I've copied an email chain that was floating around over the last few days. These are good discussions and decided to post them on the Discussion Forum for everyone's reference and opportunity to add other relevant points.
Terry H
I read all the emails with interest.
We ARE having a 'summit' meeting this April. It's in the works and this will definitely be one of the potential topics.
We are also planning a 'brainstorming' session on the Friday night of the Table Mountain Sask Cup final to establish what we'll focus on in the April 'summit' meeting. This 'brainstorming' session is going to invite head coaches and principal club contacts. So that's where this topic should be presented as one that needs to be discussed at the later April meeting. I know that this event will mean that the Sask Cup people will attend, and it will be a pain to come out as a straight Nancy Greene coach - but make sure your voice is heard from someone!
Yes, this would be a good thing to put in the 'neat' discussion forum. I'm going to copy it there for reference. All people wanting to discuss this further could attach their replies in that forum so everything is visible to more than just who is on this distribution list.
Terry H
From: Tracy Erickson [mailto:tracyerickson@sasktel.net]
Sent: February 12, 2008 9:39 PM
To: 'Ivan Ottenbreit'
Cc: gthompson@mokerthompson.com; jmpederson@sasktel.net; 'Cathy'; natashasphotos@sasktel.net; 'El Presidente'; sask.ski@sasktel.net; Terry Hooper
Subject: RE: Mixing up
Good day all.
I would love to see a unified and provincial focus for the N/G program, and I think that it needs to be implemented from the top down. (As I recall, there was an attempt earlier in the season to bring us together for a clinic at Table and that would have been a great way to start.) That being said, we have gotten away from the race oriented structure that previously was a key component of the N/G program and curriculum, and I think we need to get back to some general basics. I can recall, as a younger guy, working at Mission Ridge, when we would get 60 or 70 Nancy Greeners out on a Saturday am, and it seemed like there as usually a course set for those kids at some point in the morning. We are always going to have a percentage of our kids who are simply there to learn how to ski, and that is great too, but our Alpine programs will deteriorate if we don’t return to an emphasis/exposure to the race aspect within the Snowstars program. Festivals are great ways to engage both kids and parents, and I do like the inclusive format of having both duals and activities, but fundamentally, we need to enhance racing within the program again. Certainly, however our races need to have Festival type components if we are going to appeal to a broader base of our athletes.
We are attempting to build a good athlete base within our club, and that includes committed, involved parents, but if there is no consistency, we will have a difficult time attracting and keeping our members. As well, many of our coaches come from racing backgrounds and the challenge and fun element is less appealing for them if we don’t spend some time running the kids through some gates, stubbies, etc. To me it seems as if the program is floundering and needs some direction.
Anyway, the initiatives that have been addressed in other emails will only come to fruition if we all work together. Jeff’s comment about hockey kids never going to tournaments or games has been echoed by some of our parents and coaches in the 4 years I’ve been here. We also need to inform our new members and current parents/members that Festivals and races are part of the program, and that volunteer and parent involvement and support are critical in the success of these events. Our QVSC families get, at the time of registration, an introductory letter summarizing these very points. To my knowledge, this information has been well received by many of our members.
In closing, I’d like to mention that as of the writing of this e mail, we have 10 of our 16 snowstars registered for the Asessippi festival. Many of these kids are first year athletes, and the Festival that we cohosted at Mission with Regina’s club a couple weeks ago was the catalyst in encouraging a lot of these kids to attend the Asessippi event. Many of the kids cited the duals races as the highlight of the day for them. We’re hoping to have some representation at Table on the 1st of March too!!
Thanks for your attention to this matter. Feel free to forward this on to anyone I have missed. I’m not quite as in the loop as some of you.
See you on the hill.
Tracy Erickson
QVSC Snowstars
From: Ivan Ottenbreit [mailto:ivan.ottenbreit@hughes.net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:53 PM
To: rocket_boy@hotmail.com; 'Tracy Erickson'; 'Catherine McKay'
Subject: FW: Mixing up
From: Gord Thompson [mailto:gthompson@mokerthompson.com]
Sent: Tue 2008-02-12 4:27 PM
To: natashasphotos@sasktel.net; Jeff & Marla
Cc: Gord Poulton; Richard Rumancik; Sheldon Dowling; Terry Hooper; Alana Ottenbreit; Brent Waldo; Cathy & Gord Cuddington; Gord Dowling; Greg Warnez; Joanne Turpin; Keith and Emma Montgomery; Kent Code; Maureen McDonald; Tom McDougall; Tracy Aldridge; Vicki Ottenbreit; Dwight Bergstrom; Joni MacKay; Judy & Brent Byers
Subject: RE: Mixing up
Jeff
There is definitely a need for both racing and festivals in Nancy Greene. Based on our experience festivals appeal to the younger kids and races to the older kids within Nancy Greene. I agree that Nancy Greene needs a racing component, but it may not happen at every event.
One of the reasons we evolved to include festivals was because our provincial numbers were WAY down - long before we ever ran a festiva here. The festival model was copied from some very successful Nancy Greene events that are held in Alberta and BC. I was the previous provincial Nancy Greene coordinator and attended those Alberta and BC events when my kids were 8 & 10 and they loved it. One of the reasons I am no longer the coordinator is that it proved impossible to get all clubs to agree on a festival or race concept. Some prefer festivals, some prefer races. I grew tired of defending it. It is a tremendous amount of work to host either a festival or a race and it was frustrating that clubs wouldn't attend an event for that reason.
Here is my 2 cents. Get ALL the Nancy Greene presidents and or head coaches and the relevant SaskAlpine directors together or on a conference call by this spring, after we finish the season. This is something that has not happened for several years. Get them to agree on a format, whatever it may be, go with it and get a commitment from the clubs to agree to support the events. Skiing will die here if the clubs do not support the regional events at the entry level. Please attend this event and if you think revisions are required, press for change for next season. The morale of clubs organizing these events depends on other club's support and not attending is a big blow to that. The "my way or the highway approach" is collectively killing us. We need people who want to work with the organization to help effect change. It is good that you care enough to speak up.
Gord Thompson
Head Coach
Prince Albert Ski League
p.s. - Terry H - I haven't used the neat discussion forum feature on the SaskAlpine website yet and I assume that would be be a great place to put this. Do so if you want to.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff & Marla [mailto:jmpederson@sasktel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:14 PM
To: natashasphotos@sasktel.net
Cc: Vicki Ottenbreit; Tracy Aldridge; Tom McDougall; Maureen McDonald; Kent Code; Keith and Emma Montgomery; Joanne Turpin; Greg Warnez; Gord Thompson; Gord Dowling; Cathy & Gord Cuddington; Brent Waldo; Alana Ottenbreit
Subject: Mixing up
This all looked reasonabley good until I saw that you are going to mix up the kids. I have several kids on my team that I don't think will attend because of the fact they are very shy and will not be comfortable with this.
I'm not saying this is bad for all the kids because there are those who a little older or just more outgoing that won't have a problem with it.
What ever happened to racing? Several years ago I coached Wapiti's Nancey Greene team and then moved on to the Sask cup Level. We had so many kids signed up because "THEY LOVED RACING". Now a few years later my own kids are starting to get involved so I thought I would too. So far this last two years all I've heard is how the program is falling apart and we can't figure out how to get the kids back. In my opinion the program has to come back to a Race program. When I coached back in the late 80's early 90's there was literally 150-200 kids showing up for a 2 day race 3 times a year. The provincial team must of had 10 or 12 members and the development team 6 or 7. As you and I know these numbers have changed drastically and I honestly believe its because of this new program.
Sometimes new and improved isn't always better. I don't know what was wrong with the old race program. What would happen with hockey if we just had skating festivals until they were 12 or 13 years old? Do you think our province would have one of the best junior hockey leagues in Canada?
Sorry For Venting It's just something we need to think about.
Jeff Pederson
Head Coach
Wapiti Ski Team