A few days ago I arrived in Squamish, BC for the 2008 Canadian National Championships.  The races are being held at the new 2010 Olympic venue, the Callahan Valley.

A shot looking back toward the stadium from the first corner.

 On Sunday we raced a club team sprint in the classical style.  I teamed up with Laura Valaas and we were able to ski to the victory for Alaska Pacific University.

Laura and I after the team sprint.

Today the women raced 5km classic, 2 laps of the 2.5km Olympic classic loop.  The weather was just about the worst you can have for a classic race.  Temperatures just above freezing and fresh snow falling.  I thought I was in trouble when I had no kick in the tracks going up the first hill.  So I resorted to running outside of the tracks where I was able to get a little grip.  I proceeded to run up all the hills and double-pole the flats.  While the running was not as pretty as a pure classic striding, it paid off and I won the race by 47 seconds over Chandra Crawford.  I was happily surprised with the win.

Women’s 5km podium.  Kikkan 1, Chandra 2, Liz Stephen 3.

Great American showing, 1,3,4

Tomorrow we race a 10km skate.

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