[High-Speed-CW] Is there any interest in high speed CW in the US?

[Barry]

I recently returned from a trip to Europe, part of which 
included 4 days in Macedonia to compete in the 6th IARU HST 
(high speed telegraphy) Championship.  It was a fun event, and great 
to meet hams from Eastern Europe, many of whom I've QSOed over 
the years. Simply wearing my FRC callsign badge at the hotel 
brought many warm greetings.
 
While I consider myself a pretty good CW op, it was humbling 
to see the level of CW proficiency out there, not only in 
active (OM) hams, but in young people whose primary interest 
is CW itself.  For example, sitting next to me on the bus 
back to Skopje, after the competition, was a YL from Russia, 
maybe 10 years old at best.  She had a better RUFZ score than 
me!  There were 45 males and 34 females competing.  34 were 
under age 20 (almost half being YLs.)  
 
 
Getting back to my original question...
Several members of the HST Organizing Committee asked me to 
see what I can do to stimulate interest here in the US to 
have future participants.  Generally, each national radio 
society has its own internal competition to select teams to 
compete in the HST and sponsors that team.  In some 
countries, it's quite competitive. The ARRL (K1ZZ) did submit 
my application to participate, however, I paid my own way 
(unlike the other teams' members who were sponsored by their 
national societies).
 
Is there any interest in pursuing a program (such as having a 
mini- HST in Dayton) in the US to promote CW proficiency, 
with the plan to have US hams compete in future HST world 
championships?  Further information, including rules, results 
of past HSTs, pictures, etc. can be seen at 
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedth.htm
 
73,
Barry W2UP
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Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up at mindspring.com
Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club