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Four skiers from GNA were fortunate enough to go to Waterville and spend the day Kris Freeman. Kris is one of the best cross-country skiers in the U.S. We left Gilford at 7:30A.M. The camp started at 10. We started with classical. There were 25 skiers there altogether from all over the state, so Kris split them up into middle school and High School groups. He spent 20 minutes with each group. While he was teaching one group the other group was free to ski. He taught us technique and when to use the different styles. With my group he taught us how to go down hills and when to kick double pole. We skied classical for 2 hours. Then we went to lunch and watched the Olympics.

We went out again at 12:30 and skate skied. When we were with Kris, Channel Nine News wanted to do a quick story on this event. So we had to ski back to the village and we were on TV. We learned 3 styles. V1, V2, and V2 alternate. V2 alternate was sort of new to us. This is when you put down your ski first, then pole. You would use this technique on the flats and short down hills. We also skate skied for 2 hours. After that, the camp was all over. But before we went, Alex and I had to get his autograph on our skis. Then Mrs. Shelly wanted to take pictures of us with Kris. She took two with everyone in it. Then a lot with just the two girls, Monica and Karianne. Then Alex, my dad, and I got in the car and drove home. It was really great to just be around somebody who is one of the best cross-country skiers in the world. This was an excellent experience and I hope to go next year if he has another clinic.

The Bill Koch Festival was held March 1,2,3, this year, at the end of the school break week. I'll remember this ski meet because I didn't ski very well. The weather was warm and rainy, the snow was soft, I fell down and I had been sick a few days before. Also my Dad was waxing my skis because Coach Alexei couldn't be there.

The festival was held a long way away in Farmington, Maine. There weren't many hotels there so we had to stay in Waterville which was a 45 min. drive away. The Hacketts and Sara Ellen Godek stayed at the same hotel. We did some swimming and played Nintendo at the hotel.

On the first day of the festival it was a bright sunny day. It was a nice day to be outside but it made the snow soft and slushy. We had the relays and sprints that day. The sprints were new this year and kind of hard because the snow was so soft. On Sunday the weather changed to rain, the course turned to puddles and it was foggy for the individual races. Kids were falling all over the place. Someone I know, Anna Marie Smith, skied by in her bathing suit! It was over her ski suit. Even though it was wet and rainy, a lot of people were there. Cross-country skiers aren't wimps! Everyone was friendly and we all had fun. And there's always next year.