Cambridge Sports
Union
23 Fayette
St
Cambridge MA
02139-1111
email:
smlberman@verizon.net
phone: 617-868-7416
CSU'S 50TH Anniversary
On June 23, We will celebrate our 50th
anniversary at the Windsor Club in Waban. For information and tickets,
go to:
The Cambridge Sports Union was started in 1962 with the goal of eventually being a multi-sport club. Initially, our activity focused on running, but cross country skiing was added in 1964, and orienteering in 1972. Race walking, which is part of the "athletics" world along with running, eventually became part of our program.
The club is organized as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is recognized as a 501 (c)(3) organization by the IRS. It's legal name is CSU Inc. A Not For Profit Corporation.
The club is organized into semi-autonomous sections that carry out the activities in each sport: Running, Race Walking, Cross Country Skiing, and Orienteering (on foot and on skis), but with cooperation and resource sharing among the sections. Most of our members participate in only one sport, but some are active in two, or even three.
Although the sections publish occasional newsletters or calendars, most of our communication is done electronically. Each section has a web site and a mailing list.
The club is very active in teaching people about our three sports, the fun of competition, and the benefits of physical activity. We organize many events in the four sports, and our members participate in events organized by others. The listings below are brief thumbnails; check out the section web sites for a more complete picture of each section.
Membership- CSU memberships are on a calendar year basis, they all expire on Dec 31. We do accept multi-year memberships, and it is also possible to get a life membership. If you have any questions about membership, contact Larry Berman: smlberman@verizon.net or 617-868-7416.
President: Larry Berman
Treasurer: Pat Robinson
Secretary: Gail Breslow
Directors:
Jon Waldron (Run)
Geoffrey Kent (Run)
Lisa Doucett (Run)
Rob Bradlee (Ski)
Jamie Doucett (Ski)
Brendan Shields (Ori)
Stephen Peckiconis (RW)
A few of the events that CSU focuses on are the Boston Marathon, with a series of preparatory runs earlier in the year, the Mt Washington Road Race (only one hill!), and the Lake Winnipesaukee Relay. We also try to have teams in all the USTAF/NE Grand Prix Series of races. And we have our summer series of Thursday evening races at Fresh Pond in Cambridge. Our runners get together regularly for workouts; you can probably find a group that fits your interest.
Section Chair: Gail Breslow gail@csurun.org
Assistant Chair: Catherine Cagle cat@csurun.org
Web site: http://csurun.org
Mailing List: csu-l@mit.edu.
To subscribe: csu-l-request@mit.edu
Race Walking Section
Section Chair:Stephen Peckiconis speckiconis@yahoo.com
Web site: http://www.csuwalk.org
Skiing
Section
The CSU skiers not only participate
actively in XC skiing, we also organize a number of events: The roller
ski race at North Andover; the New Years Pursuit and the CSU Sprints at
Weston; Bob Haydock's Bogburn Race in Pomfret VT; and the Tuesday time
trials at Weston all winter. This winter, we are holding an Eastern Cup
race at Weston in February.
Our members also support a Billy Koch League
for kids up to age 13, and we have a training program for juniors older
than that.
If you are not familiar with Weston, it is a XC center on a public golf
course right near the intersection of Rt 128 and the Turnpike. They
make snow and have lights, so skiing is quite accessible to us skiers
in the Boston area.
Section Chair: Rob Bradlee rbradlee@yahoo.com
Section Treasurer: Jamie Doucett jdoucett@mediaone.net
Head Junior Coach: Rob Bradlee rbradlee@yahoo.com
You should subscribe to the mailing list. You
will find frequent, on the spot, snow reports and ride-sharing info as
well as waxing tips and race results.
Mailing List: csuski@googlegroups.com
To subscribe check with Rob Bradlee
Web site: http://www.csuski.org. It carries a lot of CSU news as well as many useful
links.
For snow conditions http://www.xcski.org
Orienteering Section
This Spring, CSU held a series of 8
Park-O races around the Boston area. Park-O is held in relatively open
parks, so the navigating is easier than in a real forest, but it means
fast running, and a lot of fun. Most of the parks used are accessible
by public transit. In the Fall, we will hold one day of a 2-day
National A-Meet, as well as a one-day local meet.
We have regular weekly training sessions, and several times a year, organize weekend training camps on maps away from the Boston area.
One competitive event we focus on as a team is
the US Relay Championship. In 2002, we won the championship in Vermont,
in 2003 we placed 2nd and 3rd in Idaho. The 2004 Championship was in
Maine; we entered 5 teams, and won the championship for a second time.
For information on current activities, contact Larry Berman or Brendan
Shields shields@physics.harvard.edu
Section Chair: Larry Berman, 23 Fayette St, Cambridge MA
02139-1111, email: smlberman@verizon.net, phone 617-868-7416
Events:
Web site: http://www.csu.attackpoint.org
Mailing List: All members of the Orienteering Section are automatically
put on the section mailing list
Equipment Discounts(Make sure to bring your CSU membership card)
Marathon Sports1654 Mass Ave, Cambridge MA 617-354-4161 and 255 Washington St Wellesley 781-237-0771. Complete selection of running equpment and shoes. CSU members get a 10% discount
New England Backpacker, 6 East Mountain St, Worcester MA 01606. 1-508-853-9407 (NEBackpacker is located in the Greendale section of Worcester, conveniently off of route 290 and 190 via route 2. Coming south on 190 the first Worcester exit, West Mountain Street. Go left at light, onto W. Mountain, and follow down the hill and up the other side to Route 12. Go straight through light, first store on your right.) Web Add: http://NewEnglandBackpacker.com Contact: Bob Fitzpatrick or Wayne Ridley. 25% off retail for hardgoods (skis, boots, bindings, and poles). Waxes and base prep materials etc. 20% Ski Clothing 15% 10% on all other products not already on sale. Present CSU membership card.
Fast Splits, 1369 Washington St, Newton MA 02465, 617-969-0608 and 1060 Mass Ave, Arlington MA, 781-483-3213email: info@fastsplits.com Newton store may have more stock. CSU members get 15% discount from their advertised (already discounted) prices on ski equipment.
Berman's Orienteering Supply, 23 Fayette St Cambridge MA 02139-1111. email ona@world.std.com, phone 617-868-7416,. We operate by mail order, so call or email us. We carry all types of orienteering equipment. Of interest to non-orienteers are our VJ orienteering shoes, which are great for XC running, and wonderful for running in snow. Primary CSU members get a 20% discount.
Waterville Valley XC Ski Area CSU members can get about 1/3 discount season passes. And purchase of a season pass gets you discounts on equipment at the XC Center. The names of paid-up Ski Section members are sent to WV to validate their applications. If you need an application, contact Larry Berman.