Roller Skiing - get psyched!

While some of my teammates are up in Alaska, competing in the final US competition, I am taking my two weeks. For two weeks out of the year, I don't have to think about ski racing. I lovingly refer this time of year as my two weeks un-paid vacation. I tele ski, I rock climb, I sleep in and reconnect with the friends who have not seen me all winter.

Roller skiing is around the corner though, and a friend tipped me off on an entertaining YouTube video from the Amazing Race that challenged the players to roller ski. I watched it, I laughed my head-off and now I am sharing it and plan not to think about roller skiing for at least another two weeks! Enjoy spring everyone; live it up!

ROLLER SKI VIDEO

Photos from Can Nats

Another year completed for this girl! I rounded the 2007-2008 season off with a few starts at Canadian Nationals up in Whistler at the 2010 Olympic venue (stadium shown above, men's FS sprint quarter finals). You can see the men coming into the last corner before the finish (6 skiers in the heat) and the next wave already on the line...they gave 3 minutes between starts, which made things really exciting! Quick moving races, always action to be had, I was way into it!

The 30k classic was also run in a similar manner. The men started out on their 50k course just 25 minutes before the women (doing 30k on the same 7.5k loop). It was great to ski and must have been exciting to watch as well. It skied smoother than I had anticipated with the men passing through the women's field once.

For full results from Can Nats, CLICK HERE

ITA and Fischer-Craft teammate, Nicole De Yong, leading ITA teammate, Laura Valaas in their sprint heat. Nicole was 10th, just behind Laura (9th) for the day.

Sun Valley teammate, Mikey Sinnott, putting some real enthusiasm into my race skis prior to the 30k. Nothing wrong with a little extra love in the boards!

Some of the players, sizing up the snow-fall from our deck in Whistler. Mali, Swank, Mallory and Mikey.

I thought I had him: The aftermath of a snowbank tackle. Mallory 1, Kate 0

Click on images for full-sized pictures.

Engadin to Canadian Nationals

Coaches, hard at work in the wax trailer

Sorry for the lack of attention, loyal readers - I have been traveling, racing and trying to get healthy (the story of my season). Before I give up what has been going down as of late, I wanted to give a shout out to the couple I ran into in Zurich. I can’t remember your names, sorry, but you are from Colorado and I want to thank you for making me feel like a Rock Star by recognizing me - You made my day!

I did not race as fast as I would have liked in Switzerland this year but I did keep my poles, each in one piece, my p-tex to the snow and finished the race with a smile. Going to the Engadin valley is more than racing the marathon; it is a chance to enjoy the privileged life that I live with great people in a beautiful place. A good race would be icing but it would be almost impossible to make that trip not rule! Thanks to everyone who makes it possible; Tony, Max, Zack…

Upon return from Europe, I had four nights in my wonderful bed, in Ketchum before driving up to Vancouver, Canada for Canadian Nationals.

Electrical tracks in the sky that power the emissions-free buses in Vancouver. Pretty Cool!

I came down with a cold on the drive up, but there is nothing to save myself for at this point – so I raced. Twice. Day one proved to be anyone’s call as far as wax was concerned. From 100-grit sandpaper to klister and fish scales, the coaches were busy mixing cocktails, trying to find the right combinations for the conditions. I knew that I was not in great shape and needed to be able to rely on my skis for solid kick. The course was very hilly with some challenging corners where klister could catch – I chose to race my Crowns (Fischer fish scales) for their race debut. They had my back. I was 13th on the day (7th American). Not bad for a sick-kid.

Today’s weather proved interesting conditions for racing as well. I would guess that 5 inches fell from the time the women started (9am) until the men finished (1pm). The course was slick and rutted after the first lap (3.3k loops) and the heavy snow coming down on your shades and eventually in your eyes didn’t help. I had an excellent start position, for the second day in a row, with Kikkan 15 seconds ahead and Liz Stephen starting 15 behind. I kept Kikkan in sight as long as possible and then stayed with Liz when she came by (again, as long as possible). They were 2nd and 1st today, respectively, so not the worst bunch to be skiing with. They helped me into 12th for the day. Thanks girls and WAY TO GO LIZ! Pretty fast for such a cute little sucker, that Liz Stephen!

From today's front seat - wipers for snow, not rain.

Tuesday’s 5k CL– Top 20 Women (US athletes in teal)

1 Kikkan Randall
2 Chandra Crawford
3 Liz Stephen
4 Morgan Arritola
5 Sara Renner
6 Tasha Betcherman
7 Perianne Jones
8 Tazlina Mannix
9 Dasha Gaiazova
10 Lindsay Williams
11 Madeleine Williams
12 Kate Arduser
13 Kate Whitcomb
14 Laura Valaas
15 Kasandra Rice
16 Lindsey Dehlin
17 Morgan Smyth
18 Brooke Gosling
19 Evelyn Dong
20 Marie-Helen Soderma

Tuesday’s 10k CL- Men’s

1. Stefan Kuhn
2. Ivan Babikov
3. George Grey
4. Lars Flora
5. Robin McKeever
6. Devon Kershaw
7. Graham Nishikawa
8. Dave Nighbor
9. James Southam
10. Zach Violett
11. Chris Cook
12. Dan roycroft
13. Brent McMurtry
14. Jon Anders Gustad
15. Erik Carleton
16. Jeff Ellis
17. Brayton Osgood
18. Torin Koos
19. Sean Crooks
20. Skeets Morel
21. Mikey Sinnott
22. Colin Rodgers

Wednesday – Women’s 10k FS
1. Liz Stephen
2. Kikkan Randall
3. Sara Renner
4. Dasha Gaiazova
5. Morgan Arritola
6. Taz Mannix
7. Rooke Gosling
8. Tasha Betcherman
9. Lindsey Dehlin
10. Madeleine Williams
11. Morgan Smyth
12. Kate Whitcomb
13. Kasandra Rice
14. Evelyn Dong
15. Marie-Helen Soderman
16. Periane Jones
17. Kristina Trygstad-Saari
18. Kristina Owen
19. Nicole Deyong
20. Lindsay Williams

Men’s 15k FS

1. Ivan Babikov
2. Graham Nishikawa
3. Lars Flora
4. Jon Anders Gaustad
5. Brent McMurtry
6. Leif Zimmermann
7. Andy Newell
8. Dan Roycroft
9. Chris Cook
10. Mikey Sinnott
11. Tim Reynolds
12. Colin Rodgers
13. Robin McKeever
14. James Southam
15. Gordon Jewett
16. George Grey
17. Phill Violett
18. Brian Gregg
19. Carl Skinstad
20. Stefan Kuhn

For full results from this week - CLICK HERE under Haywood Nationals.

Switzerland

Engadin Valley, 2008. I am one of the luckiest kids in the World!

Me, Tony, EvD and Blue Steel at his best; rocking vest only!

The weather doesn't get much better than it was today - and the company isn't too shabby either.

The Engadin Ski-marathon is a 42k freestyle race happening on Sunday, March 9th (this coming weekend). I was 12th last year with a broken pole, bleeding knee and a missing water-bottle. Shooting for top 10 this year, along with keeping my game together a bit better. Stay tuned, wifi from the hotel window this year, game on!