Jerry Tutskey received a degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Western Illinois University in 1970. A native of River Grove, Illinois, Jerry worked for the Oak Park Recreation Department for seven years before becoming Director of Recreation with the Rock Island Park and Recreation Department. Jerry is highly active with the Rock Island Chapter of the Illinois Jaycees. During his leisure hours he enjoys golf, hunting, and gardening. Jerry is also a member of the I.P.R.A. Awards and Recognitions Committee.

Public Skiing and a big race in Rock Island...

GO CROSS COUNTRY!!

by Jerome Tutskey

Cross country skiing is the fastest growing winter sport in the country today, and with good reason: It's a family sport; it's less expensive than alpine skiing; equipment is lightweight; no specific terrain is necessary; participation can happen anywhere it snows; and all ages can participate.

Starting a Program

Keeping the above points in mind, the Rock Island Park and Recreation Department has operated a cross country skiing program for the past three winters. We started by opening Saukie Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole layout which is centrally located within the city limits of Rock Island, when a minimum snow depth of three inches was present. No fee or registration was required for individuals and families wishing to ski. People were allowed to park, unload their equipment and take off.

There were no limitations placed on the skiers other than requesting that they stay off the greens and tee areas. This was necessary so that turf compaction could be kept to a minimum. The course's condition was monitored by our greens superintendent. If there was evidence of any damage, the Department would fence or rope-off that particular green or tee. We were happy to discover that there was no damage during the entire winter.

In addition to the course, the Park Board offered two all-day skiing clinics. These ran on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the clubhouse at Saukie. For a fee of $12 per person, one could learn the fundamentals of cross country skiing and receive all his/her skiing equipment. It was found that the basics could be learned in two to three hours, with the rest of the time spent on the course refining these skills and gaining experience. All equipment for these clinics, which numbered approximately 60 participants, was provided at a very nominal fee by a local establishment which sells bicycles and rents cross country ski equipment.

Our attendance at the course during 1977-1978 was approximately 50 to 75 people per day on weekends and 30 to 40 on weekdays. It was obvious to us that we had come upon a new and fast growing sport that should be expanded to meet the demands of the community.

We started by approaching the same "bike and hike" shop about the possibility of opening a ski rental outlet in our clubhouse for the 1978-1979 season. They were very receptive to the possibilities of such an arrangement. Their staff came in and redecorated the clubhouse by paneling it, hanging curtains and building portable ski racks. A contract was signed calling for the renter to pay the Park Board $100 per month to cover utilities, plus 10 percent of the rental fees collected. The shop was also allowed to open a concession stand selling such items as hot chocolate, coffee, rolls, chips, etc. All profits were kept by the concessionaire.

The cost for renting equipment was set at $7.00 per day or $3.50 per hour, with $1.50 charged for each additional hour. The shop is currently outfitted with 50 sets of cross country gear. The ski shop is now open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The hours will be adjusted according to usage patterns. The shope is manned by an employee of the concessionaire.

Conducting a Race

Because of the tremendous popularity of the program, we decided to conduct a nordic ski race to cap off the season. It was entitled the 1st Annual Rock Island Citizens' Nordic Ski Race. We attempted to appeal to all skiing levels by offering a Men's Open, Novice Class, Women's Open, and Youth Division. The distance for the men and women was 10 kilometers, with the children racing 5 kilometers. Registration fees were set at $5 per person to cover awards, racing bibs, numbers, maps, etc.

Timing on publicity was very important. If we sent out the entry blanks and publicity too far in advance, we thought people would set them aside or forget them altogether. Therefore, we mailed out all publicity three weeks prior to the race date of February 10th. Entry blanks were also distributed at various sporting good stores, ski shops, and our rental facility. A deadline of one week prior to the race was set but several individuals were allowed to register the morning of the race. It turned out to be excellent public relations as we were able to accommodate all prospective participants.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 January/February, 1980

Our entry blanks were kept very simple. Necessary information included: mailing address, date, place, starting time, length of race, entry fee (and when/how to send it), racing classes, names of cooperating agencies, and an insurance waiver. A simple map of the trail, with a profile of the course (flats, ups, downs) was provided each contestant. An information sheet mentioning the availability of washrooms, food, waxing facilities, method of start (mass or interval) was also included in the information packet.

Our next step along the way was to identify the trail for the competitors. We marked the entire course with colored pennants and direction signs. All we did was construct cardboard signs, neatly spray painted with one-way arrows, stapled to one-by-ones cut in four-foot lengths. These were placed at strategic points along the trail. They gave direction to the racers as well as steering them away from green or tee areas we didn't want traveled over. The flags were placed along the trail itself to mark the track and keep the skiers on course. Volunteers were placed at points on the course where confusion could arise regarding the trail's direction.

Volunteer timers should be present to record each competitor's time. Ski enthusiasts, not entered in the race, make excellent timers. Although timing is not that important if a mass start is employed, many of the skiers are racing against the clock trying to better a previous time. We employed the mass start because it was more exciting and colorful than the interval start. The interval method, sending a skier off every 30 seconds, can be employed when there is a small number of skiers. This will, however, require constant and accurate timing.

We also provided a refreshment station halfway through the course. The racers build up a great thirst and lose quite a bit of salt even in the cold temperatures. So we provided cups of a sweet drink, served at room temperature (A cold drink would have caused them to gag). A table was set up next to the trail with a volunteer handing out drinks as the skiers passed.

The local American Red Cross Chapter provided an emergency van and four-wheel drive vehicle in case any skier ran into trouble. We also alerted a doctor who was competing in the race to make himself available should an emergency arise. The trail was checked at the conclusion of the race to make sure a skier had not been left on the course due to illness or injury.

Because this race was the First of its kind in the area, we wanted to make sure every skier felt a sense of accomplishment, no matter where he or she finished. So in addition to awarding Olympic style medals to the first three finishers in each class, every skier who completed the race received a certificate of accomplishment applauding his endurance and commending his dedication to the race and the sport of nordic skiing.

After much research and discussion, we found that the easiest way to set the race course was to use a snowmobile and some sort of heavy home-made track sled. Ideally the trail should be five to six feet wide and each set of tracks should be set approximately two to four inches deep, with a space of six to eight inches between the inside edges of the skis. We decided on two sets of parallel tracks in order to provide a passing lane for the competitors.

The Department began setting the trail one week prior to the race. We found that members of local snowmobile clubs were more than willing to lend us a hand. Snowmobile tracks are approximately two feet wide. By making five passes, we were able to establish a trail 10 feet wide. We then enlisted the help of some ski enthusiasts to ski the trail and set the racing tracks. We also had the snowmobile club assist by towing a skier along the trail to set the second track. Both methods worked perfectly and gave us two excellent well-groomed trails by race day.

Summary

There is no doubt that a new and exciting recreational opportunity has been established in Rock Island. Those who may be apprehensive about such a program because of turf damage can rest assured that we have experienced none up to this point. Skiers will stay off those greens which are well defined. Those at fairway level are the ones that need to be monitored.

While cross country skiing is a new and fast growing sport here, it's actually older than alpine skiing. It is just now catching on in the United States and offers an excellent, innovative programming possibility.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 January/February, 1980