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Team USA Event Details -- MWC2011

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Registration for the MWC2011

By special arrangement with the World Masters Association, all USA skiers are required to register on-line via the Official Event Site. This arrangement greatly simplifies the logistics for USA skiers, the Organizing Committee and AXCS. The on-line entry system is very easy to follow and all payment is made by credit card.

Registration is officially open so skiers can sign up at any time. Until December 14 USA skiers will pay a flat 160 euro equivalent entry fee. There are also no on-line processing fees for this registration system. From December 15 - January 15 there will be a $5CAN late fee added. From January 16 until close of registration as of midnight PST on Monday, February 14 there will be a $10CAN late fee added. These USA-only late fees provide necessary funds for AXCS to provide the overlaid 2011 National Masters components and are not added by the MWC2011 organizers nor the World Masters Association (WMA).

Important: All USA skiers should note that the MWC2011 entry fee has been set by the World Masters Association and is not in the control of the local organizers. Two changes made since the MWC2008 in McCall do raise the price -- but remains an exceptional value.

Please help AXCS spread the word to USA skiers that the Monday, February 14 deadline for registration is a firm date and we have little-to-no fudge room for late entries. If people snooze -- you will lose!

Do you need to do anything to be eligible to register for this event?

You do not need to do anything to qualify for the Masters World Cup -- no special races, no special times, etc.. You sign up, you ski, you have fun. However, you are required to have a current 2010/11 membership in American XC Skiers or equivalent. If you have not already joined AXCS for 2010/11, please visit this page and sign up on-line now (just $40 for one year with the best benefit package in the entire XC ski world!). AXCS does indeed double-check every MWC entry so we will flag any USA registration without membership. If you elect to use the equivalent option for USA skiers (USSA membership at $140 for one year), you will need to email or postal mail AXCS documented proof of current USSA membership before your entry will be finalized.

Eligibility for Team USA as a country is largely up to the skier to determine. We don't double-check this step since we really like huge USA teams that dominate the planet :-). Per World Masters Association rules, skiers can ski for the USA provided they: a.) have citizenship; b.) maintain consistent residency; c.) possess a valid "green card" or work visa. If you say you are good on at least one of these items, that's good enough for us!

There is no separate registration process for the 2011 National Masters. Once you sign up for the Masters World Cup as a USA skier -- you automatically are considered part of the National Masters.

What if I have to make changes to my races after I register?

Until January 31, AXCS will accept requests for registration changes without any added fees. Simply email the AXCS Office and J.D. Downing, National Director with your requested change: << axcs at xcskiworld dot com >>. From February 1 - close of registration on February 14 AXCS will require a $10 late fee (sent to AXCS via check/money order) for any changes. After close of registration no changes are possible for any reason.

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Preparation For A Trip To Sovereign Lake/Silver Star

AXCS has previously created notes that detail the easy access and considerable highlights of a ski vacation to Sovereign Lake/Silver Star for the MWC2011/NM2011. You can find our membership notes at this page.

You can also find additional travel resources and information on lodging, area attractions, etc. at the official MWC2011 event website.

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Getting From The Airport To Silver Star Or Vernon

As mentioned in the extensive trip preparation resource above, AXCS strongly recommends that skiers fly into Kelowna (YLW) if you need to fly to the MWC2011. From Kelowna airport you can find numerous airport shuttle options to get you to/from the airport to lodging in either the Silver Star resort area or Vernon (valley city below). The air shuttle is 30-60 minutes depending on location and weather. Prices are very reasonable.

Yes, you can probably save money on your air ticket flying into Vancouver or Seattle. The problem with those options will be that you will have a several hour drive (rental car or bus). In many cases the cost of your ground connection would exceed the savings in airfare. Price things carefully.

The Organizing Committee recommends using Vernon Airporter. However, if you like comparison shopping you can find all airport transportation options at this page.

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Getting Around Sovereign Lake/Silver Star During The Event

The MWC2011 Organizing Committee is sponsoring a complimentary bus loop that will run for all registered skiers and your companions throughout the event period (March 3-11). A map and schedule of the route will be posted on MWC2011.com as well as at all primary lodging locations and in your racer packet. The bus loop should take care of most critical needs for skiers without cars. Bus stops will be near most lodging locations in Vernon and at the Silver Star Village direct to the race venue and to various official ceremonies. You will also be able to go down/back to Vernon for groceries and a break from snow if you are at the mountain.

The bottom line is that you will be able to do this trip without a rental car if you don't absolutely want one.

Skiers that travel with a small club group could consider renting one vehicle to have the added convenience and flexibility of having a car when you are not racing. However, be forewarned that there is limited parking at the race venue and you will likely NOT be able to park at the race venue on race days!

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Preparation For This Venue

Since the MWC2011 is in the southwestern part of Canada, the vast majority of USA skiers will have a maximum of a three hour time change and (hopefully) no more than a single day of travel to get to Sovereign Lake. This is very different than European-hosted Worlds and thus we anticipate a much healthier, well-rested, and time-adjusted contingent. The "semi-home snow" advantage also means that Team USA skiers clearly know what life is like in British Columbia. There are no language barriers, food is identical to food in the USA, it's easy to find information about lodging on-line -- in short, it's an easy trip.

The only real transition for skiers in low elevation areas is the moderate altitude of Sovereign Lake. The race venue sits right at 5,500 feet which is moderate by western North American standards. But for sea level skiers it will require that you prepare mentally as much as physically for altitude skiing. In very general terms, if you haven't skied at altitude before, the air will feel drier and "thinner" than back home. If you try and ski with low elevation tempo, you'll have problems with quick spikes in heart rate and respiration. But if you stay calm, ski relaxed, and work to develop a feel for how hard you can push in the thinner air environment -- you should be able to quickly ski for top results even if not acclimated the way you might be if you'd live at altitude for 3-4 weeks prior.

The biggest thing to remember is that over the decades, many US and international masters events have been held at a mix of altitudes and it is the exception (rather than the rule) that results for athletes are very far out of kilter versus low elevations. Faster skiers tend to still be faster. Fun skiing is fun skiing.

Should I pack anything special for this location?

Just pack what you would normally for a ski race holiday. Sovereign Lake is pretty middle-of-the-road in temperature and precipitation amounts (although they do get a LOT of snow!). It is unlikely to be super cold. Restaurants are generally very casual as are the MWC2011 awards ceremonies and closing banquet. One nice thing this year is that you can be quite overt about wearing USA clothing whenever you like (generally we keep a lower profile overseas these days). Feel free to bring flags and cowbells for cheering on skiers during your off days. Vernon has large supermarkets so there's no need to come with a supply load of provisions. What you need, you can generally find in town.

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What Are The Race Courses Like?

The MWC2011 are probably some of the most balanced masters courses in the past decade of Masters Worlds events. Neither too hard or too easy -- just right!

The Sovereign Lake system rolls gently through an old-growth B.C. forest with occasional clearings featuring some spectacular views. The courses stay fairly even with the stadium in the first 1/2 to 2/3rds and then a late loop drops below stadium elevation so there is a net climb back to the stadium to end most events. But this climb is neither overly-long or steep.

Per WMA rules, every effort was made to avoid overly difficult trails with really intimidating hills. In particular, hard curves and fast downhills were eliminated wherever possible.

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Packet & Bib Pick-up Once You Arrive

Race bibs will be distributed on Thursday March 3 and Friday March 4 in the Event Center at Sovereign Lake Nordic Center.
Thursday March 3: 9am -- 4pm
Friday March 4 8am -- 4pm
Starting Saturday, March 5, race bibs will be distributed daily from the Race Office located in the stadium area. But please note that there is no parking available at the race venue on race days so you'll have to take the shuttle or ski the access trail from Silver Star.

Yes, you can pick-up a packet/bib on the day of your first race. But fair warning to allow plenty of time since other North American skiers may be doing the same thing and there could be lines. Also be aware that official start lists (including your gender/age category start times each day) may or may not be available on-line. This info is included in your packet and AXCS will not be able to communicate info on category start times for you ahead of time. So....you will either need another skier to get your race start times -- OR -- you should try and arrive in time to get your bib/packet the day ahead of your first race.

IMPORTANT: Please note ahead of time that you will be given one (1) cloth bib that you keep & MUST use for any and all MWC2011 individual races you've entered. Same bib, all individual races. Yes, you can keep the bib after the MWC2011 ends as a souvenir. Only folks selected for the relay will be issued a special relay bib by J.D. Downing, AXCS National Director on the morning of the relay at the stadium.

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Team USA Information Meetings

Team USA information sessions and/or meetings will be held the PM before individual races and the Wednesday, March 9 relay. In addition, two U.S. 2011 National Masters medal ceremonies will be held to recognize the top USA skiers in all age categories from the first four and final two individual races respectively. All these meetings and ceremonies will be held at very precise times and locations selected so as to not interfere with the official MWC2011 program. We will run these meetings/ceremonies on time and on a very tight schedule -- apologies ahead of time if it seems rushed, there's a lot of people and a lot to do! All meetings will be led by USA National Director J.D. Downing.

Team USA: MWC2011 Meetings/Awards Schedule (times are tentative)
Both the Firelight Sales Centre and Training Centre auditorium are located in the main Silver Star Village. A pdf map is available here. On the map, the red arrow points to the Firelight Sales Centre and the back end of the red arrow is the NATC (National Altitude Training Centre).

March 3 -- 5-6pm, Q & A drop-in (general Team USA questions), Firelight Tree House Sales Centre

March 4 -- 3:45-4:30pm, Team USA Information Meeting, National Altitude Training Centre auditorium

March 5 -- 5:45-6:15pm, Team USA Q & A drop-in (Info for March 6 races), Firelight Tree House Sales Centre

March 6 -- 5:45-6:15pm, Team USA Q & A drop-in (Info for March 7 races), Firelight Tree House Sales Centre

March 7 -- 7:30-8:30pm, USA Awards #1, National Altitude Training Centre auditorium NEW TIME!!! (This special ceremony will include USA NM2011 awards from all races on the 5th, 6th, and 7th)

March 8 -- 4:30-5pm, USA Relay Meeting, National Altitude Training Centre auditorium (Note: All skiers planning to race the relay are required to be at this meeting.)

March 9 -- 5:45-6:15pm, Team USA Q & A drop-in (Info for March 10 races), Firelight Tree House Sales Centre

March 10 -- 5:45-6:15pm, Team USA Q & A drop-in (Info for March 11 races), Firelight Tree House Sales Centre

March 11 -- 5:45pm, USA Awards #2, Wesbild Arena (note this is in Vernon, you'll need to drive or catch an early shuttle down). This ceremony includes USA NM2011 awards from March 10 & 11 races. EARLY SHUTTLES WILL LEAVE FROM SS FIRE HOUSE BETWEEN 4:45-5PM.

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All About Trail Passes

Trail passes from March 3-11 at Sovereign Lake Nordic Center for registered athletes is included in your MWC entry fee. Before and after that period all registered athletes will need to pay for a trail pass at the Nordic Center. Racers will be required to have either a MWC race bib OR a credential on your body at all times to serve as a trail pass when skiing at Sovereign Lake during the event period (March 3-11) -- subject to inspection by staff and volunteers.

Non-participants on skis also will need to pay for a trail pass at Sovereign Lake Nordic Center both before, during, and after the MWC2011. We do not currently have word on any specific trail pass discounts for companions of MWC2011 racers.

What about skiing at Sovereign on days I don't race?

Sovereign will have several trails that are not part of the race courses. How often they are groomed will depend on weather (obviously race courses are priority number one). Can't actually say how many km's are available -- but plenty for easy workouts. There will also be the interconnect trail that is several kilometers long and your MWC2011 entry will allow you access to that.

If you plan to do really long ski sessions or want the luxury of maximum trail availability and/or guarantee of grooming on all trails during the event week you should get the Silver Star pass. But if you only need a limited amount of trails and will take what you can get, Sovereign Lake should be sufficient.

What about skiing on the Silver Star trail system?
Sovereign Lake (race venue) and Silver Star (resort area) are technically separate trail systems on the same mountain that interconnect. MWC2011 skiers have an automatic trail pass for Sovereign Lake for March 3-11 once you pay your registration fee, but you will need to pay separately to ski on the Silver Star Nordic 55km sister system. Luckily the great folks at Silver Star are offering a fantastic deal of $50CAN for competitors registered in the MWC2011 to ski all ten days of the MWC2011. Non-competitors traveling with a MWC2011 racer are also offered a sweet 10-day package deal ($100 companion adults/companion children 12 and under). Taxes may be extra on all passes. Visit http://www.skisilverstar.com/pdfs/wmcspecial.pdf to see the details.

To pre-arrange your 10-day Silver Star trail pass contact Anna or Jenny in the Silver Star Holidays group department at 250-558-6043 or email groups@skisilverstar.com. You can also arrange passes when you arrive to the resort, but note that these special Silver Star passes are only sold in 10-day blocks. The same office can also let you know about alpine skiing specials for MWC2011 competitors and family members.

AXCS asks all USA skiers to understand and adhere to these trail pass requirements.

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All About Skiing and Spectating/Race Support

THIS IS IMPORTANT INFO FOR RACERS AND NON-RACERS ALIKE

Due to the volume of racers and race logistics for the MWC2011, on all six race days there is NO TRAINING OR PERSONAL SKIING ALLOWED by any person on the race courses to be used on that day until ALL racers have finished. It is typically not a problem for spectators or race support to ski out to specific locations to cheer on or feed skiers. But please use common sense when doing this folks!

For this spectating/race support course access on race days (yes, the whole day) you will be required to have either a MWC race bib OR a credential on your body at all times to get out on trails. You will also be REQUIRED to be exceptionally careful to yield the entire trail to all racers (fast or less fast, any age) at all times. This is purely "get to a point to watch/feed" access. At no point in time on race days can you ski backwards on the courses or glide test skis on the courses! You must completely avoid the stadium area at all times and use alternative routes if possible. Never skate on classic race courses. Always keep a weather eye out for racers coming up behind you and give total right-of-way to skiers on course. Abuse of this trail access privilege can and will result in confiscation of your race bib or credential. All USA skiers and friends/family are asked to help report violations to volunteers or officials.

Note also that the ban on free skiing on race days also includes warm-up and cool down for racers themselves. Remember that there are typically hundreds of skiers starting in waves before and after your race start. Only the first race class of the day can do a limited amount of skiing on course for warm-up. After that, none, nope, nada, nyet, NO. There are warm-up trails provided for warm-up in the stadium in addition to other trails at Sovereign Lake. Use them, love them, ski them.

And.....The “warm-up” trails are also the same trails you should use for your cool-down. Use of the race courses is prohibited for cool-down as you will invariably get in the way of skiers in later waves that deserve the same right as you enjoyed to a clear race course. This is annually a vexing problem at the Worlds. Be fair, be nice, stay off the race courses for your cool-down.

Likely USA group question -- AXCS realizes some group and industry leaders will wonder about testing wax and skis via limited skiing at far points on the course. Under the current plans outlined above, this should be possible as long as you are very, very careful not to interfere with racers on course. You will not be able to put speed traps on the course on race days -- ever. You also will not be able to ski back and forth on a section of trail. There are ways to carefully make a short loop to test wax and skis on the course. That should be your plan. No abuse of the course access privilege will be tolerated so the rules apply no matter who you are.

Other Spectating/Feeding Notes
Foot traffic will only be allowed in the stadium area. So any spectators on foot will need to plan on staying very close to the stadium. There is far too much snow to try and walk off the courses very far into the system.

Feeding skiers on the race course is allowed by spectators -- provided such feeding does not in any way impede any other racers. Be smart and pick locations where you will not endanger or conflict with skiers! There are several long stretches of gentle downhill and those are good spots.

Are there any race feeds provided?
Yes, there will be a race feed station in the stadium and one on the 15km loops. For the 30km races this means 3 race feed locations. For the 45km this means 5 race feed locations. Water and race drink will be provided. No solid food or gels. Typically there are few (if any) volunteers staffing these locations so be aware that you may need to stop to get your drink off a table. Most skiers carry their own feed to make sure they get what they need.

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Warm-up, Waxing, and "Typical" Waxing Notes

Warm Up Trails
Warm-up trails are provided and are to be the only trails used for warm-up except for the first race classes on course each day. A ski test hill is also provided very close to the stadium. As mentioned above under Trail Passes, unless you are in the first class to start on a given day, use of the race courses is prohibited for warm-up and cool-down as you will invariably get in the way of skiers in earlier/later waves that deserve the same right as you to a clear race course. This is annually a vexing problem at the Worlds and (again) the host nation is always a big reason why. Be fair, be nice, stay off the race courses for your warm-up and cool-down.

Waxing Facilities
For pre-race prep many hotels are planning on some kind of waxing space for those skiers staying at each hotel. As is typical for any skier on the road, some waxing spaces will be quite comfortable (heated shops) and some are "rustic" (unheated tents or carports). Many condos and rental houses also will have some space you can wax in. You are well advised to ask when booking as to available waxing space plans at hotels, condos, etc..

A great plan for skiers in the western states that drive to B.C. is to pool with friends to buy and bring a 10' x 10' pop-up tent that you can then use as a portable wax space. These tents are quite common in stores now (usually less than $200US) and with sidewalls you are out of the wind and wet even on nasty days. The tents easily fit in many cars and are quite easy to set-up and take-down. You can use a portable set-up like this as a private wax room both at the venue as well as at your hotel/condo. All you need is power when hot waxing!

On race days, per WMA rules, there will be a large waxing tent at the stadium for skiers at the Worlds. The waxing tent space will have limited tables, but no profiles will be provided. The more gear you can bring with you the better (this is where teaming with other skiers is a big help)! There will be power. Yes, you can use this waxing space at the venue in afternoons (but not evenings) to wax for the next day's races. This is a good option if waxing is going to be a pain where you are staying.

To bring waxing gear to the stadium, you will need to either do a very quick team/group drop-off with one (1) designated team vehicle or you just can bring your stuff (profiles, tables, wax boxes) on the short shuttle bus from parking areas. If you do a drop-off, just be considerate and be fast aiming for early morning so you aren't in the way of shuttle buses. The stadium will be fairly secure at night, but no guarantee is made by the Park for unlocked gear left overnight.

As when we are in Europe, USA skiers that are racing always have priority for waxing space in the stadium waxing areas. Skiers that are not racing will be politely (but firmly) requested to avoid hanging around or placing gear in the waxing tent(s) until all racers for each race day are on course.

Unlike when we are in Europe, the sheer size of the USA contingent is simply too great for one man to be of much use when it comes to waxing. So USA National Director J.D. Downing will be depending on the capable information and testing provided by numerous ski industry representatives that will be on hand the entire event week. In most cases, USA skiers are going to be the priority of these company reps so do not be shy about asking for advice. We will have posting space at all USA meetings the night before all races so you can keep updated. Links will also be provided in the USA Update page here on xcskiworld.com.

"Typical" Waxing Conditions At Sovereign Lake

AXCS asked the Nordic Directors at both Sovereign Lake and Silver Star to give us their best ideas on what to pack for wax gear. The short version was "basically everything" since early March on the mountain we'll be on can range from fairly cold powder to early spring conditions. This variety is only enhanced by the fact that the Pacific Northwest is seeing a very distinct La Nina weather pattern in Winter 2010/11 which means fairly radical waves of moisture, temperatures, and blue bird high pressure periods.

All this means that USA skiers should do your best to bring a variety of waxes to handle anything you encounter within the following parameters....

a. In early March, it would be fairly unusual to see very cold (as in -15C and below) daytime temps in the Sovereign Lake/Silver Star area. It would also be fairly unusual to see very warm daytime temps. You'll want to have your bases covered at the extremes -- but you should hedge toward the middle on supply amounts.

b. This mountain gets a lot of snow and it would be very possible to see several races run on soft powder. It would be less likely that we'll see super hard conditions unless there is a spring snow high pressure with very cold nights.

c. For classic skiers it is worth practicing waxing in fresh snow conditions at home at a variety of temps and humidity levels. Sovereign Lake/Silver Star is far enough inland and far enough north that not every fresh snow system will drop wetter snow. You can get prototypical wet PacNW snow and a day later you can get a colder powder more like the Intermountain or Rocky areas. Be prepared for these kinds of changes if we have a wild weather week.

d. The MWC trails are generally very well protected in beautiful forests so even if there was a big storm, wind should be less of an issue than it might be at other places. This is often a minor issue for glide waxing, but important if we are in a tricky kick wax vs. klister vs. combo condition with classic days.

Hopefully that helps some.

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Race Start & Seeding Info

What time are my race starts?
All race start times will be posted for all race days on MWC2011.com the week prior to the Opening Ceremonies.

Why not earlier? Because entries remain open until the last practical moment and given the deadline for skiers is February 14 it takes at least another week for every National Director to tidy up every international entry. This means that the World Masters Association which creates the start list has just a few days to calculate how many skiers are registering in each class and how those classes will interact on each race day given the race course and stadium design. All of these factors determine the final start list so this is a big job even with computers. Several races are enhanced with regard to traffic flow when WMA can combine smaller classes into one start time. In other cases it's necessary to provide an extra 5-10 minutes spacing to avoid crowding. Every year this changes slightly. So you'll just have to be patient as there really is no other viable solution.

What about race seeding?
Your seeding at each age group start is based on your World Master FIS points. What AXCS understood as of the September 2010 WMA meetings is as follows (but keep reading for an update) -- Skiers must have competed in one of the last two Worlds (2009 and/or 2010) to have points on profile for the MWC2011. McCall MWC2008 races will NOT be included in the point profile for MWC2011. If you are brand new to the Worlds or it has been 2008 or later since you did a Worlds, you will be in a random seed behind all point holders in your age/gender registered for that particular race regardless of your racing ability. (keep reading if you are fretting about this)

Super secret insider info: All that in the previous paragraph taken into account, the early process with the WMA entry submission seems to indicate that IF you held World Masters FIS points from any Worlds in the past few years (including MWC2008) coming into the MWC2011, you actually are still showing your points. AXCS can't promise that you are good to go with ranked seeding off of results from McCall or other MWC events in the past 5-8 years -- but it seems like what we were told about only 2009 and 2010 counting isn't holding up in practice. Cross your fingers.

At the start line on each race day you will be required to start in a designated row and lane. You will have to remain in the designated lane until the end of a roughly 50m start area. Then you will be free to pass slower skiers. Volunteers will guide you to your spot so you don't have to memorize it ahead of time (although it's really not too hard). Your start position will likely be different each race as there is typically a very different field (some skiers better or worse points) for each race you do.

Start lists will be posted on the official MWC2011.com event site the week prior to the Opening Ceremony. Remember also that the way these are written, "lane" means row to USA skiers, "row" means lane to us. Don't worry too much about PoL (it means roughly "point on row" to us, the first seed on a row is in the middle, lowest seeds on the edges.

You cannot move to an open spot if a fellow competitor does not show up on race day. Your assigned start spot is where you must start. Violating this rule can easily result in DSQ before the gun even goes off!

Will the race starts reseed after the first results are in?
No. The start list process is very complex and takes a huge amount of volunteer effort (this is one of the biggest reasons for the early registration cut-off for the Worlds). All start lists are produced ahead of the Opening so where you are once the start lists are posted is where you will remain the rest of the week.

In 2008 the AXCS Office heard from some fast USA skiers that were less-than-thrilled with their start position. Here is the same response we provided three years ago...

a. There are only 5-6 men's classes where seeding has any importance at the MWC. Generally this is from M4-M8/9. Younger/older males and all female skiers really shouldn't worry at all about seeding. Your classes are small enough and the trails wide enough that any competent medal-contender can work yourself into a good position in short order.

b. For the largest men's classes, you are still only talking about perhaps 100 men maximum at the start line. At 20 start lanes across, the worst likely scenario is you'd be in the fifth or sixth row. You might have to chill out on the double portion, but once the scramble starts it is a near-guarantee you'll find space to move up. Every year fast skiers find a way to make this happen. Deal with it. The Sovereign Lake trails are very, very wide and there are no serious pinch points in the early kilometers so we anticipate MWC2011 to be even easier than the MWC2008 in this regard.

c. Still fretting? Please also remember that we will see 10-15% empty spaces due to no-shows. This means in the absolute biggest men's classes aren't going to be as big as you think.

Final comment: At the MWC2004 held in Norway (which would present more net difficulty than the MWC2011), a US former male Olympian started in the last row of his wave for all three individual races. He complained to the AXCS National Director at the start of the Worlds about his start position and heard the same points above. He then promptly went out and won three medals. He never got past the first half kilometer of the race in anything but the top three. Needless to say he enjoyed himself very much. You will too.

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Stuff You Do NOT Need To Worry About At MWC Races

Since many masters volunteer at elite events or have watched World Cups, Olympics, etc. over the years (heck, we even have a few skiers that raced at that level!), there may be some concerns over a few items that are of either no or little consequence at the Masters World Cup. Here's some stuff you do NOT have to worry about....

a. Commercial Markings On Uniforms -- Wear whatever you want, whenever you want. There are zero commercial marking rules at the Masters World Cup. You can have as many logos as you want in whatever size you want.

b. Doping Control -- Technically it is always possible that the Masters World Cup would have doping control (it's provided for in the rules). But realistically, it will not happen at the MWC2011 (and likely ever). The logistics and cost are mind-boggling. Sadly, it is certain that there are a handful of masters out there (some in the USA!) that are using banned substances trying to win masters "fame and glory". These folks will get away with their folly for the time being, but will likely face the music someday (guilt if not the drugs themselves do unpleasant things to our bodies).

c. Saving Your Start Spot -- This is more something that happens at big citizen races, but at the MWC your start spot is predetermined so you simply walk up a couple minutes before your wave is scheduled to leave, put your skis down, and off you go. Easy, no hassle, no fuss, no straight-arming the guy next to you as you run in a panic to the line. If for any reason someone is in your designated spot, tell the volunteers and they'll move the person.

d. Worrying About Your Gear While You Race -- In the start area there are pens for each nation and you will be able to leave a bag there (with your number on it) while you race. Volunteers will patrol the area keeping it secure. It's a good idea to come to the MWC with a bag you can easily identify although the volunteers will also have simple plastic bags for use.

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All About The Relay (Wednesday, March 9)

The rules for the Masters World Cup are very clear with regard to the MWC relay.

Each nation is allowed only one team in each official age category. For men, this means one team of four men for every 5 year age group. For women, this means one team of four women for every 10 year age group (for example, F1 and F2 individual classes are combined into a F1 relay category). Each team MUST contain a minimum of two skiers actually in the designated 5 or 10 year age category, but it is possible to drop skiers down from older groups. It is not possible to bring skiers up from younger groups.

Each year, the AXCS National Director is empowered with the responsibility to select the USA relay teams. When we are in Europe, this is often pretty basic stuff (the team often selects itself based off who is racing fast). At the MWC2011, it'll be a bit trickier due to the sheer volume of potential U.S. candidates in each age group.

AXCS protocol for selection will also be quite simple.

Over the first several USA meetings and before the event, AXCS will be asking skiers to put your name down if interested in the relay and what legs you can do (classic and/or freestyle). In crowded age groups, realistically we only need those skiers that will finish in the top 6-8 USA skiers in your age group to put your name down. But in thinner age groups (younger and older skiers) we will need relatively more names as there will be fewer skiers to select from. The deadline for getting your name on this list will be Monday's (March 7) USA medal ceremony. After that will be too late.

We will base the USA teams on a combination of top USA finishers from the first two MWC2011 races along with an eye on outstanding finishes at the 2010 National Masters and 2010 Masters World Cup. Our goal is always to create the most competitive USA teams. Whenever possible, we'll keep all four skiers on a given team within the designated category. But if a faster skier can be dropped down to potentially create a medal-winning team, we'll do it.

The USA relay teams will be officially announced in the morning on Tuesday, March 8. Announcement will most likely be posted on-line. The USA National Director has to turn in the relay teams (including leg order) by mid-day Tuesday so there is no extra time to sort things out. Attendance at the Team USA relay meeting Tuesday evening (see schedule to be posted above) is required of all category relay skiers (plus alternates!).

As we have seen in the past, it is NOT helpful for skiers or spectators to offer unsolicited input as to relay team selection. Simply because Joe or Jane "wins all the races back home" does not translate to what will result in a competitive dual technique relay team at the Worlds come March. The AXCS National Director is very experienced at team selection. When there is a toss-up between skiers, it is very rare that selection of one skier versus another will result in a different finishing place for the team. If J.D. needs help with a specific decision, he'll ask for it.

All relays also need alternates (2) in case of injury or illness. These are important roles as you need to be ready to race on race morning if someone on the relay doesn't show up or can't race. We've had relay teams win medals because alternates were race-ready to hop in at the last minute. We've also had teams not finish the relay because alternates blew off their roles and didn't show up. If you put your name down as eligible for the relays, for the sake of your teammates -- please take any role you are given seriously folks.

Bottom line: It is an absolute certainty that the majority of USA skiers registered for the MWC2011 will not be able to ski in the relay. We will need two designated alternates at per team in case of illness/injury. But if you are not named to a relay team at all, think of the relay as another day off to get ready for the marathons -- and you can come cheer on all the USA Teams!

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Ceremonies and the Banquet

Opening Ceremony: Friday, March 4
The exact location is still TBD, but will be on the mountain at either Silver Star or Sovereign Lake. Typically there is a short "parade of nations" followed by a short ceremony to kick off the Worlds plus some light refreshments. Although very low-key compared to the Olympics, the Opening is always a good time and gives USA skiers a chance to see each other before the races begin. Dress warm and please feel welcome to bring any friends and family you like to take part. This is absolutely a "come one, come all" type of event!

Medal Ceremonies
MWC2011 Awards: Team USA once again anticipates having many medalists at a NorAM-hosted Worlds. The evening after after each race there will be an official MWC2011 medal ceremony at the Silver Star Resort area. These are pretty neat ceremonies and for sure friends/family will want to attend. Note that for the Friday, March 11 distance classic races the MWC medal ceremony will be in the afternoon. Check official schedule in your packet for exact times and location.

NM2011 Awards: AXCS will also conduct two USA-only medal ceremonies to recognize the top three USA skiers in each MWC individual race. To arrive at these results we'll just go right down the MWC results list to find the first three USA skiers listed. The first USA medal ceremony will be on Monday, March 7 from 7:45-8:45pm in the High Altitude Training Centre auditorium. This ceremony will include medals for the first four individual races from March 5-6-7. Then, on Friday, March 11 we will have the second USA-only medal ceremony for the March 10-11 distance days. The current plan is to have this second USA ceremony one hour prior to the Closing Banquet at the Vernon Ice Arena venue. More details will be posted as we confirm logistics.

Closing Banquet: Friday, March 11
One banquet ticket for registered athletes is included in your MWC entry fee. You can buy extra banquet tickets for family/friends when you register or at the Race Office during the event week (pre-purchase is strongly recommended).

The insider information is that numerous extra banquet spaces are certain to be available later in the week as we know for a fact up to several hundred USA skiers will not be staying the entire event week. Bottom line: Have patience and you should have no problem securing banquet tickets for any friends/family one way or another.

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Skier Diplomacy, Protests, & World Masters Sportsmanship

Many U.S. masters that have not been to a World Masters yet will likely have heard or hear (soon) sportsmanship stories about international relations on the ski trails. Depending on your source and the year of such stories, what you have heard may or may not paint a perfectly accurate. But suffice it to say that international races (mostly on the men's side in the biggest age groups) can contain a bit more of a rough and tumble element than many U.S. skiers are used to. No USA skier should be intimidated AT ALL by anything you may hear. You have the full assurance of the World Masters Association, AXCS, the local organizers, and your USA National Director J.D. Downing will do everything possible to make sure all races will be conducted fairly to all skiers regardless of ability -- or else.

Even more so than major ski marathons you may have done, there are clear lines drawn between acceptable and unacceptable behavior or action on and off the race trails at a MWC event. Because the MWC2011 is in North America, what you will find is that anything outside of the norm for USA/Canadian races will be magnified at the MWC. Roque elements typically don't fly halfway around the planet and shell out a few thousand dollars just to get a DSQ in a Masters World Cup race. Thus, the odds are that it is far more likely that any problems ("cheating", rough play, etc.) that may happen will be instigated by North American skiers -- and not foreign athletes!

In any and all cases of foul play, the biggest and best thing skiers and spectators can do is report specific bib numbers associated with a specific action in a specific time/place. In many cases, the word of one skier won't disqualify another competitor, but the info you can provide can help the jury and National Directors warn skiers they are under watch.

In a situation where a medal is won/lost by foul play or where something truly bad took place, then a formal protest should be filed. The info on how to do this will be in your race packet and you need the help of USA National Director J.D. Downing to file the protest (J.D. will be reachable every race...just how will be posted). There is a fee for every protest so you only do this for big problems where you have some back-up -- or when you might have been disqualified unfairly.

Below will be a few notes to keep in mind on the most common things we've seen in MWC events...and what you can do to assure a fun and safe event for yourself.

a. Keep Your Gear Safe -- Certain nations get a bad rap because of past behavior on theft of gear, but the reality is that at big USA events you are more likely to have gear go missing because of good ol' local thieves (likely non-skiers) that are looking for an easy poach. Silver Star/Vernon is a super safe resort area, but it only takes one low life drifting through to cause a nightmare. The simple solution is to always lock up your gear (keep condos and cars locked). Check your bags at the race stadium (there will be a place for this). And try and keep valuables on your body at all times.

b. Chill Out At The Start -- Everyone is assigned a start position in a lane and row and there will be groomed tracks you have to stay in until a first mix zone on every start. This makes for a very civil start and even the mix zone shouldn't be a problem given the huge width of the stadium area. The biggest key is that skiers simply relax and not try and win every race in the first 300m. If you stay relaxed, you can give plenty of room to those that ski like blenders-on-wheels and get around slower skiers before the trails narrow. Even in the 10km races, there is simply no excuse for freaking out in the start at the Worlds.

c. Skating In Classic Races -- The MWC rules are the same as worldwide classic rules. Keep the skis parallel except when herringboning, changing lanes, or clear step turns. Yes, you will no doubt see violations. Reporting numbers is always helpful. The organizers will have cameras on course and course marshals in appropriate spots. But ultimately fair play and honor has to rule. Better to remove yourself from competition (turn your bib inside out) if your wax fails than to be disqualified and have to face ineligibility.

d. The Infamous Cut-Off Tactic -- Probably the single most shocking thing to USA skiers about European race tactics is the tendency for some classic skiers (almost always males) to merge into your track more-or-less by skiing right over your tips. The first time this happens you'll be stunned, but rest assured, it's pretty normal in Europe. Now that this tactic is absolutely against the rules so it is well worth remembering the skier's number that does it and at the very least reporting that skier at the end of the race. The best way to defend against the tactic is to either ski very defensively when someone is on your immediate side (in a classic track or not) and like in freeway driving -- assume the very worse at all times. If you prepared for an attempt to come into your lane unfairly, you can hold your position better and/or you can back off quickly and allow space to merge. Note: Something that you do have to remember is that if there is sufficient space ahead of you for a skier to merge and you speed up as someone fairly is trying to merge, then YOU become the dink here and could be subject to an obstruction claim.

e. Stepping On Tails -- Now this one happens all the time in US racing although it's pretty lame wherever it happens. Basically a skier behind you just keeps clipping your tail (skating or classic) sometimes also stepping on poles. They are clearly following too close and it really doesn't matter if this is on purpose or accidental, it's not fair racing. Typically three tail taps or pole knocks is crossing the line to being a jerk. One option for you is to just let tail tapping skier take the lead. That solves things easily. If you don't want to let them lead (maybe you are skiing faster), then ask -- politely -- for the skier to give you more room. If that doesn't work, then a simple (albeit somewhat brutal) tactic is to "miss" a pole plant aiming upwards behind you. Someone skiing unfairly close will literally get the point. Again, report numbers if you can with this situation.

f. Blocking -- More often in skating than classic races, you may come into a situation where skiers from one nation will "block" other skiers by skating 2-3 abreast across the track. This happens mainly so a skier can make a breakaway. This is also very much against the rules and (again) you need to remember bib numbers if possible as national affiliation can be tricky with given languages. It rarely will happen to skiers outside the top 1/3-1/2 of the biggest men's fields. Almost never on the women's side. Your very best defensive tactic here is to try and break up any pack where you can tell skiers are working together. Blocking almost always happens late in races so act early and often to put others on the defensive. Throw surges wherever you can cause trouble. Try and take the lead where you have fast skis and calculate your moves to pass where there is wide track and/or A LOT OF FRIENDLY SPECTATORS. If any skier is reported for a violation by a number of spectators and racers, the race jury is obligated to look into the matter so if you make a pass where you have friendly eyes, you have a better chance of having fewer problems.

g. Tracking Rules? -- The MWC does have a track rule (overtaking skier can call "track" or "hup" and slower skier must yield the classic track or one side of the skate route). However, the MWC is also a series of wave starts so skiers have to be sensible about barking for track. If you are skiing in a tight train of several skiers and some idiot comes up behind you yelling "hup", just ignore them. That said, if you are more than a ski length behind the last skier in a train, then you are obligated to give way. The track rule does not apply in the final sprint so never give way in the final sprint stretch (this includes if you are in a totally different class and a medal sprint is underway in a class that started behind you...just ski to the far left or right and you have as much right to keep skiing as anyone).

h. Physical Contact -- Contact in the MWC is typically not any worse than what we see in big mass starts in the U.S.. It is possible in the start mix zones to have a few skiers bump a bit (particularly in the biggest men's classes) and chilling out at the start (see "b" above) will really help this. Out on the course, often the worst spot for any bumping is in the top 1/3 of some men's classes around popular feed zones. You can solve this equation by feeding in a different spot than your competitors or simply feeding defensively -- anticipating where skiers and helpers are going to go. The worst thing we've seen over the years is a few situations where men in the M5-M8 classes have "encounters" with some female skiers. There is often overlap in these age/gender groups and a few male racers -- for lack of any better words -- can act like pigs. The female skier can help herself by skiing to the side of the course if you can sense an approaching pack of men coming behind you and also skiing to the outside of a coming corner. If you make a best effort to stay clear, the pack will likely pass you without any problems. Any female skier that has a problem with men making any type of contact need to report the number of the skier. There's a big difference between a legit accidental contact situation and someone pushing you over (super rare, but can happen) so you need to report the skier in question and the bib number is the key ("big smelly guy in a blue suit" doesn't cut it)!

i. Wars of Words -- The nice thing at a MWC is that with so many languages, you typically don't care if someone is cursing at you. So this is very unlikely to be a big problem with foreign skiers. However, within the USA contingent it's always possible someone is going to lose their cool and thus a very clear warning. AXCS and the USA National Director will not tolerate any verbal unsportsmanlike conduct by USA skiers towards other racers, spectators, volunteers, or officials. If there is a legitimate protest or grievance to file, it will be done within the rules. Collect names, bib numbers, clothing, etc. and report what you need to report to the USA National Director J.D. Downing. But cursing, yelling, threatening, etc. on your own will simply not be tolerated. You can be removed from the competition list for this behavior and you can (and will) receive sanctions for future National/World Masters as well as American Ski Marathon Series events. Be nice -- or else.

j. Courses Are Closed When Races Are Going -- Another constant at every MWC is that the race courses are always technically closed to skiing when races are in progress. Very careful skiing is tolerated (outside the stadium area) only for skiers to access spectating points. By very careful we mean looking over your shoulder constantly for racers, giving wide berth to slower racers you encounter, hugging the side of the course, and stepping clear off the track when groups of skiers approach. Absolutely no children's sleds, dogs, or other items should be with you in this careful process. Warm-up prior to the first starts of the day is also OK. Once races are in motion, you simply are not allowed to train or ski openly on the course. What we know is that USA skiers and their supporters are most likely to be the cause of problems in this regard. In particular, late starters often are treated very rudely by early finishers cooling down on a closed track. This will not be tolerated. Know that you are hereby warned that credentials can be taken removing race starts (now or in the future) if you or your supporters cause a problem.

k. Remember The Good Apples -- The prediction is that 99% of the skiers at the MWC2011 will be there for fair competition, fun, great skiing, and good health. Be one of these people and take what steps to protect yourself from the very few bad apples. It'll be a fantastic week!

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Ski Your Assigned Race -- Or Not At All

This is a very unique item to USA skiers, but one that deserves a quick mention.

Once the registration list is locked such that wherever you are listed to race on the start sheets, that is where you have the right to race at the MWC2011. AXCS provides extensive opportunity to make changes up until close of registration on February 14. After that point no changes can be made for any reason. Period.

The skiers that are on the start list for each MWC2011 race are the only ones that have the right to be out on course on each race day. Anyone else openly skiing on the courses (with or without a bib) is not only violating MWC/WMA rules, but also trespassing and creating a dangerous situation. There is a huge difference carefully skiing out to a far point to help feed skiers and openly racing or training on a course. Common sense needs to be applied here folks.

If any USA skier is found to "hop in" any race that you are not registered to ski, you will find yourself in the hottest of water. Disqualification and sanctions from National/World competition as well as American Ski Marathon Series competitions are all in play. Charges will also be considered with local law enforcement as it applies.

We have had a single instance of this in the past with a lone USA skier in Europe. It will not be tolerated in the future at any MWC competition.