This past weekend approximately 50 cross country racers converged in our local area for a weekend of fun and racing.
Skiers ranged from the age of 12 years up to the ‘masters.’ The majority were from Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club out of Vancouver, others arrived from Seattle, Minnesota and Bellingham, as well as some independent Canadian skiers.
The Saturday races consisted of tag team racing with teams of two racers skiing 1.2 kilometers (km) for three heats. The Classic 7 km and 15 km races (single racers out in 30 second intervals) took place on Sunday.
John Bauer, US Team, four time Olympian joined Nat Brown and Dave Wood, both former Olympic coaches for the weekend as well.
Volunteers came in from Seattle; Jim Slyfield, David Steindl, Ann and Karl Watkins (KC) joined by local friends of Brown; John Akerley, John Hughes and Ernie Lawrence. Jessica Heyes did most of the invitations and made the awards presented to the racers.
“Nat is very, very good at what he has done for years,” said Ernie Lawrence, “If there is snow anywhere in the world for competition, he’s been there.”
Outside of teaching his local friends to ski and hosting Christmas or New Year ski parties for them, Brown has brought many visitors to our area.
Athletes from eight countries have dined, shopped and stayed locally while training with Nat Brown.
Since 1971 Brown has hosted summer and winter training camps for skiers on his local ranch. He began running international training camps in 1984.
Medalists from Sweden and the USA have been trained by Brown and in the local area. Imagine that—you’ve just discovered another one of Princeton’s “best kept secrets.”