Thursday, March 17, 2011

From Oslo to my last National Canadian Championships

From Oslo to my last Nationals Canadian Championships


First few days training in Oslo

After coming home from a very exciting and overwhelming World Champs in Oslo,Norway.
I had some time to think about my ski career and what to do with the season coming to a end. I came home exhausted from such a crazy cross country experience that i will never forget. To make the Oslo world champs was a big goal this year and to ski well in the those championships and on the world cups of course. We all know that Oslo was going to host a shocking amount of people camping,cheering, waiting 5-6 hours on the course to have a great view of there favourite nation and ski heroes.



Every day i was amazed how many people would come out and watch. I remember the first event the skate sprint. I was in the starting pen getting ready for my start listening to my music to pump me up. Normally i have no problem hearing the music. When petter Northug started which was about 5 min before i did all i could hear is the roar of the crowed. If i was not nervous by then after that i sure was.


5hrs before the start of a race.

Being able to race in 3 races at the world champs was awesome and to be cheered on by the crowds roughly 150 thousand Strong was impressive to say the least. Obviously a big moment came the morning of the team sprint. We all new it could be special day. We all made sure to train before and then be down in the stadium and cheered on our teams. I lost my voice before alex crossed the line in the first and what a feeling for our Canadian ski team to be top of the world in skiing in Norway!


The Boys WORLD CHAMPS!

We are now down to one race left here in Canmore in my home town. I was excited to come home to race what would be my last nationals and to be able to race at home. I love these tracks here and have always raced well on them. I came home tired and got a little sick before the races started. That was not going to stop me from entering in all the races. I have a had some good to ok results so far. I was hoping for a better result in the sprint, because well sprint classic is my favourite. To get beat by our new sprint star lenny V. i am going to except that and i know we will be seeing him on the international podium soon.



All we have left is the 50km skate. This race is not my specialty but i will give it my best as it will be my last race here in Canada as a national team athlete. I will be heading down to sun valley to take part in the super tour finals with some of my team mates. These are always exciting races and i look forward to some good battles on Saturday and down in Sun Valley.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Preparing for Oslo World Champs

Preparing for Oslo World Champs


Putting in some hours after the race. Great trails in Orford

After having a great Christmas i traveled to Thunder Bay Ontario for some Noram races and to find out who would get the last spot for the World Champs team. I was feeling good heading into thunder bay and skied a great Classic part of the first race which was a Pursuit 30km. The winner of that race punched his ticket to world champs. It was tough battle and it came down to a lunge which George grey won Congrats buddy.


the view up a sunshine, ykes

Then was a classic sprint which i was looking forward to. It was tough to get going due to the cold weather, by the time the final rolled around i was more excited to race but was in tough to make it to the top of the podium Brent M. ski very well and took the win. After arriving back home we had the team announced and we where starting to plan out training camps. We started with a sunshine camp which was fun but was not going to work out for some reasons that where out of our control.


The boys have a good time up at sunshine

For me the next plan was to get as many races in as i could before we leave and get some good training in as well. So the last two weeks have been volume weeks and this week had a little less volume and mini tour in Quebec. Next week is finally a rest week which my body needs i will take part in the mini tour in BC.


Interesting accom's at Mnt.Orford.

I will be just doing the the two short races to make sure i am rested heading over to Norway on the 9th of Feb. I am super excited to for this opportunity to race a world champs in Norway the experience will be pretty crazy. We get a great warm up world cup race in Drammen which is not that far away from Oslo and it will have all the top contenders and more.


Coach/Wax tech Chris feeling the toll from the mini tour as well. classic mid day nap