There’s something in the air at Mountainview Ski Centre in Midland – and it’s not just plenty of fresh snow.
There’s excitement, too, as the 2009 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Nordic Skiing Championships draw closer.
More than 600 secondary school athletes from across the province will be in town for the Feb. 26-27 competitions, which feature individual and relay races.
“OFSAA as an event compares to California for hosting high school championship events in terms of numbers,” said convener Jim MacMillan. “The OFSAA Nordic competition is the largest in the country.”
He said a team of volunteers swung into action on fairly short notice to pull the competition together. Officially, the event is being hosted by Elmvale District High School, but MacMillan said, “We can’t do it alone. It’s done in conjunction with colleagues from other schools, as well as the Midland Ski Club.”
He said while they had planned to play host to the competition in the future, they took it on a bit earlier than expected.
“Last year at OFSAA in North Bay, they were actively soliciting a host and no one stepped up at that time. We’d already put our name forward that down the road we’d like to host it.”
“Down the road” became 2009 – and they agreed to a two-year commitment, doing it all again in 2010.
A veteran of organizing folk music festivals such as the Wye Marsh Festival, Songs of Sail and working with the Council of Folk Festivals, MacMillan is no stranger to rallying volunteers for large-scale events.
“This is a huge event, and we really have to rely on the skills and good graces of others. It’s a great team.”
Gathering sponsorship has been a bit challenging with the tough economic times some businesses are facing, but others quickly climbed on board to support the event. MacMillan said Mountainview Mall has been very supportive and will provide space for skiers to wax their equipment and sponsors to sell souvenirs and apparel.
The mall will also offer free parking; participants and spectators will take a shuttle bus to the adjacent ski centre to help alleviate congestion.
A myriad of responsibilities faced organizers: course design and mapping; facilities; accommodations; course marshals and officials; printing a program; gathering sponsors; publicity; organizing a banquet with entertainment and guest speaker; completing a website; and logistics, both on-snow and off, including everything from arranging shuttle buses and port-a-potties to enlisting the help of about 75 volunteers to hand out bibs, take care of starts and timing, etc.
Despite the shortened time frame, MacMillan called it a great opportunity.
“It’s great exposure for the school, a great opportunity to showcase the school and to build the team. It’s great for the ski club itself, too.”
The Midland Ski Club is enjoying a recent rejuvenation thanks to passionate volunteers and some Active 2010 funding. The learn-to-ski Jackrabbit program has more than 100 children registered this year.
Thanks to grant money, cross-country skiing is being introduced to hundreds more school-aged kids. An instructor and a trailer full of equipment have been touring area elementary schools offering a chance to get on the snow in the schoolyard.
MacMillan said organizers are excited about the race and the opportunity it provides for local athletes, whether they’re new to the sport or have grown up in it. He said there are two streams of athletes.
“There are the kids who started in elementary school where we stuck them on their first skis in Grade 4, then they moved on to the weekend Jackrabbit program and then more highly competitive club skiing,” he said.
“Then we have a number of kids who the only time they’ve skied is for school. Some have never skied before they were in high school.”
Already, they’re passionate about the sport and are passing on their enthusiasm by volunteering as instructors in the Jackrabbit program.
“They’re giving back what they’re just beginning to learn.”
He pointed out area athletes are lucky to have role models like former Olympian Angela Schmidt-Foster.
“Angela started her life as a high school athlete,” MacMillan said, noting a teacher suggested she try cross-country skiing to continue training for running.
Schmidt-Foster would go on to ski internationally for years, competing in four Winter Olympics as part of the Canadian national team.
OFSAA participants will also hear words of wisdom from another local athlete. Mike Schulte, who skis out of Hardwood Ski and Bike Centre, will be the guest speaker at the banquet at Midland Secondary School. Schulte will compete for Canada in the Paralympics ski competitions in 2010.
MacMillan said this year’s OFSAA competitions will be a great build-up to 2010, when the Midland and Elmvale schools will again play host to the races at the same time the country is hosting the Olympics.
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With the help of an army of volunteers and a dedicated organizing committee, convener Jim MacMillan said they’re ready to roll out the carpet Feb. 25-27 for the province’s best high school athletes at the 2009 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Nordic Skiing Championships at Mountainview Ski Centre in Midland.
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