers will represent the Intermountain Division at Nationals. The Intermountain Division team will be announced at the conclusion of the races on Sunday.
Fun facts:
- More than 100 volunteers will be on site to make these races happen.
- Many local businesses have donated time, money, equipment, and food/beverages for the races.
- Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) groomers and volunteers have been prepping this site for two-plus months. This included “farming snow,” using a bobcat with a snowblower attachment and a bobcat bucketloader, to keep plenty of snow on the course and make it weatherproof.
- The Lindley ski trails are a historic part of the Nordic ski culture in Bozeman. Volunteers began grooming trails at this site in the 1950s.
- Bridger Ski Foundation is a USSA Certified Gold Club—come see why: from our amazing volunteers, to the community support, to the coaches and athletes.
Race website: http://www.bridgerskifoundation.org/bozeman-joq/
Special thanks to our local race sponsors: Bidegary Law, C & H Engineering, Homewood Suites, Jimmy John’s, Mackenzie River, Rockford Coffee, Sola Café, Lockhorn Cider, and the Wild Crumb.
