Held Friday, March 15, 2002 in the Skicentrum Hotel, Harrachov, Czech Republic, in conjunction with the 13th annual International Masters Competition.

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 pm by Vice Chairman Alf-Tore Haug (NOR).

Present were representatives from CZE EST FIN GER NOR RUS SWE USA
but not from POL SVK.

SELECTION OF COMMITTEE OFFICERS:

Alf-Tore began by pointing out that he is not the Committee chairman, he is Vice Chairman and is conducting the meeting in the absence of Chairman Tim Denisson (USA). He went on to summarize the history of the Committee, that it began with Guttorm Bakke (NOR) and Earle Murphy (USA) who recently stepped aside and appointed Tim and Alf-Tore to replace them. We have also had, by general agreement, Ake Saloniemi taking care of concerns specific to Nordic Combined competition. Up until this moment, we have never elected officials. Alf-Tore pointed out that Denisson has missed the last two IMC's and has not found a site for the upcoming IMC 2003.

Alf-Tore suggested that we ought not to continue in this way and proposed that we select new officers for one year term. This proposal was accepted by acclamation and the meeting moved to that task.

• CHAIRMAN:
  Several voices simultaneously nominated Alf-Tore Haug to be Chairman. He agreed to serve if the Norwegian Committee agrees to relieve him of some of his responsibilities in his own national program. This was agreed by the new Norwegian National Chairman. No other nominations were made and Alf-Tore was elected by acclamation.

• VICE CHAIRMAN:
  A Norwegian representative suggested that we select a German vice chairman, and Guttorm Bakke nominated Kurt Brausse, who graciously declined. Several voices nominated Klaus Gunther who agreed to serve if elected, he was chosen by acclamation.

• CHAIRMAN FOR NORDIC COMBINED:
  Ake Saloniemi was nominated and was elected by acclamation.

We have no hosts for any future IMC's. Alf-Tore reminded the committee that we has considered in the past the possibility of holding only every two years. He asked if the Committee wanted to go in that direction, but no support was heard.

Alf-Tore then gave the status of some possible hosts that have been discussed in the past. He has not been able to get a positive response from Val di Fiemme, Italy, and there are no athletes or representatives at this IMC from Italy, so he suggested that we must set aside for now the choice of Val di Fiemme.

Don West (USA) relayed from Tim Denisson that he has not been able to get a firm proposal from any USA host and that USA must not be considered for the present.

It was mentioned that Germany would like to try to host a Competition but that 2003 is too soon. It was agreed that Germany be our first preference for 2004.

Saloniemi suggested that we go back to Zakopane in 2003, this is consistent with our first priority which is to try to attract more interest among Masters jumpers in central Europe. However, we have not discussed this with the Zakopane organizers. Stanislav Slavik (CZE, chairman of IMC 2002) pointed out that the two Polish skiers competing in the present IMC are not from Zakopane but were attracted through personal contacts.

Alf-Tore pointed out that the IMC in Perm, Russia was a very good event and suggested that it would be nice for those who were unable to go to Perm in 1998 to have another chance. There is now a non-stop commercial airline flight directly from Frankfurt to Perm. St. Petersburgh has also shown an interest in hosting the IMC.

Sweden has also offered to host the IMC, though the host site is not specific.

Alf-Tore proposed that we establish an order of preference and assign a Committee member to each one of these to negotiate with possible hosts:

• Russia (Perm or ...) [Sergey will negotiate]
• Poland (Zakopane or ...) [Alf-Tore]
• Sweden (where?) [Ake Saloniemi]

HILL SIZES FOR IMC:

Alf-Tore suggested that we reaffirm the official IMC hill sizes: K- 80metersą10m, 60mą10m, 45mą5m. Agreed by acclamation

We cannot prohibit the organizers from offering other activities, competitive or otherwise, during the IMC. In the past several hosts have chosen to offer a small hill competition, in the range K-20 to 30 meters. Recently this has been open only to the top few age groups. (Another optional event added to several IMC's is the popular team jump.)

SMALL HILL COMPETITION:

Alf-Tore suggested that we continue permitting a small hill event, leaving it the host's option, but that it include two classes: 65-69 and 70+.

The small hill event has been the source of vigorous disagreement. Here are a few of the points mentioned:

It makes no sense to disassociate the Committee from the small hill event but then to impose the age minimum for competitors in that event.

In Norway at least, persons over 70 years old are not covered by the standard health insurance so encouraging this age group to continue competing has liability implications.

Hosts will make the small hill competition look just like the other events and the media will focus on the oldest competitors giving the public a distorted view of Masters jumping.

At the same time, this same objection can be made regarding the oldest age groups on the larger hills, but we continue to offer 65-69 on the K-70.

Some good and attractive hosts (e.g. Garmisch, Germany) could offer three hills only by using 80, 40 and 20 meter hills.

Offering smaller hill competition should encourage participation by more jumpers who have been inactive for many years. (This happened at the Zakopane IMC.)

After considerable spirited discussion, no resolution was made, but everyone agreed that each participant in any event must be responsible for his own medical insurance.

DISTANCES FOR CROSS COUNTRY IN NORDIC COMBINED COMPETITION:

The following race distances were reaffirmed by acclamation:
Ages under 50 will race 10 km, ages 50 to 59 race 5 km, ages 60 and up race 3 km.
(The topic of hill sizes for various age groups was not discussed.)

NAMES ON UNIFORMS:

Don West pointed out that it has always been IMC policy that every participant (competitor, dependent or official ) should wear his (or her) name prominently on both the ski outfit and the team jacket. One important aspect of IMC is the social contact, but we see each other just once a year or less. Wearing the names prominently is a great aid to the social part of IMC, but in recent years, more participants have not followed this policy. Participants are asked please to wear their names at future IMC events.

Respectfully submitted, Don West (USA)

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