Telemark finals coming to Whitefish

Organizers of the 2010 Telemark National Championships are gearing up for the event, which will be held at Whitefish Mountain Resort March 18-21.

Local members of the U.S. National Telemark team are holding a fundraiser at the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish on Jan. 27. The band Moonshine Mountain will perform and there will be a silent auction and a raffle.

The championship races are expected to attract about 40 racers and their families from across the country.

The event will feature several local members of the U.S. National Team.

They include four-time national women’s champion Kelsey Schmid-Sommer along with Peter McMahon and David Hobbs, all of Whitefish. Eric Lamb of Boulder, Colo., was raised  and raced in Whitefish for many years.

Cole Schneider of Whitefish recently was named to the newly formed U.S. Regional Team.

The championships will offer races for all levels of telemark skiers, from novice to expert, in a variety of race categories.

Volunteers are being recruited to help with race organization and logistics.

Each volunteer will receive a lift tickets on race day as well as a ticket voucher for another day of skiing.

Those interested should contact Linda Hobbs, U.S. Telemark Skiing Association administrator, at 862-3303.