On Saturday, March 1, 2008 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, several teams will exhibit creations at the University Mall in South Burlington, VT, made for enjoying and playing in snow or ice. This is the first year for UVM Winter Sportec, the newly created community challenge open to anyone and everyone to compete for prizes.

"The teams and individuals who have taken on this challenge are to be commended," says Mike Rosen, a judge of the event and professor of mechanical engineering in the UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS). "This is our very first year for this newly created event, and that makes things challenging on every level."

UVM Sportec is sponsored by the Vermont Ski Area Association and the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA), a public charity working to enhance opportunities and to provide support for individuals with physical disabilities who wish to participate in recreational and competitive athletics.

A team of UVM professors and engineers from the community will judge presentations for each team and/or individual with a submission that might include new designs, inventions, products and equipment created to improve on a current winter sport or to create a totally new winter sport for snow or ice.

Icy Seduction, Snowballing, Bikes on Snow, Jack Jumpers, Ice King, Greenhouse Design Guild, and Down Hill Kayaking are some of the names of registered teams. Teams include both individuals and groups of people, pre-college high school students, college students, and adult non-college teams.

The purpose of UVM Sportec is to expand on Vermont winter sports, promote innovative sustainable concepts in sports technology, and promote Vermont winter fun. For more information, go to UVM Winter Sportec.