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Tonight, during my evening shooting workout on the range here in Geilo, I saw something that truly made me understand how powerful skiing culture can be. Imagine the following:
Thirty young kids shooting air rifles, with their proud parents looking through shooting scopes behind them watching each shot with as much delight as American parents do watching their kids swing at a baseball.
An additional thirty kids ski around the ski stadium under the lights on man-made snow, which was made as soon as possible, not because the venue will soon be hosting a European Cup for biathlon, but because that is just how it is done here. Ski trails without snow in the winter here would be as unnatural and unheard of as a baseball diamond without bases, or a basketball court without hoops. If it is cold enough to make snow, then it is made.
Meanwhile, there are a dozen or so adults skiing around, teaching their toddlers how to ski. The odd thing is that when the toddlers fall down, they don’t cry and whine and beg their parents to take them inside like I did when I was young. Neither do the parents fuss over their children’s safety, knowing that falling is just a part of learning and that there is really no danger from cross-country skiing on a flat trail.
Now this will be a shocker for some American skiers. Once the kids who are skiing get bored of skiing, their coach has no problem taking them over to the biathlon range and encouraging them to shoot. And when the kids who are shooting get cold fingers, they are equally welcome to start skiing around the stadium with the ski coach. The reason is that there are no biathletes or skiers here, just kids.
Skiing is a way of life in Norway, it always has been. In the United States, the Nordic disciplines of skiing face a literal uphill battle not only against downhill skiing, but more importantly, against the dominating culture and way of life that has come to be in our nation. Changing the culture of a nation as large as the United States is a formiddable challenge.
However, it is clear that the scene that I witnessed tonight in Norway is something that is beginning to occur in Maine, thanks to the Maine Winter Sports Center. Only four years after the first venue was completed, it is clear that the wind is moving in the right direction through the forests of Aroostook County.
In my opinion, one of the most important ideas that can be taken from MWSC is the treatment of kids as kids, rather than as competitive athletes. I myself have been guilty of questioning why the organization does not prioritize competitive goals over simply encouraging kids to have fun on skis. Now I understand that if you encourage a kid to have fun on skis, he will most likely associate skiing as a fun activity, one that he will enjoy for life. Not every kid will become a superstar athlete, but some will. The remainder will keep skiing because they learned to enjoy it when they were young.
The alternative is to push kids from the beginning into enjoying competition and winning, rather than the sport itself. What happens when that kid reaches the point where his competitive life is over? Will he keep skiing, just for the fun of it? I doubt it. Thus, this second alternative creates a lifestyle of competition, not of skiing. Since most kids will not have the talent, interest, or opportunity to pursue their dreams of being successful skiers or biathletes, this second alternative does nothing to furthering skiing as a lifestyle.
Without a skiing culture, there is no community to support the sport. Without a community of people who enjoy skiing for its own sake, there are few individuals who will see the good in teaching more kids to ski, organizing competitions, or donating their money to furthering the sport.
The prescription for American skiing here is to keep skiing a fun activity from the very beginning for kids. Introduce them to all forms of skiing. Allow them to find joy in just gliding on skis. My guess is that they will find one discipline that they like the best on their own. Begin teaching them the basics of training for that discipline. Expose them to competitive opportunities and introduce them to elite athletes who have had success in their discipline. Engage their parents, and bring them into the process. Have an adult ski program, so that parents and children can enjoy skiing together. Support those that have competitive dreams with financial resources, but more importantly, give them the mental support of the community. Continue to emphasize the fun of skiing, and encourage competitive athletes and skiers to give back to the community.
Think about the power of ski culture in Norway, and how much it has aided Norwegian skiing.
Peace,
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