November 22, 2011 (Ruka, Finland) – After traveling North/East yesterday up here to Kuusamo, my motivation to write a report on how the weekend went eluded me. Simply put – the weekend wasn’t fantastic (or even ok, haha) for me personally. That said, I feel compelled to share the experiences regardless, and from a semi-comfortable big orange couch here in Ruka, I will. Read on homies…
I’ll take a moment to sing praises for the organizers there. It must have been a seriously stressful last month for race organizers. Temperatures up in Scandinavia these days are what I’d imagine they are in June (bad joke, bad joke…) which aren’t super condusive for ski racing. Lacking any sustained time periods of cold temperatures (to make snow) or any snowy precipitation in the cards either – folks were stressed.
But they pulled it off. And well too!
We stayed in Lillehammer for the few nights we were in Norway and life was good. The food they fed us was at times outstanding; the general feeling on the Canadian squad was that of excitement.
In my opinion, the course itself was amazing. I loved it. After skiing on less-than-stellar conditions for almost two weeks over here, it was a treat to ski on snow made this year (instead of the dead/year-old/saved snow I’d been skiing on) and the loop up in Sjusjoen had amazing flow. A number of great climbs, that you were always rewarded with rest upon completion and the somewhat turny (although, not really…) descents stayed in great shape considering all the traffic on it.
Also, it’s beautiful up there. You’re on a hill/plateau type thing above the 1994 Olympic city of Lillehammer and we were treated to some unreal views of distant hills, lakes, etc… Coupled with the fog/clouds that moved in and out throughout the day without warning – it made for a pretty unreal scene.
15km Ind. Skate – Saturday
Picture yourself at 10 years old after the best summer vacation of your life. You got to do everything you’d hoped to – your parents let you eat ice cream everyday, you caught your biggest fish ever and your parents let you stay up well past your “normal” bed time. You’re relaxed, tanned and life is good.
Then, mom and dad tell you that today – this very morning – you have to go back to school. They thrust new books, pens, pencils and duo tangs at you with haste and usher you out the door. They tell you it’s time to hit the sidewalk for your solo jaunt back to homework, quiet time, no ice cream, bagged lunches, and normal bed times.
How fast do you think you were walking to school that morning?
Probably faster than I started this 15km race – slower then molasses – seeing how I conceded 28 seconds to the leaders at only 2.9km, I am a bit dumbfounded. That’s crawling.
The good thing was that it wasn’t ALL-bad. The middle of the race went well enough – I was able to catch a little ride from both race winner Olsson and “Quebec Gold” Alex and I was feeling good, comfortable and skiing well when I was with them. Yet, other times (when I was towing guys, or alone) my pace was too hesitant and I wasn’t attacking the course like you had to if you’d hope to contend.
After Bruksvallarna’s disappointment, I didn’t trust myself. I’ll admit it; I was scared that my legs would feel like ass again. I started so conservatively for that reason, but when I realized my mistake – it was too late. I had given away too much.
The last lap (of 4 – the laps were 3.75km) – I must add – wasn’t spectacular either. I started to hurt (after following Alex on his last lap (my 3rd)) and without Alex leading the way apparently I fell off the pace by quite a bit, crossing the line in 37th. Not exactly what I was looking for.
It wasn’t all bad though – I mean Alex threw down!! He was amazing. 5th place!? That’s rad – he told me he’s never even been top 30 in an individual start 15km skate on the World Cup prior to Saturday – and to see someone I train with regularly be rocking house like that early in the year is hugely motivating.
Another positive is that I felt better than the week before. Not by a ton mind you, but better. It appears I am digesting the big(ger) volume weeks I did in late October/early November and hopefully (soon!) I’ll be feeling back to normal/good.
4x10km relay – leg #1 (classic) – Sunday
Finally, a classic race. After doing a lot of skating, I was pretty psyched to attack the classic skis and hammer around.
For me – it’s important to get the feeling of classic racing ahead of this week in Kuusamo where there is a classic 15km (pursuit) and classic sprint, so that’s what I went out and did.
It was icy in the tracks out there – and after a lap of struggling hard to get any purchase in the skating-rinkesque tracks and falling back in the pack – I tried my luck outside the tracks, classic skiing “sans tracks.” Life was much better. I moved up to the front of the race and was feeling good. It was going well, and the body felt like it was working better than it had the last two races.
Then – disaster struck. Right at the end of lap 3 (the race was 4 x 2.5km) on a fast section just entering the stadium – we were 5 or 6 dudes with a small gap on the field. Next thing I know, I get cut off – look down and realize I’m hauling ass, I’m off balance and I am missing a ski.
In the contact (of getting cut off), somehow my ski binding was released and moving quite quickly – I went off course and crashed decently hard onto the exposed pavement right in front of the barriers. My ski slid under that barrier and into the crowd.
At this point – the pack was gone, as were the stragglers. I was alone, hurting, on one ski and way off the back.
I hammered as best I could for the last 2.5km lap – but seeing there was so little of the race left, and I was so far back it was a losing battle. I really pushed it, but to no avail – I couldn’t regain contact with the main bunch (although I did go through a few guys).
On leg two – Ivan broke a pole, and ended up performing three pole changes before he got the right one as our luck continued to erode. We handed off to Nish in leg #3 in terrible shape and had to ski solo out there – which in a relay isn’t the most fun.
Yes – it was another “forgettable” day for me. I’m still a bit flabbergasted that in the last 7 classic races, my ski has fallen off twice.
A footnote – Alex had never planned on doing the relay – his shape is amazing right now and he has a real chance of winning the whole-show this weekend in Kuusamo, which would be amazing and give him a great chance of capturing the yellow World Cup leader’s bib – so we are all really psyched to see what he can do and obviously supported his decision for that.
Now…
Back to the orange couch – it’s standard business here in Ruka I’m listening to Wilco’s “The Whole Love” and Bon Iver’s self-titled album as I look out the window at the cloudy, dark landscape. The skiing isn’t amazing – but getting better. When we arrived yesterday there was only a 4-min loop (2-min out – 2-min back) available, and today there’s 2.5km, so things are looking up.
Racing begins again on Friday. We are all excited for another chance.
If you are feeling slightly melancholic – put on “One Sunday Morning” by Wilco and settle in. It’s a beautiful tune (but I must warn you, damn long).
Dk