Teams sought for first ever ‘Vitalympics’ event

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New Richmond’s Vitality Initiative is planning a winter event to help area residents cure their cabin fever.

The first ever “Vitalympics” is planned for Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Starr Elementary School fields.

Teams of five to 10 people are encouraged to register for the event. Businesses, organizations, families, neighborhoods and others are invited to gather up a team and compete. All ages are welcome to participate, although every team must have at least two adults on the roster.

Teams will compete in a total of 10 events during the afternoon, including snow golf, turkey ice bowling, Frisbee toss, snowshoe and sledding relays, broom ball skill relay, Klondike race and snowball toss.

Teams will vie for points at each station and the team with the most points at the end of the competition will be awarded a Vitalympics championship trophy.

Registration forms are available at Friday Memorial Library, Community Education, Civic Center, The Centre, New Richmond Parks Department and New Richmond News.

The Vitalympics will be held in conjunction with the annual Fire & Ice event, sponsored by Messes and Masterpieces. Fire & Ice, which offers outdoor activities for youngsters and families, will run from 2 to 5 p.m. that day.

Vitalympics spokesperson Dave Mehls said the idea for the local event developed over time and was sparked by interest in New Richmond to offer some winter activities for area residents.

The event is patterned after a community competition held in Osceola several years ago, where teams participated in fun events and gathered points toward an overall championship.

“The goal of the event is to create a fun, community event that brings people together for a day or two during the winter,” he said. “Maybe over time, with enough interest and community involvement, we can create an atmosphere similar to Fun Fest, only in February.”

Another goal, Mehls said, fits in with the Vitality Initiative’s misson.

“It will provide the physical activity aspect that we’re striving for with the Vitality group,” he said.

Mehls said he hopes other groups or winter outdoor enthusiasts will eventually become a part of the Vitalympics and new events can be added in future years.

Tags: new richmond, news, vitality, health