Nor-Ams Trip - Day 7 SPRINT

Silver.

2nd.

First loser.

Call it what you will... today's sprint went pretty well.  I registered the second fastest time in the prologue and in the final came.... drumroll please.... second.

I felt pretty shaky out there to be quite honest...  the lack of skating was definitely showing.  I relied heavily on the double pole technique - totally legal but a bit lame.

I hung around long enough to watch the Open Men and Women's sprints - they are quite unbelievably fast.  These races are so cool as you have skiers bumping and grinding in packs, poles flying all over the place and athletes literally diving boot first for the line.   

Here are some photos from today.  People think I am crazy because I am always taking photos - but you have to stop and savour these moments a little - plus, I have all of you to think of!

Dave (left) and Bill (right) are our wax technicians.  These guys work away tirelessly so that we can ski fast.  It's very motivating to know these guys sweated buckets to find every last ounce of speed.  THANKS GUYS!

On the right you will see Courtney and Andrea. They brought home the bacon in the form of a bronze medal today... Nice job ladies!

I think this was the Open Men's final. These guys haul a$$.

The Pinnacles... sitting proudly in the late afternoon sun.  I recommend this place quite highly - super comfy, very "ski chalet" chic and not too expensive.

This was taken through my sunglasses - I liked the tint. So that's as close as you'll get to seeing the world exactly the way I do....

These photos look better without my sunglasses in front of the lens... go figure....

Some of my arsenal....

And this is why I am eager to get home....  it's tough being away from the family at this time of year.  Sacha e-mailed this to me - she's doing the best she can to keep me in the Christmas loop.  Thanks Sacha!  I love all you guys and miss you tons!

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Nor-Ams Trip - Day 6

New red jacket alert!  Check out the new threads....  Team DHL jackets... Tony showed up like Santa Claus this morning and showered several of us with shiny new Halti jackets - they are SWEET!  Thanks Tony and thanks DHL!  Oh, and that is fresh snow in my hair not dandruff...  also a good thing.

Training today was pretty mellow since we race tomorrow. I skied the course (7.5km) with Jamie Stirling of the Nordic Racers (we did several dryland sessions this summer). Bill, our wax tech got my race skis dialed in which made a HUGE difference - they were FAST - made it so much easier.

I'll use the rest of this post to explain the races this weekend.

Saturday: Teck Sprint Race - Free Technique

Race Description:

 "Free" means you can use any technique you like, but everyone (well almost everyone), skates.  See the SKATE video at the end of the post to see what skate skiing looks like.

The race is 1100 metres in length and requires the skier to basically "red line" from start to finish.  There are lots of corners, a couple of steep but short hills and a couple of fast descents.

Race Schedule:  

In the morning we will do a "prologue" to determine seeding and lane assignment.  In the afternoon there will be a "final".  The organizers use a "Hunter Start" so that the first athlete over the finish line wins.  The hunter start accommodates our various disabilities - i.e. the "most disabled" skier starts first and so on.

Race Analysis:  

Sprints tend to be my best races.  I came second at Nationals last year to the same field of athletes.  I have put very little time into skate training this time around because our most important race (on Sunday) is a classic race.

Goal:  

I will be trying to win this.  Why not right?

Sunday: 15km Haywood Interval Start - Classic Technique

Race Description:  

"Classic" is the "old school" cross country skiing where it looks kind of like a gliding run.  My classic doesn't look like that just yet - more like a choppy run with skis attached to the feet but hey...  See the CLASSIC video at the end of the post to see what Classic skiing should look like.

"Interval start" means we will start 30 seconds apart, one by one - like in a time trial in cycling.

Race Analysis:  

This is the big race of the weekend.  It will be used in a complicated formula to determine qualification for World Cup Races this year.  World Cup Races lead to World Cup points (if you finish in the top half of the field) and World Cup points get you into the Paralympics - you only need 1 point.  This is complicated and I'm still not sure that is entirely correct...  but it's close.

For Para-Nordic and Paralympic Racers 15km is considered a "long distance" race.  These long distance races are much tougher for me as my technique is still "in development" - little problems (or big ones) really compound over the course of 15km.  So this is going to be a challenge for sure!  

Goal:  

Ski well through to the finish line - don't go out too hard - maintain concentration on effort, technique, course sections for the full duration - positive mental chants.

SKATE Technique

CLASSIC Technique

   

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Nor-Ams Trip - Day 4 & 5

Hopefully you guys aren't totally bored by my Nor-Ams trip....  I ski for 2-3 hours a day so that leaves lots of time to tell you stuff - more than you wanted to know I am sure...

We have had quite beautiful weather - cold and sunny.  Today it was -15C which caused me to have to wear two pairs of tights.  I accidentally left my wind-proof underwear at home which has caused moments of "discomfort" - especially in the late afternoon as the temp. drops.  Anywhoo...

There are rumours of snow in the forecast and it would be good if they were accurate... the trails are a little bare and hard.  Not complainin', just sayin'.

I am feeling better about the upcoming race... but I have no doubt that it will be one of the biggest challenges of my racing career.  By "biggest" I mean "most painful".  This sport delivers pain very efficiently...  and 15km is plenty of time to experience LOTS of it.  It's going to be nice to finish.

Here are some photos:

That's Jeff Whiting.  He is the coordinator of the Canadian Para-Nordic Development Team.

Jeff and I got lost momentarily on Wednesday during a practice loop.

This is the Rotary Stadium at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre.  "Stadium" in Nordic racing refers to the big flat area where the start line and finish line are located.  Usually there will be music, an announcer and millions of screaming fans... (give or take 999,700 fans.)

I'd like to introduce you to my invisible friend.  Ha ha - I crack myself up.  Maybe I am going crazy here?

More evidence...  crazy person hat.  Actually I love this hat but it can only be worn in -10c or colder temperatures and you must be prepared for teasing.

Cheers, thanks for reading!

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Las Vegas Marathon - Kevin and Dave

This Sunday morning my boys Kevin and Dave will be toeing the line in the Las Vegas Marathon.

Hopefully they will have only limited traces of alcohol flowing through their veins when the gun goes off.

Best of luck fellas - I'll be cheering for you from the trails here in Sovereign Lake!

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Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon

San Francisco is a great city.  Sure, we've had our differences, like the time I lost my leg in a horrific cable car accident, but for the most part I've really enjoyed my visits to the City by the Bay.

On that one fateful day in August 1995, I had wanted to visit Alcatraz but the boats were all full - instead we opted for a city tour by cable car.  "Human error" led to a runaway car slamming into ours...  90 minutes later I was freed from the wreckage by firefighters, a few hours after that surgeons told me I would lose my leg.

I was in the hospital for 3 weeks.  I was a celebrity for all the wrong reasons:

"Canadian Tourist Loses Leg in Cable Car Crash!"

I even had a late night visit from the mayor, Willie Brown, who offered me tickets to Alcatraz (on him).  Nice gesture, but I wasn't in the mood (being down one leg and all....)  "You'll have to bring Alcatraz to me." I said, then felt like it was a bit rude.

Many years have passed since then.  It definitely changed my life - who knows where I would be now, what I would be doing... would I be married?  Would I have kids?

I have been back to San Francisco many times, and I'm not weird and "effected" by it.  S#!t happens, and it happened to me.  I don't get emotional or sentimental.

BUT, when I jump off the ferry next to Alcatraz and swim ashore in those famously killer waters, ride like the wind, and dash to the line in one of the classic races in triathlon it's gonna feel pretty good.  I might even get a little choked up.

We may have a checkered past, San Francisco and I, but I think I will have the last laugh.

Join me?  Get entered in the lottery HERE.

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Nor-Ams Trip - Day 3

As the report says, today was much better than yesterday.

There was a tiny bit of snow falling last night as I drove back from watching 007 in Vernon....  It accumulated during the night and a grand total of 3 or 4cms had fallen by morning.

3cms may not sound like a lot, especially to downhill skiers, but 3cms goes a long way in the Nordic world.  Classic skiers and skate skiers do very little skidding so the snow stays on the trail.

The morning was bright and sunny with nary a cloud in the sky.  It was also -9.5c.  A bit chilly but not too extreme with the bright sun.

I skied at Sovereign Lake for about 2.5 hours today.  It was my first good snow day this year.  Removing the rust is far from easy...  The altitude is also pretty humbling.  Combined with the cold air it left me breathless a few times.  I also developed a yummy blood-flavoured taste in my mouth - awesome!  Maybe my exercise scientist, James, can explain that one...

That's a little more like it....  sun and snow.  It looks like a lot but it's only about 10cms of snow...  

Mike Scholte and myself... Mike's a great guy - one of the best guys I've met since I took up this sport.

And a couple of shots of our retro-crib on Silver Star.  It's pretty comfortable for a place that sleeps 15!

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Nor-Ams Trip - Day 1 and 2

Quick update from Silver Star:

The drive was uneventful (which is good).  It could have easily been "eventful" as there was thick fog for long stretches....  I was trying to look directly down at the line to stay on the road....  problem was the line was frequently covered with sand/dirt/snow.  Had to use "feel" to keep it on the road a few times which was stressful.

Woke up on Monday ready to rock and got to Sovereign Lake Nordic Area only to see this: 

I talked the girl into selling me a ticket anyway ($5)...  I headed out for about an hour but the conditions were pretty bad (just as the sign said).  So, I packed it in and formulated a plan B.

I got on the road and headed towards Kelowna to a place I noticed a year or two ago when I was in the same area.  I think it called Kekuli Bay - right on the shores of Kalamalka Lake.  I wanted to get my heart pumping and so I did some roller skiing...

Ready to rumble...

It was beautiful but cold....

I was winding along country roads then through a deserted campsite....  It was a pretty good selection of hills, flats lefts and rights...  it was pretty fun.

Trust me when I say that it is very difficult to make roller-skiing look "cool".  After my workout I decided to do a little timer-based photoshoot....  the three shots above were the best I could get.

My "mess o' skis" and my trusty leg - would really like to use these on some good snow!

The lighting and the scenery were a bit surreal - I didn't see another person the whole time I was on these roads...  pretty good training.  Not snow - but I'll take it.

With that workout in my legs I headed into Kelowna which is about an hour away...  I had nothing better to do than burn fossil fuels on the highway.  I picked up a few things I needed (like a cable for my camera which I ALWAYS forget.)

Then I picked up a book called The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  He won the Pulitzer Prize for this book so I was worried it might be a bit heavy...  No.  It is so eerie and great.  I will put a review up in a day or two when I am finished reading it.

I finished the day with a little 007 at the movie theatre in Vernon.  Quantum of Solace....  it was pretty decent though not as good as the last one....

Well, if you are still reading (thank you), I will reward you with this cliffhanger....  I registered for an awesome event in 2009 today.  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow (or maybe tonight...)  Thanks for reading!

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