The Pennsylvania Cross Country Skiers Association hosted its annual PA Nordic Championships Sunday at Wilderness Lodge in Wattsburg.

The event has races for every age and level of cross country skier--from classic races, to a 5K for beginners, and many kids races.

The big races of the day are the 10K and 20K skate races for serious competitors.

Organizers couldn't say enough about how Wilderness Lodge officials worked to keep the course in condition for the races, in spite of a lack of snow so far this winter. James South, president of the skiers association said, "They've had men out here and women working on this course, shoveling getting it ready for us, they did an amazing job and we got blessed with some extra snow today so the course is even better."

Some of the racers use this event to tune up for 50K races coming up in Canada, Lake Placid, NY, or the Birkbeiner race in Wisconsin.  "The better racers that you'll see here, this is a tuneup for them," South said, "they'll get ready to go for the big 50K and then they'll be going to other places in the country for those big ones."

About 80 competitors took part in the event.  In previous years when snow conditions have been better, the number of participants topped 130.