NEWRY, Maine ??” Telemark skiers and those wishing to learn will gather at Sunday River on the weekend of Feb. 25-26 for the 4th Annual Maine Telemark Festival. The event is organized by New England Telemark, a group of telemark instructors dedicated to the teaching of the telemark turn who host similar events throughout the Northeast. This free event offers testing of the newest gear from many telemark gear manufacturers, a variety of clinics for all abilities, and opportunities to compete.

“Telemark festivals are a great opportunity for telemark skiers to come together and share a good time, said Biff Higgison, Co-Director of New England Telemark. “There has always been something about telemark that just makes you want to “share the vibe” and at the festival we really do our best to make sure that vibe is a great one.”

The festival will be based out of Sunday River’s White Cap Lodge. The three competitions consist of a mogul event on the Tempest trail, slopestyle event in the Rocking Chair terrain park, and a best costume contest.

“Folks are encouraged to wear costumes and the free demos and clinics can’t be beat. This year we are bringing back the mogul contest (last year it was a halfpipe) and will once again be presenting the only true eastern telemark slopestyle championship. Some fine athletes from as far away as Oregon will be competing. There’s fantastic prizes including over $1000 cash, great raffles and a big party Saturday afternoon,” said Higgison.

Clinic options offered at the festival include a crossover clinic designed for alpine skiers, women’s clinics, mogul clinics, adventure clinics, and clinics designed for various sorts of snow conditions. All clinics are 90 minutes long and are free. Start times are 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 25 Thumper’s Nightclub in the White Cap Lodge will host a Bud Light Concert Series show by Medeski Martin & Wood. Concert tickets and weekend lodging packages are available by calling (800) 543-2SKI. More information on the 4th Annual Maine Telemark Festival is available at www.sundayriver.com and www.netelemark.com.