All,
By now, most of you have heard through the media that because of the NY State budget crisis the ESG winter and summer games will soon be drastically different. Be aware that any changes will not take place until next season. This season’s Empire State Winter Games are still on, and qualifying rules are still in effect. We are looking forward to a great event. And, if you have not done the ESGs before, this is the year to do them… for many of you, it could be your last chance.
Like most of you, I have gotten any and all of my information from the news media and the following ESG press release http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/news/press/view.asp?pressID=719 The Empire State Games did not contact nor consult NYSSRA Nordic about any of the proposed changes. Realize that the Empire State Games and NYSSRA Nordic are two separate organizations. ESG is a year-round organization that organizes and runs amateur sporting competitions in summer and winter. NYSSRA Nordic designs qualifying rules and runs qualifing events for Nordic skiing (cross country, biathlon and ski o) athletes to qualify and compete in the winter games. ESG gives NYSSRA Nordic specific guidelines to follow in designing these qualifying rules. We have a liason who meets with the ESG and communicates changes to the NYSSRA commitees at our annual Spring and Fall meetings. This liason was not consulted, nor contacted by ESGs about the proposed changes.
Descisions made concerning the ESGs were made by the Empire State Games organization. The ESGs have traditionally been a free event for our qualifying members. This will no longer be the case, as entry fees will be collected in future ESGs. However, NYSSRA is most disappointed with the proposed changes which would eliminate the open and masters’ classes and make it a scholastic-only event. As disappointing as this may be, it also may open up our calendar. To get ESG qualifiers in, organizers were basically limited to hosting races in January. This had led to some conflicts as organizers only have limited days on which to host races. The changes could in effect stretch our season out, and allow some of our organizers to use some of those previously “off limits” February dates.
The descisions made by the ESGs actually enhances NYSSRA Nordic’s Champions Cup weekend of racing. This event has consistently grown in stature and has truly become the official New York State Nordic Skiing Championship. This season, the Saratoga Biathlon Club is hosting the Champions Cup weekend. (Check out the details at http://champs.saratogabiathlon.com/ ) With the proposed changes to ESGs next season, the NYSSRA Champions Cup stands alone as the premier event on our race calendar for open/masters skiers. I hope that all skiers, scholastic and open/masters, will now focus their season on our early March New York State championships.
NYSSRA Nordic is extremely disappointed with the ESGs descision to change the Empire State Winter games. This descision has been a definite blow to our organization. It is my hope that we will turn this step backwards into an exciting opportunity that allows our organization to leap forward.
Jim Kobak
President, NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.
