School kids offered free entry to cross country ski race

School kids offered free entry to world cross country ski race

Snow Farm near Wanaka hosts the Merino Muster cross country ski race on Saturday 3rd September. This is one of twenty in a global race series controlled by the Worldloppet Ski Federation, an international sports federation of cross-country skiing marathons.

Skiers from more than 20 nations will be competing at Snow Farm in 7km, 21km and 42km races and Merino Muster Ltd are offering all NZ school children the opportunity to show the rest of the world how good they are on cross country skis.

School children will receive free entry to the 7km race if they are currently in a ski programme or school ski programme at any ski field around the country.

Merino Muster race committee member John Burridge said this was a great opportunity for students to try something new and have fun competing in an event that multisport legends like Steve Gurney and Keith Murray use as part of their winter training regimes.

“The qualification for free entry means you must be part of a ski instruction programme at any New Zealand ski field. Ideally it is best at the Snow Farm ski school who are cross country skiing specialists but we realise many students are already committed to downhill fields but still have multisport ambitions,” he said.

Children can enter online via the event website www.merinomuster.com and secure free entry by entering the promo code 'YOUTH' when prompted. Free entry is also possible on the day for qualifying students.

Parents with two or more children entered who may want to join them can talk to the Snow Farm about special day rates for themselves.

Organisers strongly recommend that all those entering head up to the Snow Farm to select and test their equipment well before race day. The resort's ski school can offer advice as required.

“Merino Muster Ltd and our owners the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (PACT) appreciate that parents sometimes struggle with the cost of activites outside school. We hope that this gesture of free race entry to children who are already part of the skiing community demonstrates our appreciation of the support from the community and our very generous sponsor PACT when it purchased the Snow Farm land and passed it to QLDC to become a recreation reserve,” said John Burridge.

"Cross country skiing is a marvelous family sport that suits all ages including grandparents and there are no lift queues! The two main overnight huts have also had an upgrade if you want a family adventure prior to the race.”

"The Merino Muster needs more New Zealanders on the start line. Take the Wanaka Winter Challenge and select a race length to suit you," he said.

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