CHRIS GILBERTSON
wcgilbertson@gmail.com
Steamboat Springs, CO
Former USST Nordic Combined Jumping Coach
Curator’s Note-
You make hay when the sun shines (as they say), so when my email lit up this morning with the cockamanie exchange below, it was clear the story calendar nneded to be rearranged to make room for the email chain that follows.
To set the scene, Dave Jarrett’s story yesterday consisted of a number of one-liners that vaguely refered to future stories, including this one::
“How the McDonalds tradition began thanks to Chris Gilbertson…”
… which was bait too enticing for Chris not to weigh in on. His email begins:
I feel like a point of clarification needs to be made. Yes it is true I eat at McDonalds and much too often. But in my defense regarding the McDonalds tradition in 2009 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic; we did not think to make any dinner reservations after the medal ceremony because we weren’t sure we would be going. But that was a mistake! So after attending the first medal ceremony were Todd Lodwick won his first World Championship medal (10Km Mass Start), GOLD!!!!, we were wondering what to do. Looking around the square there was a McDonalds and I think I thought it was funny and kinda of appropriate to have a celebration there. They do sell beer at some McDonalds in Europe and this one did not let us down. So it only seemed appropriate when Todd won again, with Billy Demong getting 3rd (10km individual Normal Hill) that we go back to that same McDonalds for a burger and beer. When Billy won the 10km individual Large Hill, there really was only one place to go. Those World Championships were extremely memorable and being able to sing your national anthem at an awards ceremony is something I hope everyone gets a chance to experience.
Chris
Not to mention, the McDonalds in the athlete village in Whistler!
DJ
Yup, forgot that one too. Thanks DJ!! Which brings back another McDonalds story that Taylor Fletcher and Miko Kokslien were apart of. As well as bringing McDonalds to all the forejumpers the days of competitions because they were starving.
LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!
Knowing how competitive we all are and understanding how deeply we associate with our respective Nordic sport (and how much we admire our sisters and brethren on the other side of the Nordic fence) we are setting up a friendly competition on the fundraising side this year. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GONNA BE A HORSE RACE!
NOTE THAT ALL FUNDS, WHETHER DONATED THROUGH THE NORDIC COMBINED OR SKI JUMPING LINK, WILL GO TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TOP TEAMS OF BOTH PROGRAMS!
