Boss Snowplow Sponsors U.S. Nordic Championships

Tue, Dec  18, 2007 - By Dean Woodbeck

The 2008 U.S. cross country skiing championships will be a Boss event again this year.

For the second year in a row, the Boss Snowplow, based in Iron Mountain, Michigan, is the lead sponsor for the national championships, providing a major gift to the organizing committee. The event includes four ski races to be held January 1-6, 2008, at the Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center in Houghton, Michigan.

The U.S. championships will attract more than 450 skiers, including the U.S. Ski Team and members of the U.S. Olympic squads from 2002 and 2006. The event will determine the national champions in both classic and freestyle techniques, the individual sprint and the team sprint.

The Boss Snowplow has been a key partner in the development of the Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center, according to Mike Abbott, director of sports and recreation at the university.

"The company has sponsored all three national events held at the center over the past three years – the U.S. championships in 2007 and 2008 and the U.S. Junior Olympics in 2006," Abbott said. This funding has also provided for the Boss Snowplow Nordic Wax Center, which includes 10 team wax rooms and a family wax and warming facility at the trailhead.

Michigan Technological University began renovating and expanding its ski trails in 2001, with an eye toward attracting national-caliber events. The trail system is part of the university's recreational forest, which is managed with the help of the school's nationally known forestry program.

After an official training day on December 31, skiers will greet 2008 with the freestyle championship on January 1. Races continue Wednesday, January 3, with the classic event; the sprint competitions take place January 5-6.

Spectators will have the opportunity to see members of the U.S. Disabled Team, who compete on sit-ski devices, as well as many athletes who will vie for a spot on the U.S. 2010 Olympic team.

A complete schedule, along with visitor information, is available at www.seniornationals.org.