February 24, 2010 – First, to echo Alex Harvey’s comment about skiing like a rookie

in his first race and then being an Olympian in the next race – Madeline Williams gave the same kind of performance in her two races so far. Like a rookie in her first race finishing back in the 50s (ugh!) and then definitely like an Olympian in her second race when she moved up 10 place. The second was tougher of the two races – time to get ready for 2014. Keep getting those starts in Madeline, there’s plenty of time for recovery when you are done this next week.

What can you say about the men’s xc ski team – was that a team statement? It’s one thing to produce those kinds of results as individuals – and they have been doing it for a number of years. But it’s another thing to make a team statement like they did in the Pursuit – 5th, 8th, 9th,16th and everyone of the guys being in the race from the start with individual episodes taking place all through race and all of them making a strong dash to better there positions in the last minutes. It’s one thing to think you can do it – it’s another to know you can do. A big barrier was torn down on Saturday.

It would be interesting to pick the outstanding skier of that race for Canada – was it Ivan fighting his way back to 5th place after falling out of the race to a point where most people forgot about him. I know I was surprised when I caught glimpses of him in the background as I thought he’d been dropped – that the classic leg had taken its toll. Or was it steady Eddie Alex Harvey, just cruising a long into 9th place – not really an overly exciting effort, except he was a brilliant 9th.

My vote goes to George Grey, as he skied so out of character, he latched onto this race like there was no tomorrow and just kept charging back into the fray. George came to do battle and battle he did right to the end. Devon pulled up the back of the team pack in 16th place – that used to be great, but now it is another ugh! placing on this team.

Oh, how about the skis – isn’t it interesting that you mostly never hear about the ski/wax technicians until they’ve screwed up? There were eight pairs of great skis out there in the men’s Pursuit from what I could see – speed and kick – no slipping and always in the glide out in both parts of the race. A real big round of applause for those guys, as they really worked their collective butts off for the skiers. Give me your thoughts on who you thought was best.!!

The Petra Madjic incident is going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I’m not a lawyer, but there was some stuff going on at the different venues with the changing conditions – from slop to ice and the adjustments athletes, especially skiers, were having to make. Slower than hell one day, then the next day it was faster than hell. I know that some of the alpine women skiers were very intimidated by the speed on their downhill course – actually scared and you could see it in the way they skied. The adjustments you have to make from day to day under these conditions is quite difficult. Also, from what I saw on television there was another skier involved in the play out of this incidence. I only saw it once so I’m not 100% sure. My call is that this will not get to court – maybe an out-of-court settlement. Oh, I don’t think Petra is one of your better downhill skiers on cross-country skis.

A lot of you probably aren’t NFL fans, but the NFL network has this focus piece, called Com’on Man!!!, and it is about situations that are sort of out of sorts, mistakes, dumb plays, no plays or life isn’t going your way. They have discourse about what’s happening and then say, Come-on Maaaaan! Well, right now Kikkan Randall is the only finger in the dike for the US Team and the boys have not put their hands on an oar yet – it’s Come on Man! Time. This team needs to change direction real fast. If you remember earlier I said they have three front liners and are thin from there on – the thinness is showing.

I would say that the Men’s Pursuit race was one of the most exciting I have ever seen – live or on television. There were so many scenarios being played out that it was best understood and best seen on television. I can tell you I was up and down, screaming, tears in my eyes, with so many emotions. There’s more growth to come and just a note to George Grey – I think the time that history will take to break this best-ever record will not take as long as it did for Ivan to better Pierre’s [Harvey] best-ever 14th place from 1988 in Calgary.

We’re salting the courses – and this process has been happening here in Whistler at the XC venue a number of times and it has been going on for a number of years. But now it’s covered in the rules to be a positive process to help harden sloppy or slushy conditions when they exist on a course. It’s not really salt per se, but NH4CL – a fertilizer. So, environmentalists can relax as all the grasses and vegetation are going to enjoy an enriched spring when the snow finally disappears. It is usually spread with a lawn seeder and the snow is left to harden or lightly groomed to make sure there is an even spreading and then allowed to harden. A real positive move to make for better races – I think.

Hey, I can’t forget Momma Sara, as the old lady fox was about as clever and sly about getting that 10th place finish in the women’s 15km pursuit – it sure belies all the racing she’s done and how to get the most out of one’s self on any race day. Just like the sprint in Canmore where she made the podium – she stole that race with one slick move when it presented itsself. Pay attention all you yogi ones on the team with her and anyone else that has the chance to be around her. She’s pulling all the right moves at the right time – the Olympics!!

Just a side note that FIS needs to lengthen this race to two 10km legs. Right now it is not quite the right length.

I’m going underground for the next few days, as it’s road trip time – heading for Telemark and the Birkie this coming weekend. Just finished up the Gatineau Loppet this past weekend and now to the Birkie for the 1st time in 11 years. I’m really excited about trying the new classic course. Hope to check in with you guys and will be definitely watching all the excitement to come.

Talk to you soon – Marty