Let's rewind to Rossland. Some races that didn't mean anything for me. Knowing this, I tried something new leading up to them. A few weeks before this event I had come to the conclusion that my racing stagnation was due to undertrainededness. So, in leading up to Rossland I decided it was due time to put in some training hours. This didn't exactly mean much. It meant doing lots of long easy skis, topping out at 3:40, and doing lots of double work-out days, which for me aren't a common thing. So far signs have been great - I should have tried this training thing a lot earlier methinks, hah. In the first test event that I had (Whistler Twoonie race) I was able to stick with Jesse for an 8.2km skate race. The lightly undulating course definitely favoured my drafting, but those of you who know Jesse would agree that his bean-pole figure isn't optimal for breaking wind...nonetheless, I was completely pinned trying to stick with him. It was good to put my head down and hammer, though.
My first race in Rossland was very promising. I qualified 7th in the skate sprint and got under 120FIS, so that was a pretty good sign. I felt snappy and was skiing in and out of various aspects of the course really well. In my quarter I jumped to the front easily off the gun and led most of the race, blocking and controlling the course. Werrell played the teammate card at the top of the course and I let my guard down, letting him go by. Now it became a race. Crooks snuck by now that the donkey at the front (me) had been dispatched of. I tucked in behind for the downhill and prepared for the final push. Again I showed some mercy in not running Anthony into the trees when he tried to make a daring pass. But that would have been just plain mean... Still, I'm sure I could learn from some of the sprint greats in how to ski "aggressively". I took the final curve like a complete idiot (unlike Kevin who ended up winning the B-final for a stellar day) and was passed by the entire field. It took everything I had to sneak in for 4th - a non-advancing position. Great.
The classic distance race was very special for me. It was absolutely perfect conditions. Maybe like -7, hard track, sunny, couldn't ask for more. I also went with a pair of skis that has never worked for me before, but with a quick click forward of the binding on the NIS plate by Zach, I felt that the boards held some promise. The race was great in the fact that I felt that someday, some place, sometime, I could put together a good distance race. Not just a good race where I pace it really well (I've actually had those before), but one where not only is my pacing right, but I'm actually skiing fast. That would be something totally insane for me to do in a distance race. Last time I could do that was racing as a Midget against other NDub skiers.
In the end, the 15km classic race wasn't the best result, but I did have a solid first lap. The first lap was followed by me getting riled up with "catching rides" and trying to go "head to head" with some other racers, when really I should have been racing my own race and playing it cool. Whatevs, I had a great weekend with the first positive racing experiences for this year (minus Twoonie race round 1, that woulda been the first).
Look ma! I'm racing distance! Under control for the first lap at least... Great shot by Angus Cockney. I remember skiing up the hill and seeing him standing basically in the track. He lept out of the way and upon realizing it was me, managed to snap my best yet "media" shot for 08/09.Since Rossland I have been in Whistler intimitely acquainting myself with Lost Lake and the 40km of ski trails that I have 70 steps away from my front door. The trails here are very fun with some thrilling, high speed downhills with sweeping curves and stunning vistas of the Whistler valley. It helps that there are actual pit stops set up around the trail where you can fill up on water (now I can bring a little ziploc with extra sport drink and just remix when I run out). My favourite trail is the downhill coming from Upper Fairways, winding down the golf course, hitting reverse-banked corners where zero Gs are experienced, and trying my hand at high speed tele turns (when catching an edge means being launched off the groomed trail into the pristine, untouched pow that blankets the fairways (except recently that pristine pow has been jagged ice, and now, today it's actually becoming slush)).
Last Thursday we had Twoonie race round #2. 9km, gentle terrain, double-pole-fest. Skate skis were in order for us CVTCers, minus Erik, who planned on employing his 6'8" frame's gargantuan kick to great effect on the gradual climbs. I managed to tuck in behind Jesse and Pate and survive most of the race. I even was able to navigate the obstacle course of rec skiers on the lower Fairway to gain the holeshot and bust away for the victory by a few seconds. I was saying to Zach afterwards that that was the first race I have won in a while, haha. Again, another good indicator of fitness gains. The first lap was really fast, but I was recovering easily from the tough uphill sections and everything felt easy. The 2nd lap I was red-lining, answering all of Jesse's attacks on the climbs, and somehow pulled through. Afterwards there was a great Après at "Opa! Souvlaki" with great free food and beer. Good times. Plus, it wasn't so bad to dip into our landlord's hot tub later that evening.
Well I guess that's about it from my end. Maybe I'll train today. Something in the form of stretching to improve my functional movement, perhaps some double pole, and likely some Spirotiger since I've sort of fallen off that train of late...
In closing, I would like to extend a huge shout out to the U-23 men. They have all had great performances over in France and in my mind have been the class of the field (hotly contested with Kazakhstan and Russia). All 4 men were in the top-10 in the classic sprint. Crazy! Unfortunately the word on the street is that CCC will not be extending an invitation for any of them to race in Liberec since they already have a full team. For some reason we chose our team before some of our best men got to show their potential at U23s. Weird, eh? You live and you learn I suppose.
A flourish of an update should be coming by the weekend about this Thursday's Twoonie crit race at the golf course down our street... According to our Whistler local extraordinaire dude, Munny, who's also grooming, there will be some sweet banked corners and technical aspects on the course. Now that I have a taste of Twoonie race glory, I'm coming back for more.
Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
3 comments:
Sweet post Pain.
I think this may be the best item you've ever picked up on TD, training. Sounds like it's working out well for you. Those twoonie races sound pretty sick too. Kind of like the Wednesday night races in TBay.
A win is a win...and it feels damn good! Keep on truckin' Thomsen.
pv
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