The Maine Winter Sports Center

1
The Maine Winter Sports Center-------------------
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• Acknowledging the role of community based
  recreation in supporting the economic and
  cultural heritage of rural Maine communities.

2
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Situation Assessment
• Maine has a rich ski heritage starting with the
  Scandinavian immigration in 1870.
  
• Strong ski heritage flows to western Maine mill
  towns
  
• Olympians - outdoor lifestyle.
• Ski infrastructure and winter events brought
  people from around region to ski.
  
• Ski experience was differentiated by today's
  standards by price and a strong flavor of the
  local community.
  

3
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Situation Assessment
• Demise of rural Maines traditional Economic
  model
  
• High unemployment - shift from professional to
  lower tier service wages
  
• Loss of human capitol
• Vicious cycle of community investment

4
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Situation Assessment
• The result is communities without the means to
  invest in recreation and preservation of
  community heritage.
  
• Children making poor lifestyle choices
• Vicious cycle

5
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• The MWSC Model
• Reassert the viability of rural Maine
  communities by
  
• Re-establish skiing as a lifestyle in these
  communities
  
• Create a new economic model for these
  communities
  
• Make a difference in the lives of the children in
  these communities

6
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Critical Success Factors
• Inspired leadership
• Strong Community Commitment
• World Class facilities and programs
• Shared Olympic Vision
• Adequate and Continued Funding

7
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Community based programming - The key to a skiing
  lifestyle
  
• Absolute accessibility
• Trails at schools
• Skis for all
• Grooming
• Curriculum

8
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• World Class Venues - The key to a new event and
  tourist based economic model
  
• Source of income
• Source of pride for communities
• Kids and community inspired by world class
  athletes
  

9
The Maine Winter Sports Center

• Nordic vs. Alpine Model
• Nordic infrastructure has primarily been built
  from scratch
  
• Alpine model is supplying capitol and expertise
  to make improvements
  
• In all cases the facilities are run by the
  communities