On Being Average

(More blog entries from ryan)

The problem with skiing is that it's filled with too many skiers.

I recently read a very interesting article in Cross Country Skier Magazine called "The Future of Nordic Events: Creative Strategies" by J.D. Downing. The focus of the article was on events, but I really took away a larger point about the state of cross country skiing. The number of people who consider themselves average, regular skiers is diminishing.

What do I mean by "average, regular skiers"? Well, let's look at what they are not: hardcore, serious racers. Average skiers have no Olympic, World Cup or other top level racing goals. They admire them from afar but don't really understand the subtle differences between coarse base grinds or why one one high-fluoro wax is best in certain conditions or wear their heart rate monitor while eating breakfast. And they certainly don't have a wax technician or sponsorship money. That's what I mean by average. By "regular," I mean that they ski once a week or more, probably enjoy both skating and classic, own a couple pairs of skis and, more generally, consider themselves skiers. Simply put, to them skiing is fun.

I consider myself both average and regular. And I feel stuck in the middle.

On the one hand is the group I already described: the racers. On the other hand is the occassional skier. The person that skis once or twice a year. The person that may have skis, but if they do they are more likely to covered in dust than snow. How do we bridge the gap?

Our weekly series, Nordic Meisters, is the best example of stuck in the middle. (Shameless plug, I know, but it's true.) This event is for average, regular skiers. It's full of people who love to ski. Period. Maybe a couple competitors would consider themselves racers, but many more wouldn't. A couple competitors would even consider themselves occassional skiers. The point is: everyone enjoys the event in their own way. It's about skiing and fun.

Quite frankly, I believe that the racer group is foreign, misunderstood and intimidating to the occassional skier. Therein lies the problem. The people promoting skiing are most likely to be from the racer group. The problem with skiing is that it's filled with too many skiers.

Back to the article, Mr. Downing talks about creating unique events for skiers. But I'd like it to go a step further: Let's create unique events for non-/occassional skiers. If you have fun doing something, don't you want to do it again?

I look at running races and wonder how many of the thousands of people that show up Thanksgiving morning for a Turkey Trot could enjoy a ski race. Do they hibernate all winter? I think we can learn a lot from running. Sure, running has its elite and its occasional runners. But what it has more than anything else is midpackers—those in the middle of the pack. I'm a midpacker. And, when running, I'm in good company. As a midpacker on skis, I'm lonely. Where are all the midpackers? It's the midpackers, the characters, the people just out for fun that make your local 4 on the 4th road race so successful. Why aren't they skiing?

I don't really have any answers. If you have the answer...well, you can have my job.

Ryan @ Great Glen Trails

Comments

Re: On Being Average
by Ed on Feb 8th 2007, 8:26 am

H-m-m-m. Lots to think about here, Ryan. First, "4 on the 4th" for runners is easy to get into, has no real instructional component, and has a minimum expense. How can XC skiing duplicate that? Can't I think. GG tries hard and does a truly nice job (without the cooperation of Mother Nature I might add) of offering a variety of events. In addition to new events, how about some twists within existing successful events? For example, to steal an idea from the local valley running club, how about a "predict your time for the next Meisters and leave your watch with the timers"? followed by a pot luck? Or, how about an "outlandish costume Meisters", or a "patriotic Meisters", or a "Valentine's Meisters", or a "Spring Phling Meisters", etc. I know I have zeroed in on the Meisters, but it seems to me that this event is a truly successful event and has all the ingredients that you, Ryan, are seeking. It draws diverse skier abilities (beginners, midpackers, and "racers"), people build their week's schedule around the event (training as well as racing), and the socializing on the course and in the lodge is stimulating. Of course I do not pay the bills, so I have a very myopic view of your organization, but I know what keeps ME coming back to GG for more, more, more. Primarily it's the staff, and a couple of major events (tho I like to stay connected to most events) at GG that preserve the "Nordic Culture" that makes me feel at home. O-O-O-P-S! Sorry I got carried away. (Sometimes me wife wishes I did not own a soap box, or speak so loudly!) I love the XC skiing, and GG is my favorite place to do it. Hope my comments help address your concerns a little.

Re: On Being Average
by Sparkplug on Feb 9th 2007, 8:31 am

Another midpacker here :-) I agree that in xc skiing there seems to be more of a gap between the elite and the once-a-year skiers, with not as many like me, who just love to get out on the trails, work up a sweat, see the animal tracks in the woods and enjoy the beauty of the winter, but don't worry, they're out there! They have to be :-) I mean, if you look at Nordic Meisters and the GG to BW and some of the other touring marathons, there definitely seems to be interest in the sport and in "racing," if not for winning than just for getting out there. Most of us are competitive in spirit, even if we don't want to admit it, so it can be fun to get out and "race" even if we know we can't win (well, I know I can't anyway!). Great Glen definitely does a great job of catering to the midpackers in my mind, in attitude and in events :-) So thanks! But to me, the bigger question is why aren't there more late 20- and 30-somethings out there? There are lots of younger skiers which is awesome, and lots of 40-, 50- and 60-year olds who can beat me at Nordic Meisters, but there aren't many skiers in their late 20s and 30s. I wonder why? Is it that there is too much else in life going on for most people then? Or that nordic skiing isn't considered glamourous? Or that it's too much "work"? I think if you could draw some of the 20 and 30 year olds into the sport then they would ski into their 60s and 70s and drag along their kids and keep skiing going strong.... I realize I provide no answers, but talking about all this makes me want to get out on my skis :-)

Re: On Being Average
by Pete on Feb 9th 2007, 9:21 am

Ryan, I think your model needs to be the large recreational bike rides that take place on the west coast. There is the "STP" (Seattle to Portland) a 2 day double century, the "RAMROD" (ride around Mt Rainier; One Day), The "Tour de Blast", a ride into the blast zone of Mt. St Helens. All these rides get hundreds, even thousand of riders entering. There are a few elite riders at the front of the pack who make the rides unofficial races, but the vast majority are "middle of the packers" enjoying a 70 or 150 or 200 mile rolling party. The STP is really something to witness. 9 or 10 thousand bikers roling down the road, coming by for hours on anything from $5000 racing bikes to $200 clunkers, tandems and recumbents to unicycles... How do you get to to the point where you can fill up a 10,000 skier event? Well if you can figure out that part, then GGT isn't paying you enough.... I sure don't know. Is there more of a fitness ethic in the NorthWest? Is it because everybody knows how to ride a bike? Are there not enough nordic ski trails for people to get to? I don't know, buit keep working on it

Re: On Being Average
by Ryan @ Great Glen Trails on Feb 9th 2007, 1:50 pm

Thanks for the input, guys. I figured this is one that would get people thinking. Looking at your comments, one thing that you all reminded me of—which goes directly to the point that the problem with skiing is that it's filled with too many skiers—not everyone knows how to ski. Like, Pete said, everyone knows how to ride a bike. We need to remember that not everyone knows how to ski, and it can be intimidating. But here's the thing: learning the basics of cross country skiing is really easy. Maybe that's what we need to focus on.

Re: On Being Average
by Christine on Feb 12th 2007, 9:51 am

Ryan, one important difference is the temperature. Many people, although they live in our beautiful wintry New England, do not like the cold. Therefore, they hibernate all winter, waiting for spring. They go to their gyms or workout indoors if they are active. I've always wondered why some people run all winter when skiing is so much more fun. No dirty roads, no cars. I guess it is quicker and easier to just run out the door. I think you need to promote Great Glen as a family place. Get back to the beginning of Great Glen and promote skiing to the cabin to have hot chocolate. Water and hot chocolate used to be a standard, at least on weekends. My nieces and nephews loved having that destination in mind when they were little. Create more family packages, with things included perhaps, like lessons, climbing wall, time away from the kids. Mom and Dad go skiing together, while someone else plays with the kids for a while, either tubing or skiing. Some ski places have child care available. I know cost is an issue, but you might be able to create a corps of volunteers who would do some of these things in exchange for skiing or biking time. It's something to think about. Promote more fun skiing and less racing. You have to compete with the thrill of downhill skiing. People pay a lot more money willingly, all because they get a ride up the mountain. Vacation week is almost here, and snow is on the way. Think about how to make people choose to drive to Great Glen.