Jeff and Inna Larsen
Thu, 22 Mar 2001 09:03:01 -0800
New Madison ski marathon for next year? As I was skiing along the shore line of Lake Mendota a couple weeks ago (early March) and enjoying it, looking at the different features such as ice stalactites hidden among caves in the bluffs and the like, the thought ocurred to me - why not a ski marathon around Lake Mendota's shorline? I went home and used string, ruler, and a map of Madison and found that if one skis around the complete shoreline, including the inlet into Cherokee Marsh and Cherokee Lake and back, it comes to 50K almost exactly. In a good year for snow, approximate 6K loops can be added coming off the lake into the trails of Governor Nelson State park and Cherokee Marsh park. Why Lake Mendota? Its a completely flat course - boring. Here's why: Lake Mendota offers the only continuous marathon-length loop course in southern Wisconsin. All other trails in southern Wisconsin would have to have multiple loops to reach 50K, and would be a nightmare for race officials. No busing would be needed. A 20 - 25K option, out and back, could be included. Snow is normally lean here in the south. Whereas non-lake trails usually require a good 5-6 inches of snow at the least to hold a quality race, lakes would only require 2-3 inches. A good grooming machine can even grind the top of the ice itself a bit to minimize slipping on the ice where snow is lean. Grooming would be easy compared to a hilly course, except for the 12 or so K added on in Gov. Nelson and Cherokee Marsh parks for terrain and scenic variety - if the snow is good. The shoreline can be scenic - the bluffs, Gov. Nelson State Park, Cherokee marsh, the Isthmus. The race would be great for spectators who can watch whole portions of the race from any number of different points around the lake. The skiers in the back of the pack can actually see how far the leaders are ahead of them. This would be the only marathon south of the Birkie. It will attract southern Wisconsin and Illinois skiers who would like to do more marathons but are tired of 6 - 10 hour drives. And finally, the lake is all public property. No private landowners to plead with. The best place to start and finish would be the UW student union. Anyone affiliated with the UW, such as Hoofers, can reserve a room in the union for registration and bib pickup. The Rathskeller would enjoy plenty of refreshment business from skiers and spectators, and the Terrace is a good place to watch the start and finish of the race. I have already talked to the Park superintendent Jim Morgan about the idea, and their board has discussed it and is taking the idea seriously. He and I talked about safety concerns, sponsorship, use of the groomer and compensation. It goes without saying plenty of volunteers will be needed - food stops, timing, trail repair, bib pickup and registration, etc. Open water areas will obviously have to be avoided. The trail will have to be diverted around private piers, and around the dam at Tenney Park there can be some open water so the trail will have to extend further into the middle. The Parks Dept. will need to drill the ice to test thickness, the Sheriff will need to be notified to test the safety of the groomer. Snow may need to be shovelled to make bridges over fissures and ridges on the ice to make for smooth skiing. There are many details to work out. Best weekend to hold the race? Early January - ice may not yet be thick enough. Late February - snow already melting usually, ice starting to soften. Late January through early March - everybody going up north to do their favorite races and trips every weekend. Best weekend may be the one between the Vasaloppet and the Birkie, or Feb. 16 next year. The only major race is the Finlandia, too long a drive for most skiers in the Banana Belt. Ice on the lake is usually solid, a crust of snow usually covers it. Being flat, this is a marathon that falls into the "easy" category - perfect for skiers who don't exactly want to kill themselves a week before the Birkie. What I need from you, MadNorSki members, is feedback. Before I take on the gargantuan task of being chief race organizer for a brand new marathon, I want to know whether you think this idea will work, or won't work - and why. If you are enthusiastic, let me know if you would be willing to help. My E-mail address is [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you. Jeff Larsen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff and Inna Larsen Check out our new home page at http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Orchestra/2730 Home of "Spirits of St. Paul" - A musical by Jeff Larsen about Norwegian Immigrants in the 1920s and Nordmusikk - a duo of Inna Larsen - Hardanger Fiddle and Jeff Larsen - Guitar. Norwegian folk music for any occasion! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com