Holy Angels Elementary Wins Vasa Team Cup

Fri, Feb  17, 2006 - By Pete Edwards

The North American VASA celebrated its 30th anniversary with a NEW "Participation" Award – commemorating 30 prestigious years of cross country ski racing in Northern Michigan. The North American VASA’s rich tradition of hosting some of North America’s best skiers while welcoming cross country skiers of all ages and all abilities, has contributed to 30 years of success. In recognition of this unique opportunity for recreational skiers to participate along side America’s best, the VASA Board of Directors is pleased to award "The 2006 North American VASA Team Champion Cup" to Traverse City, Michigan’s Holy Angels Elementary School. This new Team Champion Cup is a large travelling trophy that will be engraved with Holy Angels Elementary School’s name, kept by Holy Angels Elementary School for one year and then passed on to the next year’s winning school. Schools from the USA and Canada participated. Local schools with numerous student skiers included Traverse City Central, Traverse City West, Glen Lake Elementary, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School and St. Francis High School.

Cross country skiing is one of the best aerobic fitness activities in the world and the VASA Board hopes to encourage more of our youth to participate in cross country skiing. The winning team from Holy Angels Elementary School was chosen based on participation and not speed - racing was optional. Participation in any of the 2006 North American VASA cross country ski races and cross country ski tours on Saturday, Feb. 11 resulted in the Holy Angels Elementary School’s winning performance – the school with the greatest number of participants (relative to their school’s size). The emphasis was on participation – not time or length of course skied.

According to VASA Race Director Pete Edwards: "The VASA Board is extremely pleased with the huge increase in youth participation in this year’s VASA Festival of Races & Tours. We are proud to award the new VASA Championship Team Cup to Holy Angels Elementary School and anticipate a record number of students participating again next year in the 2007 North American VASA."

Northern Michigan’s ski resorts and touring centers have ski equipment rental and lesson programs to help launch new skiers of all ages successfully into the healthy pursuit of cross country skiing. For more information about learning to ski please contact Timber Ridge Campground and Resort or the Great Lakes Northern Ski Council: WWW.SKINORDIC.ORG

For more information about "The North American VASA Team Champion Cup" please contact VASA Race Director Pete Edwards by calling 231-334-3080 or by email at [email protected] or log onto the VASA website: WWW.VASA.ORG