Home Natural Venues
Subscribe
US Rowing introduced live stream- ing video of their events where spectators can view a race from start to finish. They also use UStream to show the videos live on site, online and on mobile devices.
Contact
S.P.O.R.T.S. 2012
softball tournament, in terms of venue preparation, said Eric Zartler, senior sales manager/athletics for the Lake Charles/ Southwest Louisiana CVB. "There's no preparation you can do on the water. I find myself checking weather.com and watch- ing The Weather Channel often. I've never been a firm believer in the Farmer's Almanac, but I do check out the historical weather conditions when we start looking for dates." Weather is always a concern, said
Bischoff with the Pro Wakeboard Tour. "We definitely take the weather patterns into consideration when choosing venues. We have had to postpone events due to hurricanes and lightning, but eventually we get them done. During events we con- stantly monitor changing weather using weather websites or, in some cases, we have the Coast Guard Auxiliary on hand and they keep us up to date. On a rare occasion we have had to postpone the competition, but 99 percent of the time we wait until the weather blows through and then continue the event."
Planners should talk with people who
regularly use the venue for recreation, noted Powers in Columbia. "I suggest inviting local paddlers (if you are not one yourself) to join the local organizing com- mittee. People who have paddled a lake or river for years can be a huge asset for any first time event, especially when you are talking about whitewater. We had a local paddling club and several local paddlers who were able to give us 'inside' informa- tion on the river, the potential dangers and what paddlers need." Trail runs are over terrain that's less controlled, but even so, planners need to be aware of safety issues. The 5k Mud Bug Run in Greensboro, N.C., takes run- ners "down trails, across giant mud pits, up and down mud hills, through the lakes and ponds of the park, and over hay bales and other obstacles," said Amy Scott, director of marketing for the Greensboro Area CVB. "And note, I said through the lakes. We have to be careful that even a crazy route like this is still safe." Safety has to be priority number one, Powers said. "Safety personnel and
22 August 2012 www.sportseventsmagazine.com
Knoxville Tourism & Sports Commission