I know it adds yet another problem for race directors, but it is a valuable race experiance as well as an important one. The eastern cups (JOQs) are the main selection process for JOs which foster some of our best youth athletes with futures on the J1 scando trip, world juniors etc. Wouldn't it make sense in terms of US XC Skiing development to make use of this format that is frequently used in world juniors/world cup?
FasterSkier Forums » Racing
Why are there no pursuits in an eastern cup?
(6 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Space available at the venues is probably one of the big issues. Look at the size of the race fields in the EC races and then look at the stadium areas at the venues. The challenge is who has the room to do a transition zone large enough? In the EISA we've talked about adding a pursuit but even with 65 or so in our fields the challenge of where to lay out a transition zone at an Oak Hill or a Prospect Mountain or even a Rumford keeps this format from happening.
As someone who produces races year round, whenever I hear a suggestion from someone for something that's not offered on the current calendar my advice is always, "start it yourself". It's easy to complain about what is lacking. Much harder to make it happen.
Posted 2 years ago # -
You have a point about the space, but there are plenty of places for a transition zone. At oak hill for example. There is a huge field across the street. Now all I need are some volunteers for snow shoveling. :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I seem to remember that a few years ago they were going to have an EC pursuit at Holderness, then had to cancel it because of a lack of snow.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm all in favor of running the international formats at the Junior level, but in addition to space, there are some other issues.
1. You need to complete race courses - one classic, one skate. This is not just a matter of kilometers, but loops that are entirely independent. It will not work to have classic tracks along the side of the skate course - remember how many people participate in these races - and it IS a mass start event.
2. Volunteers/labor - with two courses and the grooming/marking needs as well as a transition area, more volunteers are needed to pull off the event. Not always easy.
3. Waxing/logistics - This format is also a bigger stress on coaches and athletes as they prepare for two techniques. This is the reason to hold pursuits at the Junior level - so athletes can learn the format. BUt it is important that you don't scare people away by complexity.
Posted 2 years ago # -
4. Costs - Unless you're running non-continuous pursuits, you need to wear the same pair of boots (obviously). Today's classic boots are not easy to skate in, and skate boots are often way too stiff to kick. To be competitive, you'll be shelling out $400 for a pair of pursuit boots that you will use only a couple times in a season. With the way Juniors feet grow, that may all the use they get before they don't fit. Remember, we're in a recession and dealing with Junior age racers that may not be getting proforms or other discounts to speak of.
5. Course length - Not to mention the constraints on mass starts that have been discussed elsewhere, the length of courses that are skied at ECs are pretty short, in essence, you're going to have a mass start for a 7.5 km race, at most. Race organizers may be able to do it more fairly by having smaller wave starts, but that would lead to a very confusing race logistically and from the spectators' standpoint.
Posted 2 years ago #
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