race ethics

[tom]

1. Slower skiers keep right.

Has this ethic ever been published in race bulletins or considered by XC skiers? I was seeded too deep both at Mora and at the Birkie, and it's really hard to pass even on a wide trail.

I know, I should just seed closer to the front. But it messes with my head when people get shovey and I don't like to stand in the cold for so long.

On hill climbs, I always have to sort of check out the lines to see whose fast - wouln't it be easier if we all agreed the left lane was faster? Then, we could sort of give each other a hard time if we're too slow over there.

2. Ski over a pole, pay $5 to Birkie Foundation.

Of course breaking others' poles is nasty, but it's easy enough to ski over a basket when you're trying to stay close (I did once this year - and sent my check today). I'm thinking if this idea was published in the Birch Scroll people might sort of get the hang of it and keep each other honest. It really breaks my heart when I see all those broken poles along the trail.

3. Don't duck under the start gate.

Rumor has it that was you, Rod R., sneaking a couple pre-gun double poles. Do you plead any defence?

I want to hear your reactions here, then draft a letter to Birkie organizers.

-Tom

[Big MIKE]

The FIS rule on passing is as such:
340.1.3
A competitor who is overtaken must give way on the first demand except
in sprint competitions and in marked zones (see 340.1.4).
This applies in classical technique courses even when there are two tracks
and in free technique courses when the skier being overtaken may have to
restrict his skating action. When overtaking, competitors must not obstruct
each other.
From: http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/icr-cc04.pdf

The Birkie runs under FIS rules. But the question is who is going to enforce this? Also what about the racers that sit behind you and "draft" till late in the race when your dead and they past looking for some else to suck off of? Races like the Birkie and VasaLoppet it every person for themselves. You have to be on the line for the start, thats why everyone in every wave after the elite waves sprints to the start line. This is however is counter productive to the race. I mean the race is 51 k there should be plenty of time to find a good pace and position, but there are too many people in the race. You have to jump from the line cold, anyway that is possible, timing the start, ducking the rope as soon as it moves, and skating as soon as possible. You got to be moving when the finger starts to squeeze the trigger of the starters gun. Bam! Then the poles, skis, and bodies start flying. Pure carnage.
Poles are going to get steped on and the only thing that we can do is accept it. Save your money for new poles and baskets or put it toward a small local club, trail, and/or race. I think the $65 to $120 that people pay to race the birkie is more than enough money for the Birkie foundation. Also we don't have to do the Birkie. I'm holding out for a classic only Birkie that goes from Telemark to Hayward. But that will never happen.
Birkie Saturday I had a great ski at Korki and no stress.

[Dee]

good for you mike! i bet you had a great time at korkki while the rest of us sardines fought our way to hayward. i have always enjoyed doing the birkie, but this year was bad...started in wave 3 and i don't know if it was the cold, these guys thought they should be in the elites, or what, but skier after skier clambored up onto my basket or took me down in there haste to get by. about 12k into the race this happened yet again and my shoulder began to hurt from the sudden jolt of my arm stopping and my body going forward. finished the race with a torn muscle in my shoulder. i don't know if i will do it again next year. i sure didn't have the warm fuzzies after this race.
let's hear it for ethical treatment of skiers!! i'll be sure to announce this tidbit of consideration to fellow skiers prior to Nordic Spirit.

[Morris]

Mike,

I too am waiting for a classic only birkie! But do not be so sure it will never happen. I skied at Mora with one of the guys that is one of the birkie founders and possibly still on the board of directors. He said there is strong support for a classic only race course and they are trying to cut a trail parallel to the current trail that would be for classic only at least to OO. They are also talking about a classic only race for an anniversary year (35th or 40th birkie).

While I do not put my hopes up, there is a chance it might happen. Go to the birkie site and fill in the survey. There is question about a classic only birkie!

Dee, I think next year you will be skiing the friendly Sibley instead of the frenzy Birkie!

Morris

[tom]

OK, I understand the FIS rule, but how does that apply when there are hundreds of skiers lined up in 3 lanes chugging up a hill at the same pace - or when the accordian affect makes me snowplow to a stop at the base of each uphill?

As frusterated as I am, It's hard for me to give up on these big races - because I love the big race energy. I love having mainstreet packed with spectators and sharing stories with so many that skied the same course.

Perhaps I'm too idealistic, but it seems if pre-race announcements were made and if there were postings in the bulletin, we could get ourselves to stay off each others poles and perhaps even keep things a little peppier on the left side of the track. Most effective, I think, is if folks communicated these ethics to each other on the trail.

I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder, Dee. That stinks.

Part of the trouble may be that this was a very well-attended Birkie. 4,200 did the Birkie alone up from 3,000 some last year. Brandy was in wave 5 and said there wasn't enough room in the wave box - that wave 5 skiers had to duck the wave 6 holding pen area at the start.

Brandy and I had a lot of fun at the Seeley Hills Classic this year - that's sort of my "classic birkie". It wasn't point-to-point but held all the challenge the trail has to offer.