The Masters World Cup: Fun For Every Adult Racer
Every season the American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) expends a great deal of promotional time and other resources encouraging more U.S. adult skiers to take part in the annual Masters World Cup events. This effort paid off in a big way at the MWC2004 in Lillehammer, Norway (nearly 200 U.S. skiers) and MWC2006 (over 130 U.S. skiers)...but AXCS is not going to sit on our laurels as we'd like to see annual U.S. participation continuing to climb in the coming years. Towards that end, AXCS is offers this glimpse at what the Masters World Cup really is like...and why YOU need to sign up in the coming years!
Picture being able to take your pick of a different international ski destination every season. These destinations aren't just "somewhere in snow" either. These are true Vacation Destinations in every sense -- Lillehammer, Norway; Moscow, Russia; Brusson, Italy; Rovanniemi, Finland. You get the idea.
The Masters World Cup travels to all these places, making a stop in a different country every year. Typically locations are selected by the World Masters Association roughly three years ahead of the event date so there is plenty of time for skiers to plan your vacation schedules ahead of time. Although there are some masters that are lucky enough to attend the MWC pretty much every year, a more likely participant is someone that would take part every 3-4 years. At any time, no qualification process of any kind is required other than being 30 years or older as of the December 31st prior to a given MWC. That's it!
Usually around 20-25 nations are represented in any given year at the MWC giving the event a true international flavor. Since this is an event for working folks, the host nation typically has the biggest contingent, but it isn't unusual to see triple digit "teams" from several other countries depending on the event location. No matter how you cut it, no other citizen race in the world can match the diversity of nationalities year in and year out.
Every year there are three individual races you can choose from, one in each technique, plus a mixed technique relay. Every race is run in a wave start by age group and the net result is a series of mini-mass starts ranging from just a handful of skiers up to 50-60 for the largest waves. There are indeed some seriously fast skiers in just about every wave. And there are also plenty of average and even well below average skiers in every age/gender category. With the wave starts spread out over several hours, it isn't unusual at all for a casual racer to basically have a perfectly groomed trail almost all to themselves some of the time. Even when the "top dawgs" from another class come from behind, typically there is more than enough room to let that pack (rarely bigger than a dozen or so even early on) go by. All-in-all a big difference from major marathons that can have several thousands of skiers competing for every inch of trail.
Social events, sightseeing, and experience local shopping/dining options round out the trip in a way that few domestic and even international events can match. At the 2004MWC in Lillehammer, Norway, U.S. skiers had easily as much fun enjoying their "off days" with ski tours that more often than not ended up totally more kilometers than the race days! With around 1,000 participants being fairly average for the MWC, lodging choices and other tourism amenities are typically not stretched to the breaking point with this event as they might be with major marathons.
It Sounds Very Cool, But It's Got To Cost A Bundle And Be A Pain To Attend -- Right?
Not so grasshopper.
With a well-organized travel package to the MWC, you can often spend a week and a half in Europe for up to thousands of dollars less than you would spend with an ordinary recreational tour group. Plus, you get to spend your vacation with other U.S. skiers just as fired up as you are about jumping in a true world-wide event involving your favorite winter sport. No one will roll their eyes if you start ruminating about which glide wax to use...relax, here you are among friends.
Beginning with the 2005 Masters World Cup in Moscow, Russia, the American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) took over primary duties of organizing a group travel package to every MWC event. U.S. skiers are free to put together their own trips, but for those interested in the convenience and simplicity of having everything laid out for them, the annual non-profit AXCS package represents the best value and organization available.
For more information about the MWC2005 and other upcoming Masters World Cup events, email axcs @ xcskiworld.com, stay tuned to xcskiworld.com updates, and join AXCS and get complete information sent as part of the best membership benefit package in XC skiing!
