NWVT goes international! Kevin Bessett skied into the Keskinada World Loppet with high expectations. This is a 50km freestyle race outside of Ottawa, Canada and draws around 500 competitors from all over. The course was challenging, fast and fun with narrow trails hills and plenty of V2 terrain to power through. The race went well for Kevin as he was able to keep his competition in sight, and worked to stay with them for the entire race. As with any field this size, there was some congestion but Kevin seized any opportunity to get around it and finished strong in 2:50:55 and 87th place. This is the fastest marathon time posted by a NWVT member this year; bettering the previous, also set by Kevin, in the Lake Placid Loppet by about 13 minutes. Some other club members raced the Maple Onion 15km freestyle at Morse Farm. This was a small but very competitive and exciting race. The course was a 5km figure 8 done three times. Generally flat with a little powder mixed in with hard crusty snow made for a very fast and responsive course. Future NWVT star Tyler Magnan placed second over all well ahead of the field with a time of around 45 mins. Next for the club was Damian Bolduc finishing in 12th with a 52 mins. It was a battle of guts between Damian and his little brother Andre' who finished about a minute behind in 13th place. "He was glaring in my rear view the entire race like a pair of high-beams. Behind me but too close for comfort." stated an exhausted Damian at the end of the race. Andre', future club prospect skiing for B.F.A. finished 11 in the div. 1 Skate States last weekend. Larry Martell skating for the first time in years followed, winning the most exciting sprint finish of the day in 56 mins.