FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2006
For more information, contact:
Laurie Ferris – PR Coordinator
Jackson Ski Touring Foundation
Laurie Ferris
Joint Marketing Services
P.O. Box 577
Conway, NH 03818
(603) 447-3659 or jms@ncia.net
CROSS COUNTRY SKIER MAGAZINE NAMES THOM PERKINS OF JACKSON SKI TOURING ONE OF ITS NORDIC HEROES
Jackson, NH – In celebration of its 25th year anniversary, Cross Country Skier magazine presented its list of the twenty-five most influential people in the sport of Nordic skiing in the December 2005 issue. Thom Perkins, Executive Director of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation for the past 30 years was named one of the magazine’s “Nordic Heroes”.
Perkins started skiing in 1952, before the age of three. His accomplishments over the years have included certification as a PSIA Instructor and Examiner, Director of the Blackberry River Touring Center Ski School in Connecticut, President of CCSAA (Cross Country Ski Areas Association) from 1981-1983, a member of the state-wide Trails Advisory Committee appointed by the Governor in the 1980’s and currently a board member SKI NH, a statewide ski area organization and Board member emeritus of CCSAA.. Perkins has also been the Chief of Competition for many major cross country ski events including NCAA National Championships in 1984 and 1995, FIS races in 1987 and 1988, the World Championships for Disabled Skiers in 1990 and the Junior Olympics, hosted by Jackson Ski Touring in 2000.
When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Perkins replied “What I feel the best about is the fact that so many people enjoy coming here to Jackson to ski. It comes down to feeling good about the end result - a positive recreational experience for folks, versus the facility which is just a means to the ends. People work very hard and have complicated lives. They come here to enjoy and rejuvenate. We’re social therapists, helping people to get away from the stresses of their daily routines so they can go back, refreshed and renewed to do society’s work”.
Under Perkins' leadership, Jackson Ski Touring has grown to a world-renowned touring center that has repeatedly been voted the number one cross country ski center in the East by Snow Country and Cross Country Skier magazine.
The Jackson Ski Touring Foundation is a community based nonprofit organization, chartered to maintain trails in and around the village of Jackson, New Hampshire and to provide winter recreational and educational opportunities for all. The “Foundation” maintains 156 km of cross-country ski trails, with state-of-the-art grooming on trails designed to suit every taste and ability level. Foundation trails also connect with A.M.C. trails in Pinkham Notch and White Mountain National Forest backcountry adventure trails. Detailed information about trails, rates, programs, events, clinics and more can be found at the Foundation web site at www.jacksonxc.org. Further information can also be obtained by calling 603-383-9355 or 1-800-X-C-SNOWS (1-800-927-6697).
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