How do we build our sport?

Hi Everyone,

I've been passionate about this silly sport for many years now and one
of the themes that has frustrated me constantly is the lack of resources
that we need to build the sport here in the US (this will have international
appeal, please read on). In a recent post, Pete Vordenberg tried to solicit
some support for the US Ski Team. In several of his posts he has said that
they need help from us to achieve their goals and recently he got a little
more aggressive and gave us all a bit of a guilt trip. This brought a
little backlash and one comment that I found really interesting was "I can't
afford to go to Europe and ski my brains out..." with the implication being:
"so shy should I help the US Ski Team go to Europe and ski their brains
out?"

A while back someone suggested taking up a collection to get a European
RSN reader over here to one of our big races. I suggested taking up a
collection to get an American National Team Skier to a World Cup. I don't
think that idea went over very well.

So, in the interest of actually trying to do something constructive,
instead of just being frustrated about the lack of support our older juniors
and elite seniors get, I want to start a thread here about what people are
doing out there, how and why they choose to support ski-related causes and
what we feel needs to be done.

Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?
2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?
3. What could we do better to build the sport?
4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

OK Nathan. Since you ask, I'll jump in on this one. For the past 7 or
so years, I've been a volunteer coach and board member for the Minnesota
Youth Ski League. For the past three years I've been helping coach a
high school team. I spend enough of my money and time on these
activities that I don't feel I can provide much other than moral support
to the national team.

What to do to build our sport? I think Pete's efforts to get out and
spread what is happening at the National Team level are outstanding.
Posting is one thing, coming out to the ski communities and putting on
clinics for skiers and coaches is beyond helpful. We'll see if that
doesn't help provide better feeder programs for the future. It would
also be nice when National/trade team members and coaches are in town
(mine, yours, anybody's) to make a few appearances at High School
workouts, Youth Ski events, etc. The HS coaches will be overjoyed to
help set that up. Anything that gets you in front of my athletes is a
'good thing'.

I doubt we'll ever see Nordic see the same exposure as snowboard or
downhill - too hard and too remote. Stadium skiing like at Soldiers
Hollow may be a help. Having races where most of the course can be seen
from one spot are more TV friendly and spectator friendly as well.
Sprints and skiathlon may also improve the TVQuotient. TeamToday is
another great communications tool.

My .02

Marsh Jones
MYSL Board Member
Asst Coach, Irondale High School
Masters wannabe
New Brighton, MN


So, in the interest of actually trying to do something constructive,
instead of just being frustrated about the lack of support our older juniors
and elite seniors get, I want to start a thread here about what people are
doing out there, how and why they choose to support ski-related causes and
what we feel needs to be done.

Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?
2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?
3. What could we do better to build the sport?
4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

--- Nathan Schultz wrote:

Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?

AXCS - member

NENSA - volunteer on committees, donate money, work at coaches clinic
to educate new coaches on proper technique (the stuff Zach teaches me)
One of coaches of Mass. junior team to J2 Festival and Eastern HS
Champs. Give Masters dryland clinics.

CSU (my club): chairman of club, help coach junior team. Organize
Masters workouts. Lead core strength all summer. Hill bounding in
fall.

(this discussion is motivating me to add USST to my list)

2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?

I feel I'm training new coaches and new skiers - key to helping the
sport grow. Wish I had $ to donate. But I do what I can with what
I've got.

3. What could we do better to build the sport?

It's not just the sport. We have to work towards changing society. We
need to raise awareness about the need for fitness and a healthy,
outdoor lifestyle. The best thing you can do is convince friends to do
more exercise and to try skiing. People only get into things like
skiing with the big nudge from their friends.

4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?

Team Today is a great thing. My thought, which I expressed to some of
the USST skiers at the Natls banquet last year is this: Use the Sutton
Principle. Famed bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed
banks. "Well," he said, "that's where the money is". USST needs
money. NENSA needs money. AXCS needs money. Who has the money?
Skiers? No. Large corporations? Yes. I see John Hancock Insurance
putting $10+ million into the Boston Marathon. That's serious money
for a ONE DAY EVENT. I wish I knew how to get that kind of $ from
companies. But that's the kind of promotion we need to get.

Rob Bradlee

Team Today is a great thing. My thought, which I expressed to some of
the USST skiers at the Natls banquet last year is this: Use the Sutton
Principle. Famed bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed
banks. "Well," he said, "that's where the money is". USST needs
money. NENSA needs money. AXCS needs money. Who has the money?
Skiers? No. Large corporations? Yes. I see John Hancock Insurance
putting $10+ million into the Boston Marathon. That's serious money
for a ONE DAY EVENT. I wish I knew how to get that kind of $ from
companies. But that's the kind of promotion we need to get.

Rob Bradlee

Rob, you are right about the money. My wife, Liz Wagner is the fund raising
chair for the 2005 National Masters. I told her the same thing. "Go to
companies that are successful and have lots of money, instead of trying to
tap poor xc ski retailers, etc.". She went to the first company that I
suggested (110 million gross sales) and got a $1000 donation without hardly
blinking an eye.

I build our sport by coaching, developing trail systems, organizing events
and marketing. I'm a former board member of North Star Ski Touring Club (8
years), initial board member of MN Nordic Ski Association and initial board
member of Sugarbush Trail Association. I donated to Team Today, after Pete
brought it to our attention last winter. I also help mentor the local high
school nordic ski team in Grand Marais, MN.

Talk about dedication. Those kids (15) on the team, have to travel up to 150
miles for meets and have team mates that live 80 miles from each other. It's
the coaches, support from parents and the industry that keeps those kids
going in Grand Marais. That is one extreme. The other extreme is in the Twin
Cities. Hundreds of high school kids are out roller skiing in the summer and
on high school teams in the winter. In my lifetime, I have never seen so
many high school cross country skiers on teams. It's exciting! Thousands of
high school cross country skiers in Minnesota. It's again, the support of
their parents, coaches and the industry that keeps them going.

We also build our sport with the likes of the grass roots efforts of the
Bill Koch ski league and the Minnesota Youth Ski League. We build our sport
by educating the kids, making it fun and organizing events.

I've been a long-time participant of Sisu Skiers, a masters training group
in the Twin Cities. We financially supported the efforts of Chad Giese, an
olympic hopeful the past 3 years. It's really hard to raise money from
skiers and the skier community because of our financial limits.

The sport is still very strong here in Minnesota. We just need to keep doing
what we are doing and never give up.

Greg Fangel

Thanks for kicking this off Marsh,

I definitely agree with you that Trond and Pete have done a great job
changing the visibility and access to the team. They have tried to include
everyone, and this will pay off both in the short term and down the road.
It would be nice if USSA could afford to earmark a larger portion of our
ridiculous $150 license fee toward development and education. But I know
that it basically comes down to the choice between supporting the existing
national team and development/education. These things are not mutually
exclusive, but making the national team coaches take on the huge
responsibility of education and development in addition to their other
responsibilities is not the ideal situation.

I think they made a huge mistake back when they let the masters go to
AXCS and decided that USSA was not a "membership organization". Now there
are so few members (basically the juniors that qualify for Junior Nationals
and the seniors who are hoping to get somewhere internationally) that dues
have to be really high, and even as such, they don't raise very much money
to support the costs of administration and the US Team. This also fragments
our tiny community even further and has created 3 contingents who are
basically blind to each other (Juniors, seniors, masters). This is another
thread, though, and I digress.

My intent was not to make people feel guilty for not supporting the US
Team. I guess I'm just curious to find out what people *are* doing with
their time and money and why they choose to support or not support different
ski-related causes. I feel the same way as you. I spend way too much time
volunteering for different skiing groups and it seems like there are endless
programs that truly need and deserve our support. When Pete comes along and
asks for something, anything, that will help them scrape by, I'm too worn
out to be able to fork anything over.

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

"Marsh Jones" wrote in message
news:Pvegd.435334$mD.348933@attbi_s02...
OK Nathan. Since you ask, I'll jump in on this one. For the past 7 or
so years, I've been a volunteer coach and board member for the Minnesota
Youth Ski League. For the past three years I've been helping coach a
high school team. I spend enough of my money and time on these
activities that I don't feel I can provide much other than moral support
to the national team.

What to do to build our sport? I think Pete's efforts to get out and
spread what is happening at the National Team level are outstanding.
Posting is one thing, coming out to the ski communities and putting on
clinics for skiers and coaches is beyond helpful. We'll see if that
doesn't help provide better feeder programs for the future. It would
also be nice when National/trade team members and coaches are in town
(mine, yours, anybody's) to make a few appearances at High School
workouts, Youth Ski events, etc. The HS coaches will be overjoyed to
help set that up. Anything that gets you in front of my athletes is a
'good thing'.

I doubt we'll ever see Nordic see the same exposure as snowboard or
downhill - too hard and too remote. Stadium skiing like at Soldiers
Hollow may be a help. Having races where most of the course can be seen
from one spot are more TV friendly and spectator friendly as well.
Sprints and skiathlon may also improve the TVQuotient. TeamToday is
another great communications tool.

My .02

Marsh Jones
MYSL Board Member
Asst Coach, Irondale High School
Masters wannabe
New Brighton, MN


So, in the interest of actually trying to do something constructive,
instead of just being frustrated about the lack of support our older
juniors
and elite seniors get, I want to start a thread here about what people
are
doing out there, how and why they choose to support ski-related causes
and
what we feel needs to be done.

Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?
2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?
3. What could we do better to build the sport?
4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

Rob,

I think that we have to support our local and regional clubs. I wish
that AXCS and USSA weren't fractured. I understand the reasoning behind the
split, but I wish that we could combine the strengths of those two
resources.

NENSA is a big success. I think it is a very successful example of what
bringing juniors, seniors and masters together does for the sport. Juniors
see a future in the sport and learn how fast they need to become to be
competitive as seniors. Seniors are exposed to the juniors and masters,
developing relationships where they can share their expertise and draw
support from masters. And masters are exposed to the future of the sport,
which motivates them to help develop the younger generations.

The Rocky Mountain Division is forming a new entity to try to reproduce
a similar idea here in Colorado. I hope that we can pull it off.

NENSA needs money. AXCS needs money. Who has the money?
Skiers? No. Large corporations? Yes.

I agree and disagree with you here. Yes, corporate sponsorship needs to
be a part of the solution, but it is not the total solution - grass roots
breed involvement and success. Yes, getting $1000 from a corporate sponsor
is relatively easy, but there is also maintenance involved and in my
experience as a ski racer and race organizer, getting and maintaining the
kind of money that really makes a difference is very, very difficult. Yes,
$10million is big bucks, but that event draws 50k(?) people and is broadcast
live internationally. XC is not at this level in the US simply because of
geography. Our snowbound population is too small and spread apart to get
the numbers of a Swedish Vasaloppet or a Boston Marathon.

We have a club here in Boulder that has roughly 500 members. The North
Stars in Minneapolis I believe has over 1500 members. Get every one of them
to pitch in $10, which pretty much anyone can afford, and boom, you have
raised $20,000. If we could motivate people like you and me to chip in a
few bucks and strong-arm a few other people out there to do the same, we can
make a difference in whatever causes we are trying to support.

When a skier chips in their $10, they become invested in the success of
the campaign, and because it is such a small investment for them, they do
not expect a lot in return. When a corporation gives, there is usually some
expectation of a return on their investment. This relationship requires a
lot of maintenance and is not very reliable as it usually depends on a
single individual at that company who has made the decision to support the
cause. If that person leaves, or the company has any sort of financial
trouble, sponsorships are the first thing to go.

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

"Rob Bradlee" wrote in message
o.com...

--- Nathan Schultz wrote:

Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?

AXCS - member

NENSA - volunteer on committees, donate money, work at coaches clinic
to educate new coaches on proper technique (the stuff Zach teaches me)
One of coaches of Mass. junior team to J2 Festival and Eastern HS
Champs. Give Masters dryland clinics.

CSU (my club): chairman of club, help coach junior team. Organize
Masters workouts. Lead core strength all summer. Hill bounding in
fall.

(this discussion is motivating me to add USST to my list)

2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?

I feel I'm training new coaches and new skiers - key to helping the
sport grow. Wish I had $ to donate. But I do what I can with what
I've got.

3. What could we do better to build the sport?

It's not just the sport. We have to work towards changing society. We
need to raise awareness about the need for fitness and a healthy,
outdoor lifestyle. The best thing you can do is convince friends to do
more exercise and to try skiing. People only get into things like
skiing with the big nudge from their friends.

4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?

Team Today is a great thing. My thought, which I expressed to some of
the USST skiers at the Natls banquet last year is this: Use the Sutton
Principle. Famed bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed
banks. "Well," he said, "that's where the money is". USST needs
money. NENSA needs money. AXCS needs money. Who has the money?
Skiers? No. Large corporations? Yes. I see John Hancock Insurance
putting $10+ million into the Boston Marathon. That's serious money
for a ONE DAY EVENT. I wish I knew how to get that kind of $ from
companies. But that's the kind of promotion we need to get.

Rob Bradlee

"Nathan Schultz" wrote in message ...
Hi Everyone,



Here are some general questions to get the ball rolling:
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?

I am a past President of the Minneapolis Ski Club. Our fundraising
activities included the Twin Cities Championships, rollerski races and
trail runs. We used that money to send our junior skiers to JOs,
Nationals etc. Also, I'm a volunteer announcer for the American
Birkebeiner. I try to inject as much enthusiasm as possible into
announcing the Elite Sprints, Press Conference and Race Day Finish
Line as possible. I think keeping the audience interested focuses more
attention on the sport. I've also announced the National Masters, Nor
Ams, Youth Ski League and fundraisers. I've emceed and donated money
to Chad Giese for his fundraiser. Plus, when Pete Vordenberg asked for
donations to Team Today, I chipped in. When Pete asked for donations
to send Lindsey Weier to a New Zealand Training Camp, I chipped in
some more and then emailed my ski buddies and got some of them to
donate too. I've written articles for Silent Sports, the Master Skier
and I was a past columnist for Cross Country Skier Magazine. Those
articles are designed to help our sport. I've got a giant collection
of cross country skiing magazines, results, skier profiles etc. I'd
liek to start an archive service for cross country skiing. OUCH!!! I
just dislocated my shoulder patting myself on the back again! But
Nathan did ask...

2. Where do you feel your efforts are being most effective and why?

I think donating money to specific cross country skiing causes is the
best thing I've done lately. I know announcing and making it fun for
the spectators is very important too.

3. What could we do better to build the sport?

Keep getting the word out about Team Today. Make sure any time a
National level skier is visiting a place like Minneapolis/Saint Paul,
Milwaukee, Detroit, Duluth, Albany, Burlington, Boston etc, they take
time out to work with local juniors, talk to masters etc. We need more
exposure. The community needs to hear from the athletes that want our
support.

4. What are we doing now that is helping build our sport?


Team Today, Youth Ski League, JOs, The Master Skier. Things like this
all help. Greg Fangel started the Minnesota Nordic Network. Wisconsin
has their own Nordic Network. Greg Fangel also started the idea of a
Ski Tunnel for Minnesota. I'm not sure if it will ever happen but at
least he's trying. Plus, I think this Noridc Skiing Newsgroup has been
great for getting the word out. Lastly, I'd encourage Pete and Trond
to continue to build their email lists and use them to get the word
out.

Jay Tegeder
"Keep training, lycra never lies!" JT

"Nathan Schultz" wrote in message
news
1. What skiing causes do you support and how do you support them
(financially, volunteering)?
Lots of hours are "donated" to our club as volunteer for races,
fund-raisers, etc. Fund-raising money is used to cover our juniors expenses
such as food and lodging when they are away for races. When they must travel
to races by air, I have a list of businees people who, not knowing what to
do with their accumulated airmiles, are happy to use some of them to get the
kids "free" tickets.

BarryT

I have to say that I'm really surprised when I read posts like these,
that people can find time to donate. It's great, and I love to hear
it, but I have a feeling that I'm more typical of the average person,
in that:

5:15 am I get up
6:30 am Leave for work
5:10 pm Get home from work
6:00 pm Leave for workout
8:00 pm Eat and talk with my wife
9:30 pm Go to bed

The way things have been going at work, I'm also working some hours on
weekends since we have about half the normal employees now. So I was
really happy to finally pick up leaves and cut the yard last weekend
after 6 weeks, well....probably 8 weeks of neglect. (Lots of dog poop
under those leaves.)

I enjoy ski racing, and I guess that I really enjoy racing when I have
some hope of doing better that I have in the past, or at least that
I'm skiing to a level near my potential. The last couple of years have
not been as enjoyable because I haven't been able to push myself
training, and the guys I used to beat are beating me. I know that I've
had better shape in the past and I'm coming into the season in just ok
shape. I seem to hit a peak after about 3 races and then I start
getting tired. Also, getting out of town for a weekend race is really
a sacrifice, so I've been skipping some weekends for racing and hoping
I'm not so tired. I think this is typical stuff of the working stiff
doing the 9 to 5 daily grind. I mean this year Julie and I went to the
Chequamegon to WATCH and had more fun that when I raced. Way more fun.

I've been thinking about just quitting the whole workout thing and
stop trying to push everything in life just to maintain some
conditioning. My wife has had to sacrifice also because she gets stuck
doing things and doesn't get to spend time with me. If I add something
else to the mix, I'll get divorced. I guess this is why people get
slow when they hit the 40s... Kids, replacing windows, picking up
leaves, a beer with the neighbors, fix the car, and you're 50.

So I'm on a "just one more year" kind of mantra and we'll see where it
goes next year.

Jay (sorry for the rant, blame it on the lawyers) Wenner

--- "Sly D. Skeez" wrote:

5:15 am I get up
6:30 am Leave for work
5:10 pm Get home from work

Here's your problem, Jay. What is this 11 hour day BS? Life is a
one-time shot, dude. At the end you are DEAD. No coming back.

So, cut back on those hours and live a little. Follow a path with
heart.

(I don't mean this as a criticism but as a heartfelt suggestion)

Rob Bradlee


=====
Rob Bradlee
Java, C++, Perl, XML, OOAD, Linux, and Unix Training