Updates for USA Skiers:
MWC2010 in Falun, Sweden -- February 16-28, 2010
Weather and Event Links
yr.no Weather For Falun, SWE
NEW! This is the weather site the O.C. is using. I've linked the english version.
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SMHI
You may need to use the scroll map and save Falun as a "favorite" to pull up the local forecast. This link is now fixed.
AccuWeather.com For Falun, SWE
Hourly forecast info in addition to other features.
Live results should be streaming on-line at the MWC2010 event website.
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TEAM USA TRIP REPORTS
Feb 24 10:30pm -- The final Team USA pre-race meeting will be at 5:45pm (17:45) on Thursday, 25th in the Scandic conference rooms.
Remember on Thursday there should not be any skating on the classic courses even for those feeding or spectating! Others will no doubt ignore this rule, but let us not contribute to the problem.
All skiers are reminded to make sure to turn in your timing chip transponder after your final race. If you don't complete one of the Thurs/Fri distance races, you need to turn in your transponder on your own at the Race Office. At the races, volunteers will take the chip at the clothing pick-up.
All bus arrangements are posted at Scandic for return to Arlanda or the Oppet Spar on Feb 28 and subsequent return to Arlanda airport on Monday, March 1. Payments will need to be made in cash latest by Thursday dinnertime at Scandic.
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Feb 23 8:30pm -- All relay bibs will be in the Scandic restaurant with Hilary Garrett by around 8:45am in the morning. All relay skiers should pick up your bibs NO LATER than 9:30am. After that time, the bibs will be taken by Ron Caple to the ski marking. Please leave Ron with nothing to do and pick up your bibs in the restaurant before 9:30am!!!
If anyone on a relay team tonight has a sudden serious health issue and you really can't do the 5km tomorrow, you need to inform J.D. at breakfast no later than 7:30am. After that time, our relays are set in stone exactly as they are -- or we'll have to ditch teams entirely if we have people bail later in the morning. We can't add alternates or rotate line-ups after 8am and it will take J.D. at least 30mins prior to the deadline to get a change done. Basically, if you can function, please ski as planned as others are planning their day around you.
Our Team USA meeting for the Thursday distance CL races will be at 6pm in the Scandic conference rooms (location TBD). The only change to this plan will be if there are relay medals and we need to delay a bit.
For Arlanda airport return buses on Sat, Feb 27 or Mon, Mar 1 be sure to check out posted information in the Scandic lobby about who has space and what cash SEK has to be paid by J.D. on Friday (you need to give cash to J.D. latest Thursday night for those buses). Similar preparations are in play for Oppet Spar bus logistics for Sunday, Feb 28. See postings or talk to J.D..
Finally -- all USA racers are reminded that you MUST TURN IN YOUR TRANSPONDER TIMING CHIP FOLLOWING YOUR FINAL MWC RACE. Your return your chip at the Race Office if it is not taken from you in the finish area. Make sure the Race Office writes down your bib number when they take your chip. You will be charged 300 SEK if you forget to do this step. Actually, more specifically AXCS will be presented with a bill and the association will have to track you down for the cash which is a pain for everyone. Please, please, please do not forget this important item!!!!
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Feb 22 8:15AM -- RACE DELAY FOR ALL 10/5KM EVENTS OF ONE HOUR. SO FIRST CLASSIC START IS NOW AT 10:00AM AND ALL STARTS (CL & FS) THEN ARE DELAYED ONE HOUR REMAINDER OF TODAY.
Temp in stadium as of 8am was -24C. But J.D. has inside word from officials that the one hour delay should be sufficient to meet legal temps no matter what thermos say by 10am. So no further delays are anticipated. :-)
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Feb 21 Late PM -- The plan in the morning is for everyone to assume the races will run as scheduled -- until you see a post at our Scandic glass board or physically go to the stadium and hear alternative announcements. We need -18C to be "legal", but anticipate the thermos used will be "heated" so anything close is "go". But if several degrees shy of that as of 8am and it is possible the races will be pushed back an hour or so. Weather should warm and should otherwise be nice (partly sunny, calm wind). Dress warm and be flexible, should be a good day.
Tuesday, 23rd USA Team Meeting (for the Wednesday relay races) will be at 6:00pm (18:00) in the conference room opposite the reception desk at Scandic. All relay and alternate folks (relays and alternates posted Tuesday AM on the glass board) MUST attend. J.D. would also like to see anyone in the mix for return bus trips to Arlanda on the 27th/1st plus all Oppet Spar bus folks for updates on those trips.
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Feb 20 Late PM -- As of late evening the forecast for Sunday has edged in a colder direction so everyone be sure to dress carefully and keep exposed skin covered as much as possible. The new weather link added above is the most detailed and accurate found thus far.
Sunday, 21st USA Team Meeting (for the Monday 10km races) will be at 6:05-10pm (18:05-10) in the conference room opposite the reception desk at Scandic.
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Feb 19 Late PM -- Pretty sure that everyone that needed Saturday classic race info was at the team meeting earlier today. Will assume that all race logistics got passed on then. A reminder (or otherwise) that wax updates will be radioed down to the stadium from J.D. from 8:40-10:10am. Look for a USA flag attached to one of the big tents (cafe/shop tent or waxing tent) facing the jump hill test tracks. That flag will have a sheet protected update clipped to it. For the women and older men, J.D. should be in the test track area to help as needed.
Saturday, 20th USA Team Meeting will be at 6:00pm (18:00) in the conference room opposite the reception desk at Scandic.
Remember ALL skiers -- do not under any circumstances skate on the classic courses tomorrow. Whether you are racing, spectating, feeding, you will be in trouble if you skate. Racers can be DSQed from Sunday if you are caught! Also remember to ski only in the direction of the race course and watch constantly for racers if skiing before 3pm.
Live results should be streaming on-line at the MWC2010 event website.
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Feb 18 Late PM -- The Friday Team USA meeting will be at 4pm in the conference room opposite the front desk. Skiers racing the opening classic events are strongly urged to attend. At 4:45pm (16:45) buses will leave Hotel Scandic to go downtown for the Opening Ceremony. If you go, remember to dress very warmly (it will be cold and likely snowy). Tentative return time will be 7:15pm (19:15) so that will mean a later dinner for those that attend.
Key notes passed on at the Thursday meeting:
-- There is no baggage check at the stadium Friday or on race days this year. Not sure why. The only safe place to leave gear will be at the start pen (after ski marking) on race days for those actually racing.
-- Wax tent will be heated (they are working on it). Entrance floor is not as slippery now, they put something down.
-- Warm-up area for all racers will be on the jump out-run. It'll be a limited area which is typical for the MWC. It will be difficult to do a ton of kick testing anywhere else and make sure to get back for your start. Thus, J.D. will be positioned higher on the course and will radio down with testing results skiing a small loop.
-- Race feeds on the course for the 30km are unlikely Sat/Sun. Will know for sure tomorrow. Men 30-59 are best off carrying your own feed or having a helper with feeds. J.D. potentially can be a feeder for a few skiers I can recognize quickly on Sunday for the 30km FS.
-- Weather forecast is to get colder and snowier over the next three days. Maybe up to a foot or more of snow. Very light powder though. Cold glide wax is essential. Kick wax is unlikely to need binder, but rather a good "pad" (i.e. several light layers) if the forecast rings true. Blues of many brands seemed the most reliable option today.
-- Practice good hygiene on a daily basis. Wash hands as often as possible. Keep hands away from face. Use napkin when grabbing serving spoons in buffet and use sanitizer between trips to food. Folks that get sick please quarantine yourselves to keep illness contained.
--Anyone that was on Arlanda-Falun buses, please get 250 SEK cash per person to J.D. asap so he can pay back organizers. They will only take kroner cash and it proving very easy to get that in smaller batches (up to $250US) from ATM's.
-- Sign-up sheets soon be appearing on the USA posting spot (glass wall as you enter stairway/elevator area past front desk) for relay yes/no interest...possible Arlanda bus shuttles for Feb 27 and March 1...and Oppet Spar bus transfers. Please get your name on the appropriate sheets asap when you arrive at the hotel.
Everyone please note that official training ends on Friday. Only other non-event day after that day will be next Tuesday, 23rd. On all race days you either need to train before 9am, OR after the last racers have cleared the race courses, OR you can likely get away with being on the courses (absolutely NOT in stadium though) -- but you will have to watch at all times for racers and you will have to only ski in the direction of the race. Further....even though you'll see skiers from other countries rudely training without care during races (unfortunately sometimes blocking racers from a "pure" race course), we absolutely do not want any of the USA contingent to be part of the problem. So on race days this means you have to watch your back at all times (just because you don't hear a racer coming up, doesn't absolve you of fault for not getting out of the way if you aren't competing), get off to the side as soon as you see skiers behind you, and absolutely no skating on the classic courses! Basically it'll be better to train early or late -- or find other places to ski.
CATCHING A TRAIN IN ARLANDA-STOCKHOLM UP TO FALUN (AND ALSO THE TAXI RIDE FROM FALUN C TO HOTEL SCANDIC LUGNET) -- scroll down this page to see the write up. It is suggested that you cut-and-paste this info onto a text document and print out a copy so you have the details when you arrive into Stockholm.
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Important Contact For The MWC2010 Trip
AXCS Travel Agent Diana Lynn-Rau (The Travel Society): 866.759.6867 *** Dianalrau at cs.com
AXCS Travel Group: Hotel Scandic Lugnet (hotel website)
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Getting Ready For The MWC Trip (a ton of useful info)
Extensive pre-trip planning and preparation notes specific for USA skiers going to the MWC is found on this AXCS resource. Before you ask the AXCS office for help with a specific trip question, please check this information first. If anyone has a useful travel tip that we do not have listed on this resource, please pass it on to the AXCS office!
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Course/Stadium Preview (prepared by AXCS National Director J.D. Downing)
-- Plan on all courses starting with a long gradual climb quite similar to Autrans, France for those on the MWC2009 trip. But all the big wave starts are straight with no turns for basically the first kilometer and all go immediately up this long climb so it'll be interesting to see the flow of races. I could see some classes starting a bit more mellow than other years and others starting even more erratic as fast starters try and power up the first hill. So practicing dead stop intervals up say a 1km grade would be a good simulation both skiing and rolling (foot) in training. The grade isn't really steep per se, but it's also not cruising flat. For classic the start should reward someone that can really stretch and glide their diagonal and/or throw in strong DP kick whenever it mellows. For skate the start will reward those that have a strong climbing V2 and/or the ability to stretch out an efficient V1 on a steady grade.
-- The courses start rolling much more once you are up the first long grades. These are true "vintage" Scandinavian courses that wind thru a forest. So there isn't going to be nearly as much of the extended flats like in the past three Worlds (2007-2009). Nor should there be a radical shift into harsh sections like the latter 5km in Autrans and Rovaniemi. So folks are well-served in training for good rolling terrain rather than specific types of climbs. It'll be a healthy mix of stuff, but far more balanced than we've seen in years. It's great skiing basically and you don't have to have fitness off the hook to enjoy it.
-- You can see on the profiles how all the courses have a textbook bubble profile building elevation to roughly the halfway point and then losing elevation over the latter half. I love these courses since you can really sell out in the latter third knowing the course is going to work with you to the finish (particularly in the one loop races). This is very much the same way all the McCall courses ended, also similar to the 2006 Brusson courses.
-- The actual finish will probably have a short runner uphill or two in the final two kilometers, but nothing at all super hard. You will want to have good gradual downhill and downhill technique to really attack the end of all these races (similar to the Autrans set-up). The stadium is a huge spectating bowl at the bottom of the long grade you initially climb up so they can literally do a million things with races in the final 1-2km. If anyone is wondering, there for sure will NOT be the infamous "murder hill" that is on all WC courses included in any of the MWC courses!
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Catching Trains In Arlanda/Stockholm To Falun
a. Bookmark the following website: http://www.sj.se/sj/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=10&l=en
That website is the Swedish rail home page and will allow you to find rail options for the specific day of your ground connections. The link I'm giving you is the English version.
b. IMPORTANT: I DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING YOUR RAIL TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME. I recommend using this rail website just to research the times of the trains nearest your flight arrival. If you have already jumped the gun and bought rail tickets, don't worry about it. But if you haven't pre-bought rail tickets, please hold off on doing that step until you actually land in Stockholm. The reason is that specific train tickets may or may not be used on other trains if your flight is delayed. Again, very few trains will be full so holding off should not be a problem in most cases. It is very simple to buy your train ticket in the Arlanda airport after you land and pick up your bags. So please wait.
c. Go ahead and plug in your arrival day and time on the website to find train options. You want a train to go from Arlanda C (that's the Stockholm airport) to Falun C (the only train station in Falun). My estimate is that you need a train leaving around an hour or more after your flight arrival to have a "safe" amount of time to go thru passport control, collect your bags, walk to the train station (which is in the airport), buy your train tickets, and then get to the train platform. An ideal time frame is probably 70-90mins spacing from scheduled flight arrival to train departure time.
d. What type of train is best? If you can get a direct train (one without a "change") that is much easier on you logistically since you won't have to lug bags on/off more than once. You also avoid having to guess where and when your change comes. There is relatively little difference between 1st and 2nd class except price and a reserved seat. But very few trains will be packed with people so finding a seat isn't an issue -- it's mainly just finding a spot for your ski bag.
e. Write down your train options on a piece of paper along with the prices. Put that in your carry-on bag so you are ready with info when you arrive in Stockholm.
Travel Day
-- When you land in Stockholm, you'll do the usual passport control, baggage pick-up, and depart thru the nothing to declare green exit to the terminal.
-- It's really easy to find the train station at Arlanda. Find signs for trains or "Sky City" which is an elevated wing located to the right when you exit international arrivals. It's no more than a couple hundred meters walk so easy to manage even with luggage. You buy your tickets at a booth in the Sky City wing, then take the elevator right down to the tracks (once you're at Sky City there should be signs telling you where the trains are). The people in the rail booth almost always speak English.
-- The rail platform is in an impressive tunnel underneath the airport. It is doubtful that you will be able to take the airport luggage carts into the tunnel so using the elevator instead of the walkway is well-advised. Be aware that the tunnel won't be heated and gets a cold draft so don't go down there until the final 15-20mins before your train is scheduled to arrive.
-- There will NOT be anyone telling you what train is the one you need to get on. So you need to pay attention to the trains when they arrive. If you are in 2nd class, just get on thru any door you are near. You can sit where you find space. Getting on the trains is a matter of loading your bags quickly since they will be a tight fit in the doors. Try and work as a team if you have other skiers in your mini-group. You'll have a couple minutes so don't panic. I do not know if you would have a porter to help in 1st class -- generally I think not.
-- Other than the quick load/unload, the hardest part of the train journey will be just finding a place to wedge your ski bag so it isn't totally in the way. You can stuff other luggage where you sit or in luggage bays at the end of trains -- but big ski bags you just have to do what you can with. The train guys will come by and tell you if you need to move a bag so sit close to your gear and know that in Sweden they won't throw you off the train for having a big ski bag. Just roll with it.
-- Pay attention to how long your train is supposed to take to Falun. If you are on a direct train, it should be pretty close to on time. That will help you figure out when you need to be ready to get off.
-- Once you depart at Falun C, you have two choices for getting up to Hotel Scandic Lugnet.
...Option #1 is to find the local bus that departs every 15-25mins. You'll need some cash kroner to use the bus most likely, but it's cheap ($3-5). You may or may not get lucky to have an English-speaking driver -- but Scandic Lugnet should help you get a wave when you are at or near the hotel. Ask at the rail station for where the local bus leaves from.
...Option #2 (easier, but not as cheap) is to simply use a taxi of which there should be several hanging around. The hotel says the typical fare should cost from 150SEK to 200SEK ($20-30US), depending on if it is daytime or evening/night. You can pay with credit card.
