JUST FOUND OUT I MADE THE US NATIONAL SNOW SHOE TEAM!!!! GOING THROUGH MY EMAILS.... THEY CREATED A MASTERS DIVISION (first year) AND THERE I AM!!! DOIN THE HAPPY DANCE, DOIN THE HAPPY DANCE, DOIN THE HAPPY DANCE!!! AND KINDA CRYING AT THE SAME TIME :) :) :) GOOD MORNING TO YOU TO GOD!!!! (THIS IS A COPY N PASTE OF THE ORIGINAL LETTER- kind of distorted) ************************************************************ Welcome to the First-Ever 2014 U.S. National Masters Snowshoe Team! Dear National Masters Snowshoe Team Member, The United States Snowshoe Association’s BORAD (Board of Regional Athletic Delegates) just recently approved the addition of a National Masters Snowshoe Team to the USSSA’s National Snowshoe Championship Program. By virtue of your outstanding performance at the recent 14th Annual US Snowshoe Associations’ 2014 Dion Snowshoes U.S. National Snowshoe Championships recently held at the Prospect Mountain Ski Center in Woodford, VT almost two weeks ago, I am pleased to welcome you to the first-ever 2014 U.S. National Masters Snowshoe Team. This inaugural US National Masters Snowshoe Team includes: Women Men Anita Ortiz CO Kelly Mortenson MN Karen Simmonds-Brady NY James Pawlicki MA Jennifer Chaudoir WI Dave Dunham MA My name is Mark Elmore. I have served as the USSSA’s Sports Director since 2001 and founded the U.S. National Snowshoe Team program in 2002. I am very pleased to serving once again as the National Snowshoe Team Director. It is going to be a very exciting year ahead of us. You may be asking yourself, “So, I’ve made the U.S. National Masters Snowshoe Team, now what’s in it for me?” A very natural question. As a national snowshoe team member you’ll be eligible to receive team apparel and gear that the USSSA is able to secure through various sponsorships. I realize many of you are already sponsored by snowshoe companies and apparel/footwear providers. We certainly do not intend to put you in conflict with any existing sponsorships you might already individually enjoy. The USSSA is working hard to attract new team sponsors all the time. This past season the team enjoyed support from NEOS Overshoes, Auclair Gloves, The Rudy Project, and Thorlo Socks. Now that we are expanding our national team from 16 athletes to 22 athletes, I will be checking with all team sponsors to confirm that they will continue to support our growing team of elite snowshoe athletes. I am always searching for other potential sponsors who will provide team members with product, support and services. Should you know of any such potential sponsors you think might be interested in partnering with the USSSA, please let me know and I’ll follow up with them. So, later in 2014 I will contact each of you to ask that you send me various apparel and footwear sizes. I will then need each of you to reply back to me asap so I can order your items. Over the course of the next six months or so, I’ll keep you posted as to who comes on board as our 2014 team sponsors. Those of you new to the team this season can expect to see your team ‘kits’ arriving around Thanksgiving to early December 2014. Just in time for you to begin using your team items as the 2014-2015 season kicks off. Also, should the USSSA decide to coordinate trips to major international and/or domestic snowshoe events as a group, members of the National Team are invited first. Unfortunately, the USSSA does not have the resources to assist members with their major travel expenses, but there could be other assistance you can receive by traveling with us as part of our group. Most major international race committees assist incoming international athletes with various other minor expenses to help reduce your traveling costs. We’ll keep you all posted regarding these possible major events as details become more available as the next season approaches. One event I can mention to you is the 2015 ISSF World Snowshoe Championships that will take place in early February 2015 in Quebec City Canada as part of the 2015 International Masters World Winter Games. We do expect to lead a group of US snowshoe athletes there. I hope you’ll consider joining us, especially considering as this event is geared towards the “Masters” athlete and the ISSF is expected to expand its age groups to include not only the Masters (40-49) but also a Veteran (50-59) and Senior (60+) category next season. The top 5 in each age group will receive awards at the 2015 ISSF World Snowshoe Championships. . Finally, as a national team member you now enjoy lifetime automatic eligibility to participate in the National Snowshoe Championships each season. You do not need to travel to regional qualifying events to ‘qualify’ to compete in the National Championships. As long as your USSSA membership is current each season, you have automatic eligibility to compete at the NC’s. In 2015, the USSSA’s 15th Annual National Snowshoe Championships will be held at the Lowes Creek County Park in Eau Claire, WI the weekend of Friday-Sunday February 27th- March 1st, 2015. Well, I guess that’s it for now. Again, congratulations and welcome to the finest team of winter endurance athletes the Country has to offer. You are in elite company and we are very pleased and proud of each of you. Should you have any questions or suggestions, please do not ever hesitate to contact me. I am available to you 24/7/365 at 518-420-6961 or at usssasnowshoeguy@gmail. I am proud to once again call myself your team director and I look forward to serving you this season. Sincerely, Mark Elmore Mark Elmore USSSA Sports Director USSSA National Snowshoe Team Director
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 12:50:41 +0000
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