Penza, 5 January 2014. PenzaNews. Open city championship in ski racing took place at the stadium “Snezhinka” in Penza on Saturday, January 4.

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As Oleg Kulagin, Deputy Chairman of the City Committee of Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy, told news agency “PenzaNews,” over 120 people took part in the race for a distance of 3 and 5 km freestyle.

“This is a traditional event. It opens the season. Every year the tournament is becoming more widespread. Apart from the pupils of Penza sports schools, this year skiers came from Kuznetsk, Zarechny, Kamenka, Nikolsk, and Lopatino. Boys and girls, juniors, adults and veterans were fighting for the top places,” he said.

He also added that the competition is preparatory.

“We may say that to some extent it is the next step for selection to the zonal championship. We check second-by-second, and the guys who show a good time are considered as candidates in national teams,” said Oleg Kulagin.

In turn, the chief referee Sergei Mezentsev reported that a higher level competition will be held in the near future.

“Boys, girls, and men will compete for the awards at the competition of the Volga Federal District in Izhevsk on January 18–25, the race for boys will be held on January 22–26 in Tatarstan. Also the guys will take part in the regional governor’s baton, which will be held in the Kameshkirsky area on March 2,” he said.