Spring Training Begins!

This past week I started into what Scott calls the "transition period" - a two to three week block of mixed training before the real "base period" begins in May. Most of the training is low intensity, high volume with an emphasis on vertical. Hmm...what could I possibly do in the Methow, in the springtime, to get such aspects into my training?


Oh yeah, we had a great winter. The pass isn't even halfway open yet and there's five feet of snow only six miles from my house. The gate on the highway is closed at Silver Star Creek but from there you can go into Silver Star basin, onto Delancey Ridge, into Leap Creek...endless possibilities. Yesterday Alison and I skinned into Silver Star to check out the high country. T-shirts the whole way, and fantastic corn skiing.

My favorite ladies...kissing each other.

View of Silver Star and the backside of the Wine Spires
(This is a 10min drive and a 45min skin-up from our front door)

Alison remembering how to alpine ski in two inches of tasty corn

In other news, my former teammates Sadie and Erik Bjornsen have BOTH been nominated to the 2011/12 US Ski Team! Sadie after a stellar season was nominated to the B Team, and Erik's performance at the US Nationals Classic Sprint this year (4th) earned him a spot on the newly-formed D Team. Those guys are going places; it's great to know that MOD helped them get there! Well done, Sadie and Erik!

Methow Valley Inn Supper Club and MOD Fundraiser

Now Taking Reservations

For Our Final Two:

Methow Valley Inn Monday Night

Supper Club!

April 25: British Pub Night

With Chef Sam Naney, to benefit the Methow Olympic Development Project

Reservations at MVINN@mymethow.com or call 997-2253

She said yes...

Alison and I hit our one-year dating anniversary on Friday, while spending the weekend in Walla Walla with my family celebrating my mom's birthday. Since being together (and being close friends the two years prior), we've settled into a great life together. I have realized these last few months, beyond a doubt, she is who I want to be next to for the rest of my life. So, gathering up my Grandmother's engagement ring from my sister who's been keeping it close, I took Alison for a run last night up Spokane Gulch. At the top, as the sun was setting over Silver Star Mountain, I asked.

First she asked if I was serious.

I said yes, I was serious. Look at the ring in front of you. Then she saw it, and all was well. No pictures, sorry. I thought I had left my camera in town but upon returning home found it on the bookcase, so we got a post-action shot:


Given the schedules we both have with racing (she races through September, I begin in November), the wedding will likely be next summer sometime. And it will be in the Methow. Beyond that, we have no idea. The only sure thing besides the fact that we're gettin' hitched is that in a few years (barring my ascension to World Cup Champion), there might be a few lil' Sams running around. Look out, world!

MOD - A New Year

Launching into a new year for MOD, I'm really excited for some new ideas and projects to help spread the word and excitement of skiing! I've revamped the blog to now display all aspects of the team; we no longer are using the website so don't visit that anymore.

If you have any interest in supporting or being a part of the MOD family, email us at:

methowolympicdevelopment@gmail.com

This summer I will be coaching the Methow Junior Team, but I've also got a few other ideas up my sleeve so stay tuned here for updates. Thanks for supporting us - it's going to be a great year!

Spring Projects

Another season is in the books; Sun Valley was a great week of racing and there were some really good markers of success. I qualified 11th in the CL sprint, again demonstrating I can sprint among the top in the country. We had an unfortunate hiccup in our waxing for the heats and Dakota and I didn't move on to the semis, but that's ski racing. The hill climb was an interesting effort; because I had opted out of the 15km classic that week I had to start at the back of the pack in the hill climb (behind the pursuit starters); after fighting my way through juniors for 3km I finally got to the base of the alpine hill and starting throwing down. The result wasn't phenomenal, but for a big boy skiing up a wicked hill at altitude, I was psyched.

Scott and I did a recap of last year a few days ago and the consensus was that we did a great job. Given the various circumstances and obstacles in our path we still managed a great US Nationals result and several other key points which illustrate that I'm continuing to progress well and that all my best racing is still ahead of me. My training for this coming season will be much the same as last, and I'm excited to keep the MOD train rolling!

But on to spring. I really look forward to the few weeks of the year in April where I don't have to focus entirely on training, and can spend my time instead on projects and friends. After Sun Valley, Alison and I traveled to Bend where I cheered her on to a great 5th place finish in the Peterson Ridge Rumble 20mile trail race. She's been on a great progression this year and is in good form as she prepares for the Cascade Crest 100 miler in August.

Upon returning to the valley I excitedly looked to my new "projects". The first one was really the completion of a bookcase I had promised Alison this winter. Before leaving for Sun Valley I had cut all the necessary pieces and done a pre-stain on the wood. Last Wednesday I was finally able to finish sand and stain the pieces, and assemble it.

Finishing the bookcase in Jerry's woodshop, next door to our cabin

Might not be Bob Villa-quality, but it holds books and isn't cockeyed!

The other project I have launched into is speed-related. Because Torin has decided to head back to school in Utah, he was forced to abandon his cafe racer project on the 1973 CB750 he bought last summer. I have been yearning for a bike like that for a few years and when he proposed a deal I couldn't refuse I jumped. The only problem is that I still have my '84 Ascot to sell now. Anybody interested? $750 OBO - she's a quick one!

Because Torin had already purchased many of the aftermarket parts for the 750 that I was also looking to buy, I have plenty of work to do. The first order of business has been cleaning the damn thing. There are a few oil leaks on the engine; it looks like one is in the tach cable drive shaft, where a seal was misplaced. The other is at the oil pressure release. Not only am I trying to plug those buggers, but I've been scrubbing and degreasing the underside of the engine trying to chip away the accumulated grease and dirt. Not the most glamorous part of the job. Below is a photo of the bike right now; below that is an example of what the bike might become.

What it looks like now...

What it could be...

DO THE TON!