CONGRESS IN SESSION
No bureaucrats, though; these reps are here for the skiing.
By Geisel
Congress is in session. This body, however, isn’t interested in picking your pocket, or distributing bailouts or stimulus packages. It is, however, interested in stimulating discussion and setting policies about skiing.
Yes, the sport has an intellectual component, and the members of the International Ski History Congress will take up numerous issues when they convene in Mammoth Lakes tomorrow, March 29, through Friday, April 3.
Presenters from a host of countries, including Sweden, Spain, Norway, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Finland, Poland, Canada, Great Britain, France and the good old U.S., will present papers on a wide range of economic, educational and historical topics.
Organizers Robin Morning and Marianne O’Connor started work months ago to bring the prestigious meeting to the Eastern Sierra. The Congress’ work shares the spotlight with the annual meeting of ISHA, the International Ski History Association. ISHA rotates its annual meeting, and was last here in 2004. It will send 5-10 delegates to the congress.
The event is about “bringing the community together in the spirit of skiing,” Morning said. “We want the community involved, have them take ownership and have a blast with it.”
O’Connor added she hopes it exposes Mammoth to the more academic, international aspects of skiing. “If history repeats itself, skiing is good to pay attention to,” she said.
One thing this congress has in common with the one in Washington, D.C., is it’s open to the public. The public can sit in on as many sessions as they wish. Sessions will be conducted in the Village at Mammoth in venues located on either side of the Rocky Mountain Chocoloate Factory,tional German cuisine, wine and three raffle tickets. The Grand Prize: a California Gold Ski Pass, courtesy of the California Ski Industry Association. Completely transferrable, it’s good the entire 2009-2010 season for 50 days at all state ski resorts, except Squaw Valley, which allows 15 days. Proceeds benefit the Junior Nordic Ski Team.
Local ISHA award winners will also be honored. “It’s a VERY prestigious award,” Knight emphasized. “ISHA doesn’t hand them out lightly.”
Raffle tickets are available at the Booky Joint, Brian’s Bicycles and Cross Country Skis, Mammoth Chevron, Command Performance-Fast Ski Sports, Footloose Sports, Giovanni’s, Kittredge Sports, Mammoth Mountaineering Supply, Oak Tree, Sierra Design Studio, Mammoth Ski Museum, Ski Surgeon and the Village venues.
A map and program will be available this Sunday at Mammoth Ski Museum, Footloose, the Welcome Center and the Village session rooms. Specific information is available at www.2009InternationalSkiHistoryCongress.org.
