This past weekend I took a trip back to Rossland, B.C. to participate in Blackjack Ski Club's annual 30km Loppet. The weekend included a 10km classic race on Saturday and the 30km on Sunday and it was to be a good way to get some hard training in leading up to the last few SuperTours of the year in mid- and late-March.
With Scott still in Norway with Torin and no one in the Methow willing to take the plunge with me I opted for a bare-bones trip. I checked the forecast in Rossland for the weekend and seeing that it was supposed to be wicked cold I waxed up two pair each classic and skate skis with cold wax, threw in a horsehair brush and a few choice cold kick waxes and called it good. I found a hostel in Rossland for $25 a night and headed up.
The races ended up being really fun. They were true local events - parents and kids both raced each day, and after each race, volunteers and racers alike joined together to take down the course and trailside fencing. Before Sunday's Loppet the starter announced that the overall man and woman would receive a brand new pair of Zeroes. I thought that'd make a nice gift for Mom for her birthday and decided to win. After I crossed the finish line the owner of Kootenay Nordic Sports, Dave Gibson, came up and asked me how much I weighed so he could pick the right pair of Zeroes for me. "Um...145?" I said cautiously. "Really? I'd figure you more than that," he said. "How dare you!" I shouted, then relented. "Actually, I was hoping to get a size that would fit my Mom," I explained. He admitted he only had one soft pair, selected for whichever woman won the race, and I would have to settle for a larger pair. No matter, I thought. Maybe they'd fit Dad.
I was anxious to get on the road home. The weather had been snowy all morning and didn't show any sign of letting up, and I figured with the fatigue from the race I would be better to get driving the 5 hours home sooner rather than later. I stayed around for a bit talking with the local racers and organizers, who were all super-friendly and excited that there was some cross-border traffic for the races. I finally pulled myself away and put the pedal to the floor, pointing south.
Somewhere just east of Republic, WA I was cruising along nicely to some Nine Inch Nails, munching on a few odd jelly beans I found under my seat. Then the lights flashed in my mirror, red and blue. Curious, I pulled to the side of the road.
"You know why I'm pulling you over?," the stoic-looking officer asked. "Well, no," I said. "You were going pretty fast back there," he said, still stone-faced.
"Geesh, thanks Officer. I mean, I don't ski many 30K races but I really tried to put the hammer down on that second lap and well, it paid off! Do you ski too?"
"License and registration, please."
"Sure thing. I mean, I could just write all that on a napkin if you want. If you're that interested, we've got a blog and a websi..." He walked off, apparently too excited to have some tangible proof of my existence in his hands. I waited for a few minutes but started to get slightly peeved; he was taking his sweet time back there and I was wanting to get going.
When he finally returned I swallowed my annoyance and smiled politely. "This here's a ticket for speeding. You can either mail it in or appear at the Courthouse on this date. Thanks for obeying traffic laws."
Well, you can imagine how excited I was - not only did I get an odd smattering of prize wax and and a new pair of skis from the races, but now I had received a glowing commendation of my speed from an officer of the law, and a chance to be recognized for such at a district courthouse!
I called my mother as soon as he left to tell her the good news. She wasn't as excited as I was; I suppose it just takes being a racer to really feel it.
Scenes from the Road: Oslo, Norway Edition
My sister Kari dances with the statues in Oslo's Vigeland Park. The park takes its name from Gustav Vigeland, who put in a couple decades making the 180 statues that fill the place. Interestingly, all the creations are naked, save for Gustav's image of himself, which is fully-clothed. In the winter's white with the flowers are far from being in full bloom the park feels stark, but still quite beautiful in it's own right.
The first nights in Norway's capital were marked by incredible cold, high pressure weather, complete with clear nights and both the sun and the moon making appearances throughout the day.
Now the city is cloaked in an impressive cloak of fog. The trees and shrubs are all painted in a wind-blown white, and the snow's gotten both warmer and greasier. This photo comes from a hall of the triple-decker corrugated steel containers the Americans and Italians are waxing out of.
The BIG Show comes to Oslo
With Torin's shoulder still needing a few more days before subjecting it to racing, he opted out of starting this past weekend's World Cup in Drammen, Norway where the rest of the US crew was racing. It was a pretty easy decision but not too pleasant as we were both looking forward to another chance work on some of the new ideas and keep the momentum rolling after last weeks race in Beitostolen.
Instead, we made the 30 minute trek into Olso and Holmenkollen for a chance to train on the sprint course for the first time. Hollmenkollen is a legendary ski race venue and has hosted the 1952 Olympics, the 1982 World Championships and now these upcoming Nordic World Champs. To be here in the lead up to the competitions is to see a country gripped by the sport of Nordic skiing. The newspapers are featuring daily front page stories on the event and the sporting heroes who will be competing. The TV is running daily shows of old black and white newsreels of notable competitions and competitors from the days of yore. It is clear that while they love celebrating the present event they are very mindful of keeping the history alive and showing appreciation and respect for all that have gone before these modern champions. This helps give perspective; allowing us to see that the current generation of erstwhile champions (to paraphrase Issac Newton) "Stands on the shoulders of giants" as they reach new heights.
Torin passing an ancient church adjacent to the course.
I would rank this sprint course as one of the best designed I have seen. Starting in the HUGE stadium (I heard Liz Stephan speculate that it had to take a least one hundred passes of the Pisten Bully groomer to pack it out)the first 200-300 meters are a gradual uphill to a hard left hander. Dropping into a tuck for a fast downhill into right turn leads to the base of, what by sprint course standards is a big climb. This climb will require the men to V1 for 30 seconds. The ladies course enters the climb about 1/3 of the way up but after the steepest section. The climb takes them over Gratiskollen (meaning "free hill", where traditionally spectators could watch the races without paying). I have paid $100 for the privilege of standing with a few thousand
drunk Norwegians in knee deep snow to watch the sprint. It was the only place that still had space available! These crafty Norwegians know a thing or two about capitalism. Anyway back to the races. After the top of Gratiskollen the course begins to drop into the stadium with a long gradual downhill that will require fast, no poles (speed skater style) skiing for 300 meters before a short steep climb and a big curve around the back end of the stadium. The final 200 meters is down hill and flat promising some very dramatic finishes. There is plenty of room to pass. The big climb will help spread out the field a bit. The flats and gradual downs will reward the skiers who are at home at high speed skating. It has the whole package of modern skiing skills.
Torin atop Gratiskollen looking into the stadium and the monster 130m! jump hill
Torin did some hard intervals while I danced around trying to keep warm and film the efforts for immediate analysis. The Norwegian World Champion sprint team was also skipping Drammen (except Northug) and were, interestingly, doing a very similar workout to ours.
The circus atmosphere is beginning to build early with many tourists already wandering around the stadium. Here is me trying to coax a reluctant Torin away from the ski simulator that promises all thrills of jumping the big hill at Hollmenkollen or racing the downhill course at Beaver Creek. The crowd of tourists waiting to get a ride attests that Norwegians have strong stomachs.
Because when you turn around from the simulator cue this is view down the out run of the jump!
Instead, we made the 30 minute trek into Olso and Holmenkollen for a chance to train on the sprint course for the first time. Hollmenkollen is a legendary ski race venue and has hosted the 1952 Olympics, the 1982 World Championships and now these upcoming Nordic World Champs. To be here in the lead up to the competitions is to see a country gripped by the sport of Nordic skiing. The newspapers are featuring daily front page stories on the event and the sporting heroes who will be competing. The TV is running daily shows of old black and white newsreels of notable competitions and competitors from the days of yore. It is clear that while they love celebrating the present event they are very mindful of keeping the history alive and showing appreciation and respect for all that have gone before these modern champions. This helps give perspective; allowing us to see that the current generation of erstwhile champions (to paraphrase Issac Newton) "Stands on the shoulders of giants" as they reach new heights.
Torin passing an ancient church adjacent to the course.
I would rank this sprint course as one of the best designed I have seen. Starting in the HUGE stadium (I heard Liz Stephan speculate that it had to take a least one hundred passes of the Pisten Bully groomer to pack it out)the first 200-300 meters are a gradual uphill to a hard left hander. Dropping into a tuck for a fast downhill into right turn leads to the base of, what by sprint course standards is a big climb. This climb will require the men to V1 for 30 seconds. The ladies course enters the climb about 1/3 of the way up but after the steepest section. The climb takes them over Gratiskollen (meaning "free hill", where traditionally spectators could watch the races without paying). I have paid $100 for the privilege of standing with a few thousand
drunk Norwegians in knee deep snow to watch the sprint. It was the only place that still had space available! These crafty Norwegians know a thing or two about capitalism. Anyway back to the races. After the top of Gratiskollen the course begins to drop into the stadium with a long gradual downhill that will require fast, no poles (speed skater style) skiing for 300 meters before a short steep climb and a big curve around the back end of the stadium. The final 200 meters is down hill and flat promising some very dramatic finishes. There is plenty of room to pass. The big climb will help spread out the field a bit. The flats and gradual downs will reward the skiers who are at home at high speed skating. It has the whole package of modern skiing skills.
Torin atop Gratiskollen looking into the stadium and the monster 130m! jump hill
Torin did some hard intervals while I danced around trying to keep warm and film the efforts for immediate analysis. The Norwegian World Champion sprint team was also skipping Drammen (except Northug) and were, interestingly, doing a very similar workout to ours.
The circus atmosphere is beginning to build early with many tourists already wandering around the stadium. Here is me trying to coax a reluctant Torin away from the ski simulator that promises all thrills of jumping the big hill at Hollmenkollen or racing the downhill course at Beaver Creek. The crowd of tourists waiting to get a ride attests that Norwegians have strong stomachs.
Because when you turn around from the simulator cue this is view down the out run of the jump!
Ah, Democracy
First of all, I'm totally in favor of democracy. I think we live in the greatest country on Earth and our freedoms are unrivaled. I value free speech and peaceable demonstration.
But why'd all that have to come into play this weekend at a race venue?
Earlier this week the Wisconsin governor proposed massive budget cuts and changes to union fees in the state, prompting a huge outcry and protests. As I was slowly coming awake yesterday morning while sitting at 5am in the Wenatchee airport, waiting to board a flight towards Chicago, I caught this news on CNN. Apparently the Madison Capitol Square was overrun with teachers, students, and union employees bent on changing the governor's mind. I thought, "Huh, that will be an interesting crowd to race through..." This weekend's SuperTour was set to be held IN the Capitol Square of Madison - every year the Madison Winter Festival hosts these races as part of the festivities. This year a classic sprint and 10km criterium were on the docket.
I didn't think much more about the protests, figuring everything would be sorted out by the end of the day, folks would return home and we could get underway with the skiing. The dump trucks full of snow wouldn't arrive until Friday night, anyways, to lay down the course on the streets. Plenty of time for this little misunderstanding to be washed up.
I arrived in Chicago and picked up my bitchin' Dodge Avenger rental car and headed for Madison. At 7pm I pulled into CW and Mimi Acher's driveway and my lodgings for the weekend; CW and Mimi are the parents of Zoe and Sasha Acher, two friends of mine from Dartmouth days. Their parents have been overwhelmingly generous throughout the years with ski racers coming into town for the Festival, and this year is no exception. In addition to myself, four members of the Craftsbury Green Team are also staying here. As we all sat down to dinner last night I mused out loud about the protests. The rest of the group had only heard snippets, and we joked about how it might throw a wrench in the works of the races.
Merely an hour later the wrench had firmly wedged itself in. A CXC Team twitter feed announced the races were cancelled due to the protests. After confirming with several key sources in the know, we had our answer: the streets could not be cleared to hold the event and with no back-up plans (or snow) for the races, we were left with nothing.
So again, while I sympathize wholeheartedly with the protesters and take offense on their behalf at the audacity of this proposed legislation, gosh darn it, why couldn't they have waited till next week?
Owing to zero cheap flights home I'm stuck here till Monday. Running will be the order of business over the weekend, and upon returning home I'll look towards heading up to Rossland, BC next weekend to race some regional races there as a consolation prize. Sometimes you get peanuts, sometimes you get peanut butter.
insurmountable opportunities
The last thing before walking out the cabin door for the race tracks in Beitostolen I found a parchment of paper and wrote the words "insurmountable opportunities." After the race ended with me fighting for the top spots at the Norwegian Cup and a dislocated shoulder, I've remembered these words. "Insurmountable Opportunities:" It's become a little mantra of mine. After five days of lower-body centric skiing, today Scott and I headed to Sandvik, Norway for an appointment with the MRI machine some very nice people working for Norge's IdrettToppen- the country's high performance of sport center - helped set up for me. Ten minutes after I set foot in the hyper efficient clinic I was getting strapped down, and sent off on my way towards the blinking blue light of the several million dollar magnetic resonance imaging machine. For twenty minutes I lay there as motionless as possible while this giant white contraption whizzed and whirred, with sounds emanating around my head; the audio sounding a bit like a cross between a pinball machine and the old-school video game Astroid.
A couple minutes later I left with a CD for my doctor to look at. It seems the dislocation has caused a bit of fluid to enter the tendons surrounding my rotator cuff and there's bruising on the humurous head, but -and here's the beautiful part - there's been no tears in the ligament or tendons. I'm clear to race in a week's time at the World Championships in Holmenkollen.
"This is Great news!" writes my physical therapist Michael Hansen. "It is typical to see bone bruising like this after a dislocation on an MRI because they are so sensitive. And inflammation in the cuff is also normal being that those muscles hold the humeral head in the socket along with the ligaments. The key is no severe tearing or fracture of the bone. Yes, it is going to be sore, weak, and vunerable. But the good news is that it is a first time dislocation, it self reduced, you are young and healthy, and with proper taping/support, and avoidance of extreme positions, and rehab you can continue to compensate and compete. If you are too unstable, then stop. You will know. You are not going to loose much fitness in the next week for World’s. Train within your limits and go crazy when you compete. Let me know how you are doing. I want to help." Because of people like Michael Hansen, the MOD and people of this character and quality, I am doing better than alright. I am doing Great.
The Road to Oslo has a new bump in it
We have had an internet blackout at our at Knut's Hyttegrend (I think Hyttegrend is Norwegian for funky cabins) so please excuse the time delay of this post.
Can one feel elation and disappointment at the same time? Yesterday's Norwegian Cup Sprint race here in Beitostolen, Norway elicited these feelings from me and I am sure for Torin too.
For this race Torin made some slight changes to his technique and strategy for the sprint qualifier and these paid off nicely, with a solid 4th place, oner second behind Anders Gloersen (second in the last 2 World Cup Sprints) and a bit less than one second behind Andy Newell. The new guy on the block, Simi Hamilton, smoothly slipped into 10th place. It was nice to see the long list of some of Norway's top sprinters behind these US guys. It shows that we have the talent to assemble our own US version of the Norwegian powerhouse sprint team whose symbiotic training has given them both great depth and supportive training opportunities to be the dominant force in World Cup sprinting in the last few years.
Torin (in orange) leaving the stadium in the 1/4 final
The US ladies also had a standout day with Sadie Bjornsen, Ida Sargent and Jessie Diggins qualifying 4th, 5th, 6th.
An aside:
We were very ably assisted in ski service by the legendary Per Knut Aaland whose aid we have enlisted in previous races in Norway. While I acted as the test monkey and wax room go-fer, P-K did the heavy lifting. I was in some races with Per Knut back in the day. You'll notice that I didn't say that I competed against him. While I was on the third page of the results, Per Knut was one of the Norgwegian powerhouse skiers of the 70s and 80s whose results still inspire a great respect from old and young skiers. As a 22 year old P-K finished 6th in the 50km in the '76 Olympics and in the 1980 games in the Lake Placid he skied the Norwegian relay team from a 28 second deficit back into the lead on the second leg to take the silver medal. He laughingly says that his record of 5 second places in the Holmenkol Ski Festival now causes him to drink a lot. His post racing career has been spent as a wax tech for the Norwegian National Team during Bjorn Dahlie's career. This is serious street cred. It has been a pleasure getting to know and work with such a great, yet humble, icon of skiing.
Back to the sprint heats:
Torin and Andy advanced well through to the final and toed the line together for the first time in to long a while. Two hundred meters into the final a Norwegian skier got tangled with Torin who got spun a little sideways but stayed up unlike the unlucky Norwegian who went down hard. This put Torin and Andy near the back of the field as they left the stadium into a hard right hander. With this fast crowd there is scant opportunity to pass until the final long hill back to the stadium, which is where Torin had successfully put the hurt on both his 1/4 and semi heat mates. Here, Torin made his planned move and went around Andy and was up to 3rd place when suddenly his right arm refused to obey any commands. The right shoulder had become partially dislocated and stayed that way for about 30 seconds. As they approached the final turn into the stadium Torin's shoulder went back into its proper location. By then the finish order was pretty well set and they all finished in a single file with ski tip to ski tail and Torin and Andy taking 4th and 5th respectively. A very solid US showing in the lead up to the World Champs. These two can make up a medal winning sprint relay team. As for the shoulder we're thinking that at some point in the race someone must have stepped on his pole basket to pull on his arm while it was extended back.
The final heat enters the stadium with Gloerson in the lead
Viewing this through the lens of hindsight we feel the elation of having maintained our steady march to being in best the form by World Champs in two weeks and a general validation of our approach this year to training Torin.
The shoulder issue is certainly a serious problem to work around. It will mean no poles skiing at least for this week as we assess the shoulder day to day. We have some great medical support here given by the Norwegian Ski Federation PT and she has arranged for Torin to get an MRI to asses the extent of the damage when we move down to Drammen in 5 days. But at this point we plan to stay the course with the focus on 12 days from now but will skip the World Cup in Drammen next Friday.
Learning Trials in Canada
On Wednesday Scott and I drove up to Kelowna, B.C. to race in Western Canadian Championships, a NorAm mini-tour. The weekend holds a 1.3km skate sprint, a 3.5km classic prologue, and a 15km skate pursuit. I've been getting a few really solid weeks of training in at home following US Nationals, in addition to a few local races. Despite the fact that most of the US SuperTour field is racing this weekend in the Boulder Mtn. Tour, I knew the points up here in Canada should be pretty good given that most of the Canadian National Team guys would be here.
I dialed in a pretty decent condo on Ownerdirect.com for cheaper than the race accomodations and we settled in on Wednesday night. On Thursday, our team massage therapist Alison Hanks, and my dad drove up to meet us. It made me feel pretty pampered today, having three "support staffers" for one athlete. Scott was prepping and testing skis, Dad was getting bibs and running spare poles on the course, Alison was shuttling skis, food and keeping me company in between heats while I spun on the bike in the stadium.
I dialed in a pretty decent condo on Ownerdirect.com for cheaper than the race accomodations and we settled in on Wednesday night. On Thursday, our team massage therapist Alison Hanks, and my dad drove up to meet us. It made me feel pretty pampered today, having three "support staffers" for one athlete. Scott was prepping and testing skis, Dad was getting bibs and running spare poles on the course, Alison was shuttling skis, food and keeping me company in between heats while I spun on the bike in the stadium.
The sprint went pretty well - I qualified 5th, about 6 seconds behind winner Drew Goldsack. The qualifier felt great; the course was pretty flat and a simple out-and-back loop, and our skis were rocket-fast. The heats were a bit different. I regained a lot of confidence after a strong finish in Maine last month, and have been riding on that ever since. I knew I had the speed to ski well through today's heats and into the finals, but through that process I made a few key errors in strategy, showing that I still have some lessons to learn. I ended up 2nd in the B Final, 8th overall.
Leading things out in the quarterfinal
Tomorrow's a quick race on a twisty-turny up and down course. Should be fast and hard. More to come.
Leading things out in the quarterfinal
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