Muonio and Vuokatti 2

18 November 2009

Already a full 10 days of on snow training in. 1-3 races for the crew. 1 Olympic qualifying standard met (Koons--sub 100 FIS profile for NZE). 8 improved FIS point profiles--out of a possible 8.

We finished up our week in Vuokatti on the 4 km loop. I hopped a morning bus to Kajaani, picked up our sweet, Mercedes Euro van (9 seater with dvd, computer, card table, etc.) and busted out the 8 hour drive to Muonio. We stayed at the Olos Lapland Hotelli--site of the second weekend of FIS nordic racing almost every year. 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. This place is a ski racers' dream, provided that you can handle the lack of sunlight. For Mainers, it's pretty damned good. For westerners, it is torture.

Our first day at Olos was used inspecting the courses (for the athletes) and ski testing (38 km on 4 pair of skis for the coach). Let me tell you, the first real day of testing is a true kick in the shorts. 18x1km intervals with widely varying rest and then 2x10km wear testing at fairly high level of ski speed is a bitch of a load. Guess I better train more on the lead up to next season! In hindsight, I better bring a more complete wax box next time in Europe, too. I did a solid job on kick waxing and what would have been a top of the pack job of glide waxing at an Eastern Cup. Here, my glide job rated only slightly below average--not where I like to be. Any donors out there should feel welcome to send along vials of Rex liquid fluoro--it looked like SLC was the winner.

The group raced well. Kline and Dixon uncorked some pretty solid sprint races. Koons put on the pain suit and just plain hammered through snot, headache, hacking cough, poor sleep, etc. to earn a start spot at the Olympics. Welly and Pavel threw down some ugly, but animalistic skate racing. Video of the men's J1 class winner confirms that it ain't all about technique--sometimes just plain hammering gets you a long way.

Back in Vuokatti now for our last 3 days of training. On the docket: VOLUME. 8+ km of pushed out saved and man-made snow. Tough hills. Beautiful grooming. Home soon.

In Finland

Made it safe and sound. All luggage accounted for. All athletes healthy. All focused.

We've had 4 excellent sessions on the 4.2km snow-covered loop now. Skiing on a 4km loop filled with Russian sit-skiers, Finnish families and ski clubs, Japanese Development Team skiers, and crazed Belorussian biathletes presents its own unique challenges. But, we've met and dispatched these.

This afternoon we get off skis for a jog--in the first light, natural snow we've had so far. Sarah offers yoga post-jog for a much needed recovery. Intervals up for tomorrow.

T-Minus 3 Days to Winter

We've put in the work. This weekend's Church Hill of Stockholm workout proved it--all boys and Sarah looked totally solid in the champion-builder of all workouts. 4-5xChurch Hill is what made (entirely in my opinion and nothing else) Russ Currier and Anna Sprague JO skate champions in their day. It's a great indicator of where we are now.

Today I saw a lot of smiling faces on the crew in an easy jog. Wednesday we leave for Finland. Thursday we ski. One week from this Friday, we race. I love the simplicity that winter brings: training--ski, recovery--jog, physiology--race and rest and repeat.

Winter, here we come!