| 2002 Badger State Games
Skiers will find a real classic this winter
By Eric Wuennenberg
Last year's abundant snowfall proved that Wisconsinites still have plenty of enthusiasm for playing
in the white stuff. Several seasons of drought gave way to drifted landscapes throughout the Badger State, and those vistas were dotted with folks out celebrating the return of winter as we like to know it.
Nobody benefited more from this pent–up demand than organizers of  events like the Badger State Winter
Games. The BSWG has been lucky with its own schedule, which puts the games in the reliably snowy first weekend of February. However, there had been some noticeable discouragement among winter lovers as El Niño winds kept many state trails brown for several seasons. All that changed last year as "normal" weather patterns returned to the Midwest. A record field of nearly 6,400 athletes responded to the snowflakes by
signing up for the 2001 Badger State Winter Games. That number included a record 1,388 cross country skiers. The turnout for the nordic events at Nine Mile Forest inspired local Lee Borowski named Games' Honorary Athlete.
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organizers to accept the
challenge of producing an ambitious new event – a marathon–length classic race. The 14th Badger State Winter Games, scheduled for Feb. 1–3, will again be centered in the Wausau area. However, some ice hockey events will be played in arenas as far away as Fond du Lac, and snowboarding will be held again at Cascade Mountain near Portage.
Sports will include cross country skiing, ski jumping, snowshoeing,
downhill skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, quadrathlon, curling, and figure and speed skating.
The new 42K classic cross country race will debut on Saturday, Feb. 2. Striders previously had participated in the Sunday freestyle marathon. But when the total field in that event topped 470 in 2001, organizers decided to give the kickers their own event.
"There will obviously be some extra timing and grooming issues to deal
with," says Darrell Kurth, one of the three BSWG cross country skiing commissioners, "but in many ways, adding the classic marathon will simplify things for us and certainly make a better experience for the classic marathon racers. We'll be able to double–track the entire course for striding, which will keep things in much better shape, especially on the second lap. We'll also still have single–track set on the freestyle courses on Sunday."
The marathon striders will leave the starting line at 9 a.m., with other events starting at staggered times into the early afternoon.
Other classical races will be held on Saturday and include 7K (9:30 a.m. start) and 4K (10 a.m.) races for juniors, followed by 20K (10:30 a.m.) and 10K (noon) classical events for adults. A 10K adult freestyle race, starting at 1:30 p.m., will finish the Saturday schedule.
The Sunday freestyle events will begin at 9 a.m. with the 7K junior race,
the 4K juniors leaving at 9:30 a.m. The gun will sound for the 43K freestyle race at 10 a.m., with the 21K half–marathon starting an hour later.
A 1K youth race (with a 2K option) for kids 9 and under will be run at 1:30 p.m. each day.
The BSG Torch Light Tour, introduced last year, will kick off the cross country schedule on Friday, Feb. 1. The course will cover 7K of lighted trails at Nine Mile Forest. A new addition this year will be the presence
of food, refreshments, music and a bonfire out on the trail. The event will run from 6–8 p.m. The first 100 skiers to sign up for the Torch Light Tour will receive the same official BSG T–shirt as participants in the competitive events. The registration fee is $10, and you can sign up at the event with no late fee.
Skiers planning to race at the games are encouraged to sign up by the early entry deadline of Monday, Jan. 21. Physical and online entries
must be received at the BSG office by 5 p.m.
First–event fees range from $10 for youths 9 and under, to $18 for juniors (ages 10–18) to $30 for adults. Each additional event costs $7, and there is a $10 surcharge for the marathon races. The advantages of early registration include avoidance of hefty late fees (up to $20 for adult entries), the option to use credit cards and the opportunity to wear your BSG T–shirt home.
For those who decide to wait until the last minute, a late–registration session will be held at Nine Mile from 5–9 p.m. on Feb. 1. However, if you procrastinate, be ready to pay your premium with cash or check, since credit cards will not be accepted. You'll also run the risk of crashing into the 1,200–skiers–per–day registration limit, and you'll also have to wait until spring for your T–shirt. No registrations will be taken on race days.
Racers who have gotten used to checking out the trails on the Friday before the race will have to adjust their schedules this year. The entire Nine Mile system will be closed for grooming during the day on Friday. Only the 7K lighted loop, used for the Torchlight Tour, will be open on Friday evening.
The BSG courses are also marked throughout the winter, allowing visitors to tour the competition loops before the race.
The BSG freestyle marathon will again serve as a Birkebeiner qualifying race. This will allow Birkie participants, particularly first–timers faced with starting in the back row, the chance to move up as far as the fifth wave.
The BSG ski jumping tournament will again be held at the Iola Winter Sports Complex near Stevens Point on Saturday. The early entry deadline for nordic flyers is Friday, Jan. 18.
Short track speed skating will be held at the 110–meter track laid out on
the perimeter of the Greenheck Ice Arena in Schofield. The packs are tight and the action can sometimes resemble roller derby on razor blades, so helmets, shin guards, gloves, full–length clothing and other armor will be required. Short track events, which range in length from one to nine laps, will be held on Friday afternoon and evening. Each age class of racers will compete in three events.
Long track speed skating events will be held again on the 250–meter
outdoor ring in Marathon Park. Distance events, up to eight laps depending on age class, will be run on Saturday. Here again, each racer will need to compete at three distances to qualify for a medal. Speed skating fees will be $20 for one day or $35 for both days. Early registration, by Friday, Jan. 18, is required. No race–day entries will be accepted at either speed skating venue.
The quadrathlon, set for Sunday, Feb. 4, at Wausau's Sylvan Hill Park,
combines four distinct disciplines – mountain biking, running, cross country skiing and snowshoeing – into a single 20K race. At the sound of the gun, racers will leave the starting line on foot, completing a 5K course on paved roads. The second leg will be astride mountain bikes (helmets are required) over a 5K course of dirt and paved roads, which may be snow– and ice–covered. When the bikers return to Sylvan Hill, they'll don snowshoes for 5K of rolling hills. Finally, they'll change into
cross country ski boots for the final 5K – a freestyle loop on a fast, flat course to the finish.
Participation is limited, so preregistration is strongly recommended. Competition is open to individuals or teams of either two or four members. Registration fees are $25 per individual, $35 per pair and $50 per relay team. The early registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 18. Late registrations will also be available on Feb. 2 from 5–7 p.m. with a
$5–per–person surcharge. Athlete check–in will be held at Sylvan Hills on Saturday, from 5–7 p.m., and on race day, from 6–7:30 a.m.
Snowshoe racing continues to grow in popularity, and BSG officials expect another big turnout this year. On Saturday, flatland competition will take place at John Muir Middle School, across from Marathon Park. A variety of individual and relay events in distances of up to 5K will be held.
Sunday's 5–mile Mountaineer race and tour will again start and finish at Rib Mountain State Park. Racers in the Mountaineer division will be required to carry a 15–pound pack and wear shoes at least 45 inches long. Participants in the tour can use lighter gear. Snowshoes will be available for newcomers to the sport on a first–come, first–served basis. Reserve a free pair by Jan. 18 by calling the BSG office at 608/226–4780, ext. 231. Regular registration will cost $7 for the first
event for youths (12 and under) and $15 for adults. Additional events will cost $5 each. Late registration will add an additional $5 per person.
Alpine skiing will be held at Granite Peak Ski Area on Rib Mountain. Competition will be in slalom and giant slalom only for alpine skiers. Once again, there are no telemark events. The early registration deadline for alpine events is Tuesday, Jan. 22. There will be no late or on–site registration.
The snowboarding schedule has been adjusted to bring alpine racing, as well as slope–style and half–pipe events, to Cascade Mountain. Organizers are encouraging only experienced snowboarders to compete. However, a citizen class for novice competitors is being offered.
Curling, hockey and figure skating events will take place at rinks located in Marathon Park, so you can check out the action when you're not competing yourself.
The opening ceremonies for this year's games will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, at Marathon Park in Wausau, beginning at 7:30 p.m. A preceremony party will be held between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Participation in all Badger State Games events is limited to Wisconsin residents.
Registration for many events can be completed online by logging on to www.sportsinwisconsin.com.
All the information needed to sign up for most of the individual and dual
events can be found on the Web site (team sports will still require the paper entry form). The site has been recently updated and the registration process streamlined, so drop by for a visit.
Online registrants are also encouraged to fill out the "Tell Us About You" page just a click away from the sign–up. The BSG folks use this feedback for future planning, as well as to generate human interest stories.
Complete information on registration, rules, schedules and venues for the
2002 Badger State Winter Games is also compiled in the BSG Winter Athlete Handbook. It can be obtained at most local American Family Insurance offices, chambers of commerce, and visitors and convention bureaus.
The handbook can also be ordered by writing or calling the BSG office, P.O. Box 7788, Madison, WI 53707–7788; 608/226–4780.
Borowski named Games' Honorary Athlete
The Badger State Games selects an Honorary Athlete each year that has contributed tremendously to his or her sport and/or has had a distinguished career in that sport. The 2002 Badger State Winter Games Honorary Athlete is renowned cross country skiing enthusiast Lee Borowski.
Borowski's background as a coach, author and innovator in cross
country skiing in the state of Wisconsin is unparalleled. His contributions to the sport have enabled novices and elite athletes to ski side-by-side and enjoy the sport together. His books guide the young and old in the sport he loves. Borowski has also participated – and will again this year – in the Winter Games.
As the Honorary Athlete, Borowski will be profiled in the Badger State Winter Games Souvenir program, will lead the parade of athletes at the
Opening Ceremonies, give an oration to the spectators at Opening Ceremonies and will "light the torch" to start the Games.
The 14th Annual Badger State Winter Games Opening Ceremonies is held at Marathon Park in Wausau, Friday, Feb.1 with the Athlete Party at 6:30 p.m.
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