Fun + Excitement

I have not often re-visited existing websites associated with the US team
because the training and technique ideas seemed like "yet another boring set
of right answers". And lots of the other stuff seemed narrowly focused on
traditional racing -- except some of your stories. I need a higher ratio of
fun.

Then I read your book and found out you guys were doing lots of fun and
exciting things beyond racing. And I remember liking the way Luke's book
gave so much attention to the other fun and exciting things that were sorta
integrated with the skiing/racing lifestyle -- like heading out-of-bounds up
some nearby mountain with skis, or training in little-known European ski
villages and meeting girls.

Now I'm hearing stories that the winning Norwegian skiers were doing lots of
fun things and exciting skiing on the side (which their Norwegian coaches
often did not approve). Over-emphasis on the grimly-serious one-dimensional
goal of shaving seconds off race times is not going to work long-term in
21st century America. Not for recruiting teenage racers with the best
winning potential -- there's not enough money in traditional cross-country
ski racing -- so the team has to offer something more. (Sponsors -- you
know better than I if the old one-dimensional approach is working with
them -- but the website is going to open to everybody).

Pushing the limits on new kinds of fun and adventure on light skis, and to
new levels of achievement and excitement. That's the set of national team
racers I can get interested in.

I bet that's what some of the national team athletes are doing already. The
point is to communicate that reality. Present the leading racers as
overall exciting super-capable people who do lots of fun outdoor/snow
things -- as overall brilliant athletes who can master any complicated
sport, but _choose_ to exhibit one of the dimensions of their mastery by
engaging in serious cross country racing.

? Technique: Only if you can make it fun and playful. Videos only if they
convey fun, or if they're from exciting parts of real races.

? Training: If it's going to be sustainable long-term in modern America,
it's got to become more fun -- not just say it but exemplify it. (If you
had a list of team members' favorite backcountry skating tours near Bend and
other places, then I'd check the website for that).

? Travel to fun places: One of the key perks to dangle for recruiting.
(but when is October training going to get moved from Fairbanks to Italy?)

? New events: What new things are some national team racers trying that
could be more exciting for TV and spectators? Let's show off the
_confident_ athletes and coaches who are enlarging the
winter-sports-entertainment pie.

? New achievements: It doesn't have to be an official "competition" in
order to be worthwhile for the website -- could be a one-time skiing or
athletic achievement. A good time for these might be April -- still lots of
snow around, not interfere with race-training focus, use the tremendous
speed-endurance capabilities.

Ken