"We are very happy with the support and motivation"
Jul 02, 2021·Nordic Combined
Race Director Lasse Ottesen made an 11-day tour through the United States of America to inspect seven venues in ten states.
Together with Sandro Pertile, Race Director Ski Jumping, he visited Brattleboro, Lake Placid, Eau Claire, Iron Mountain, Copper Peak, Steamboat Springs and Park City in early June.
USA Nordic President Tom Bickner, Board member Rex Bell and Executive Director Billy Demong were also part of the delegation that carried out the inspections of the venues. FIS Ski Jumping hill Inspector Richard Kaiser joined as well, to update the certificates of the mentioned hills.
“It was great to meet all the motivated and passionate people in all the clubs and venues that we visited on this tour,” tells Ottesen.
With Park City (March 12/13) and Lake Placid (March 26/27), two of the places Ottesen visited will be part of the COC calendar of Men and Women again in the coming season.
Park City (Utah), home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, has been a stable COC organizer for the past 10 years.
"We are very happy with the support and motivation they have shown", praised the Race Director. "They are also very motivated to be on the COC Calendar also for the coming years." The 47-year-old also revealed that Park City is planning some big changes. "We are looking forward to the continued cooperation in the future."
Meanwhile Lake Placid (New York), host of the Olympic Winter Games 1980, is in the final stages of a full reconstruction and rebuild of both Ski Jumping hills and the Cross Country venue.
“An impressive amount of work has been done”, says Ottesen about the renovation, which is set to be completed in the fall 2021, ready for the upcoming season.
The Normal Hill as well as the Large Hill are undergoing a full rebuild, including an updated profile according to the latest standards. Both hills will be suitable for Ski Jumping in summer and winter.
The Cross Country venue received the biggest update. A new stadium was built and a new course layout was created. Snow production will be possible over the entire track, also thanks to a newly created water reservoir. In addition, the venue was completely wired with the latest technology.
In view of the extensive renovation, the FIS is working together with the OC and USA Nordic on hosting a World Cup in Lake Placid in the future.
Furthermore Steamboat Springs (Colorado) has a long tradition in Nordic Combined. The venue was part of the World Cup calendar for several years until 2001 and then, until 2018, in the COC calendar.
“As a long term Nordic Combined organizer there is a great motivation and passion for our sport in Steamboat Springs,” says Ottesen after his visit.
Thanks to an impressive promotion of young talent, 170 children are currently part of the local Nordic Combined / Ski Jumping program. The HS40 and HS69 can be used all year round, and those responsible also shared their vision of building a HS112 in the coming years and making it usable all year round.
Due to the great commitment, Steamboat Springs will return to the COC / WC calendar in the future.
Meanwhile, Brattleboro (Vermont), Eau Claire (Wisconsin), Iron Mountain and Copper Peak (both Michigan) are in the process of upgrading their facilities.
The youth programs are well received and Ottesen is also looking positively into their future. “We are looking forward to the upgraded venues and will be ready for possible international events in Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping”, promised the Race Director.
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