Adk Tour Du Ski coming to Tupper Saturday

by Dan McClelland

For the second time in as many years, the Adk Tour du Ski returns to the James C. Frenette recreational trails this Saturday. If last year’s first-time event was any indication, the event should draw many to the popular local trail system on the golf course. It starts at 10a.m. that day.

The regional six-site nordic event now draws skiers of all ages into friendly competition around the North Country. It features race classes from youngsters and seniors- and everyone in between.

This weekend will be Tupper’s turn to host the growing evening.

The event opened on December 15 at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. A second one at Scotts Cobble Nordic Center was almost cancelled because of unseasonably warm December weather and rain, but volunteers shoveled enough snow onto the trails to hold it.

The third race in the series was January 11- an evening ski at Dewey Mountain and the fourth is our race Saturday.

The Adirondack Mountain Club will host the fifth February 22 at its Cascade Welcome Center and the final event is at the Paul Smith’s Visitor Center on March 8.

The event organizer this year is Julianne Stemp.

“This is just a fun race series that really brings the entire Nordic community of our region together,” noted Councilman John Gillis, who was in on the planning of the event from the start last year and who continues to help direct the races.

“We’re hoping for 100 or more skiers for our second event here,” he told the Free Press Friday. “-And the weather looks good for skiing Saturday, with the mercury in the mid-20s.”

Although John and his local team can always use a few extra volunteers to stage the race, many of the people who run the other races in the series, are often in the wings to help if needed.

“Earlier we put out a call for volunteers, but the way we’re running the race this year, we don’t need a ton of people.”

Having a race director this year- Ms. Stemp, who is with the New York State Ski Education Foundation, is also very important to the staging of each event, he noted.

The skiers, depending on their ages, will be tested against different length courses- from once around the Lollipop trail which is a third of a mile for the youngest skiers to three times around the entire trail system for a 10K loop.

Last year’s Adk Tour du Ski drew over 70 skiers, and Mr. Gillis is hopeful they’ll top 100 this time.

Spectators and supporters are encouraged to attend the free outdoor event. Many of the age classes will repeat the Lollipop loop that comes out each loop near the main entrance to the trail system, so it will be stadium viewing for the most part. The 10K racers will start and finish there and pass it twice during their race.