Skinnyski.com is proud to announce its 2002-03 racing team. The Skinnyski.com team will retain members from last year, including Brian May, the 2002 North American Orienteering Champion, Per Nelson, Ben Popp, the 2002 two-man RAAM champion, Jay Richards, second overall in MNSCS MTB series, Abbi May, and Jill Troutner. The team will also be expanding by six new members: three women and three men.

On the women's side, the team has added some great rising stars. Former St. Olaf skier Sonja Bostrom, a top 15 finisher at US Nationals, will bring considerable speed to the team. Josie Nelson, winner of the 2002 Mora Vasaloppet 30 KM Classic, and Margie Tilman, will help round out perhaps the premier women's team in the Midwest.

On the men's side, the new additions include Grant Nelson and Dave Nelson, winners of the Duluth Adventure race, and John Munger, a member of the record setting 2002-24 Hours of Telemark team.

Skinnyski.com will again be the leading sponsor. However, this year we are excited to welcome three new sponsors on board. A global leader in nutrition, Enervit has signed on as a primary sponsor of the team. While Enervit is fairly new in the United States, it has long been a favorite in pro cycling circles. Supporting sponsors include Rudy Project and Yoko/Toko. F.I.T. Systems will come on board as the managing organization to run the team and provide race support. This season, each skier will be skiing for a "home shop" that they have chosen as their home base for equipment and products for racing. Additionally, the team will be sporting new warm-ups from Swix.

The team will continue its focus to help promote Nordic skiing, while providing a supported race team for those interested in continuing to improve their racing skills. The team has a preliminary schedule as follows; however don't be surprised to see one or two members at any given race this winter:

• Dec 14-15 Snowflake Opener, Duluth, MN
• Jan 1 New Years Day Race, St. Paul, MN
• Jan 11-12 24 Hours of Telemark, Cable, WI
• Jan 25-26 Ski Games at Battle Creek, St. Paul, MN
• Feb 1 City of Lakes Loppet, Minneapolis, MN
• Feb 9 Mora Vasaloppet, Mora, MN
• Feb 22 American Birkebeiner, Hayward, WI

For additional information about the team, call 651-253-2488, e-mail us at [email protected] or go online at www.skinnyski.com.

Team Sponsors

• Enervit® is the Italian leader in food supplements for sports and active life. It is well known for its quality and advanced research in nutrition and diet for sportsmen, both professionals and amateurs. Enervit's mission is to satisfy, in the nutrition field, the needs of active people. Ask your local retailers or go online at www.enervitamerica.com for product information and availability. Contact: www.enervitamerica.com
• The Toko Nordic Wax and Tool line offers a mix of simplicity and performance. Contact: www.tokous.com
• Rudy Project designs and manufactures hi-tech sunglasses, goggles, helmets and accessories using the application of science, advanced materials and computer technology to create functional, aesthetically superior and technologically advanced products. Contact: www.rudyprojectusa.com
• F.I.T. Systems aims to offer a wide variety of services from elite level coaching of Olympic hopefuls, to helping the beginner get comfortable on skis, to helping age-group masters create and implement a training program to make sure they reach their goals. Contact: www.enduranceathlete.com