Marty Hall: Mr. XC talks skiing, life, & building homes.

3. For younger readers that don't know you, could you give some background history of the coaching you have done?
In 1967 I became the first Pat Cote, Nordic Program Director for the Eastern Ski Association, only this was xc, nordic combined and ski jumping—I was busy. The next year they added the Assistant Program Directors job for the US Nordic team to that job—more to do—one of those things was The Younger Junior League, which became the Bill Koch League a few years later—things changed, as in 1969 I became the 1st women's coach of the 1st women's team—the same year that the Canadian's started their team–very, very exciting time for women nationally and internationally. I held a number of positions with the US Team until 1978—was the Head Coach when Martha Rockwell had her breakthrough result at FIS Champs in '74 with a 10th place finish. In “76 I was the Men's coach and of course Kochie won his silver medal and the men's team was doing other best evers. I worked for the US Ski Association for the next 3 years and a group of us working there started the Great American Ski Chase and did a big national race series sponsored by Dannon Yogurt. The Canadians came down to recruit me in '81 and I was the Head Coach and Program Director for the next 11 years, and of course in that period were the '88 Olympics in Calgary, where I accused the Russians of being dopers (a very fun experience). Next on my agenda was designing the modern trail system and stadium complex in Thunder Bay for the FIS World Championships, being a part of the Silver Star camps, and doing commentary at the Worlds and Olympics for one of the networks here in Canada. Not too long ago, I got the itch to coach again and ended up at Bowdoin until I retired this year.

4. You are unique in being a person who has been head coach of both the US and Canadian ski teams. How do Canadian and American xc ski cultures compare?
Funding would be the big difference, with Canadian Programs being funded mainly through government dollars (national and provincial) and of course during my tenure there were the Calgary Olympics so extra funding was available. Canadian athletes are not so hung up on college having to be done right after high school and are also willing to continue there education through correspondence courses. I had one athlete essentially get an engineering degree while he was on the team in Canada. Canada also has a strong club based program while the US is of course high school focused and I think the Canadians are ahead here because they have way more access to educating, certifying and developing coaches. US high school coaches are essentially inaccessible and therefor not upgrading themselves fast enough. Also, in the club format it provides a tiered coach/athlete program, whereas in the states it mostly one coach with 20-40 skiers at every high school.

5. The US Ski Team is beginning (and has been the last 4-5 yrs) to show world class success not seen since the 70's when you coached the US team. Do you see any parallels between the US team now and then? Or big differences?
Its been 30 years since then and there wasn't anything formal like the World Cup until the late '70s, but a lot of the same races and size fields were definitely in place so the measure or comparison has a lot of integrity. From '74 until '82 this group was a real force doing things this present group hasn't even come close to. That group had way more depth, continuity of results weekend in and weekend out, seasonal results, World Championship medals, Kochie won the World Cup, relay wins, they were innovative it was the most exciting time for our international program in the history of the sport. Remember Mike Gallagher was the coach for some of this success also.

6. If you were the US Ski Team nordic program director of xc coach these days, would there be anything that you'd try to change?
Definitely!!! I would propose to the USOC that they put together a coaches education and certification program comparable to the one here in Canada. Requiring certain levels of certification to attend different levels of competitions. In Canada they believe that sports programs are athlete centered but coach driven, therefore every athlete deserves a certified coach. Until sport in this country takes this direction we will suffer the consequences, athletes coached by unqualified people. Coaching has a huge educational focus and coaches should be just like teachers certified and educated as such. For example, look at the National Team coaching staff. I think one of them has the education and I'm not saying they aren't capable, but they definitely are not educated as coaches. Next, I would centralize the program and I could live with Park City as the main center, but if there is a better location with access to summer snow I'd head there. Placid, Marquette, and Colorado Springs would all become National Nordic Development centers with a certified or educated National Team coach at each of them year round with Development groups of 20-30 skiers spending huge amounts of time at each of these locations. This level with full time coaching, super support mechanisms, etc. has to be the main force of development, as the high school/college system as it has been for decades is falling farther behind and therefore so will the future of skiing in the US. The “volume” bar is being raised again and it is just impossible for the high schools and the colleges to lift their levels above were they are now, which has been below the international level. Oh, yes, each area of the country would be responsible for funding a full time assistant coach and other coaches to support all these athletes during the year. I could fill this out more as to how it would operate, but much better qualified and international level athletes would be moving onto the National Team in the very near future.

7. What direction do you see US xc skiing moving?
Status quo at best! Canadian? Slowly moving forward.

8. Canada sends way fewer skiers to the Olympics than the US. Canada's Olympic qualifying standards are much more rigorous. Is raising the bar like this a reason Canadian skiers have had a bit more success lately?
Canada may be ahead, especially when you look at all the different competitions here in North America where they go head to, but I think those standards may hurt more then help. There is no development aspect in Canada's selection system. I think Canada covers more of the bases better then the US, as they have more coaches dealing with more athletes with more money (support) and that is why they are moving ahead. Also, Canada has a great financial situation in front of them right now with the Olympics coming to Vancouver in 2010.

9. Who makes better beer? Canadians or Americans?
I'm a micro brewery guy and I'm available for a tasting contest anytime, anywhere—sign me up. 🙂

10. Future plans?
Finishing the new house, golf, going to some big time sporting events, training and competing at the masters level, and being home for the winter with my wife Kathy and dog Sweetie. Can't wait to run my snow blower!

11. Anything I didn't ask, but should have?
Thanks for this opportunity and keep up the good work. Want to talk to me? …. misterxc@aol.com gets it done.

Thanks Marty!