Roll Out Start?

Dave,
So it is the Bear Chase you are talking about. I've done most every one
of the races. Although my luck has not been good, your race ranks among my
favorites. Thanks to all the volunteers who help put on the event.
You were asking about the start and proposed changes. First off, perhaps
a poll of the racers could tell you their opinions. For me, finishing in
downtown Calumet is not all that important. Yes, it does change it to a full
50k and yes, it is kind of neat. However, many years ago, the early Bear
Chase had the start and finish in downtown Calumet. Event organizers found
it was a lot of work to haul snow, close roads and deal with limited parking
in town. Not to mention the residents having their roads closed.
Not sure what to think of the roll out start feature. As you mentioned,
all starts are a disaster waiting to happen. With the DP zone at the current
start, the field gets spread out pretty quick. In my opinion, a roll out
start behind a snowmobile would not make it worse. It should work ok, as
racers would get the chance to be moving. The Cheq 40 mtb race uses a roll
out start as do other bike races. A roll out start ski race would be unique!
Having to ski back 1km to the start line for the bags after the racer is
done, should not an issue for the skiers. They have to ski back to their
cars near the start anyway. Would be nice to have a return trail on the
side, instead of having to use the race course.

The racer that got hit by a racer who had finished and was skiing
backwards, was one of the racers from our town of Ashland. The idiot hit him
really hard, swore at him and then skied off. I believe the guy skied onto
the course from the side, so the person who got hit, did not have a chance
to see him.

The other question you had, was why the lower numbers and what could be
done to improve. Well, you and Jay basically answered the first question. It
is a long way to drive and after the Birkie, many people lose interested.
Still a very competitive field.
As for improvements, I would actually not change anything. This is an
awesome event! The spaghetti feed and pastie feed afterwards has a great
community feel to it. Course is excellent and of course the grooming is too.
In these days of $450 entry fees for Ironman Triathlons, ski races are one
of the few sports left with reasonable entry fees.
One other thing I really like about the Bear Chase is the chalet for
spectators. My 85 year old mother really enjoys watching the race, so it is
nice that she can sit in the warm chalet. Unlike the Birkie and Noque, the
Bear Chase, Ely and Pepsi Challenge are about the only races that spectators
can watch without freezing. Keeping the access road to the chalet open as
late as possible is an advantage, so I don't have to blast my car through
the snow.
Thanks again for a great event.

--

Paul Haltvick
Bay Design and Build - LLC
Engineering, Construction and Information Technology Services
FSx Midwest - Fischer / Swix Racing
811 Beaser Avenue
Ashland, WI.
54806

715-682-2443
"Dave M-K" wrote in message
...
Jay

My vote would be to have a seperate start and finish and not transport
bags.
Last year we transported bags and people by a bus. Some people opted to
ski
back to the start on the course. Some a**hole did this and knocked a
racer
head over heels and then blamed the racer for not getting out of his way.
When I first heard the reports I couldn't believe them but when I heard
that
some very credible people witnessed the event I was just sorry that we
didn't get an ID on the offending skier.

So now the organizing committee wants to close the course to skiers that
have finished. I can't blame them.

We will likely end up with what we did last year. It's not a big deal
really but it takes a fair amount of effort to transport the bags.

In theory I think the roll out start could be fun but in reality is a
disaster waiting to happen. Then again aren't all mass starts a disaster
waiting to happen?

As a side, the rcae in question is the Great Bear Chase. I always kind of
scratch my head and wonder why more people don't make the trek for the
race.
My guess is several fold: people put the skis away after the Birkie, when
there is little to no snow in your backyard you don't think about racing
AND
we are not close to anyone. Does that pretty much sum it up? Anything we
could do to entice more skiers?

Dave

"Bjorn A. Payne Diaz" wrote in message
ups.com...

The importance of the start comes in when there are 500 clothing bags
to
move to the finish. If we have the same start and finish, we don't
have
to
move them. If the finish is 1K from the start we've got to move them.
Not
a major problem but just one more thing to get volunteers for. Also I
know
many people like starting and finishing in the same spot. You don't
have
to
worry about cramming all your gear into a bag that will break, you can
bring
an extra pair of skis to test and you can leave your bag-o-stuff where
ever
you want. BUT I agree with Jay that no matter what the start is like,
there
will likely be some kind of tangle up, the narrower the area the
greater
the
chance the tangle is larger.

Dave,

Going back to the 23 km Seeley Hills race....the start line is a solid
km from the finish line. They used to start and finish the race in the
same general area (a few hundred feet apart), but some of the starters
were on the flats, and the others were on a definite uphill. Because
of the hill at the old start, they moved the start. Now after
finishing, you have to make an effort to ski to the finish before you
lose your body temp. (Most strip off their warmups at the start
because the lineup starts early.) So no need for you to move the bags,
simply have a few people at the finish reminding people to fetch their
warmups before they freeze their gonads. Nobody blinks an eye at the
separate start and finish at this race. In fact there's no clothing
bags, just warmups tossed in various places. It's a pain to choose
skis 45 min before a classic race with temps rising quick, but people
do it. If you spread the word on the reason for the separate start and
finish at your race, the racers should roll with it.

Jay

On Sep 13, 11:58 am, "Norski" wrote:
Bear Chase, Ely and Pepsi Challenge are about the only races that spectators

I hate to drone on about stuff, but...

The Pepsi Challenge used to go through a few small towns and end at
the Ridge. They found it wasn't worth the trouble to haul in snow to
cover the streets. If the snow is hauled in late (like the Birkie) it
ends up soft. Not good. The City of Lakes also has a finish on city
streets, and it used to close a very busy section of MPLS. They cut
back the distance (less snow to haul) and got off the busy streets
which helped it's image with folks in cages (cars).

The one Bear Chase I did was great (like the Pepsi is great) because
it was a really nice course and had a good place to congregate after
the race (a school, right). I can never stay warm in a heated tent
even if it's 30 F outside. (I freeze after races.) Also, do you need
to make the race bigger? I thought it was fairly large without being
out of control.

Jay