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Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions

Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions. John Morton – morton@mortontrails.com David Lindahl – lindahl@mortontrails.com. Presentation to the American Trails Symposium Chattanooga, TN November 16, 2010. www.mortontrails.com.

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Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions

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  1. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions John Morton– morton@mortontrails.com David Lindahl –lindahl@mortontrails.com Presentation to the American Trails Symposium Chattanooga, TN November 16, 2010 www.mortontrails.com

  2. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  3. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  4. Why Host an Event? Benefits of Hosting an Event

  5. Event Financial Returns • Small Events (for example a 200 participant benefit walk) • Net to the organization of $0 - $10,000 • Medium Events (i.e., a 500 competitor mountain bike race) • Net of $6,000 - $40,000 • Large Events (a Running or Ski Marathon of 5,000) • Up to $1,000,000 in revenues; +/-$100,000 in profits • Affiliated Businesses • 5-30% increase in seasonal hotel occupancy and ADR • 20-30% increase in F&B, retail and concessions

  6. Other Benefits

  7. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  8. Types of Events – From the Modest...

  9. … To the Large Start of the American Birkebeiner 55 Kilometer XC Ski Race – Hayward, Wisconsin Over 6,000 Participants

  10. Adaptive Trail-Based Sports are Growing Fast With Exciting New Sources of Funding

  11. Events are Characterized by Type ofActivity and Level World Cup National Championships Marathon or Major Benefit Event LEVEL OF INTENSITY Collegiate or High School Championships Local Charity Fundraiser TYPE OF ACTIVITY Tuesday Evening Fun Events XC Skiing Triathlon Mountain Biking Trail/XC Running Orienteering Cyclocross Snowshoeing

  12. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  13. Many Elements to Planning a Successful Event Sponsors First Aid Police Marketing Volunteers Trails and Venue Awards Signs Results Parking Bathrooms Registration Food

  14. A Dedicated Group of People

  15. Temporary Facilities Can Serve Almost Any Need

  16. A Critical Element of a Successful Event Sponsors First Aid Police Marketing Volunteers Trails and Venue Awards Signs Results Parking Bathrooms Registration Food

  17. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  18. Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Adequate Space • Convenient Access for Athletes • Premium Viewing Areas for Spectators • Use of Temporary Facilities • Location for Awards Presentation • Other Requirements (i.e., Media, VIP, Doping Control) • Alternative Uses – e.g., Concerts, Weddings, etc.

  19. Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area

  20. Start/Finish

  21. Elements of Successful Trail Design for Events • Make the courses fun, safe, and appropriate to the skill level of the participants • Configure the course to maximize spectator interest • Multiple places to see the event at exciting locations • Access to the course without interfering with the event • Provide variation in terrain, elevation, and features • Separate event trails from recreational users • Provide an exciting point near the finish

  22. Trail Design – “Clover Leaf” Loops for Maximum Spectator Interest

  23. Trail Design – Nested Loops for Flexibility and Multiple Laps

  24. Point to Point Trails – Can be a Signature Event but Pose Logistical Challenges

  25. Canadian Ski Marathon

  26. Trails – Make the Course Fun and Interesting

  27. Incorporate Uphills, Technical Descents, or Exciting Elements Near the Finish A Good Course Profile

  28. High Level Events – Governing Bodies Dictating Design and Logistics

  29. Planning and Designing Trails for Events and Competitions • Why Host an Event? • Types of Events and Activities • Elements of a Successful Event • Planning the Venue • Elements of a Good Start/Finish Area • Elements of Sound Trail Planning and Design • Some Examples • Thetford Academy – High School Cross Country Running • Trapp Family Lodge – NCAA Ski Championships and Relay For Life • Pineland Farms – Running and Cyclocross • Aroostook County, ME – World Cup Biathlon

  30. Thetford Academy – Vermont’s Oldest Secondary School

  31. Thetford Academy – On Your Marks…

  32. Thetford Academy – The Start

  33. Thetford Academy • Thetford, VT – Pop. 2,800 • Since 1990, hosts 2-3 events per year: • Woods Trail Run – 2,600 runners + 2,000 spectators • VT State High School XC Running Championships • New England Championships – Every 5 Years • More Than 100 Community Volunteers (even on opening day of hunting season) • Financial Returns (1 Event) • Income: • Entry Fees: $8,597 • T-Shirt Sales $15,673 • $24,270 • Expenses: • Landscape Services $390 • Timing $2,600 • Toilets $1,245 • T-Shirts $9,803 • Other $2,525 • $16,563 • NET INCOME $7,707

  34. Thetford Academy - Spectators are an Important Part of the Trail and Venue Design

  35. Trapp Family – The Movie…

  36. … and the Real Story

  37. Trapp Family Lodge Events • Hosts Over 20 Large and Small Events Annually • Major Collegiate and HS Races • 2011 NCAA XC Ski Championships • Venue Used for 4 major Concert Series in Summer • American Cancer Relay for Life - $100,000 raised • 2010 – Poor Winter for Snow – Most Successful Financial Season at Nordic Center (High Six Figure Gross; 40% Profit Margin) • Events Have Significantly Increased Hotel and Restaurant Revenue; Fractional Ownership Villas Now 95% Sold

  38. Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, Maine • 30 minutes from Portland, Maine – Metropolitan Area Pop. 513,012 • Trails designed for recreational, site employees, and hosting events • Small events to 700-competitor “Pineland Farms Trail Challenge” – 50 miles • Do not organize events but charge head fee + other services (e.g., mowing)

  39. Pineland Farms – Cyclocross • 345 racers – two-day stage race • Next year – 450 racers • Short and Technical Course • $4,000 - $5,000 gross – structure is to charge a per head fee to race organizers

  40. Aroostook County, Maine Ft. Kent Presque Isle

  41. Competition and Events – Aroostook County • County Population – 71,000 over 6,700 sq. miles (equal to CT + RI) • 2011 – Two World Cups at Ft. Kent and Presque Isle, February 3-10 • 2,000 volunteers • 35,000 spectators • 120 million TV viewers over 7 days • Anticipated $8M Economic Impact in Aroostook County • New Website to Promote International Tourism: www.discovernorthernmaine.com

  42. A Well-Planned Event Makes Everyone a Winner

  43. For further information: John Morton - morton@mortontrails.com David Lindahl - lindahl@mortontrails.com 543 Old Strong Road Thetford Center, VT 05075 (802) 785-4229 www.mortontrails.com

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