A Time for Trailblazers

My equestrian friend Chris, who joined me on my first "Here 2 Play" adventure more than a year ago, was boundlessly enthusiastic about the recent Trails Summit hosted by the DNR in Linthicum.

Chris was there on behalf of the Annapolis Rec Board, but also to learn about equestrian-friendly trails in the state.  She was pleased to see that her horse friends were well represented by such advocacy groups as TROT (Trail Riders of Today) and EPIC (Equestrian Partners In Conservation.)

In fact, there were many interest groups attending, including representatives from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Delaware.  A major focus of this pow wow was not just building new trails, but the most productive and expedient means to connect existing ones.

Our neighbors to the north already share two wildly popular multi-use trails with us.  The 20 mile Torrey Brown (North Central) in Baltimore County blends seamlessly into the York County Heritage Trail, which takes it another 21 miles beyond the Mason-Dixon line into to the city/county seat. 

Another of the most popular rail trails between the two states is the Great Allegheny Passage, of which the Allegheny Highlands Trail is the Maryland segment from Cumberland.  Together with the C&O Canal towpath, this creates a scenic route along old transportation routes from Georgetown to Pittsburgh.

Our friends to the east would like to see some similar connectors that would access Fair Hill, the 5633 acre DNR land preserve with trails and equestrian facilities.  Fair Hill, once the property of the DuPont family, is popular with mountain bikers and hosts many cycling as well as equestrian events.  Fair Hill shares borders with both Pennsylvania and Delaware and is popular with outdoor enthusiasts from all three states.

Virginia also sent a representative to the summit, who applauded Maryland's initiative to collaborate with neighboring states and pledged participation.

The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) took an active role in the conversation.  Maryland, with its rugged terrain and vast expanses of public land, is a favorite destination for regional riders. MORE representatives are eyeing connectors between some of the existing trails and the virtually untouched state parks in Western Maryland.  They are also interested in identifying new/old trails in newly acquired conservation districts like the South River Greenway in Anne Arundel County.

The exciting thing about the summit is that it brought together all types of trail users and the conservation interests who support them as a means to promote stewardship of public lands.

Trails in Maryland have come a long way since the mid-1980's when the abandoned North Central railbed was envisioned as a recreational amenity.  DNR Secretary John Griffin, who addressed the conference, reminisced about the difficulties in overcoming NIMBY opposition to a linear park adjacent to private property. Today, of course, the North Central -- renamed to honor the visionary former DNC Secretary Dr. Torrey Brown -- is immensely popular with neighbors and visitors alike.  One of the questions frequently raised was "how can we connect to the Torrey Brown?"

Secretary Griffin reconfirmed his personal commitment to expanding and connecting the DNR's 1,000 mile system.  He unveiled a new DRN website which provides a data base of existing DNR trails and will eventually include other state, county and municipal trail information.

Of the 200+ in attendance, some were interested in trails as basic transportation, others as recreational and fitness facilities.  There were those who see them as linear parks and a means for preserving open space, and many who appreciate their appeal to the visitor industry and our heritage.  All had appreciation for the positive environmental and conservation impact that trails have in Maryland.  That was the common denominator for the very diverse assemblage in Linthicum.

As for "Here 2 Play," we celebrate trails as one of the many sports venues that our state has to offer visitors who love the outdoors and spend their time (and money) here.

Kudos for Cal at TEAMS

Terry is reporting from the TEAMS conference that the Cal Ripken World Series World Championship Game just won the SportsTravel Award for Best Single Sporting Event.

This is a national award, and the globally televised game (the culmination of nearly a week of tournament play with hundreds of kids and their families in attendance) beat out some pretty stiff competition. 

It is particularly gratifying since Harford County is represented at the TEAMS Conference.

Congratulations to Harford County, City of Aberdeen and the Iron Man himself for staging such a successful youth sports event.  It is a recognition well deserved.

The Match Game

Here's TEAM Maryland, with their captain/coach/cheerleader on the right. 

They are assembled on their court for a high stakes scrimmage known as The Match Game.

Think of it as speed dating for sports events and economic impact instead of love and marriage --although those elements are relevant in this romantic wooing.  For getting a major rights holder to fall madly in love with your destination, venue and amenities and committing to a long-term relationship means big, big bucks for the folks back home.

(Sorry for putting it in gold digger terms, but you get the picture.)

Terry and the TEAM found Maryland to be a hot ticket among the rights holders.  In fact, their dance card was filled with 22 scheduled appointments and even a few who were not originally on the list.

Part of the conference included networking opportunities and open sessions. TEAM Maryland was the sponsor of The State of the Sports Event Industry session.

 A panel of industry leaders talked about the promising growth of sports travel, participation, and attendance even as the rest of the economy struggles.   They identified new approaches by sponsors to get or remain in the game while resources are at a low.

The conference is still in progress, so Terry and TEAM Maryland are prospecting for more gold.  He plans to give a full recounting when he gets back.

Trolling TEAMS with Terry

It's hunting season again, and Terry is stalking big game in Charlotte, NC.

Not the kind with antlers, but the type that attracts spectators and participants, fills loads of hotel rooms, and generates a bundle of tax dollars.

That's right -- sports events and activities.  This time, Terry has lots of company with representatives of the major jurisdictions who now comprise TEAM Maryland.  Delegates from Harford, Prince Georges, Howard, Anne Arundel, Wicomico, Montgomery and Frederick Counties are participating, along with Baltimore City.

They have appointments with major rights-holders for events that have enjoyed similar success in Maryland (such as triathlons) and some that could be splendidly adapted to entire regions of our geographically diverse state -- like orienteering.

They will be meeting one on one with youth tournaments, arena invitationals, water sports and field competitions.

Terry has promised to send us a picture of Team Maryland in action.  Stay tuned.

Fans Afloat

I checked into one of my favorite designated Ravens watering holes before leaving on a Bermuda vacation.  Happy to see they appreciate Joe as much as I.  This Raven scarecrow blended in perfectly with the season (and the sentiment)

Although the boat would be somewhere in the Atlantic when the ball was snapped Sunday, I still packed my gear, determined to figure out a way to tune in, despite the lack of an international signal.

Silly me.  I should have realized the hard core had taken care of the problem before we had even passed Fort McHenry.  I heard a fellow passenger say to another "I'll see you in the Bolaro tomorrow."  It only took a moment to learn this ringleader had already negotiated for the satellite signal to be repositioned to accommodate the boatload of Raven fans on Sunday at sea.

So it was with pride and a sense of camaraderie that I decked out in full Flacco before hitting the buffet Sunday morning.   I hadn't made it any further than the omelette station when a realization hit me:  there were Steeler fans aboard.  In fact, there were more of them than there were of us.

Who would have thought?  I know they're as ubiquitous as Red Sox Nation, but on a boat from Baltimore, for heavens sakes?

Yes, and making no apologies.  There were as many Hines and Polarmos as Flaccos and Heaps.  And we had to share a lounge transformed into a sports bar for the occasion.

"Don't worry," said the ringleader I met earlier -- now decked out in a vintage Unitas jersey.  "We can take these guys."

I can't really do justice to the mayhem that ensued for those few hours.  The ship was rocking and rolling even before the game, but it was really tossing during the action.  Even the few stray Redskin and Giants fans (also in uniform) got into the act.

Despite the threats to make the losers swim home, everyone really got along great.  An informal and bipartisan tailgate broke out with food smuggled from the buffet and everyone partook (no need for designated drivers, either.)

It might have been more exhilarating to be in Heinz Field for the thrilling victory, but sharing a floating sports bar with a great bunch of homies and some good sports from the north was something this Ravens fan won't forget.

Go Ravens!  Beat Denver!

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.

Purple Friday

We have a seasonal ritual here in Baltimore.  It's called "Purple Friday" and it is ardently observed in the Warehouse.

As a faithful communicant of Purple Friday, I was decked out in my Flacco jersey (with amethyst accessories) when hoofing to work this morning.  It gave me a new perspective on how committed this town is to their team, and how supportive they are of their young quarterback.

I was startled when I got the first thumbs up from the garbageman on Cathedral.  But when I got the "way to go, Joe" from the newsboy, I realized the sentiments were not for me, but my jersey.

I was in front of the Basillica when someone emerging from morning mass gave me a shoulder punch and said "you'll get it on this weekend."  And there were numerous "Go Ravens" shouts from the commuters at the red lights.  (One even cawwed.)

I guess this is what it must be like to be an avatar.  Last Sunday night I stopped by a watering hole in my neighborhood to watch the Manning Bowl.  I was still wearing my game day jersey and was surprised to see other versions (one black, one white) of #5 in the sports bar.  Had never met either guy, but suddenly we were kindrid spirits.  "Needs to get out of the pocket faster," said one.   "Has to do something about those feet," said the other.  "Did you see how he had those feet placed?  That's the problem."

"Maybe it's just that time of the month," I offered.  (Admittedly, the guys don't think of things like that.)  "He'll get past it and be just fine."

The point is, Joe needs to know he has a lot of fans between Chase and Camden.  I'd be willing to bet that although folks all over town are concerned about his well-being, they still believe in Joe Cool.  And they definitely love their Ravens.

Just look around you on Purple Friday.