CANADIAN MASTERS' CROSS COUNTRY SKI ASSOCIATION

FALL  2003 NEWSLETTER

Hi Masters 

Here's hoping you all had a good summer and are just itching to get on real skis and put away those "funny things" with wheels that are supposed to simulate skiing. 

This is shaping up to be a great season for Master skiers everywhere. Here in Canada our "Masters Nationals" will be held at Onaping Falls near Sudbury, Ontario, February 9 - 14. Organizing Committee President Lise Leblanc has done an excellent job of working out all the details that go into making an event such as this successful. Many thanks in advance to Lise and her group. 

In my six years as National Director, I must admit I have never seen as much excitement about Masters World Cup as I do with  Lillehammer 2004.  Already a group from out west has booked a package to attend the Vasaloppet and Masters combined. We have eight confirmed going from here on the Rock and I've had at least a dozen other interested members contact me during the past month looking for further information. I predict there will be more Canadian Masters attending this MWC than any other outside of North America.

So start saving some pennies and try to make one or both of these very important Masters events. 

Have a safe fall training season and wherever your choice of events takes you, enjoy this great sport of cross country skiing and most of all, make sure you have fun!

                                                                                              Jack

Items from AGM for WMC

1. Krasnogorsk Russia reports being on schedule for MWC2005. The trails which are located completely in a forest have been widened, the stadium enlarged, and a large building at the start/finish area totally renovated to accommodate communications and all officials working at the event. Directors were given a tour of several hotels which are in close proximity to the trail system. More on this MWC will be found in future newsletters.

2. Rovaniemi, Finland was unanimously awarded MWC2007, so the list during the coming years is a follows.

2004 Lillehammer   Norway

2005 Krasnogorsk   Russia

2006 Brusson          Italy

2007 Rovaniemi      Finland

2008 McCall, Idaho USA

3. The WMA gave it's statement of accounts which shows the association is extremely sound financially. Credit has to be given to the executive for their hard work and dedication on behalf of Masters everywhere.

MWC2004 Lillehammer Norway 

At our annual meeting in Krasnogorsk, Lillehammer Organizing Committee President Frode Linnerud gave an update on preparation for the event. He noted that everything is on schedule and they are eagerly anticipating large numbers of Masters to the "land of cross country skiing"! Most information concerning the program can be found on their website  <www.mwc2004.com>

The following are points of interest....

**Registration 

Those of you with computers can download an entry form from the afore-mentioned Lillehammer site.  Those of you not into the "madness medium" please ask a friend or contact me and I will get a form to you.

A new system has been put in place starting this season -- all entries must go through the National Director first! If any of you have already sent your entry directly to the OC in Lillehammer,  they are automatically forwarded to me.

**To ski in a Masters World Cup it required you be a member of the Canadian Masters (annual fee is still $15). Make certain you are a member within your Province.

**Payment for MWC2004 entry will only be accepted by bank transfer, money order, Visa or Mastercard. Oh yes, also the almost forgotten currency, "cash", but not a good idea to send via post. Better to take it from under your mattress and get a money order!

**If you have a room booked at a hotel in Lillehammer, according to Frode they will expect a 20 % deposit by November 15th or be canceled. Regarding hotels...this is a high demand time of year, so book as early as possible.

**As usual the OC is also requesting entries be sent in as early as possible to avoid the last minute rush on their committee. They are suggesting you send the entry to me by February 3, 2004, assuring I will have them checked and forwarded to the OC by the deadline date of February 6, 2004. Please make note of this as no late entries will be accepted!

**Transportation...Scandinavian Air Service (SAS) is a major sponsor of MWC2004 and of course the OC is requesting you use that airline to travel. (There are not too many other airlines flying into Oslo anyway.)  Please note there will be an airfare discount if you quote the Reference # 0401.

If you are doing your own booking via the internet, it is much cheaper to book two separate flights, one from Canada to London, then London to Oslo, giving yourself a few hours at Heathrow to change flights.

Travel from Oslo's airport to Lillehammer is best done by train. They run often right from the airport and the trip will only take an hour and a half. Bus service is also available. Contact person for this service is Tommy Forseth who can be contacted at tel..+47 61 26 67 50.  From experience I suggest the train.

**Shuttle bus service from Hotels in Lillehammer to the race site will run on a regular schedule, free of charge.

If any of you require further information or have questions, contact me anytime. 

Wax service at Lillehammer

Per Knut Aaland and Earling Jevne are offering this to Canadian Masters. Both of these guys have competed with the Norwegian National Team, winning World Cup and Olympic medals.

Per Knut has waxed for the Norwegian National Team for many years so this waxing service will be the very best available!

The service will include base, glide and finish wax, (free or classic) in most cases with Fluoro Powder, the best waxes will be applied for daily conditions.

Per Knut and Earling request that anyone taking advantage of this service have their skis cleaned when handing them in for waxing.

The service will cost 500 kroner ($95 canadian) for each day of waxing, considering fluoro powder alone costs approximately $40 per waxing, the overall cost is reasonable.

This offer will be limited to 15 skiers and Gerhard Schopp of Calgary will be coordinating…interested persons please contact Gerhard at jgschopp@expertcanmore.net  or Telephone (403) 609-5566      

2004 USA Masters Nationals 

This competition will be held January 17-22 at Ishpeming/Marquette, Michigan.

As always members of the Canadian Masters are invited to the "US Nats".

This is an early season event and a great chance to get in some good competition (especially for Ontario members) prior to the Canadian Masters Nats at Onaping Falls and the Masters World Cup.   All the information you require is posted on the AXCS website www.xcskiworld.com>

Incoming National Director for the US J.D Downing says "come on down"!

    Québec Masters  Fischer-TaigaTour – 2004 Season

                                            Men 30-69                                Women and Men 70+

Date             Place              Distance          # points           Distance       #points

Sun Jan 11  Orford             30 km Class           20              18 km Class        20

                                           18 km Class           10

Sat Jan 17 Levis-Mirepoix 15 km Class           20              20  km Class       20

Sat Jan 24 Rimouski          35 km Class           20              15 km Class        20

Sat Jan 31 MSA                 15 km Free             10              15 km Free          10

Sun Feb 1  MSA                 40 km Class           20              25 km Class        20

Sat Feb 14 Keskinada        25 km Class           10              25 km Class        20

Sun Feb 15Keskinada        50 km Free             20              25 km Free         20

Sat Feb 21 St. Félicien       40 km Free             20              20 km Free         20

Sat Mar 13 Mercier             44 km Class           20              22 km Class        20

                                            22 km Class           10             

Sat Mar 20 Mt Vallin           50 km Free             20               50 km Free        20

                                            50 km Class           20              38 km Class       20

1. Each race gives 20 points for first place, 18 to second place, etc..unless when the competitor has the choice between two races: the shorter race will only give 10 points, 9 points for the second, etc. (except the 38 km in Mt. Vallin, which giver 20 points).

2. Will only keep the best 7 races on a possibility of 10.

3. In case of a tie, here are the criteria that will be used to determine the winner. In order: The one who has the most wins; the one who has the most races; the one who has completed more longer races.

4. Women and Men 70 and over who chose to do one race of a longer distance than the one mentioned on their schedule will receive the points from the original schedule.

Master Members from other provinces are welcome to participate

click for details