WILLOW CREEK — The Mattawamkeag River Trail Nordic Cup, which made its debut in February with 112 skiers from three states, has been formally added to the annual calendar of the New England Nordic Ski Association, organizers announced Monday.
The 10-kilometer classic-style race follows a groomed course along the river corridor, with a 5-kilometer recreational division and a 1-kilometer youth loop. The February 15 event drew participants from as far away as New Hampshire and Vermont, exceeding the organizers’ initial projection of 75 skiers.
“They didn’t just show up. They came back to ski the trail the next day,” said Julia Chen, who coordinated the event with the Mattawamkeag River Trail Association. “That’s the kind of return visitation we’re trying to build.”
The race was timed to coincide with peak snowpack, which trail groomers reported was 14 inches deep on race day. Snowfall in Aroostook County has been above average for the past two winters, a trend organizers hope will continue.
Randy Boucher, whose Irving station serves as a warming hut and registration point for winter events, said the Nordic Cup brought a welcome boost during a typically slow season. “February is usually the quietest month at the pumps and the store,” Boucher said. “Having 112 skiers and their families in town changes that equation.”
The 2027 race is scheduled for February 14, one day after the second annual Winter Carnival, creating what organizers are calling “Winter Weekend” — a back-to-back event package designed to draw overnight visitors.