Celebrating (and Selling) History

If you live in Maryland, you’re probably aware of significant centennials on the horizon. If not, you soon will be because so many resources are assigned to market them. If there is one commodity Maryland enjoys in abundance, it’s history. Like sports, history and heritage are major producers in the Maryland visitor industry.

For the next few years, we will be observing the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, (aka War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression, etc.,) much of which took place in our border state, and the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and writing of the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814, which also brought action and acclaim to our shores.

Since the State of Maryland is celebrating these events and inviting visitors to join us, the Office of Sports Marketing is tagging every possible activity with historic significance. But sometimes these two realms intersect serendipitously. For one imaginative initiative, The Grand History Trail, we give a nod to our northern neighbors.

Diving Well

If you're like me, you hear those two words as a gerund and adverb.  A description that might be used for the athlete in this picture. 

But not when Terry is describing why Maryland, and specifically Montgomery County, is positioned to attract many more scholastic and amateur aquatic competitions.  For in Terry-speak, diving well is a present participle and noun.  It is a specialized facility within a natatorium, and Maryland has some of the best.

When Terry called from his recent treasure hunt, he gave me a quick tutorial on an amazing public venue in Montgomery County I knew nothing about.  The Germantown Indoor Swim Center, located near the SoccerPlex in Boyds, is operated by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation.  Completed in 2006, it has already hosted a national diving competition and several regional swimming meets.  But the state-of-the-art facility was designed to accommodate recreational swimmers, senior citizens, children and families as well as swim teams.

Approximately 60,000 square feet in size, the swim center has a competition pool, a recreation pool, and a leisure pool, as well as two separate hydrotherapy pools.

It also has two serpentine water slides, suspended 35 feet above the interactive leisure swimming area.

What caught Terry's attention was the diving well.  This consists of two 1-meter springboards, two 3-meter springboards, and the platforms of 5, 7, and 10 meters.

It also has things like a bubbler system, a trampoline, and a dryland training area.

In short, the Germantown facility is diving nirvana.

 As you can see from these pictures, the height and the lighting in this swim park make it spacious as well as accommodating for crowds.  It is divided into sections that allow multiple uses to take place at the same time.

Naturally, Terry was touting all these attractions to the tournament groups who plan their national competitions years in advance. 

Despite its relatively recent appearance on the swim scene, this gem of a facility is pretty well known in water world.  (which means people who know that a diving well is a place and not a score.)

Anyway, I need to express my envy of the good folks in Montgomery County who have access to this beautiful facility as a quality of life amenity.  There was certainly nothing like this when I was lifeguarding in Laurel.

Deluge in a Drought

Terry was telling me about a major event taking place on the Potomac this past weekend -- the Olympic qualifying USA Canoe/Kayak Slalom National Championships, the country's premier white-water paddling event.

That must be a real trick, said I.  As well known as the Potomac is for its thrilling falls around the Pencil Sharpener, Pummel and the downright scary Mather Gorge, this hasn't exactly been the year for whitewater.  Or any other kind of water for that matter.  The drought this summer has reduced many rapids to sputtering streams.

Not so in Dickerson, said Terry.  Mother Nature gets all sorts of help from energy giant PEPCO, who provide a steady flow of thermal treated waves as part of their turbine system.

You might wonder how on earth a security conscious public utility and whitewater competitors looking for a challenging course could devise such a splendid facility.  The answer is -- the Barcelona Olympics.

Although the Potomac had always been a regular stop on the circuit because of the aforementioned features, the problem was consistency (as we've seen this year)  Weather conditions produced unpredicatable experiences and top level athletes needed a course with a reliable flow.  And there, right along the Potomac and C&O Canal, was the answer.  A byproduct of energy production, just waiting for adaptive reuse.

Since 1959, the 900 foot long channel has returned cooling water from the Dickerson Generating Station to the Potomac River, 41 miles upstream from Washington. Water is pumped from the river to cool the power plant's three coal-fired generators, and then emptied into the channel for gravity flow back to the river

This is what the 40-foot-wide concrete channel that returned warm-water discharge from the generators back to the Potomac looked like in 1991.  That's right -- warm water.  The first artificial whitewater slalom in the country is actually a linear Jacuzzi that can be used all year round.

In 1991, an aspiring Olympian sold his idea of converting the chute to two of the power plant managers, and, in support of the 1992 Olympics team, and PEPCO approved the insertion of approximately 75 artificial concrete boulders and two wing dams into the channel.

Today, the course has four 200 foot sections, connected in a straight line, end-to-end, with a 2-foot drop at the end of each section. A final 100-foot section ends in the river, with or without a drop, depending on the river level. Overall slope adds another seven feet of drop, for a total course drop of 15 feet plus zero to four feet into the river at the end.

It is, by any standards, a splendid course.  You can see the results of the competition at Bethesda Center of Excellence, who operate the USA Canoe/Kayak National Training Center.

Gold Medalist Joe Jacobi, a native of Bethesda, trained on the Potomac as a youngster and was one of those who rode the artificial course to the top of the Olympic podium in 1992.   Jacobi now heads USA Canoe/Kayak, the governing body for U.S. racing.

So it is a pretty good guess that the Olympians you'll be seeing in London in 2012 were splashing around the Potomac this weekend.  It's worth noting that Maryland also has another of only three artificial whitewater courses in the country.  Farther (a lot farther) up the Potomac in Garrett County you'll find Adventure Sports Center on a mountaintop near Deep Creek Lake.  This whitewater facility opened in 2007 and is open to the general public as well as the venue for national and international competitions.

Once again, Mother Nature, with a little help from her friends, has provided Maryland with some top quality venues prove we're Here To Play -- on every level.

Tarzan in the Tree Tops

When last we visited Lake Needwood Park in Rockville, it was for the whimsical and chaotic Run A Muck, a 5K slog through the mud and slime.

Now it seems the truly adventurous are taking to the trees in a test of athletic ability, strength and agility. 

Go Ape, a concept developed in the UK, has now swung into Rockville.  It is a giant obstacle course built in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire.

Go Ape partnered with the Montgomery County to offer this outdoor recreational facility on park property.  It has been open only since May 8th and has already captured the imagination of groups and families who regard the challenge as a team building (and bonding) experience.

In addition to the zip lines through the canopy, thrill seekers also climb rope ladders and sweep from tree to tree like Cheetah.

The entire course takes two or three hours to complete (and yes, they do require swingers to take a 45 minute safety course prior to heading aloft.)

Those who have taken the challenge describe it as exhilarating.  (Of course, these are some of the same folks who think it's a gas to slop through a swamp in a funny costume.)  But it's getting great reviews even from mainstream outdoors enthusiasts.

While not for the faint-hearted or acrophopic, frolicking through the treetops sounds like a real hoot.  Another good reason (along with climbing the Carderock cliffs or shooting the Great Falls rapids) for the adrenalin rushed to visit Montgomery County.  Grab your banana and GO.

The Few, the Proud, the Whimsical

Just as committed cyclists have their flight of fancy with the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the running community has their own down and dirty ironic event. 

The RunAmuck 5K  Mud and Music Festival sounds like basic training for Navy SEALS, held at Woodstock.  Blaring music, water hazards, slime, filth, and comradarie make it one of the most outrageous (and fun) exercises on the running circuit.

The RunAmuck 5K took place around Lake Needwood in Rockville last month.  It is one of a series of mud runs that started in California a few years back, near (where else?) Camp Pendleton.  They have spread around to other parts of the country under different names, like Muddy Buddy.

The Rockville RunAmuck is a good, hard 5K trail run with a three crossings of the muddy (and mucky) lake, two sloshes through man-made mud pits, a few scrambles over wooden barriers and some hoofing through agility grids.

Soccer, Soccer, More Soccer (and Terry)

The Washington Freedom women's professional soccer team,  Maryland SoccerPlex, and Maryland State Youth Soccer Association have their own major happening this Saturday, June 12th.

The MSYSA workshop, which begins in the morning, will offer a variety of fun and informative soccer-related activities for all participants, including coaching and administrative seminars, interactive skill clinics, and visits with Freedom players and coaches.

Attendees will then get to watch the USA -England World Cup game on the new Maryland SoccerPlex Jumbotron, and attend the Freedom vs. Red Stars game at 7:00 pm.

The MSYSA Workshop is expected to draw over 1,000 players, coaches, and parents to the Maryland SoccerPlex. In his neverending efforts to run up the online petition score for the US Bid, Terry will be there making the pitch for participation.

This event represents the synergy of soccer in Maryland, with a top rate facility, a statewide youth organization, and a professional team all joining forces to advance the sport and our prospects as a World Cup host venue.

Nice Ice!

Terry likes to remind Tweety and Blogue, the Sports Marketeers, that attracting mega events to Maryland begins with hosting successful regional tournaments. That’s how you establish a good track record in the community and reputation within the industry.

When the office of Sports Marketing was established a little over a year ago, its mission was to identify and bring events and activities to Maryland, help existing ones grow, and eventually develop new ones. It is the second part of that mission that took Team Terry to Cabin John Ice Rink in Montgomery County to learn more about the 2010 South Atlantic Regionals, taking place this October 9-13.

The name is a bit of a misnomer. The regional event is part of a longer qualifying circuit. More than 700 top skaters from all along the East Coast (from southern Pennsylvania to Florida) will skate in the 2010 South Atlantic Regionals, and compete for a spot at the U.S. Championships which leads to a place in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The Washington Figure Skating Club and the host Cabin John Ice rink are eager to show support and enthusiasm for these aspiring Olympians during their visit here. We’d like to see more competitions on Maryland ice.

With our temperate climate, Maryland doesn't immediately come to mind when you think of ice activities. But there are a number of facilities -- indoor and out -- which accommodate figure skaters, hockey teams, and curlers.

(That’s right – the athletes who slide and sweep granite stones are known as “curlers.” We have them -- and their bonspiels -- here in Maryland.)

When the Capitals left Largo for their new pond in DC, they also left their practice facility in Piney Orchard. Their departure opened the ice for recreational, prep and college hockey teams as well as figure skating classes. Multi-use facilities in Frederick and Laurel also accommodate team and individual sports. A beautiful new facility on the banks of the Severn was completed a few years ago for the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy. Their annual Crab Pot Tournament is now held at McMullen Hall every February.

So Maryland is poised for more action on the ice, whether it be triple axels or hat tricks. We just need to show we have the support to make these events a success. Stay tuned for more on the upcoming competition in Cabin John.

Remembering two sports legends in Montgomery County

Sometimes learning new things opens a nostalgic link with your past. If you're lucky, it brings memories to savor. When the subject is sports, you can almost count on it.

I wasn’t aware of a Summer Collegiate baseball league until my trip to Charles County, where the Cal Ripken Sr. All-Star Game was taking place later that week. Later, I learned about one of the teams, the Maryland Redbirds, because they play on the newest facility in the Ripken complex, a regulation size field modeled after the old Yankee Stadium. Three "I didn't know thats" from one trip to a soccer match. But it gets better.

I cyberstalked the Redbirds to the league championship, where they lost to the powerhouse Big Train from Montgomery County. Big Train? Could that moniker be homage to Walter Johnson, the Washington Senators pitcher whose fastball blazed past batters like a southbound freight?

Johnson, the Babe Ruth contemporary whose Hall of Fame career made Washington a respectable team in those days, has a Montgomery County High School named for him. But did his nickname inspire a college team?

I was tracking the Big Train when derailed yet again. Yes, the team is named for the legendary pitcher. But what’s really neat is where they play. Shirley Povich Field. I was stunned. A ballfield named for Shirley Povich! How cool is that?

I grew up reading the Washington Post, and even as a kid loved the lyrical prose and keen observations of Shirley Povich. He (that’s right – he) was the Post sports editor and his regular column, This Morning, was my first read for many years. (As long as I’m waxing nostalgic, have to mention Bob Addie, another award winning Post columnist known for his rollicking humor and devotion to the Senators. To me, Addie was as entertaining as Povich evocative.)

Shirley Povich covered sports for the Post for as long as many could remember. His career spanned at least 75 years. Although he retired sometime in the 70's, he still contributed to the Post until his death at 92. (As I recall, a column ran the day after he died.)

He was a modest man who seemed to downplay the accolades he received during his amazing career. How appropriate to have a team named for a Washington sports giant play on a field named for a gifted writer who covered him in the hometown paper.

Shirley Povich Field is more than a tribute -- it’s a superb Maryland facility made possible by a private foundation working with Montgomery County Parks and Recreation and the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The beautiful 1,500 seat park, completed in 1998, is a part of the Cabin John sports complex in Rockville.

In addition to Big Train, another team calls Povich Field home. Since 2000, Georgetown University has played there. It seems Shirley attended law school at Georgetown before realizing his true calling. So a lot of bases (forgive the pun) are covered in this living memorial to a remarkable Marylander.

Team Terry is visiting Cabin John for a look at the complex tomorrow. I know they’ll be impressed with Povich as a top rate facility. But I think they’d appreciate it more if they’d ever read anything by the man it honors. I'll always remember Shirley Povich for making me realize, very early in life, the power of the written word.

Strolling through Seneca

I was in junior high (that’s what they called it back then) when President Kennedy challenged his White House staff to show their “vigah” by hiking 50 miles in a day. The route of choice was the C&O Canal, a preservation cause embraced by Supreme Court Justice and conservationist William O. Douglas.

I don’t remember how many of those New Frontiersman actually hot-footed up the Canal in the spring of 1963, but I do remember a lot of Americans embraced physical fitness at the urging of their energetic Chief Executive. I was determined to hike the C&O canal myself with a group from my hometown, but was talked out of it by my parents who prevailed with a “wait until next year.”

Sadly, there was no next year for President Kennedy. The 50 mile hike does have an interesting legacy in Maryland, though. Every November, there is a 50 mile ultra-marathon, covering parts of the C&O Canal and Appalachian Trail. Hannah Byron’s husband participates almost every year in the JFK Memorial, considered one of the elite ultra-marathon challenges in the country.

However, I never made it to the C&O canal (frat parties at Shepherd don’t count) until last weekend. Instead of 50 miles (we have to make some concessions to age, after all) I settled for 10K. And in the absence of the New Frontier, I went with the Annapolis Amblers, an amiable group of Volksmarchers who were probably in junior high when I was.

This particular volksmarch, organized by the Freestate Happy Wanderers, took us to Seneca. The Wanders charted 5K, 10K and 15K courses. My fellow amblers opted for the 10K, so we set out from Seneca Park to Riley’s Lock. It was a beautiful day, so the trail and park (which included a boat launch on Seneca Creek) were alive with activity. Motorboats, kayaks, canoes and jetskies were on the creek leading to the Potomac. As we reached the lock, we encountered fishermen who cast from the rocks and the aqueduct. Evidently, the mouth of Seneca Creek is a good place to fish since there were boaters with lines as well. Angus Phillips occasionally writes about fishing on the Potomac in the Post, so I’ll have to check this out.

The beauty of volksmarching is the comradery (we assembled as a group and pretty much stayed together in little clusters) and the interest in the route. This particular one incorporated a lot of history (our Civil War buff was delighted to learn JEB Stuart ran his cavalry through Riley’s Lock, burned some barges and drained the canal in 1863) and natural beauty. The canal was full along this particular part of the trail, and we saw turtles floating in the marshes. The Potomac was visible on the other side of the towpath, and we could see fishermen stationed on the rocks not far from the bank. As a part of the National Park Service, the canal is preserved and protected (thanks, Justice Douglas) and, from what I observed after 5K, very well appreciated. Like the Torrey Brown, the towpath has a crushed stone surface that accommodates joggers, cyclists, equestrians, and strollers (we passed them all between the two locks.) Also like the Torrey Brown, it appeals to families and teams in training. We saw quite a few of them as well.

The second part of our hike took us into the woods. The Seneca Creek watershed we followed is part of a “greenbelt” made up of federal, state, county and WSSC properties. A large turnaround pond (the mules didn’t have a reverse) took us off the canal and into the woods. We passed an old processing plant where the stone for the Smithsonian castle was quarried more than 100 years ago. Some of the dark red stones are still in the woods. Before tackling the rugged part of the trail, we stopped at Poole’s General Store. It’s hard to believe that in Montgomery County, just outside Potomac, there’s a 1901 country store that sells hardware, groceries, bedding plants and animal food. It even has a hitching post for customers who ride horses to the market. (Yes, they do. I saw other evidence of their visits.)

From there, it was over the creek (the Seneca seems to be everywhere) and into the state forest. This provided the real adventure (and exercise) of the day. No nice, level, stone surface here. Instead a narrow footpath up and down steep slopes took us through an old growth forest. My cell still had bars, but otherwise, it was a scene straight out of “Last of the Mohicans”. Can’t believe there’s anything that remote in Montgomery County. Thanks to DNR and WSSC, the protected watershed is likely to stay that way.

When we finally returned (amazingly, the Amblers reunited as a group coming into the home stretch) everyone stopped to get “stamped” by the organizing committee. This is part of the culture of volksmarching. Time is not a factor. Getting marked at various pit stops is. Volksmarchers have something like passports, chronicling where they went and how far they hiked.

Another tradition is swapping stories after the hike. A deli in Cabin John was a particular favorite of this group. (After a cholesterol-free “Clara Barton” wrap, I understand why.) Everyone shared their experiences and thoughts, discussed upcoming adventures and compared bumps and bruises.

(There is always someone armed with band-aids, Tylenol and NeoSporum. Likewise, there is always someone who needs them. Remarkably, it wasn’t me this week.)

It was a wonderful experience all around. Volksmarching is an excellent way to incorporate a regular fitness regimen and a congenial support group into a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a means to discover the beauty and history of the C&O Canal, 10K at a time. Thanks for the inspiration, President Kennedy. Sorry it took so long to get there.

Polo in Poolesville

It may be the “Sport of Kings,” but other than Prince Charles, I don’t know anyone who plays. Or how, for that matter. So the prospect of learning more about the sport of polo and seeing an international competition in my home state was entirely too intriguing to miss. That’s why, the week before the equine event most associated with Maryland, I journeyed to Poolesville (Montgomery County) to catch a few chukkers and find out why it is so popular here.

The event was the annual America’s Cup of Polo, held May 8-9 for the first time at the Capitol Polo Club. The Range Rover-sponsored tournament matched a US team against a contingent of Australian all-stars, but participants in the various exhibitions were from all over the world. So were the spectators, many from embassies and international corporate sponsors.

The America's Polo Cup is a philanthropic event, benefiting Journey for the Cure Foundation, and supporting science grants and cancer research. Because modern polo has its origins in the cavalry of the British Commonwealth, international competitions traditionally have a strong military presence.

(Polo was also part of the US army training regimen. George Patton swung a mean mallot and kept a string of ponies when he was stationed at Camp Meade in 1919.)

The US Polo Cup always includes a salute to the military, an impressive part of the festivities. What it doesn't include are coolers or infield volleyball games. This new addition to Maryland equestrian competition is distinctly different from the one running at Pimlico next week.

The first eye opener of the day was the venue. The Capitol Polo Club is located near Poolesville, a little northwest of the Washington Beltway. The park is nearly 600 acres of fields and wooded terrain, part of an equestrian conservation trust. (More on EPIC later) The multi-purpose facilities include three full size polo fields, an outdoor arena, indoor arena and impressive grandstand and clubhouse.

With floating flags and billowing tents, it looked like the tournament grounds at Camelot. Alas, unlike Camelot, rain was permitted to fall and the mud factor was rather intense. Another good reason to have the military around. The ever-resourceful Coast Guard dispatched their chopper. The hovering Zamboni smoothed the playing surface, blew out the bogs, and demonstrated rescue at sea maneuvers prior to the main event. Semper Paratis, indeed.

Despite soggy conditions, the exhibition matches (round robin chukkers among US teams) and the tournament were played before an enthusiastic crowd, where the US defeat the Aussies 4-2. The Beautiful People (and hopefully the handy Coast Guard) will be back next year when the US takes on India. (I don't remember reading this in Rudyard Kipling, but evidently India was a real polo powerhouse during the Empire days.) However, you don't need to wait until next year to capture the flavor of this elegant event.

Media coverage:
MAY 16, 8:00 PM - Prime Time half hour special

Check it online:
http://www.americaspolocup.com/theevent.php

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Facts about Polo:
Polo was once an Olympic sport, last played in the 1936 Berlin games.

Sorry, southpaws, Polo is a right-handed sport. You can swing on the left side of the horse, but the mallot must be held in the right hand. No switch-hitting.

What’s a chukker? A segment of a polo match. There are three chukkers, consisting of seven minutes, in a match.

Where to See it in Maryland:
Polo is played throughout the year. Capitol Polo Club hosts three seasons of polo. In the Spring and Fall they play arena polo, and late spring/summer they play the full grass grounds Beginning in June, the club practices on the grass on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Every Sunday they host a match at 3:00pm, which is open and the public is encouraged to attend

Why Maryland?
Large military presence, international community, and agricultural/equestrian heritage. Polo requires large tracks of flat terrain, and these elements exist in the Washington metropolitan area.. (Polo is also popular in Northern Virginia, and is played on the National Mall in DC.)

Can I Play?
If you’re willing to take lessons. Polo isn’t exactly a pick-up sport and most of us never get any closer than a Ralph Lauren logo, but Maryland has more than one training program. Capitol Polo Club has a beginners program. Check it out at: http://www.capitolpolo.com/
More advanced training is available at Red Eagle Ranch at: http://www.redeagleranch.com/

NEXT WEEK: Grinding with Gatorade