Aroostook Cup Champions of the World
Once you leave college there aren't many opportunities to compete in Nordic skiing and have it feel like a team sport. Before that you've got your school teams, and maybe you represent Maine at J2s or Eastern High School Championships, or New England at JOs. Canada has a club score at their Nationals but we don't have anything like that here in the States.
Except in the County. Our Aroostook Cup series pits all the local ski clubs against each other in a bloody, fierce, winter-long battle to the death.
Well, almost. It's actually a pretty low-key seven race series. But there's plenty of trash talking. The advantage goes to clubs with high levels of participation and a good representation of all ages. Skiers get a point for participating, one for winning their age category, and another point if they are in the top 3 overall.
Discussing my ski racing with my parents, I once said in all seriousness, "Actually, I don't think I'm a very competitive person."
HA! If there were any doubt about the falsity of that statement (and I don't think there was), this Aroostook Cup season has clarified the matter. Something about earning points for my club made everything a little more exciting and meaningful. I'd been sick all week before the Caribou Aroostook Cups but there was NO way I was going to miss those races. Nordic Heritage Sport Club was ahead, and then behind by two points. It sounded like a college team getting ready for NCAAs, "Every point counts!" And guess what?
We won! For the first time in Aroostook Cup history, Nordic Heritage Sport Club took home the win. We'll get to host the big trophy for the next year. I would especially like to congratulate all of my club-mates who've been gunning for this a lot longer than I have.
And to 10th Mountain I would like to extend a hearty handshake and "good game." What a fun season we had!
A few random highlights from the AC season...
Except in the County. Our Aroostook Cup series pits all the local ski clubs against each other in a bloody, fierce, winter-long battle to the death.
Well, almost. It's actually a pretty low-key seven race series. But there's plenty of trash talking. The advantage goes to clubs with high levels of participation and a good representation of all ages. Skiers get a point for participating, one for winning their age category, and another point if they are in the top 3 overall.
Discussing my ski racing with my parents, I once said in all seriousness, "Actually, I don't think I'm a very competitive person."
HA! If there were any doubt about the falsity of that statement (and I don't think there was), this Aroostook Cup season has clarified the matter. Something about earning points for my club made everything a little more exciting and meaningful. I'd been sick all week before the Caribou Aroostook Cups but there was NO way I was going to miss those races. Nordic Heritage Sport Club was ahead, and then behind by two points. It sounded like a college team getting ready for NCAAs, "Every point counts!" And guess what?
We won! For the first time in Aroostook Cup history, Nordic Heritage Sport Club took home the win. We'll get to host the big trophy for the next year. I would especially like to congratulate all of my club-mates who've been gunning for this a lot longer than I have.
And to 10th Mountain I would like to extend a hearty handshake and "good game." What a fun season we had!
A few random highlights from the AC season...
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