FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Northwoods Nordic Ski Club, Race Committee

DATE: January 13, 2021

Northwoods Nordic Ski Club has decided to cancel the 2021 Hodag Challenge Cross Country Ski Race based on the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic in Oneida County and Wisconsin. We do not believe we can hold a High School or Middle School event that provides the necessary safeguards to the participants, parents, coaches, and especially our volunteers.

Extensive planning had been made incorporating U.S. Ski and Snowboard (USSS) recommendations for holding the race during the Covid-19 pandemic, including appointing a Covid-19 Coordinator for the Club. We have consulted with the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) and incorporated the recommendation to use an 8% or less positivity testing rate (which is a measure of the infection rate in the community) in order to hold the race. Based on the current positivity of 16.4, the decision has been made to cancel the race.

We wish the best to other race organizations as they move forward with their events. We will be back next year under better circumstances.