AUGUSTA -- Bill Rogers looks at the 260 acres of city-owned land between Bond Brook and the Augusta State Airport and sees, amid the trees, hills, and rutted trails tucked neatly into the otherwise urban area, something he thinks could bring the world's attention to Augusta.

And better health to the community's residents and its economy.

Rogers, a local orthopedic surgeon and official with the International Skiing Federation, believes the land could be home to a world-class, internationally-sanctioned cross-country ski race center.

And that could bring a World Cup ski race to Augusta, along with hundreds of racers and a television audience including millions of Europeans, Rogers told local business leaders at a recent Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

The terrain required to have an internationally-sanctioned race course is already there, Rogers said, including a substantial hill to provide climbs and descents for racers, and a large, flat, open area for spectators, a lodge, and enough room for a group start of skiers. The land is there, it just needs to be developed with trails.

"The terrain actually stacks up very well, it's excellent," Rogers said. "We would be able to host pretty much any event. There is plenty of opportunity."

What's missing, so far anyway, is the money.

It'd take just under $1 million to create a center, Rogers said, and about $100,000 a year to run it.

The $1 million cost would include a lodge, trail development, snowmaking equipment, snowmobiles for maintenance, timing huts, and other infrastructure.

Rogers said local attorney Mike Seitzinger, an advocate for recreational use of the city's land, is working on setting up a nonprofit corporation to raise funds for recreational development of the Bond Brook area.

Rogers said a major ski race could bring 350 to 600 ski racers to Augusta for seven to nine days.

A junior race could bring about 400 teenage racers to Augusta for two days. The racers alone would likely pay a total of about $24,000 in race fees, and another $75,000 to $100,000 for lodging and food during a stay.

And World Cup races could bring Augusta exposure by bringing European television coverage. While not a popular spectator sport in the United States, television coverage of Nordic skiing and biathlon racing draws millions of European viewers a winter. Biathlon combines rifle shooting and cross country skiing.

"I think it's a wonderful idea for filling out the part of the year we'd love to fill, economically," said Alec Rogers, co-owner, with his wife Julie, of the Quality Inn & Suites Maine Evergreen Hotel on Whitten Road.

The Augusta center could be modeled after cross-country ski racing facilities run by Maine Winter Sports Center, which has hosted major international races in Presque Isle and Fort Kent.

"We've had a lot of success in our first eight years, attracting races to Maine," Andy Shepard, president of Maine Winter Sports Center, said Wednesday. "The World Cup in 2004 drew 20,000 spectators and another 51 million people watched on TV, around the world."

Maine Winter Sports Center was established in 1999 with the goal of re-establishing skiing as a lifestyle in Maine.

The center, which also operates other small community-based ski areas in Maine, receives annual funding from the Libra Foundation, a private foundation in Portland established by Elizabeth B. Noyce. The foundation granted the Maine Winter Sports Center $750,000 in 2008 and $1.7 million in 2007.

Bill Rogers said he'd like the Augusta ski center to be free to the public. That would help achieve another goal he has for the proposed trails: providing a new form of recreation, especially for the area's youth.

"Nordic skiing is the second most aerobic activity (next to rowing) there is, and it can be a life-long activity," Rogers said, noting there is a masters racing category for skiers as old as 75.

Shepard said Maine has one of the highest child obesity rates in the country.

"Most communities have already made investments in things like tennis courts, Little League fields, and soccer fields," Shepard said. "What's missing is something for people to do in the wintertime. That's why trail systems in these communities are so important."

He said the Maine Winter Sports Center would not see a new race center in Augusta as a threatening competitor.

"There are plenty of events to go around," Shepard said. "The more skiing infrastructure we have in the state, the more interest there will be in coming to Maine to ski. If we can make Maine the epicenter of cross-country skiing, that's a good thing."

Cross-country skiing is one of several ways the Augusta Conservation Commission recommends the city use the largely undeveloped land between Bond Brook and the airport. Mountain biking, birding, hiking, fishing and bow hunting are among the other suggested uses the commission suggested be developed on the land during the next five to 10 years.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com