Sprints!
Friday, January 30th, 2009Day one of UNH Carnival had us enjoying the sun and moderate temps in Jackson, NH. 4 guys and 4 women made it into the top 36 today.
Caitlin getting after it. (more…)
Archive for January, 2009
On Snow Meditation
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009I had this all ready to post last Thursday but had trouble with the internet connection at our hotel Thursday night in Maine and forgot about it in the heat of Race preparation! Fortunately it is a timeless post and it’s impact is not effected by a weeks delay. It is snowing hard in Burlington… again. We are going to go out and explore some new groomed trails in town today and we are off to Jackson tomorrow.
From Mary:
One night at dinner over Christmas break my family had a conversation about what it is we enjoy so much about racing. The sense of community among ski racers and getting out in nature were both high on the list, but there’s a certain magic about the actual time you spend during a race that we each attempted to describe. I think most of us in today’s culture are too often guilty of multi-tasking, and racing allows us to focus our attention on only one goal, whether it be for three minutes or three hours. We all agreed that we had our best races when we could let go of thought and just embrace the joy of really letting loose. As I explained once to a friend who meditates for three hours each morning, racing can be a skier’s “on-snow meditation.”
Here’s a short poem that this conversation inspired:
The On-snow Meditation
On the far side of a wand
Firm double tracks call out an invitation to travel
On a path of speed and freedom.
With a 3 – 2 – 1 – Go!
All doubts and fears vanish
As my poles push thoughts away.
A hill summons me to a joyful battle
As I gasp in the air of the present,
Racing away from the past,
With a future only as far as the finish line.
Bates Carnival Day 2…
Monday, January 26th, 2009This late update comes after a long(ish) drive home, a perfect distance day at Trapp Family Lodge yesterday, and a little R & R taken by Patrick and myself.
On Saturday we racked up some karma points to go with the Women’s nordic team win. It was a good day which wouldn’t have been complete without the help off some hard working parents and supporters. Thanks to Rachael for getting things organized and the Benders, Howes, Carters, and Elizabeth Gondek for bringing food and treats! (more…)
Bates Carnival Day 1…
Friday, January 23rd, 2009Juergen picked up where he left off last season winning the opening classic race of the season. He lead home a strong showing for the men with Franz in 9th and Chris 23rd. Finishing as the second team in the first race of the season is a good start and I think everyone is capable of improving as the season progresses.
In the women’s race Jennie and Caitlin lead the way finishing 7th and 8th on a challenging course. Kat rounded out the scoring with a 24th place finish as the women finished fourth today behind strong Middelbury and Dartmouth teams and a surprising Colby team. The alpine teams had strong days with David Donaldson winning the men’s slalom and Lyndee leading home Jilyne and Kara in a 3,4, 10 finish by the women. Overall we had a solid start as the whole team is sitting in 2nd behind Dartmouth. With the slalom and skating events coming up we are optimistic that we could overtake Dartmouth if we ski to our potential tomorrow….
Who needs gloves?
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009Jennie was inspired when we returned from Nationals, enjoy…
Nordic skiers are crazy, but some say being a little crazy is the only way to truly live. This is a shared characteristic among all athletes. We do things by choice that baffle those who are less fortunate than us because they have never challenged themselves. Athletes challenge the normal human tolerances of pain, desire, exertion, temperature, adrenaline, distance, height, speed; only to realize those normal limits are often created by our minds, especially in times when we are battling against self doubt. This battle is all part of the sport, and although it drives us nuts, we wouldn’t grow and learn as athletes if the journey were easy. (more…)
T minus 4 days and counting….
Monday, January 19th, 2009The carnival season is upon us with the Bates Carnival kicking things of this weekend at Sunday River and Black Mountain of Maine. We had a nice team dinner last night with virtually the whole team present. Patrick, Mae, Ellery, Jennie, Jesse, and Cole drove home through a snow storm from the Rumford Eastern Cups arriving just in time for Bill to address the team. It wasn’t exactly Al Pacino from “Any Given Sunday” (who is?) but it was inspiring to be crowded around tables in the Bostwick Room listening to Bill on the eve of a new college season. The theme, as it is most years, is don’t blink because the season is over in a hearbeat!
This past weekend was the last tune-up for most of us. The men’s Alpine team worked out the kinks in Eastern Cups at Stowe. Patrick had five people sharpening up for the Bates Carnival at the Eastern Cups at Black Mountain where Jennie and Cole were the top Catamounts in the sprint on Saturday and Jennie and Jesse were the top Cats in Sunday’s tough and snowy classic mass start. Results, Photos.
Closer to home Coreen, Joe Connelly (St Mike’s), and I ran a time trial at Trapp’s on the courses for the UVM Carnival/NENSA Supertour/Eastern Cup February 7 and 8. Athletes from Middlebury and St. Michael’s joined 11 Catamounts for a 10k and 15k classic on Trapp’s new race loop. Franz, Juergen, and Chris lead home the men and Caitlin finished a strong third behind Robyn Anderson and Elise Moody-Roberts from Middlebury. The course is excellent and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to Bill Henchey for getting it race ready for us!
Check back for more this week as we build up towards Rumford….
Bolton Bill Koch Day!
Friday, January 9th, 2009Patrick lead a group of Catamounts and Bill Kochers from the Mt. Mansfield Nordic Club through a fun day of games and jumping up at Bolton today. You can find a good write-up of the event on the Bolton blog. These events are great fun for everyone involved and really important to build momentum for our sport in the next generation!
US Nationals Sprint, Jennie 5th, 3 into the heats!
Friday, January 9th, 2009Fourth time is the charm?
After three unsuccessful attempts to hold the classic sprint we were finally able to get it in today! There were many (including me) who were skeptical that we would get it done today but the temps did just enough and the volunteers braved a blustery stadium for 6 plus hours to make sure it happened. (more…)
US Nationals Day 3 Race #1
Monday, January 5th, 2009After two postponements we were finally able to hold a race today! I think everyone (me included) was pretty excited to finally get out there and have a race today. It was still cold, somewhere between 0F and 2F, but just warm enough to race. Caitlin and Alex had good results today finishing in 25th and 34th. Cole also skied well today finishing in the 60’s somewhere in a tough field. Jennie was a little disappointed in her result today but her strengths are coming up with a classic race tomorrow and the sprint on Wednesday.
You should be able to find results here soon www.anchoragenordicski.com
The rest of the team is slowly filtering back into Burlington now for a training camp ahead of classes starting next week. There is a good group back there and the snow is good so there should be some good training this week!
A longer post and more pictures coming soon. I’ve got some skis to wax and a coaches meeting to go to and find out what the rest of the week is looking like now.
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