November 24th: 8/16k classic

1. Kristina Strandberg
2. Laura Valaas (ITA athlete!)
3. Polina Ermoshina
4. Lindsay Williams
5. Ida Sargent
6. Kate Arduser
7. Shayla Swanson
8. Kasandra Rice
9. Morgan Arritola
10. Rebecca Rorabaugh

MEN:

1. Leif Zimmermann
2. Andrew Johnson (Fischer/Craft)
3. Ben True (Sun Valley Ski Education Fnd)
4. Garrott Kuzzy
5. Mickey Sinnott (Sun Valley Ski Edu. Fnd)
6. Even Sletten
7. Snorri Einarsson
8. Noah Hoffman (Sun Valley)
9. Brayton Osgood (Fischer/Craft)
10. Zack Simons (ITA athlete)

For full results from the weekend, [click here]
Dinner is calling my name - I didn't get the best images from today anyway. Off to Canada tomorrow afternoon. I am still feeling under the weather, but I got out for a ski this morning and a jog this afternoon. It will just get better... stay tuned.

TODAY'S RACE: ITA on top!

Although I do not have images from today’s race, the final standings are as follows:

Women –
1. Laura Valaas (fellow ITA athlete!)
2. Karin Camenisch
3. Katie Ronsse
4. Kasandra Rice
5. Lindsay Williams
6. Kate Underwood
7. Ida Sargent
8. Sarah MacCarthy

Men –
1. Garrott Kuzzy
2. Michael Sinnott (Sun Valley ODT)
3. Even Sletten
4. Dave Chamberlain
5. Bryan Cook
6. Brian Gregg
7. Gunna Kristiansen
8. Anders Haugen

I have had a rocky fall. From the fires that inhibited training to unexpected travel and sickness, I was slightly unprepared, yet looking forward to the first Super Tour races in Montana.

Today was the individual freestyle sprint (results above), which I had planned to be a spectator of. Unfortunately the fall, that was so disheveled, followed me here to the first races. I have spent the past two days confined to my hotel room, after coming down with the cold and sore throat that has been plaguing the ODT team for the last few weeks.

I will not be participating in tomorrow’s race either, but hope to ski out and watch. If that is the case, check back for images from tomorrow’s events. Regardless, check back for results. The Yellowstone results website is so inundated with folks checking, it is jammed. Not the case with this site...

SHOUT OUT

I want to give a quick shout out to the 5th grade class in Ketchum, pictured above sporting Alpina tattoos. Play nice, but play hard - I will see you guys soon. (Click on the picture to see the full size image)

The snow has arrived and the first race here in West Yellowstone, Montana will go on. I will not be competing in the sprint on Friday, but am registered to race in the 10 kilometer classic on Saturday. Stay tuned for results and images from both events.

The scene after Tuesday's storm

COMIN' DOWN

8:30, West Yellowtone, Montana - The snow is here. This image was taken just minutes ago... There isn't much yet, as you can see from the picture, but we are in a winter storm watch for the next 24 hours. Game on folks! Check the comments on this article in the morning - I will post the accumulation after breakfast.

I have been asked to re-post a few articles that were on my former blog (FSx) that is no longer accessible. For those of you who read last year, I am sorry for the repetition. Below is the first of two marathon accounts from the 2006-2007 ski season. The second, my account of the Engadin Ski Marathon in Switzerland will be re-posted in the next few days.

__________________________

Hayward, Wisconsin, February 24, 2006: The American Birkebeiner

T-minus 18 hours and the race is cut from 52 kilometers to 25. I am confident in my ability, regardless of length, and my heart could not be more in. 100%, I am ready.

Just one year ago I stood on the same start-line. I was told that most people don’t do very well during their first marathon and as the announcer gave us the 30 seconds to start, I did not feel the bitter wind, only the butterflies taking flight in my stomach. "You are most likely going to bonk," a coach had informed me that year, "but you might as well be in the front pack when you do..." I went out hard, my only goal to stick with the leaders as long as possible. Finishing 5th(2nd American), I not only skied well, but I caught the fever. From that moment on, I wanted to win the 2007 American Birkebeiner.

The gun goes off and the men scramble away. I am left, 10 minutes to go, along with the other elite women to wait. Seconds tick by like hours and I am thankful that I have a thin base layer beneath my suit. 60 seconds to go and I can feel the tension in the air, the other competitors are anxious. I am calm, I breathe deep and I keep an eye on the gunman. I am aware that I am no longer cold, I have to pee but I am completely confident.

The gun is fired and the first 2 kilometers are covered in ankle-deep sugar mixed with a dirt road. I have never seen snow this dirty and I hear my competition struggling in the conditions. Understanding that my skis are becoming just as dirty as those beside me, I focus on staying light. The wax and the hours of testing is quickly leveled by the dirt. We will all have slow skis for the duration of the race, not one cleaner than another. I am thrilled. I can hear the frustration in the other girls. Mentally, I have already won the race.

The sugar gives way to an inch of hard-packed snow and I decide to take the lead. We climb a power-line with very steep hills and I try to start breaking up the pack. I am warmed up and ready for this early surge but others are as well. I look around at the top and the pack is 20 deep. There is a slight headwind and it is time to follow. I throw it into second-gear and, like an accordion, the girls behind me catch up and it becomes crowded.

"Someone take the lead," I hear from behind. "Keep up the pace, they’re catching us."

It does not matter to me, whether I ski in a pack of 2 or 20, I will not pull anyone. I am in this for the win, not to be nice. I position myself between second and third place for the next 10 kilometers. I do not lead unless I am trying to drop people and with the headwind, that will not happen today. I change my strategy and sit back; I take the draft and wait. I am alert, ready for a surge but it does not come. My legs are remarkable. They are recovering quickly and my skis are even with the others. I am skiing at high threshold and the kilometers quickly pass.

I take a peek through my legs, while in a tuck and realize that somewhere along the last 10k, the mass of girls dropped. I am skiing in a pack of 4, sitting in second place, and I can hear the announcer through the woods. We wind around a bit and the announcer sounds further away. I do not know how far we are from the road crossing (a sign of 3k to go). The girl just in front of me picks up the pace and I follow with ease. Another girl falls off the back. Then there were three. We finally cross the road and I size up the state of my competitors. The girl in back is not challenging and the girl in front is not picking up the pace. I figure that I can win a sprint and so I continue to wait.

People cheering on the side of the trail are yelling that this is the final hill. I have done my homework however, and know that there is still a sizable one just before the finish. Regardless, I decide to go for it at the top, the 200m sign is visible. It is time to bury it. I take the inside corner and sprint over the top. There is a fairly long section to glide now but I skate-tuck to make sure the girls do not suck my draft. Going up the final hill, the finish is just around the corner; I do not know where the others are. I pass the 100m sign. No one is stepping on my poles and I cannot hear any breathing; a good sign but I do not let up. I did not come here to get beat in the final few seconds and as I come through the final shoot, the fans are a blur. I give it my all, as if I was trying to catch someone just ahead of me. There is not someone there, however and I cross the line 6 seconds before the next person. I have won the American Birkebeiner and I throw my hands over my head as tears come to my eyes.

As the reporters crowd around me, clipping speakers to my bib and holding out microphones, motioning their cameraperson to get closer, I am thankful that my sunglasses conceal my eyes. I focus on making my voice calm and steady. I try to say something intelligent when I want to do is run and yell and hug people. I won the American Birkebeiner.
________________________________________

Happy training everyone.

THE WORD

The snow on the race trails in West Yellowstone is still non-existent. The photo to the left is of Mali Noyes (Sun Valley ODT) jogging towards, what would be, the finish line.

The plateau was groomed this morning and the freestyle skiing was okay. There were quite a few folks creating a classic track on the side of the trail as well. The conditions could be described as spring skiing, however there was a warm wind that, along with the traffic, might very well put an end to that noise. To the right shows the thinest snow cover of the plateau skiing. On the majority of the groomed trail, conditions were much better that seen here.

The forecast shows some cooler temperatures showing up around Tuesday. Lets hope it isn't too late.



On the bright side, roller skiing into Yellowstone National Park is pretty cool. The locals come out to gawk, but that is not anything new. In addition, you will almost certainly get to see some wildlife. Bald eagles, elk, swans and fox are just a few that I have come across so far this week.

On a different, but similar note: If you are in the market for a new car, would like to reduce your carbon footprint (keep winter white) and have an extra 100k in your pocket, check out Tesla Motors at http://www.teslamotors.com/

0-60 in less than 4 seconds but I don't think it has rocket box capacity...