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Cross-country skier to compete out of coun
(by Sue Hoffman - January 12, 2011)
Cross-country skier to compete out of country
By SUE HOFFMAN
As far back as Lauren Fuhr, 14, of Bainbridge, can remember, she has been on skis. Her first experience with cross-country skiing was when she was about 3 years old, living in Vermont, she said last week.
The family eventually moved to several locations across the country before settling in Bainbridge, Fuhr, a freshman at Kenston High School, said. At each location, the family always found places to ski, she said.
"About four years ago, we found out about Hilltoppers cross-country ski team," she said. "I looked at cross-country skiing as family recreation rather than a sport, until I found the team. Being on a team made skiing so much more fun, as well as competitive."
Hilltoppers offers several levels of participation as well as competitive racing opportunities throughout the ski season, including the Nordic flurry ski races held at Chapin Forest in Kirtland.
"We've raced in the Cleveland area and Pennsylvania," Fuhr said. Over the past four years, Lauren has scored first for girls and second overall in various races.
Later this month, Fuhr and five others from Hilltoppers will compete with their global counterparts at the 2011 International Children's Games in Kelowna, British Columbia. It is the first time the Hilltoppers have competed internationally.
Only two cities from the United States will be represented at the children's games -- Cleveland and Chesterfield, Va. The U.S. teams will compete with others from Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Korea, Lithuania, Pakistan, Scotland, Slovenia and Switzerland.
The children's games aim to develop strong bonds of friendship among students ages 12 to 15 from different countries and to promote the Olympic ideal.
"Skiing has always been a big part of my life," Fuhr said. "This is such a great opportunity, and the training I've been doing to prepare myself only makes me more excited."
"Lauren has been a leader on our team and is also a very strong skier," Hilltoppers coach Tom Cook said. "We're confident she will represent both the team and our region well as she competes with athletes from around the world in Kelowna."
In the cross-country skiing competition, there will be three events -- 3.5 kilometers classic technique, 3.5 kilometers free technique and four 3.5 kilometers free-technique relays. Other sports at the games include figure skating, speed skating, hockey, curling, alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Fuhr said the Hilltoppers practice together weekly in Kirtland. In addition, she occasionally skis on the trails in back of her neighborhood, she said.
"I see myself getting better," she said. "When you're skiing, you need a lot of endurance. I try to beat my own record and challenge myself. For me skiing is less effort than running. The lightweight skis glide to help you go faster and reduce my effort."
Cross-country skiers use two different techniques -- classic and skate.
"Skate is more like Rollerblading, except with poles," she said. "Your skis are angled outward."
In classic skiing, the skis are parallel the entire time, she said. The techniques are specified in various events, and judges check that the proper technique is being used.
Generally, the Hilltoppers meet from January through March.
"Since we got snow earlier this year, we started in December," Fuhr said.
Besides skiing, Fuhr is on the Kenston tennis team in the fall, and plans to participate in track and field in the spring.
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