I Just wanted to send you a letter and express my thanks and gratitude for the job you and all the others did in putting together a fantastic event! I was proud and thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful event. I have heard nothing but praise and gratitude for how well everything was organized and executed and people from all over the World and the United States told me that this was the best World Masters they had ever been to!

Chris Haunold
Idaho Mountain Touring

*McCall*
*The Little Town That Could*
On behalf of the more than 25 members of the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) who participated in the MWC 2008 I would like to thank the Organizing Committee, Sponsors, Vendors, Park Staff and Volunteers, for a spectacular event. The Organizing Committee clearly paid close attention in Brusson and Rovaniemi and used the best of each and greatly improved on the short comings. The result was an event that, from the competitor’s perspective, flowed seamlessly from day to day / event to event, not a detail was overlooked. The staff at Ponderosa State Park arrived early and stayed to the bitter end, attending to what ever task they did with a smile. When they add the sign board for having hosted MWC 2008 they can do so with the pride that comes from a job well done. An event of the magnitude of the MWC requires countless volunteers. So thanks to all for the time you devoted. I particularly want to thank the entire McCall community for their display of the legendary Western hospitality to our foreign visitors. I’m sure, for many, this was their first visit to the USA and they will return home with a favorable impression of us. In closing I want to thank the sponsors for their generous financial support of the event as without it the MWC 2008 would not have been the quality event it was.

Dave Hosmer
Stowe, Vermont
Chair NENSA Masters Committee and Member of the NENSA Board

Wow, what a phenomenal event you folks put on!! The organization was nothing short of outstanding. I can't even imagine how much work this must have required. Everyone I spoke to just had a great time. Thanks, and I hope you all have a chance to sleep for 3 days straight.
Best regards,
-Peter

We would like to thank all the staff who made the Master Worlds Cup a big
success.
To all the Volunteers Thank You!
To the Forest Service Thank You!

and to the Community of McCall who really came together & supported this event A JOB WELL DONE !
Your hospitality is awesome.

Hats Off
Andy Andrews & Katharine Sheldon
Hailey Idaho USA

To the MWC team...
AWESOME!

We have raced in several Masters World Cups throughout the world and enjoyed all of them. Alaska, Calgary, Quebec & Lake Placid were very well organized and each had particular aspects that were special. Switzerland provided decent trails & vistas and Lillehammer had meticulous grooming and protocol. But none can compare to the incredibly friendly people of McCall!!

We had a big group of New Englanders and spent lot’s of time with other friends we see at MWC’s, and all resoundingly expressed the same feelings all week long...
“this is the best one we’ve been to”
“these people are so friendly”
“these trails are really fun to ski”
“the volunteers are the best”
“everyone in town is so welcoming”
“Paul’s Market made a lot off us this week”
“I’d love to see this place in the summer time”
“I was blown away by how friendly and happy they were at the END of the week”

We were particularly impressed with...
the smiling & pleasant parking attendants who greeted us each morning
the finish line crew who were all smiles
the timely shuttles (and funny drivers) who took us right to our door
the smiling “starter lady” who greeted each wave at the start line with “good morning, are you ready for a great race?”
the checkers, ski markers and start line hosts who softened race tension with smiling faces and pleasant greetings
the announcers who made each finisher feel special
the arena team & people working the booths & serving dinner at the banquet
the resident who picked us up as we walked home and offered to give us a ride the next day if we needed one
the people in the hardware store, restaurants and gas stations who waited on us
the dancers, singers and players at the awards ceremonies

The ultimate measure of the volunteer success... All four of my races came down to a stadium sprint for a medal. In two of them, I got tangled with another skier, knocked down in the woods just before the stadium and crossed the line “wicked frustrated” as we say in Vermont. Within several minutes, the volunteers had me smiling and chatting as they showed sincere interest in how the race went.

I could go on and on, but you get the point... You hosted the best MWC we and our many friends have ever been to!
The well organized logistics and protocol were important, but it was also the friendly and welcoming spirit of all the volunteers who gave us their time, energy and enthusiasm!

Please forward this to everyone on your volunteer list as it was their many individual efforts that made it special.

Murray and Jane Banks
Underhill, Vermont

Dear Ed and everyone involved:

Thanks for all of your work over the years leading up to the WMC'08. I think everyone I talked to had praise for the quality of the organization. As American competitors, you gave us all something to be proud of, and a standard to be met by future venues.

Thanks again, from all of us here in the Michigan contingent.

Randy Bladel