U.S.’s Oldest Snowshoe Racing Series Returns for its 20th Season!
For the past two decades, runners from across Southern New England and the Hudson Valley have been making morning drives to Nordic ski centers and urban parks in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York to participate in the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club/Dion Snowshoe Racing Series and enjoy après-racing activities.
New to the concept of snowshoe racing and interested in running your first? There’s no better time than the present, and no need to invest in a new pair of racing snowshoes to get started. Series sponsor Dion makes several pairs available for $5 race day rental at each and every event. Just make sure to get there early enough to snag your pair!
The schedule presented here is provisional and based upon information available as of December 20th, 2014. Snow conditions do tend to fluctuate through an average New England winter, so check in regularly at www.runwmac.com/snowshoes/default.html throughout the season for possible revisions and cancellations.
Hilltop Nordic Center
Date: December 27, 2014
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Hilltop Nordic Center, Richmond, Mass.
Distance: 5K
Located a stone’s throw from the New York State border, the season opener is a good option for Hudson Valley residents looking for a first snowshoe race. Travel time from Albany is 40 minutes, from Poughkeepsie 80 minutes, from Newburgh one hour and 40 minutes, and from The City around three hours.
Host venue goodies from Hilltop Orchards/Furnace Brook Winery included with pre-registration include a wine tasting and cider doughnut. And the grounds really are a hilltop, so barring nasty weather race participants will partake in some big views of the surrounding mountains and hills.
TBA
Date: January 4, 2015
Starting time: 10:30 AM
Location: vicinity of Savoy/Hawley, Mass.
Distance: 4 miles
Mount Prospect
Date: January 11, 2015
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Prospect Mountain Cross-Country Ski Center, Woodford, Vt.
Distance: 5K
Hosted by the Prospect Mountain Nordic Ski Center located just east of Bennington on the Molly Stark Trail, this and the February 22 and March 8 races are an easy morning drive from anywhere within the Capital District, as well as a short trip up from the Pioneer Valley (90 minutes driving from Northampton).
Hoot Toot and Whistle
Date: January 24, 2015
Starting time: 10:30 AM
Location: Readsboro Central School, Readsboro, Vt.
Distance: 5K
This year’s Hoot, Toot, and Whistle race begins at the Readsboro Central School alongside the scenic Deerfield River near the Vermont/Massachusetts border.
Sidehiller
Date: January 25, 2015
Starting time: 11:00 AM
Location: Sandwich Fair Grounds, Center Sandwich, N.H.
Distance: 4 miles
Saratoga Winterfest
Date: February 1, 2015
Starting time: 11:00 AM
Location: Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Distance: 5K
Northfield Mountain
Date: February 7, 2015
Starting time: 9:00 AM
Location: Northfield Mountain Visitors Center, Northfield, Mass.
Distance: 5 miles
The Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area on the left bank of the Connecticut River plays host to this five miler.
Notchview Reservation
Date: February 14, 2015
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Notchview Reservation, Windsor, Mass.
Events: 3-person 1,000 meter relay race; children’s obstacle course
Situated in the Hilltowns region of Western Mass, the Trustees’ of Reservations Notchview property provides 16 kilometers of trails groomed for classical Nordic skiing, 11 kilometers of trails groomed for skate skiing, and a 2 kilometer skijoring loop. Snowshoeing is permitted alongside any ski trail.
Race events include a three-person adult relay and a children’s obstacle course. Race registration includes a day pass to the property, which will have a bonfire on display and hot cider and snacks on offer.
[vimeo 88324397]Camp Saratoga
Date: February 15, 2015
Starting time: 10:30 AM
Location: Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Wilton, N.Y.
Distance: 5 miles
Mount Prospect
Date: February 21, 2015
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Prospect Mountain Cross-Country Ski Center, Woodford, Vt.
Distance: 10K
Brave the Blizzard
Date: February 22, 2015
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Guilderland Elementary School, Guilderland, N.Y.
Distance: 5K
The little-known pine barren and sand dune environment between Albany and Schenectady gets a little well-deserved attention by way of the Brave the Blizzard race.
Mount Prospect
Date: March 8, 2015
Starting time: 10:00 AM
Location: Prospect Mountain Cross-Country Ski Center, Woodford, Vt.
Distance: TBD
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