Scenes from the Road: Davos, Suisse Edition
In Davos the ski trails ramble off in three distinct directions. Up the Fluela Valley is home to the old-school World Cup trails, the steepest of the bunch. The Dischma Valley has been renamed Sunny Valley by many and holds the hearts of more than a few skiers. By my favorite valley in Davos on a classic distance day is hands down up the Sertig. The trails twisty and turns at a steady, unrelenting, if entirely skiable grade for a good hour straight up from my trailside home.
The tracks today were fast and bulletproof hard, making a layer of green klister covered by viola absolutely necessary. The sun was out, too. Ahh, yes, the days are good and only looking up, up, up.
Good Fortune and Prudence
Last week was a great validation of what I've known about my abilities as a skier; as Torin so aptly put it after Saturday's race, to pop a top-10 result at Nationals after spending all fall fighting off mono and not training is no mean feat.
After the races last week I came down with a rather nasty cold bug and we retired to Torin's family estate in the Green Mountains of Vermont. I took three days completely resting and pounding some zinc and vitamin C, and Scott and I decided the best plan of attack would be to return home and resume solid training in preparation for February's schedule. The next few weeks of SuperTour races hold six distance efforts and only one sprint qualifier, so the schedule is not in my favor even in the best of seasons. Combine that fact with the possibility of a mono relapse should I over-extend myself, and it became easy to buy the ticket sending us homeward-bound. While I'm disappointed not to ride the wave of confidence I have following my skate sprint result, I do know that I will gain a lot being at home and training for a few weeks.
Buena Vista: My convalescence home for the past four days
After the races last week I came down with a rather nasty cold bug and we retired to Torin's family estate in the Green Mountains of Vermont. I took three days completely resting and pounding some zinc and vitamin C, and Scott and I decided the best plan of attack would be to return home and resume solid training in preparation for February's schedule. The next few weeks of SuperTour races hold six distance efforts and only one sprint qualifier, so the schedule is not in my favor even in the best of seasons. Combine that fact with the possibility of a mono relapse should I over-extend myself, and it became easy to buy the ticket sending us homeward-bound. While I'm disappointed not to ride the wave of confidence I have following my skate sprint result, I do know that I will gain a lot being at home and training for a few weeks.
Buena Vista: My convalescence home for the past four daysThe next races on my plan are on the first weekend of February, a NorAm mini-tour in Kelowna, BC. Off to catch a plane...
After U.S. Nationals off to ein Winterwonderweg
After the competitions ended and all the competitors headed for whiter pastures the MOD bid farewell to Maine for a day along the Connecticut River. Before making our way to the state line towns of Lyme, New Hampshire and South Strattford, Vermont, we stopped off at the Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods to check out the scene by skis and get a little oxygen in the lungs.
Since my days studying a bit of economics at the University of Utah, I've been interested to one day check out the trails of Bretton Woods. Finally, the opportunity finally came. Way back in the summer of 1944 all forty-four of the Allied Nations came together for three weeks to hammer out how a system of monetary policies to help us from having more great wars. To schuss around on the 60 kilometers of immaculately buffed out trails, and at least get an idea of what its like to hop-nob with the elite - have you ever seen a hand-crafted mahogany clad ski locker room before? I used Alfred Hitchcock's old locker, if you were wondering - made for an interesting diversion.
From Bretton Woods it was off to Bull Moose Acres. The farm sits three miles outside the classic, quaint New England town of Lyme, New Hampshire. After climbing for two miles up a meandering unlined country road, one reaches the former horse racing stables that now is home to the In The Arena world headquarters. I've heard awed rumblings about this place and its mission, but I still didn't know what to expect. Whether it was the alpen glow of the early evening or the wild turkeys scurrying about, I knew I was headed someplace special as I made my way up the maple-lined drive.
To one side rests the Dartmouth SkiWay, along with 20,000 acres of protected wilderness. To the other, clear views run to the peaks of the White Mountains fifty miles away. For someone who might use the word claustrophobic as one way to describe the East, this came as a most welcome surprise.
Soon though it was time to say goodbye to Amory and David, to Thea and little Torin as well and head across the Connecticut for a family dinner in Vermont. Six years had past since the last time I was here. It makes one think how time and opportunity can both pass far too quickly if we're not attuned to the world around us. If another six years must pass before I hit the the eastern backcountry with my cousins Casey and West and Jay, that many springs transpire before I tap another sugar maple tree, or that many classes of young athletes make their way through the ITA summer training&life camp experience before I return, well, it will be far too long.
Until then, Sam and Scott will be doing their thing back in the States, while I'm in the Alps of Switzerland, prepping for all the real races left before I call an end to this season. Until then, enjoy the days. I'll do the same.
Since my days studying a bit of economics at the University of Utah, I've been interested to one day check out the trails of Bretton Woods. Finally, the opportunity finally came. Way back in the summer of 1944 all forty-four of the Allied Nations came together for three weeks to hammer out how a system of monetary policies to help us from having more great wars. To schuss around on the 60 kilometers of immaculately buffed out trails, and at least get an idea of what its like to hop-nob with the elite - have you ever seen a hand-crafted mahogany clad ski locker room before? I used Alfred Hitchcock's old locker, if you were wondering - made for an interesting diversion.
From Bretton Woods it was off to Bull Moose Acres. The farm sits three miles outside the classic, quaint New England town of Lyme, New Hampshire. After climbing for two miles up a meandering unlined country road, one reaches the former horse racing stables that now is home to the In The Arena world headquarters. I've heard awed rumblings about this place and its mission, but I still didn't know what to expect. Whether it was the alpen glow of the early evening or the wild turkeys scurrying about, I knew I was headed someplace special as I made my way up the maple-lined drive.
To one side rests the Dartmouth SkiWay, along with 20,000 acres of protected wilderness. To the other, clear views run to the peaks of the White Mountains fifty miles away. For someone who might use the word claustrophobic as one way to describe the East, this came as a most welcome surprise.
Soon though it was time to say goodbye to Amory and David, to Thea and little Torin as well and head across the Connecticut for a family dinner in Vermont. Six years had past since the last time I was here. It makes one think how time and opportunity can both pass far too quickly if we're not attuned to the world around us. If another six years must pass before I hit the the eastern backcountry with my cousins Casey and West and Jay, that many springs transpire before I tap another sugar maple tree, or that many classes of young athletes make their way through the ITA summer training&life camp experience before I return, well, it will be far too long.
Until then, Sam and Scott will be doing their thing back in the States, while I'm in the Alps of Switzerland, prepping for all the real races left before I call an end to this season. Until then, enjoy the days. I'll do the same.
The Boys Git 'er Done
Today marked the final day of the US National Championships in Rumford, Maine and the MODsters finish in fine form. Torin raced his way to the top of the podium once again and Sam finally put in the race we have been waiting for by being right in the mix all through the heats to take the 9th spot in a very strong field.
All week I have been seeing the guys' energy right where it needed to be and building coming into the last race today, the skate sprint. Conditions were very fast, so it was not a great course to break up the field. In the men's heats the racing was fast and tight right from the gun to the tape with most of the heats involving lunging finishes with the top two or three spots being decided by hundredths of seconds. No one was giving any quarter today.
Torin leading the A final with Simi Hamilton and Lars Flora in hot pursuit.Torin skied relaxed and smoothly in each heat and felt like he could control the pace and stay in front as needed, always having another gear. Technically I feel Torin has come a long way this year and even in the last two months. He is a vision of economy in motion, maximizing glide in each stride!
After a fair qualifier Sam stood in 20th place but he really laid down his strongest races in each heat. He managed to out sprint to the line, the day's top qualifier, Colin Rogers in the quarter final: An ample demonstration of Sam's real speed. The most exciting thing for me was to see how well he could ski in subsequent heats. He was able to mix it up with the best sprinters in the country all the way through his B final. This is a level of endurance that Sam has not had in previous years. I have known he had this in him and still see room for improvement as he regains fitness after the mono bout.
My hat is off to Lars Flora who put in, perhaps, the overall strongest results of the week with his consistent and impressive finishes in each of the 4 races here. Great job Lars. Start packing your bags.
Former MOD skier, Sadie Bjornsen wrapped up a great week with a third place in her sprint race today after a win in the 10km classic 3 days ago. Had she not tried to lead every heat, like she used to do as a J1, I think she'd have had herself another first place today. By adopting this tactic she was not able to use her prodigious finishing kick. None the less a nice week for her too.
FYI: We raced on Toko HF Blue mixed with Toko Cold Powder as the wax layer with an over lay of Skigo C55/C99 liquid. Toko Jetstream blue and red block mix was our second choice.
Big Smiles Down East in Rumford
Yesterday marked a special day for MOD skiers. Certainly, the highlight was Torin's top spot on the podium in the classic sprint. Being a big, powerful skier the sloppy conditions did not play to his strengths but our technique emphasis this year has paid off in a renewal of his older, flowy style which is allowing him to ski more economically and apply his prodigious horsepower with more discretion.
This was amply demonstrated through the tough day as he skied very well paced and controlled in the qualifier and in each heat. Only really being caught napping by the young Erik Packer's impressive surge to break up the pack on the big climb during the quarter final. Sun Valley's Mike Sinnott afforded Torin with the next test in the A final when he made a similar move on the big climb. He and Torin broke open the pack but with a few strong, long strides Torin pulled into the lead over the top and continued to out pace Sinnott to th
e line.Torin leads the A Final with former MODster Erik Bjornsen (in the ugly green suit);-)
MOD alumni Sadie and Erik Bjornsen whom I have coached for the past umpteen years, but are now moved on to collegiate programs, both turned in top results as well. Sadie finished 4th (3rd US skier) in the ladies sprint while Erik powered to a very strong but unsurprising 4th place in the men's race, just getting nipped for the podium in the final sprint to the line. So, despite some words in the press to the contrary, the little ski program from the little valley in Washington must have been doing somethings right. Only one other ski program in the US can boast of such strong results and they have more money than God and more skiers than you can count. So, yes, I am proud of my skiers'(both past and present)results.
Sadie is all smiles too.
With an unfortunate ski choice going into the qualifier MODster Sam Naney pretty much put himself into an untenable position. In these sloppy, red klister conditions the trade off between kick and glide is dramatic and slow skis take a huge toll. Sam drew the short straw in ski selection and, despite looking better than I've ever seen him in a classic sprint - strong and powerful - was doomed from the gun. But we are not counting him out for the skate sprint, as his superb speed and strength on this course should put him in a great position to turn some heads!
I owe huge thanks to my skilled and dedicated wax crew: the perenial and the man to have on yoru kick wax table, Ben Husaby. Newcomer to our crew but super savvy, Justin Beckwith of Green Vally Mountain School over the hill in Vermont, and the female "fixer" extrodiniare Janice Sabilia. Together we put our motley crew of MOD, Bend Endurance Academy, GVMS and NENSA skiers on as good a skis as anyone had. Hat's off to all of you. You were a big part of getting Torin to the podium. Once again the elves at Toko provided the juice to get the skis to top speed.
For the techies out there: We ran on Toko Yellow Jetstream block covered with Toko Helix spray. Mark Waechter at Nordic Ultratune provided one of his i5 grinds that we have been finding super in wet saturated snow.
Now let's just hope the snow holds out for the rest of the week.
National Championships 2011: Torin on Top
The weather was soggy and the snow dirty but Torin was all smiles after taking the National Championship Sprint Title today in Rumford, Maine. It was cool to see the newest addition to the team ski smooth and smart all day, and pull away over the final climb to win going away.
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