January 26, 2011 – Bill Koch has one more medal than most of us give him credit for. I found this out when I was researching the fact that Kikkan [Randall] is leading the FIS WC Sprint Classification after her recent win in Liberec. The Olympics held at Innsbruck in ’76 had a dual designation – not only did they count for Olympic medals, but they also counted as the World Championships, so officials at these Games were also handing out medals under the FIS designation for the Worlds – read more HERE.

So, Kochie won his Olympic silver medal and a World Championship silver medal in Innsbruck, and then his bronze in the 30km in ’82 in Oslo. Also, ’82 was the first year of the World Cup and he won the overall title. Bill has to feel good about this – the winner of the first overall World Cup – EVER!! Nobody really makes a big deal out of this – but this is important history. Other countries and programs would use this piece of history until it would make you sick – ask anyone you bump into after you read this and see if they know who won the first overall WC title.

Do you ski on a flat ski? This is a term you hear all the time in XC skiing that in my estimation is a real misnomer and I’m talking both techniques. The reason I bring this up is that the other day I was in Gatineau Park watching this lady trying to skate and she looked like she was moving her skis in mush and going nowhere and the tracks were firm. I asked her if she wanted some help – so I got to skate for the first time in three years, albeit on my classic skis.

I asked her what her focus was and she said she was trying to stay on a flat ski as that was what she remembered from last year’s lesson. This lady was sliding her skis sideways on the snow and was literally going nowhere. I said the flat ski exists, sort of, but in each technique it’s only for a micro second. I skated a couple of strides and asked her to show me the flat ski part of the track in the snow profile. From here on we made some progress with her technique – she was no longer working against herself and we did a couple of drills that let her create an edged platform to push off of.

Oh, yes we ski on the inside of the ski for better than 95% if not 100% of the diagonal stride – believe it! Just check out the tracks – they’ll tell you what is going on – especially post race.

Tell Me This Isn’t Cool! What a Great Tradition and I know, because I’ve been at many a feed station in so many Holmenkollen 50s way out in the back country. Just to ski out and see the camp sites, the festivities, the music, the bands and of course a few drunk ski acrobatics going for it – click HERE.

Otepaa and the Wrap up on Chandra Crawford’s half-weekend of skiing! First off, way to go Dasha, your best World Cup race ever (8th), after a not so stellar race on Saturday in the 10km classic World Cup. Love it when a skier shows the ability to fight back the next day like you did in a very strong field. Remember this effort – you’ll need it and more in Oslo – now you know you really belong.

Now to Chandra – she followed her usual script…skip the distance race to save yourself for the sprint. The old fashion way and the way not to try and be ready for the Worlds in Oslo in another month. That becomes the question – can her chances in Oslo be saved? So far, the coaching staff for the National Team has let her do it her way. When are they going to shut that door and get her on track? I would have had her stop in Orford, QC, on her way home from Europe for the Haywood series being held there this weekend – then go home to Canmore on her way to Kelowna, BC for the Haywood mini-tour there. Then back to Canmore for a training break and some altitude training before heading to Europe. Something as wild as that has to happen for her to have a chance at the Worlds.

Jask Sasseville said it in his SkiTrax on-line column – Dasha Gaiazova, is the new leader of this team!

One more thing… I think Crawford is a very talented athlete and can excel in both techniques – of course better in skating – but her classic could become top 10 also. But none of this happens doing it her way. Last year’s excuses are passe, she should be just plain doing better – talent a wasting. Too bad!

World Juniors and U23s are underway in Otepaa and the first reports in the Junior events are an outstanding 7th place by the USA’s Jessie Diggins – and nothing else from the men or the other women skiers in the first days events. Let’s hope for some updrafts in the next few days.

Talk to You Soon!