Ski Team, Trails Part of Tech's Future
By Dean Woodbeck
Michigan Tech will make significant
improvements to its cross-country ski trails over the next five years
and will retain cross-country skiing as a varsity sport. Provost Kent
Wray said the plan will help the University attract students who enjoy
winter recreation, as well as varsity athletes.
As part of recent budget cuts,
the Athletic Department proposed eliminating the men's and women's cross-country
ski teams.
"This proposal started
a conversation about student recruiting, campus recreation facilities,
and some options for supporting both," Wray said. "Winter recreation
could be a key recruiting point for Michigan Tech. There are very few
places in the country that combine a first-class education, on-campus
winter recreation facilities and world-class snow. We also know that our
ski trails are an important resource for the community and for the quality
of life we enjoy here in the Keweenaw.
"We've made significant
improvements in downhill skiing at Mont Ripley in the past few years,"
Wray continued, "and we now plan to do the same for our cross-country
trails."
Representatives from the Athletic
Department, SFWP, and auxiliary operations put together a plan that will
help provide funding for trail development, improved grooming and for
the cross-country ski teams.
"Our success at Mont Ripley
is a good model for this," said Howard Greenley, director of auxiliary
services. "Our students like winter. Ten percent of the student body
purchased Ski the Keweenaw downhill passes last year. Even more of them
purchased single-day tickets at Ripley."
Michigan Tech owns 540 acres
of forest lands adjacent to its sports facilities, with a small portion
used for the ski trails. The University plans to widen existing trails,
develop more trails and ensure consistent quality grooming.
Ski team members will help
plan and clear trails and endorse this approach.
"We met with the ski teams
and their coach, Gary Nichols," said Glenn Mroz, dean of the School
of Forestry and Wood Products. "They are enthusiastic about helping
design and create a first-class facility, and we will benefit from their
skiing expertise."
Mroz said forestry faculty
and students will manage the forest as a recreation area, and auxiliary
operations will be responsible for the business management, just as it
does for Mont Ripley and the University's golf course.
Faculty and students in forestry
will use the best practices in sustainable forest management to manage
the land for recreation and aesthetics. This includes thinning some timber
stands, stabilizing eroded areas, building bridges, installing new signs
and developing interpretive displays so the area can also serve as a model
forest.
"We will have some timber
to sell after widening trails from new trail construction and the thinning
of some stands," Mroz said. "The funds generated will support
the ongoing costs of maintaining and grooming the trails."
In the long run, the Athletic
Department and the ski teams will work to build a $1 million endowment
to support the trails and the varsity program.
"This is a good opportunity
to both retain our varsity ski teams and to make needed improvements on
the ski trails," said Athletic Director Rick Yeo. "Our team
members and coaches are committed to doing our part to make this work."
The University has also recruited
a Nordic skiing/recreational area advisory board and a trail design and
development task force. Both groups include representatives from the University
and the local skiing community.
11/9/01
Photo from news story Geo-Skiers:
Duo Makes NCAAs