From the amount of signatures and comments, it looks like the team has a lot of support. But it would help to know what the actual issue is. "interests of the college" doesn't explain it. In the 1980's, the NCAA eligibility requirements for both students and the colleges and universities were the challenge. For the alpine ski team, the NCSA (now the USCSA) was the answer. I recommend that you make sure that you find out exactly what the issue is, and share it with your support group so we can help you. If there is an NCAA quota, or school eligibility issue, you need to work with your athletic director to achieve those goals.
L
Lee Bergin
12 years ago
BTW, I am a Gustavus grad of 1988. As a freshman, I took a J term class titled "The History of Cross Country Skiing in Scandinavia" taught by a popular professor of the time named Roland Torstenson(sp?). We had classroom history lessons in the morning, followed by skiing out on Lake Emily or the Arboretum in the afternoon. This was definitely one of those classes where you didn't think you would use later in life! Or was it... That winter, in 1984, we started the Gustavus Alpine ski team. We were all freshmen (and women). Even as a club team, competing against varsity teams all around the Midwest, we were always in the top half on the result sheets, and always qualified to race in the Midwest Conference championships. Little Gustavus barely missed qualifying for the National Championships, but we usually had an individual qualify. The team competed in the Lake Superior Divison of the Miidwest Conference for about a decade. Moral of the story? If you have to, keep the team organized and competing as a club sport.
M
Matthew Nielsen
12 years ago
If you are a donor to the College in general, please let them know that you will no longer make any further donations. That is the only way to get their attention. If there are enough donors that threaten to cut off funding, Ski Teams can be saved.
P
Pam Bell
12 years ago
Save the Gustie Nordic Ski Team
D
Denise Branch
12 years ago
Please keep the ski team in place for everyone to enjoy!!!!!
D
David Paulson
12 years ago
There were Nordic skiers who planned to attend St. Bens. When that program was cancelled, skiers promptly went to other schools. The average GPA of Nordic skiers is at the top of sports teams in Minnesota. For the most part, they can go anywhere they want. If they want to study and ski, they just took Gustavus off their lists.
L
Lee Bergin
12 years ago
Attention Gustie skiers:
Your situation sounds very much like the classic story of the Birkebeiner. In the year 1206, there was a civil war in Norway over rights of succession. The Bagler aristocracy went after the Birkebeiner rebels and their heir to the throne, the baby king Hakaaon Haakonsson. The Birkebeiners had a history of support from the Swedes. During a storm, the brave Birkebeiners skied the baby across the mountain, preserving the life of the king. King Haakon Haakonsson IV, ended the civil wars in 1240, and forever changed Northern Europe's history through his reign. Gustie skiers, your baby is the Gustavus Cross Country Ski Team. Brave the storm, and ski it to safety, away from the aristocracy! Direct your energies towards preserving the team and future competitions wherever it may be.
K
Kiochi Nakano
12 years ago
skiing is an important sport
G
George Cartwright
12 years ago
Save Gustavaus!
L
Lee Bergin
12 years ago
Attention Gustie skiers: Your situation sounds very much like the classic story of the Birkebeiner. In the year 1206, there was a civil war in Norway over rights of succession. The Bagler aristocracy went after the Birkebeiner rebels and their heir to the throne, the baby king Hakaaon Haakonsson. The Birkebeiners had a history of support from the Swedes. During a storm, the brave Birkebeiners skied the baby across the mountain, preserving the life of the king. King Haakon Haakonsson IV, ended the civil wars in 1240, and forever changed Northern Europe's history through his reign. Gustie skiers, your baby is the Gustavus Cross Country Ski Team. Brave the storm, and ski it to safety, away from the aristocracy! Direct your energies towards preserving the team and future competition wherever it may be.
K
Kevin Hochtl
12 years ago
As an Alum of ST. Olaf I am utterly disgusted with Gustavus's decision. Nordic skiing is the largest snow sport in the World. Minnesota is the center of Nordic skiing the country. Nordic skiing is a life long sport that teaches discipline and dedication like no other sport. What are the interests of Gustavus? to provide an education without the lifelong skills learned in Nordic skiing. In a time when obesity is the largest medical problem in the country you are cutting a sport that allows student athletes to study and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I urge you to reconsider your poor decision. I know first hand that my experience skiing in the MIAC and NCAA with ST. Olaf was the best experience of my college career. Do not take this incredible experience away from your students from your customers!!! Nordic skiing is for passionate people and that passion will carry forward into their daily life's. This passion may be returned to your school in spades!! Please reconsider!!! Kevin Hochtl 100 meter world record 2005 11.94 seconds on Nordic skis.
M
Mark Kobilka
12 years ago
Please reinstate the Nordic Ski team at Gustavus. The impact your decision to cut the team goes beyond the lost opportunity to the members of the team. It also affects many other members of the community. Zach Wagner, a recent graduate of Gustavus and a member of the Nordic team, coached the Orono High School team this season. T
T
Tom Scrimgeour
12 years ago
Minnesota is the heart of XC skiing in the US. If Gustavus had only one NCAA sport if should be Nordic Skiing!
D
Dave McGraw
12 years ago
It's pretty well documented that those athletes that pursue x-c ski racing are also the most dedicated and successful students on the academic front as well. Dropping the ski program will no doubt hurt Gustavus Adolphus College in the academic rankings as well. Restore the varsity team status for the Gustavus Adolphus College ski team.
D
Dan Harbison
12 years ago
A demonstration of a complete lack of understanding or appreciation of Nordic Skiing by the Gustavus regents.
A
Andrew Moore
12 years ago
We need more skiing opportunities in the Midwest and it would be a tragic to see Gustavus lose it's ski team
J
jennifer Schmidt
12 years ago
Featured
our neighbor and friend had a successful college career at Gustavus, graduating in 2011. She was attracted to the school's ski program and skied all 4 years. Generally nordic skiers are excellent students. you may lose out on a group of prospective students.
M
Mina Anderberg
12 years ago
I hope that the athletic director is moved by the support of the ski community to re evaluate his decision to make the Gustavus team a club
P
Paul S. Holte
12 years ago
My grandfather and parents and aunt and uncle (Roy E. Strand, Betty Jean Helen Strand Holte, Maynard Lyle Holte, Marilyn Strand, Bill Strand) and I Paul Strand Holte, all support the continued existence and improvement of Cross-country skiing at GAC, especially competitive skiing.
From the amount of signatures and comments, it looks like the team has a lot of support. But it would help to know what the actual issue is. "interests of the college" doesn't explain it. In the 1980's, the NCAA eligibility requirements for both students and the colleges and universities were the challenge. For the alpine ski team, the NCSA (now the USCSA) was the answer. I recommend that you make sure that you find out exactly what the issue is, and share it with your support group so we can help you. If there is an NCAA quota, or school eligibility issue, you need to work with your athletic director to achieve those goals.
BTW, I am a Gustavus grad of 1988. As a freshman, I took a J term class titled "The History of Cross Country Skiing in Scandinavia" taught by a popular professor of the time named Roland Torstenson(sp?). We had classroom history lessons in the morning, followed by skiing out on Lake Emily or the Arboretum in the afternoon. This was definitely one of those classes where you didn't think you would use later in life! Or was it... That winter, in 1984, we started the Gustavus Alpine ski team. We were all freshmen (and women). Even as a club team, competing against varsity teams all around the Midwest, we were always in the top half on the result sheets, and always qualified to race in the Midwest Conference championships. Little Gustavus barely missed qualifying for the National Championships, but we usually had an individual qualify. The team competed in the Lake Superior Divison of the Miidwest Conference for about a decade. Moral of the story? If you have to, keep the team organized and competing as a club sport.
If you are a donor to the College in general, please let them know that you will no longer make any further donations. That is the only way to get their attention. If there are enough donors that threaten to cut off funding, Ski Teams can be saved.
Save the Gustie Nordic Ski Team
Please keep the ski team in place for everyone to enjoy!!!!!
There were Nordic skiers who planned to attend St. Bens. When that program was cancelled, skiers promptly went to other schools. The average GPA of Nordic skiers is at the top of sports teams in Minnesota. For the most part, they can go anywhere they want. If they want to study and ski, they just took Gustavus off their lists.
Attention Gustie skiers: Your situation sounds very much like the classic story of the Birkebeiner. In the year 1206, there was a civil war in Norway over rights of succession. The Bagler aristocracy went after the Birkebeiner rebels and their heir to the throne, the baby king Hakaaon Haakonsson. The Birkebeiners had a history of support from the Swedes. During a storm, the brave Birkebeiners skied the baby across the mountain, preserving the life of the king. King Haakon Haakonsson IV, ended the civil wars in 1240, and forever changed Northern Europe's history through his reign. Gustie skiers, your baby is the Gustavus Cross Country Ski Team. Brave the storm, and ski it to safety, away from the aristocracy! Direct your energies towards preserving the team and future competitions wherever it may be.
skiing is an important sport
Save Gustavaus!
Attention Gustie skiers: Your situation sounds very much like the classic story of the Birkebeiner. In the year 1206, there was a civil war in Norway over rights of succession. The Bagler aristocracy went after the Birkebeiner rebels and their heir to the throne, the baby king Hakaaon Haakonsson. The Birkebeiners had a history of support from the Swedes. During a storm, the brave Birkebeiners skied the baby across the mountain, preserving the life of the king. King Haakon Haakonsson IV, ended the civil wars in 1240, and forever changed Northern Europe's history through his reign. Gustie skiers, your baby is the Gustavus Cross Country Ski Team. Brave the storm, and ski it to safety, away from the aristocracy! Direct your energies towards preserving the team and future competition wherever it may be.
As an Alum of ST. Olaf I am utterly disgusted with Gustavus's decision. Nordic skiing is the largest snow sport in the World. Minnesota is the center of Nordic skiing the country. Nordic skiing is a life long sport that teaches discipline and dedication like no other sport. What are the interests of Gustavus? to provide an education without the lifelong skills learned in Nordic skiing. In a time when obesity is the largest medical problem in the country you are cutting a sport that allows student athletes to study and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I urge you to reconsider your poor decision. I know first hand that my experience skiing in the MIAC and NCAA with ST. Olaf was the best experience of my college career. Do not take this incredible experience away from your students from your customers!!! Nordic skiing is for passionate people and that passion will carry forward into their daily life's. This passion may be returned to your school in spades!! Please reconsider!!! Kevin Hochtl 100 meter world record 2005 11.94 seconds on Nordic skis.
Please reinstate the Nordic Ski team at Gustavus. The impact your decision to cut the team goes beyond the lost opportunity to the members of the team. It also affects many other members of the community. Zach Wagner, a recent graduate of Gustavus and a member of the Nordic team, coached the Orono High School team this season. T
Minnesota is the heart of XC skiing in the US. If Gustavus had only one NCAA sport if should be Nordic Skiing!
It's pretty well documented that those athletes that pursue x-c ski racing are also the most dedicated and successful students on the academic front as well. Dropping the ski program will no doubt hurt Gustavus Adolphus College in the academic rankings as well. Restore the varsity team status for the Gustavus Adolphus College ski team.
A demonstration of a complete lack of understanding or appreciation of Nordic Skiing by the Gustavus regents.
We need more skiing opportunities in the Midwest and it would be a tragic to see Gustavus lose it's ski team
our neighbor and friend had a successful college career at Gustavus, graduating in 2011. She was attracted to the school's ski program and skied all 4 years. Generally nordic skiers are excellent students. you may lose out on a group of prospective students.
I hope that the athletic director is moved by the support of the ski community to re evaluate his decision to make the Gustavus team a club
My grandfather and parents and aunt and uncle (Roy E. Strand, Betty Jean Helen Strand Holte, Maynard Lyle Holte, Marilyn Strand, Bill Strand) and I Paul Strand Holte, all support the continued existence and improvement of Cross-country skiing at GAC, especially competitive skiing.
MTU Skiing Alum.