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WHISTLER CUP
Consider the following facts associated with the 2010 Whistler Cup:
12 FIS sanctioned children’s races are run over three consecutive days.
2 complete race venues are prepared and maintained allowing for simultaneous racing.
24 countries including Australia and New Zealand participated.
375 athletes between the ages of 11 and 14 competed.
120 coaches accompanied their athletes.
300 volunteers worked three straight days of races for a total of 7,200
hours.
100-plus course workers, coaches and officials loaded at 6: 30 a.m. each
day.
500 athletes, coaches and officials were served breakfast at the Roundhouse each day.
3,000-plus bag lunches were provided.
100-plus hotel rooms were booked for teams and sponsors along with 200
more for fans and families.
340 20-meter sections of B-net are deployed over the two race venues.
Sunday teardown was performed by athletes, coaches and volunteers.
850 people attended the awards banquet.
35 companies provided funding or services for the event.
Preparations for the next year’s race began the day after the event is over.
The WMSC staff is dedicated to the event 12 months of the year.
With the exception of the number of spectators, the Whistler Cup just might
surpass many World Cup races in terms what it takes to make it happen. Remember, there is no FIS machine behind this one!
For the kids, the Whistler Cup is their opportunity to shine on an international stage while competing against their peers from all over the world. The
event has all the bells and whistles that make it special and fun for everyone.
Team dinners, breakfasts at the Roundhouse, warm-up runs, free runs, lift
rides, the Parade of Nations, free time in Whistler Village, daily awards ceremonies and the final banquet are all part of the fun equation that make it so
memorable and exciting.
The selfless commitment of time and energy on the part of Whistler/Black-comb, the WMSC and the hundreds of volunteers is really what makes this
whole thing work. After 17 years they have it dialed in and everything went
off smoothly.
One might think that after their involvement with Olympics, the resort,
WMSC staff and volunteers would be completely burnt out. That was not the
case as smiles; laughter and hard work were evident throughout the event.
The indicators of a successful junior ski race or event include a safe and well-
maintained course, accurate timing, constant communication and most im-
portantly kids having fun.
Brad Williams is the president and CEO of World Cup Supply.
Max Hall of Squaw Valley and Peter Papineau of Park
City were among hundreds who travelled to Whistler.
A dozen races were held over the course of three days.
A total of 7,200 volunteer hours went into preparing
courses and other aspects of the competition.
