01/28/2007

Dreeszen says Vasa has a lot to offer

He would like to see it become a race for everyone

BY DENNIS CHASE

dchase@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe
Bryce Dreeszen, the new race director for the North American Vasa, has been a life long cross-country skier.

TRAVERSE CITY — Bryce Dreeszen has a new hobby.

"I've turned into a weather geek,” the Interlochen resident said. "I watch as many weather stations as possible.”

It comes with the territory when you're the director of the North American Vasa ski race — and you have to deal with the whims of Mother Nature.

And, until a couple weeks ago, she wasn't cooperating.

But by Thursday — when Dreeszen skied part of the course — conditions had improved significantly with race weekend (Feb. 10-11) approaching.

"Conditions are much better this week than they were last week,” Dreeszen said. "And last week they were much better than the week before. We're on the right track.

"And the long term outlook is for cold and snow. So we're looking good.”

This is Dreeszen's first year as race director. He skied in the event a year ago, just months after he and his wife, Paula, moved here from Wisconsin.

"My wife and I wanted to become more involved with the race,” he said. "We were looking to volunteer on a smaller basis, but you answer the need when it comes.”

Dreeszen, 50, has been a lifelong cross country skier. He's competed in a number of major races, including the Birkebeiner 11 times.

"I'm not a high-level racer, but I love to ski and I love to be out with people,” he said.

That, it turns out, is the skier profile the Vasa — which had close to 800 skiers a year ago — is looking to draw.

"The Birkebeiner attracts 7,000-8,000 skiers,” Dreeszen said. "When you talk to people in Wisconsin the Birkebeiner is the (winter) event. When you think of the Vasa, you think more about competition and racing. I would like to see the Vasa become more of an event that has people thinking, 'That's what I've got to do. I've got to ski the Vasa.' It seems like the impression is that the Vasa is for high-level competition. I don't think it needs to be. It's a beautiful course and there's room for a lot more people out there. People shouldn't feel like they need to be a high-level racer to come and do it. I want it to be a race for everyone, not one just for elite racers. We're working on that. We have a lot to offer.”

To that end, Vasa officials have added a 6K classic race on Sunday — just in case novice skiers might be intimidated by the 16K Gran Travers — and are promoting the Junior Vasa for the young and the 12K tour event for the casual skier who "just wants to go out and enjoy the day.”

"Our goal is to get as many people as possible on skis because it's a lifetime sport,” said Pete LaPlaca, Vasa's executive director. "To get people on skis, we try to keep our prices down as low as possible. We have the lowest priced race I'm aware of in the country. We were charging $31 (before Jan. 10) for the 27K and 50K race — and we were giving out a $40 ski bag if you signed up early.”

But because of winter's late arrival, early registration numbers are down from a year ago.

"We're down 20 percent,” LaPlaca said, "but that's not unusual when you consider the lack of snow we had (in December and early January). If we could get 700-800 it would be a great year.”

The Vasa is not the only race that's been affected by the weather. The White Pine has canceled its 50K, but will still offer a 10K and 20K next Saturday. The Noquemanon Ski Marathon in Marquette was shortened Saturday due to lack of snow.

"Even in Wisconsin, the Birkebeiner is just now getting snow,” LaPlaca said. "There have been something like 300 ski events cancelled throughout Europe. It's unprecedented.”

The Vasa saw its numbers climb last year. Turnout had been down since 1999 when rain turned the snow to ice just prior to race day, forcing officials to cancel the event.

"We lost a lot of skiers because of that,” LaPlaca said. "They were upset we had to cancel at the last minute. The course was too dangerous. But that turned off a lot of people.”

Vasa officials report trail conditions as "good to very good” for this year's races. The trails have been groomed and tracked.

Meanwhile, officials are hosting a pig roast tonight at Timber Ridge to honor its volunteer force and fine-tune race details.

Dreeszen, a business consultant for the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation, works closely with the volunteers. He's also helped organize a demo day, which will be held the Friday of race weekend.

"It's something I've experienced at other races and it's popular with the skiers,” he said. "We've got four ski manufacturers, four snowshoe manufacturers who will demo their equipment and latest gear free. It's open to anyone, not just Vasa skiers, who want to come out and try out skis and snowshoes and talk with the factory reps. It's a great opportunity to try before you buy.”