Are you a disabled athlete in excellent cardiovascular condition looking for the physical and mental challenges of a lifetime? Maine Handicapped Skiing, in conjunction with Disabled Sports/USA, is sponsoring a Nordic Recruitment Camp for the U.S. Disabled Cross- Country Ski Team on Saturday, March 22, and Sunday, March 23, 2003, at Sunday River Inn and Cross-Country Ski Center in Newry, Maine.

"We are looking for a few good men and women with a genuine interest in training for the United States Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team," said Jon Kreamelmeyer, Disabled Cross-Country Head Coach of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association. The U.S. Disabled Ski Team is looking for high-functioning athletes with a desire to train for the 2006 Paralympics. According to Kreamelmeyer, the most important attributes for this training program are not cross-country skiing skills, but cardiovascular fitness and a commitment to serious training.

The two-day recruitment camp at Sunday River Inn and Cross-Country Ski Center will focus on evaluating the athletes' physical abilities, with top cross-country ski coaches working with each individual, videotaping their techniques and reviewing them, watching videos of cross-country ski athletes, and making a formal evaluation of their performance over the two-day period.

Maine is the first eastern state to host a Nordic Recruitment Camp; if enough athletes participate in the 2003 training camp, it could be the start of yearly recruitment camps in the East for the U.S. Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. The U.S. Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team presently has seven members and is looking for three more members to complete the team. The Ski Team won eight medals in the 2000 World Championships and five medals at the February 2002 Paralympics.

For complete details on the Nordic Recruitment Camp hosted by Maine Handicapped Skiing, contact Katie Boivin of MHS at 800-639-7770. Adults and children with physical disabilities who would like to learn to downhill or cross-country ski, snowboard, or snowshoe in the 2003 winter season should contact Maine Handicapped Skiing at 800-639-7770, or write:

MHS, Sunday River Ski Resort
8 Sundance Lane
Newry, ME 04261

See the MHS website at http://www.ncpad.org/673/2904/2002-11-01 or e-mail MHS at info@skimhs.org.