(9-17-08) by J.D. Downing - With today's headlines crowded with gloomy news and forecasts related to climate change, a troubled economic picture, and energy prices -- it can be hard to be upbeat about active outdoor sports. When one considers the logistical challenges of winter sports compared to "out the door" activities such as running, the outlook for the coming decade could be downright dismal.
Despite this dark backdrop, the future for one winter outdoor sport in the Pacific Northwest -- cross country skiing -- is much brighter than the global headlines would otherwise suggest. Since many RaceCenter readers are cross country skiers, it's worthwhile to see how the future looks for the world's premier on-snow endurance sport.
2010 Winter Olympic "Bounce"
In both good and bad times, the sporting world loves the Olympics. Now that the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are history, world-wide attention has already shifted to Vancouver, B.C. and the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Vancouver/Whistler Games will be the first time the Pacific Northwest region has hosted either a Winter or Summer Olympics not to mention 22 years since Canada last was an Olympic host (1988 Calgary, Alberta Winter Olympics). Suffice it to say, 2010 will be anything but a normal winter throughout the region!
International ski teams are expected to increase their presence in Oregon, Washington, western Idaho, and B.C. over the next 18 months as they try and adjust to everything from travel logistics, altitude, weather patterns, and course profiles. Even if your local ski area isn't a training locale for one of these teams, the excitement will be building throughout the Northwest as we all realize how close the Games are both in time and distance.
For cross country skiing the Olympics provide a huge attention boost. As with most endurance sports, the best (often only) U.S. television coverage of cross country skiing is found during the Winter Games. Mass market print, radio, web, and regional/local television also ramp up their coverage. With the 2010 Winter Olympics actually in our region, it is easy to see how media attention for cross country skiing may never be better than the next two years.
For the average Northwest skier, the benefits of all this attention may not be readily obvious -- but I assure you, it's all good!
One immediate boost is that your local ski areas, retailers, and clubs will almost certainly benefit from millions of dollars in free publicity provided by the build-up to 2010 Vancouver. The XC ski industry has documented this positive "bounce" from past Games, all the more so in areas within a day's drive of Olympic venues.
In turn, ski businesses and non-profit groups that are doing well economically are in a better position to expand programs such as learn-to-ski packages, dryland XC ski fitness programs, weekly educational clinics for all ages, point-to-point tour packages, and race events.
Even if you prefer all save all your competitive juices for dryland activities, every RaceCenter reader that plans on cross country skiing in the next few years is very likely to benefit from the 2010 Winter Olympics being in the Pacific Northwest.
Climate Change: A Tiny Bit Of Good News
For those of us in the ski world, there's a whole lot to be scared about when it comes to climate change. Computer models generated by researchers in the Northwest are showing wetter and warmer winters in coming years with rising snow lines that may very well imperil several of the more popular resorts in our region. (this isn't the good news!)
Whereas the 07/08 Pacific NW winter was just about as good as it gets with plentiful snow from Thanksgiving to Easter, upcoming winters may or may not be as generous.
The one big positive for Northwest cross country skiing lies in the historical origins of the sport. Scandinavians originally used to XC ski for survival in the harsh northern winters and they most certainly didn't depend on ski resorts to provide a manicured experience.
Although I've spent the past quarter century encouraging people to experience XC skiing on groomed trails with professional instruction and the most modern equipment -- the reality is that XC skiing has the ability to adapt to marginal snow wherever it does fall in coming years. I've spent hours XC skiing on no more than a few inches of snow on dirt roads and grass parks that typically are never thought of as "ski trails".
This versatility may even mean that XC skiing sees a certain level of growth if lift assisted snow sports become too inconsistent. After all, climate change or not, people will still want to go out and play in the winter whenever and wherever snow does fall.
Too Far To Drive at $4 A Gallon?
Pretty much the same reasons that may allow XC skiing to thrive when other winter sports are riding the ragged edge, also give XC skiing an advantage when it comes to increased costs with winter transportation.
In the Northwest, almost all of us have to travel at least a few miles to be in consistent snow during the winter. The further any of us have to travel to participate in winter sports, the worse the bite of increased fuel prices will be.
But even with likely rising snow levels in coming years, the ability to XC ski right on the edge of the snowline -- as opposed to the heart of winter where ski resorts are located -- represents a huge future savings in gasoline. This, in turn, may allow XC skiing to remain very economical compared to other winter sports that are "stuck" at remote resorts that get ever more expensive to reach.
Baby Boom = Boom For XC Skiing?
The final positive trend that could very well work in favor of XC skiing in coming years is the appeal of XC skiing over lift-assisted snow sport to retiring Baby Boomers. As health care spirals upwards in cost, seniors are seeing the advantages of staying active year round and keeping themselves as fit as possible. However, big air at the snowboard half pipe or 70mph alpine downhills are unlikely to attract a lot of novice seniors. XC skiing on the other hand is a near perfect fit.
With a short learning curve, very low injury risk, and unbeatable fitness benefits XC skiing is a proven winner with retirees looking for a way to enjoy the winter wilderness.
The Northwest has a very active senior population compared to many regions of the country and increasing numbers of Northwest seniors are undoubtedly going to start picking up XC skis over the coming decade. This increase in new skiers will again pay big dividends for skiers at younger ages as the industry stays healthy and support grows for increased public and private support for XC ski resorts and trails.
There may be a few potentially dark clouds on the horizon, but all things considered -- the future is indeed looking bright for XC skiing in the Northwest.
About the Author
J.D. Downing is the Coach/Director of the XC Oregon elite XC ski race team. Several members of the XC Oregon team are hoping to qualify to compete in the 2009 Nordic World Championships and the 2010 Winter Olympics. RaceCenter NW is a proud sponsor of XC Oregon. Find out more about the team and special public events at xcoregon.org.
