 |
||
 |
|
|
The largest cross-country contingent of the Sno-Gophers Ski Club at the Lake Placid NBS Summit. Pam Rice (kneeling lower right) |
||
|
|
|
Pam Rice — etc. etc.
I became fascinated with cross-country skiing after
seeing members of the Jim Dandy’s Ski Club, like
John Smith, Naomi Bryson and Fred Smith during the
Sno-Gophers Winter Carnivals. They were a refined
group of skiers and I was impressed with the thought
having the diversity in skiing options.
There was also a group of higher-performing
cross-country skiers, who I later found out were also
‘runners and skaters’. That was an ah-ha moment. Here
was a group of skiers that did not have an opportunity
to compete because cross-country racing was not in our
offerings.
When I started the cross-country division for the
Sno-Gophers Ski Club, I recruited several downhill skiers,
who were ‘up for the challenge’. Also, there were plenty of
skaters in the Sno-Gophers. I knew it would be a great ‘sell’.
The first recruit was Helen Cook.
The beauty of cross-country was that it did not require
travel. The city’s golf courses on wintery Sunday
afternoons were the place to ski. We had a few cross-country
enthusiasts like Olivia Baker, Tommy Waterford, and
Fran Williams to name a few.
At our Annual Sno-Gopher Carnival, the event took
on fast. There were novice, intermediate and advance
categories. We later added a Veteran’s category.
Soon, several participants from the clubs in Ohio and
Michigan were taking part in the cross-country races.
These races became fierce and competitive. We’ve had
up to fifty skiers participating at any one time. The
number of cross-country trophy winners were almost
as many for downhill.
At our annual Carnival, there were skiers who would
come specifically to race cross-country. The race course
had become so competitive, at one point, we added a
‘leg’ of the race that was uphill and another ‘leg’ that
was downhill.
At the Summit(1987) Lake Placid, NY, the Sno-Gophers
had their first and largest contingent of cross-county
skiers. (See Lake Placid photo in back) I was asked by the
past director of the NBS (National Brotherhood of Skiers)
cross-country ski division to head NBS cross-country,
of which I declined. I served as the Sno-Gopher Ski Club
Cross Country Director for seven years before turning
over the reigns to Helen Cook.
I am sure, with the addition of cross-county races at
our Winter Carnivals, it increased interest and attendance
and made for a more diverse and exciting event.
Pamela C. Rice
Pamela C. Rice