The IMC Committee met in two separate sessions, in conjunction with the 16th annual International Masters Competition in Villach AUT. Both sessions were in the lounge ("Clubraum") of the main building at the Alpenarena.

The First Session

The committee met on Thursday, February 24, 2005.

The meeting was called to order at 6:57 pm by Chairman Klaus Günther (GER).

Present were representatives from: FIN GER NOR RUS SLO SWE USA.
(Missing: AUS AUT CAN CZE EST HUN ITA POL SVK)

The main subject for this session was to receive the formal bid from the ski club in Kranj, Slovenia to host IMC XVII in 2006.

The chairman welcomed club representatives Klaus Nielsen and Kristof Gasjpirc. Mr. Nielsen distributed packets of printed material and made the oral presentation while Kristof acted as interpreter.

Kranj has a brand new big hill, about 100 meter K, and some older smaller hills (55, 40 and 20) about 15 years old. In addition, construction continues on a new 80 meter hill which may be finished by winter of 2006. All jumps will have machine-made tracks. The club will host a large international junior competition early in February 2006 and hope to host the IMC directly after that, but before the Torino Olympic Games. They suggested the dates February 6-12, 2006 for IMC XVII.

Nielsen and Gasjpirc answered many questions about housing, travel to Kranj, local transportation and amenities, among other topics.

When the discussion was finished, the committee agreed by consensus to accept the bid. Klaus Günther thanked Nielsen and Gasjpirc for the bid and the presentation.

The committee went on to discuss possible hosts for 2007 and beyond. Ake Saloniemi (SWE) reported that in 2010, Falun, SWE will host the World Masters Cross Country Championships and would like to combine the IMC with it to form a grand festival of Masters Nordic skiing.

Don West (USA) reported that Lake Placid (USA) is interested in hosting the IMC, and that Park City (site of 2002 Olympic jumping) may also be interested.
It was reported that Harrachov is also interested in hosting IMC again.

The session was adjourned at 7:55 so members could attend the medal awards.

The Second Session

The committee met on Saturday, February 26, 2005.

The meeting was called to order at 3:38 pm by Chairman Klaus Günther (GER).

Present were representatives from: AUT FIN GER NOR RUS SLO SWE USA.
(Missing: AUS CAN CZE EST HUN ITA POL SVK)

The main subject for this session was the review, modification and adoption of proposed IMC rules. Klaus Günther distributed a proposed set of rules as a basis for discussion. Finnish representative Erkki Ahtiainen suggested working with a second set prepared by his countryman Kari Kolppo. Both of these had been distributed months earlier by e-mail. After a short discussion, the committee agreed to follow the Finnish paper as a basis for discussion.

The Committee agreed to consider the rules, point-by-point, then accepting each item, sometimes with modification. Kari Kolppo agreed to edit his document to reflect all of the adopted changes and then forward the modified rules to Don West who will edit the English language. Then the rules will be distributed to all IMC Committee members by e-mail. For this reason, we will note the changes here only very briefly.

1.1 -- Replace "February or March" by "winter".

1.3 -- Replace "Technical Delegate" by "Local Technical Expert" (later instances of "TD" will similarly be replaced.)

2.1.1 -- Participants compete in the following five-year age groups: 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, ... as many age groups as are needed to serve the athletes who are entered. Age groups will never be combined. (strike the last sentence "If age group ... next younger age group.") All ages are as of Jan. 1 of the competition year.

2.2 -- Strike out the preamble sentence "Fair ... pdf".

2.2.1.1 -- Replace "annually" by "every two years".

2.2.2 -- (Note - deciding vote means the power to break ties.)

2.2.4 -- Replace "Technical Delegate" by "Competition Jury" in the heading and the paragraph.

2.2.5 -- Strike this item entirely.

2.2.6 -- The Jury is composed of 3 members:

1. the chief of Competition
2. the local technical expert
3. a third member chosen at the preceding team leader meeting, ordinarily not a competitor in the event in question.

2.2.7.1 -- Replace "according to a specific formula by draw" with "by a random draw". Strike the last two sentences "The athlete ... captian's meeting."

2.3 -- rewrite to say that only ski tip length will be measured or regulated, and then only in extreme cases as judged by the competition jury. Competitors will still have the right to request measurement by submitting a protest and paying the protest fee.

2.5 -- Strike all phrases suggesting combining of age groups. No age groups will be combined. Strike the final sentence "all prized to be awarded ... event series."

2.6.1 -- Hill sizes should read "K40±5, K60±10, K90±10. (later references to hill size should use the same language).

2.6.2 -- Replace "personal" by "individual" and strike "having sizes right next to each others".

2.7.1.1 -- Replace "70-100" by " ... (as needed)".

2.8.1 -- Strike the final sentence "Each country could ... competition."

3 -- Replace "Directive" by "Sample or Suggested".

The discussion turned to women competing at IMC. We are sure to have women join us as competitors before long and we need to agree how they will be classified. After a few minutes of discussion, the Committee agreed that women will be given their own classes and their own age groups and, as before, age groups will not be combined. However, all the women's groups will ski consecutively so that the female competitors will be able to associate with each other and not be lost in the mens events.

The discussion finished all points of the Finnish rule-set and we await the newly edited copy.
[ Rules are now posted.]

Ake Saloniemi (SWE) reported on his visit earlier in the day to the Kranj jumping facility. His appraisal agreed with the host's description. He estimated the separation between the big hill and the three smaller hills to be about 400 meters. The K-55 and K-40 share a landing hill but traffic can be controlled easily because both hills have red and green lights controlled from one control panel.

Hotel Kranj, with about 250 beds, is about 1 to 1.5 km from the jumps. Ake says it can be walked. A small hotel at the top of the hill has about 40 beds.

The present IMC schedule is very full and it was suggested that we consider expanding our competition schedule to include an event after opening ceremonies on Wednesday. The members agreed to think about that suggestion. The meeting was adjourned at 5:29 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Don West (USA)            [ See Minutes of 2004 meeting. ]