Daily USA Updates Page
(daily updates from Monday, January 26 to Friday, February 6)
Link back to pre-trip Team USA Info Page with various links and older updates.
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Friday, January 30 -- 8:30am Italy Time updates
Note that I posted a ton of stuff last night as well, so scroll down to scan thru all of Thursday PM notes!!!!!
-> Opening Ceremony is this evening!
-> The Event Brochure has the general scoop on what's going on. Basically a procession from a half dozen blocks away from the stadium/hospitality village - ending at the village with speeches, some artistic entertainment, light refreshments. It's usually good value so attendance encouraged.
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-> If you are not already on the USA Relay Availability Sheet, please mark "yes" or "no" in the next 48 hours (by Sunday 4pm at the latest) -- OR -- you can email JD and say your name - Yes or NO availability - if yes, which techniques you are prepared to do. No other info on any email please. jd at xcskiworld dot com
Note anyone that emailed JD previously, you need to double check the sheet to make sure I marked you down. Billion things going on the past week so a double check is mandatory!!!
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-> Although there are no promises I'll be able to offer a solution, I will be working today on potential scenarios for some type of waxing for skiers at Bach and Braden Hotels closer to the hotels. Due to the bizarre "no skis in the hotel" policy at Cavallino, I really don't have a play there except what we are doing already with your gear stored at the stadium. BTW, there was zero mention the entire year with USA Cavallino reservations about the "no skis in the hotel" policy. But sorry about that regardless.
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-> Reminder for everyone to continue being smart with health protocols
The next 72-96 hours is pretty much the crux to having a healthy MWC trip. So as much as you can (while still having a great time), do what you can to stay healthy or (if you pick up something) keep it contained.
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Thursday, January 29 -- 10:00pm Italy Time updates
-> Event Brochure on-line.......You can find an on-line version of the MWC2026 event brochure (aka racer information) at the official main event website now. You can also find hardcopies at many USA hotels. The brochure is a very handy reference tool as it has all essential event information found on the event website PLUS a bunch of updated details and reference points for the upcoming 8 days. You can answer the majority of typical MWC event questions by getting to know material in the brochure (hint, hint :).
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-> Packet Pick-Up For Sure Happening Friday
You can pick up your packet (aka bib+) starting Friday morning at the BlueEnergy tent in the "hospitality village" area that is about 100m upstream of the stadium (big white tents, temp building cluster above the chair lift base).
Please read the notes in the Event Brochure about the importance of using every race you ski and also returning your transponder (aka timing chip) after your final race. The transponder will be in the bag you get with your race bib.
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-> Where and When Do I Pay For My Bus Rides?
This item is NOT in the Event Brochure -- you pay for your past and/or future bus rides in the Race Office that is located on the second floor of the building adjacent to the stadium and will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day from January 30 to February 6.
Please note that at some point in the coming days, the Sappada OC will begin to needle various National Directors to get skiers to pay for bus rides. So -- you really help avoid extra work for your's truly if you get your bus rides paid up sooner than later. Thanks in advance on this!
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-> Any remaining spots for the Monday tour excursion would also be secured in the Race Office (directions above) AND any extra banquet ticket sales would be in the Race Office (directions above).
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-> JD will get final jury decisions and adjustments for Saturday races at a late afternoon Team Captain's Meeting. Expect lots of posts from 3-4:30pm.
The current lean of the jury is to have the F9 women race 4 x 2.5km on Saturday same as skiers in the 10-11-12 categories. This is NOT an official decision yet, but it's probable.
No other early word has been linked on other adjusted plans or courses. But the Friday TCM should inform likely scenarios for both Sat and Sun races.
A ton of things that will be covered in the Friday TCM is already covered in the Event Brochure. (hint, hint again :-)
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-> USA Wax Area Set-up Done (shared with Boulder Nordic)....the USA wax area (garage area at the very bottom of large stadium building complex) is pretty much complete on set-up now.
Because USA Cavallino Hotel skiers are not allowed to store skis and tubes/bags at their hotel, those skiers are the only USA crew that are storing skis and tubes/bags along one side of the USA Wax Area. Please everyone else limit yourself to only the gear you need to test or race on.
We are getting a couple power cords set up and there is now cleaning gear. BNS has set up operation so this is where you'll find Nathan and Co.
Access is tricky. You either need to walk downhill outside the stadium side of the huge complex building -- OR -- you need to use a confusing combination of inside/outside staircases and doors to get to the ground floor/basement of the building -- OR -- you need long walk way around on the one lane road circling the fenced soccer field from the "hospitality village" down to the huge climbing wall that looks like a Pi symbol and over to the base of the stadium building. Like I said -- tricky. But once you know the routes, you'll remember it.
Due to the amount of wax being heated and in/out traffic, the waxing garage is not going to be a particularly good place to change or hang out from here on out. The better spot to change or leave clothes/bags will be the changing/storage tent in the hospitality village. If we can identify a good USA spot for storing ski bags at the edge of the stadium, we should do so. Having a lot of us aim for a centralized location for USA extra skis/gear close to the stadium is a very good security system (particularly on good weather days).
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Thursday, January 29 -- 8:30am Italy Time updates
-> Packet Pick-Up Delayed to Friday....Due to the recent storms, DataSport was not able to deliver the timing transponders yet, so race packets are not available until tomorrow. There really isn't anything in the packet that you need for skiing today and enjoying the area, so the only notable note about this change is that it'll be a little more crowded tomorrow for the packet pick-up as all nations will be in town.
-> USA Wax Area Set-up....I will shortly be in the USA wax area (bottom floor of large stadium building). If there are needed this and that items, I'll know shortly and begin to address things.
More to follow later this afternoon.....
JD
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Wednesday, January 28 -- 10:30pm Italy Time updates
-> Majority of Team USA here, few folks still coming......Overall we did pretty well today getting the vast majority of our contingent safely to Sappada lodging. A few folks hit delay snags (people or bags), but we generally are catching up. We should have most/all of those originally slated to arrive today by tomorrow afternoon.
-> If you know of a skier the is still making their way to Sappada, please let them know there are the same three bus departure times (11am, 2pm, 6pm) on Thursday. Just a lot more international skiers vs. nearly-all USAs as was the case today.
They should be able to get a ride on one of those buses for the trip up to Sappada.
Anyone still arriving to VCE Venice also should look for Matteo in the Arrivals area of the Terminal. Late arrivals that note on Thursday you should depart bag claim/security out of door #3 if you can at that is where Matteo will focus energy due to Olympic arrival traffic starting to take over doors #1 and #2.
-> I've already gotten questions about "what can we do about adjusting mealtimes and formats" at hotels.
Some of you that were on the Klosters/SUI trip last year may remember "negotiations" going on with meal times here at some hotels there. A lot of places are set up to offer later breakfasts and dinners than many skiers prefer or need (based on digestion). Also getting higher carb foods or amount of calories needed for Nordic races can sometimes be tricky.
It will take me awhile to get around to the hotels to assist, but while that is in progress the best solution is for several skiers to politely ask management what are the options for basic skier foods (which other nations will want as well) like oatmeal/breads/fruit in the AM and bread/pasta/salads in PM to at least be available at earlier times. If enough of you ask politely (and if you enlist any other nations staying at your lodging to also ask) -- management will usually bend slowly to your wishes.
-> You should be good-to-go with skiing without a trail pass on Thursday. This even though Thursday is just an unofficial training day and Friday is the official training day.
-> The organizer MWC shuttle won't get rolling until Friday, but there is a local ski bus that you can use instead that connects hotels to alpine areas. Ask at your hotel for more info on stops and timetables.
-> USA wax space is in the bottom level of the big multi-use building next to the ski stadium. All USA skiers are welcome to use this space throughout the MWC. Boulder Nordic will also be using a portion of this area for their ski service.
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Wednesday, January 28 -- 9:30am Italy Time updates
-> "Just in case" info with arriving flights today.....
JD knows we have a few USA skiers delayed until Thursday due to rebooked flights (Wood, Fanney, Meek, Lindgren). One more (Cunningham) still confirming rebooked arrival. So anyone tempted to send notices about these folks, I've got it already.
If anyone else ends up delayed to VCE Venice beyond our 6pm shuttle window today (Weds), we already know that there are the same three shuttle times (11am, 2pm, 6pm) set up on Thursday for other nations. So there is a good chance of shifting you to one of those options worst case (you'll get what you get in terms of space tho).
More coming later today from Sappada :-).....
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Tuesday, January 27 -- 8:30pm Italy Time updates
-> For everyone spending tonight in the Venice Airport area, remember in the morning you want shuttles to drop you at the ARRIVALS hall of the main VCE terminal if possible.
If the shuttle automatically goes to the Departure hall, just find an elevator and drop down to ARRIVALS. It's not a massive terminal so reasonable to manage even with big bags.
Load time for 11am buses is between 10:30-11am, but if you can get to Arrivals a bit ahead of that window, it's ideal. Look for people with MWC or USA signs
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-> The 2pm bus group is going to officially be split into two buses with Canadians being added to one of the buses.
- 2pm bus "A" / Shuttle service with the Canadian team and other individual athletes -- stops of note for USA skiers: EIRL & Hotels Sport + Haus Michaela
- 2pm bus "B" /: All TEAM USA skiers......
Stops: Bach, Cavallino & Bladen -> Posta and Venezia -> 1 skier to Le Coccole
The bus hosts will help everyone coordinate things as you group up in the ARRIVALS hall of the VCE terminal prior to loading between 1:30-2pm (be early if you can and look for people with MWC or USA signs).
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-> We are getting positive snow reports from Sappada from our early arrivals. A fresh layer of new is already on top of the existing firmer base. More snow is forecast on Wednesday to add to that new layer and hopefully allow 100% of all local trails to be in good shape as we get everyone there! :-)
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Monday, January 26 -- 10:30am Pacific Time updates
-> If you are delayed en route, please wait to send a note to AXCS (JD Downing) until you have a firm idea of when you'll actually get to Venice. Often in the logistical unwind of big weather events can be super erratic with wild swings in airline plans. We want to operate on confirmed info as much as possible.
Once you have a firm plan, email JD a concise note on your final flight info (not your whole new itinerary please!). So, for example: Indiana Jones: new VCE arrival 10:30am Weds, 28th, Lufthansa flight ### from Frankfurt.
The good news this year is that we have decent flexibility both with our USA buses as well as other Sappada OC buses with other nation groups. The Sappada OC is already aware there may be some North American delays due to the recent big storms.
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Sunday, January 25 -- 7:30pm Pacific Time updates
Arrival Buses on Wednesday, 28th (Venice -> Sappada
USA Arrival Buses List
-> On Wednesday, there will be hostesses with signs in the VCE Venice Airport arrival hall at the start of the three half hour designated loading times that will connect skiers to our buses. For the 11am buses, JD Downing also will be in the VCE arrival hall helping coordinate things.
-> Everyone please note that there will be other buses being loaded for the MWC with other nations. USA-only buses will have signs indicating such. But really, even if you end up on a bus with all CAN skiers by accident (for example), as long as the bus is going to Sappada -- it'll be OK.
-> The 11am buses do not have anyone flying in on Wednesday. So there should be zero need to delay those buses. 11am bus people should be in the arrivals hall by 10:15-30am. Each 11am bus goes to specific hotels, see sign on the buses and check with drivers/JD.
-> For the 2pm bus, the bus company has your flight details and the 1-2 bus(es) may be delayed to get folks on. Or you will be re-designated to the USA 6pm bus (or other nation's bus). Loading window for the 2pm bus is set for 1:30-2pm. Be early if you can.
-> All but Bob Gray (2pm arrival) is on one flight for the 6pm bus so that bus will wait until the 4:55pm Delta flight gets in.
-> Final reminder: EVERYONE getting a bus ride for arrival or departure will need to pay your bus fare once we are in Sappada at the Race Office. JD will have reminders and details in coming days. 40 EUR per person one-way/ 60 EUR roundtrip per person
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Lodging Package Folks: When You Get To Your Hotel
A final reminder for Lodging Package skiers not to freak out about the small (2 EUR or so per night/per person) local tax that AXCS was not able to include in your Package. You will pay that direct to the hotel yourself and it is legitimate. Just making sure no one is surprised.
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Relay Availability Sheet: Get On It!
You have a week to get your name down (yes or no, a response either way for everyone is really helpful!). If you cannot manage the google sheet, just email JD with: name, gender/age group (example: M9), yes or no available to do the relay on Feb 3, and (if yes) techniques you are ready to do.
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Please everyone remember to follow good health protocols!!!
If you have time while traveling, review the proven AXCS advice for staying healthier going over to Europe and in the early days after arrival.
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