The USSSA to Offer All-Military Snowshoe Racing Division at Frisco Champs

The United States Snowshoe Association, established in 1977, is pleased to announce that it will continue to offer the All-Military Division as part of their 2012 Dion Snowshoes U.S. National Snowshoe Championships in Frisco, Colorado, February 24-26, 2012.

Any current member of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is welcome to participate in the National Snowshoe Championships representing their branch of the military. Senior men and women (athletes ages 20+) compete over a snowy 10km cross-country course on snowshoes. Military athletes need to be a current USSSA member, but do not need to qualify at a regional qualifying event.

Military athletes enjoy automatic eligibility to compete in the championships. The top five overall male and female military finishers will earn individual awards. Also, there is a coveted team award in this division. Athletes from the same branch of service may enter a team (comprised of at least three members) to compete against all other military teams for the prestigious “Rogers’ Rangers Cup.” This perennial award is named in recognition of the historic “Battle on Snowshoes” during America’s French and Indian War, which took place in March 1758 in upstate New York. The winning  men’s and women’s teams will each be awarded this handsome Cup, which they can then hold and display for a year – returning it to the following years’ National Championship site.

At the 2010 PowerSox U.S. National Snowshoe Championships held at Highland Forest Park just outside of Syracuse, N.Y., four U.S. Army soldiers competed and acquitted themselves most admirably. Robert Olsen placed 53rd overall, Thomas Scott (72nd), Miguel Contreras (73rd) and Scott Sperling (95th). All four soldiers were members of the renowned 10th Mountain Division stationed at nearby Fort Drum near Watertown, NY.

At the 2011 Dion Snowshoes U.S. National Snowshoe Championships at the Lakewoods Resort in Cable, Wis., one male and two female military athletes tested themselves against the demanding Lakewoods 10km course. Army Staff Sergeant Jon Dyck of Ankeny Iowa won the men’s division and Air Force Staff Sergeant Cheryl Moore of Mountain Home Idaho narrowly edged U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Lisa Beck of Quantico Virginia for the women’s title.

The 2012 National Snowshoe Championships will be conducted at Summit High School in Frisco Colo., February 24-26, 2012. The senior men’s and women’s 10km National Championship races will take place Saturday morning February 25. Military athletes from all over the country will hopefully make the trek to Frisco to represent their branch of the U.S. Armed Forces in this annual test on snow honoring “the snowshoe,” which played such a vital role in many of our country’s early military campaigns and victories.

It is the USSSA’s plan that this division of competition will develop into a showcase of the athletic prowess possessed by the men and women of our U.S. Armed Forces.

For additional information please contact the USSSA’s Sports Director at 518-420-6961 or by e-mail at usssasnowshoeguy@gmail.com. For more information about the USSSA, visit http://www.snowshoeracing.com.

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