Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club
December 6, 2005 Meeting
Minutes

President Jim McMillen introduced Ted Farwell, Olympic skier in the Combined (cross country plus ski jumping). Mr. Farwell competed in the early 1950s. He dropped out of college to ski, but got drafted and joined the Air Force. Mr. Farwell held the best finish by an American in the combined until 2002, when American skiers placed 5th and 8th in the winter Olympics.

Mr. Farwell began skiing in his native Massachusetts. He began jumping around age 14, which is late for a jumper to begin. He entered races when he was out of high school and won several and simply kept racing.

Through the years Mr. Farwell competed in many place in Europe, including Copenhagen where the locals had to use man-created snow for the ski jump.

When he stopped skiing competitively, Mr. Farwell continued his education in Colorado and earned an MBA. For the last few years, he has been appraising ski resorts. He is familiar with nearly all the ski resorts around the country and many in Europe.

When asked about changes in training and gear, Mr. Farwell said that training is entirely different and execution of jumps is entirely different. The ski jumpers as jumping twice as far as they jumped in the 1950s. He said he wished that he had had the knowledge about nutrition that today’s coaches have. He often lived on donuts while training. He said, however, that he was not forced to use the heavy wooden skis of that era. His skis came from Finland and they were made of very light wood.

Mr. Farwell still enjoys skiing and he lives in this area now with his wife. His children did not follow him into competitive skiing.

Hilma Volk gave a short explanation of the website which is at: www.panhandlenordicclub.com

Hilma has added a blog site http://panhandlenordic.blogspot.com with several categories including ski trips, ski conditions around the area and equipment for sale.

The site is user friendly and all you have to do is click on the category you want to comment on and type in your comments. You can be anonymous or you can add your name.

The newsletter, president’s message and all other announcements and information will now appear on the website. The club will no longer send out emails and newsletters.

Free Ski Day is in January, but we will meet before that time. Dwight suggested we put up a sign offering free ski instruction at the warming hut.

Ronn and Roberta Rich are planning a trip to Canada which could be as long as a week. They will post the trip on the website. - (ckeck the blog )

Jim McMillen is planning a trip to Roslyn, B.C. in March. There was a sign up sheet at the meeting for Roslyn.

Geoff may lead a ski at Settler’s Grove in March if conditions are right.

Club members will look into possible upcoming activities at Priest Lake and Farragut for cross country skiers.

Next Meeting: Birkenbeiner film and in February Rich Landers, sportswriter and author will address the Nordic Club.

Volunteers are needed to place Park and Ski posters and the new Panhandle Nordic Club flyers around town. Park and Ski stickers are selling well.

Please remind everyone to check our website.

Ya I Du Ski sheets are available at club meetings.