Skiing is a lifetime sport, and getting started at a young age opens many decades of healthy fun with friends and family.

That key point will be a focus of Regis Tremblay's Kids First in Sports radio program on WJAB 1440 AM and 95.5 FM on Saturday, Dec. 16, when the subject turns to skiing and snowboarding.

Regis Tremblay (head partially turned away from camera) is the host of the Kids First in Sports radio show on WJAB 1440 AM and 95.5 FM, which will focus on skiing on Sat., Dec. 16

Regis is the founding director of the Center for Kids First, a non-profit foundation that aims to keep children's sports focused on the needs of children.

Those who've heard the show know that Regis often "rants" against adults who have hijacked many competitive kids sports, such as baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

He prefers to emphasize broad-based participation in healthy lifetime activities. And skiing and snowboarding fit the bill perfectly.

Skiing is a lifetime sport, and learning at a young age opens decades of healthy fun with friends and family. These kids, from the Portland Ski Club, were learning the rudiments of cross-country skiing last winter
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The Ski Bum has helped Regis assemble a topnotch panel of experts on Maine skiing for his show, which airs between 8-10 a.m.

Carla Marcus is the executive director of WinterKids, a non-profit that aims to get children outdoors in Maine's cold-weather months.

Sukie Benoit represents the Portland Ski Club, which sponsors a city-wide middle school nordic team. Call her at 774-7478.

Although it is nominally devoted to competition, the Portland Ski Club emphasizes broad-based participation and inclusiveness. Coach Anna Louise Hanley stresses that the real prizes are the lifestyle benefits of participation -- benefits which last a lifetime.

Portland Ski Club coach Anna Louise Hanley, a former Division I nordic competitor (far right), instructs a team that represents all three of the City of Portland's middle schools
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Every kid was a winner at the Portland Ski Club's awards dinner last spring
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Jackie Roux represents the Windham Recreation Department, which runs family and youth ski/snowboard trips to Shawnee Peak.

Jack Manheimer represents the United States of America Snowboard Association, which runs the biggest and most broad-based snowboard competition in all ages, from youth categories to grand old-timer riders.

Greg Sweetser is the executive director of Ski Maine, which represents all the important ski and snowboard mountains and cross-country centers.

Three kids will also join us on the air. Two are on the Portland Ski Club team, while the third represents recreational alpine skiing.

That's Saturday morning, 8-10 a.m. on WJAB 1440 AM and 95.5 FM. Regis Tremblay's Kids First in Sports radio program.

Extra Bonus: Regis will also give away four lift tickets to Shawnee Peak at about 9 a.m.

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