Dear Bill Koch Festival Skiers and Families,

After spending the weekend getting updated weather and trail information,
we had another conference call tonight to talk about contingency plans for
the festival next weekend.

At this point, we are moving ahead with plans to move the festival to
Starks Hill in Fryeburg, Maine.  If we do get enough snow from a possible
mid-week storm, we will assess whether we can move back to Pineland, but
at this point, we are putting all of the plans in place to run the
festival in Fryeburg.

I skied at the trails in Fryeburg this morning and they have good snow
that will definitely make it through the week.  This winter, this location
has been the primary location for many of our local high school and middle
school races, including the state middle school championship and the
Western Maine high school championship.

The snow is great in Fryeburg, but the infrastructure is certainly not as
good as at Pineland.  We are working on plans for shelter and parking. The
stadium area is great, with plenty of room for district tents and a great
spectating area for the relay and individual events.  The courses are
spectator friendly.

The festival headquarters will remain in the Freeport/Yarmouth area.  The
drive from the hotels in Freeport to Fryeburg is one hour and twenty
minutes (I timed it today!).  We will have the best directions for you
both on the website and in your packets.

Because of the additional travel time, we have decided that we will start
the races a bit later in the day.  Details of the schedule will be posted
later this week on the website.  We have also decided to change the format
for Saturday's relay to a freestyle race instead of classic.  The Sunday
race will remain a freestyle individual race.

The Festival Organizing Committee is committed to putting on a quality
festival and snow conditions are the key to a fun weekend.  This move to
Fryeburg will ensure that we have the snow we need.

Thanks for your patience as we get ready for the weekend.  I will keep you
posted throughout the week.

Ted Hall
Festival Co-chair