Jill Piper and Mike Ring of Buckfield participate Sunday afternoon in the National Winter Trails Day at Carter’s Cross-Country Ski Canter in Bethel. The event, which offered free ski gear and trail access to first-time Nordic skiers, is intended to stimulate interest in the sport. Ring and Piper are avid Alpine skiers but found Nordic challenging. “I’ve been out here five minutes and have fallen down twice already,” Ring said. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo