The last time the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships were held in Rumford, the event doubled in size.
So when the skiers return to Black Mountain to race next week, there will be similar numbers and an even better facility to accommodate them.
The Chisholm Ski Club hosted the event back in 2004 and next week will mark the fourth time the U.S. Championships have been hosted in Rumford.
The event is scheduled to start Sunday with a men’s and women’s 1K classic sprint race. The competition, which will return to Rumford in 2012, features two sprint and two distances races.
“The field went from 220 to over 500,” said race director Roger Arsenault. “That was quite an explosion in the sport. When you have an event on the East Coast you’re able to gather a lot of colleges. It’s really exciting to have the event in New England because it’s more affordable for the athletes to get here.”
The races were held in Alaska last year. Being in Maine, college teams from all over New England are expected to compete. Arsenault says the number of athletes is expected to be around 420 with 80 coaches in attendance.
“It’s a lot easier for them to come here than it was to go to Alaska last year,” said Arsenault.
The headliners will include two-time U.S Champion Simi Hamilton from Aspen, Colo. Liz Stephen, of East Montpelier, Vt., Morgan Arritola, of Fairfield, Idaho, and Noah Hoffman, also from Aspen, are among the top members of the U.S. Ski Team competing. There will also be USSA SuperTour leaders Lars Flora and Holly Brooks, both from Anchorage, Alaska.
In addition to the titles on the line, the event will act as the official trials for the Junior and U-23 Cross Country Ski Championships, as well as the Junior Scandinavian Championships trip where athletes 17 and younger are eligible to compete.
Athletes will train Saturday and race Sunday. Racing will follow on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with training days in between.
“I think the venue itself is going to make it more appealing and more exciting for the athletes,” said Arsenault. “We’re positioned to host more athletes and deal with the physical numbers and the venue lends itself well to a great event.”
Things have changed at Black Mountain since the races were held here in 2004. Overall, the small improvements should make for better racing for the athletes and more accommodating for spectators.
The stadium has been expanded and will allow spectators a great view and gathering spot for the start and finish.
“The mass start area is all contained in one area,” said Arsenault. “That has affordable viewing from the base lodge in and the start-finish area. With the lap track and a multiple lap race, they’re going to have more opportunity to see the skiers.”
There are also places on the course for spectators to venture out and watch the action.
“We also have very well maintained spectator trails which allow people to get out and view athletes multiple times and still be able to get back to the stadium are where they’ll be finishing,” said Arsenault. “It’s not only seeing them go out and come back only once.”
The trails have also been widened to make for better skiing for the racers. Though the longer distance course was only tinkered with to improve it, the shorter races have been upgraded.
“The bulk of the work was done on the sprint course because you have five or six racers going head-to-head,” said Arsenault. “It’s a lot wider and kind of banked so you get more even track for the athlete that’s on the inside.”
With such a large number of competitors racing, the expanded track will certainly make a difference.
“I think it’s going to ski a lot better and that’s important to the athletes,” said Arsenault.
The snow making operation has also improved since 2004. Though the area got a good coating from last weekend’s weather, there’s still 5K worth of trail to maintain.
“We got the snow, but we also got the heavy wind for three days,” said Arsenault. “That took its toll. So we’re in the process of trucking in snow.”
One thing they have to be prepared for is any kind of weather condition or lack thereof. In 2004, the weather cooperated but not until the last minute.
“We started the event on the 4th and got a dumping of snow on the third,” said Arsenault. “Every year at this time of year, it’s always touch and go.”
The Chisholm Ski Club, originating in the 1920s, has been host to many national competitions including U.S. Championships, NCAA and USCSA Championships. Rumford has played host to the 1950 Nordic World Championships as well as the 1952 Olympic Trials.
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