May 05, 2013 – Telemark Resort /The Birkie and New ED – Telemark Resort has closed it doors again and this is news I’ve heard many times over since first going to Cable and Telemark in the 70s. Resort founder, Tony Wise, was a magician at waving his magic wand of being “the largest employer” in the Cable/Hayward region and low and behold one or another government agency would come forward to save the day again. The word on the street is that this is what may happen again – new money to get the doors open – AGAIN.

Let’s hope so, and I’m sure the Birkie organizers have their fingers crossed for some magic savior to step forward, especially the new Executive Director, whose name is forthcoming over the next few days from what I am hearing.

These two entities are married in purpose, not just because of the Birkie, but because of all of the other events that the Birkie has on the schedule and as they continue to bring new events on to the schedule, such as the The Fat Bike Race they just hosted this spring. The venue, the lodge and all of its land holdings, is the center piece for the staging of these events and there is no easy way around this.

The new ED definitely has a lot on his plate, as does the BOD (Board of Directors). As a focal point they need an ED who can find big-time national or international sponsors, so they can start paying prize money. If the new EDs starting salary stays in the 60K dollar range you won’t find that kind of a mover. Also, there are the private land holders that the trail goes across in numerous places that will have to be brought under agreement and of course most of the Kortelopet course is on Birkie property. If there are new owners coming on side now how do you deal with these arrangement.

Also, the huge economic impact of the Birkie Foundation’s activities on the Bayfield and Sawyer county is huge (millions of $$), but the counties continue to wrestle with protecting the Birkie Trail. Last year Bayfield County, did a clear cutting project on the Kortelopet Trail at about 17-20 km that brought about a re-location of the trail, but created a huge “hot spot” that will jeopardize this part of the trail in lean snow years. This in part shows a level of disregard for the sanctity of the trail. NO RACE-NO DOLLARS ! Is there a lack of communication between the key stakeholders here? That’s not how it was in the beginning.

I remember how hard it was to get the two counties on board to build this trail when Wise was hatching the idea of the Birkie to these organizations in the mid 70s. They where not willing to believe this day dreamer – they just about laughed him out of these meetings. Low and behold, hasn’t it all come about just like he said it would. The biggest show in the North Woods! I was surprised by the lack of concern during my annual trek to the Birkie by the locals, about the damage that was done to the perimeter of the trail. My solution, a 100 yd no-cut buffer between the trail and the natural forest.
The saga goes on!

Calgary Winds Are A’blowing – Yes, tilt your ear towards Calgary, as I am hearing big whisperings that a bid proposal group has been formed with the idea of hosting the FIS World Ski Championships in 2021 with the idea, that soon after that, the Olympics would follow.

The conundrum here is that the proposal has to be made next year. Historically the Alberta Government has been a big supporter of hosting International Winter Sport events and upgrading Olympic legacy facilities. Just in the last 10 years alone they have invested nearly $100 million in upgrading Olympic venues. This proposed event would be a real building block for future World Cups to be hosted in Canada.

This is a no-brainer – wake up in Canada – this just strengthens you international position.

TdS Choices – If you think the manipulations by many skiers these past years as to what to do about skiing or not skiing the TdS because of schedule pressure, think again! It is going to be a really interesting year to see what transpires with the Olympics being two weeks closer to the TdS then the WSC were this past year. One plus, is that there is no 2-week trip to Canada on the schedule just prior to the TdS.

That short a window makes the recovery from doing a full TdS fragile – time to take a rest and then to start the intensity and altitude prep. Everything, and I mean everything, has to be just right. I think $$$s are also a factor big time – success at the Olympics means way more to the pocket book then success on the TdS. A gold medal is for life – winning the TdS can always wait until next year.

Also, can you win the TdS? Are you balanced enough in both techniques and both distance and sprinting to have the chance to win?

The fun has just begun!

Olympic Studs and Studettes – Have you really checked the Olympic schedule for the cross-country events in Sochi yet? As this is planning time I would assume that all coaches and skiers have gone over it carefully and see that there is a good window for doing all the events – yes, all of the events. I think there would be about 15 men and 10 women (I might be a bit high in each sex) that could give this consideration.

Again the balance thing – both techniques and distance/sprinting come into play, as to your first consideration as to whether you would attempt this or not. Also, the doubling up of the sprints and sprint relays on the same day give the men one extra day off before their next event each time – a real bonus.

I can see [Petter] Northug and [Justyna] Kowalcyzk drooling over this schedule, already, and I’m sure [Marit] Bjoergen is giving it the full-eye treatment. But she is 34 this year and recovery is now starting to be an issue.

Example: does Kikkan even think of this… doing the 1st event is a No-Brainer, the 7.5km cl +7.5km fr Skiathlon. Then take two days off and it’s the FR sprints (another NB), another day off and then her big decision – 10km CK individual start and a day off – onto the relay – two days off and the team sprint – two days off and the final 30km mass start in FR. The 10km CL is maybe not so tentative if Randall has continued to improve her classic skiing.

Or does the whole thing come down to focusing on that one or two events that you think you have your best chance to podium in????

PS – Just a thought – is this Kikkan’s last Olympics?

Talk to You Soon!