First Stop – Canmore, A.B.
We kicked off the race season by starting in beautiful Canmore AB. and back to the familiar Rocky Mountain Inn… We had left Whistler a week earlier than expected due to the lack of snow Mother Nature gave us up at Whistler Olympic Park, however a special thank you to the crew at WOP that did give us great skiing despite the melting snow conditions.
We kicked off the race season by starting in beautiful Canmore AB. and back to the familiar Rocky Mountain Inn… We had left Whistler a week earlier than expected due to the lack of snow Mother Nature gave us up at Whistler Olympic Park, however a special thank you to the crew at WOP that did give us great skiing despite the melting snow conditions.
We got a very good week of on-snow training before the weekend races, one race featuring a 1km skate sprint and Sunday’s race being a 11km classic race. Even though it was only an Alberta Cup race and more-or-less a ‘warm-up race’, the competition in the Senior category was still very strong and we ended up racing up with them. It felt good to get the first races under the belt and to get that ‘racing’ feeling back in me as I head into another season.
Beautiful morning skis
I ended up qualifying for the sprints in 27th place, being put out in quarterfinals. My main goal for the sprints was to push myself and stay with the main pack for the majority of the sprint, and I was happy with how it had gone.
Snow guns were in full mode trying to open new trials
Sundays race featured a very flat 11km classic course, with some athletes using skate skis to double pole it. Again, it wasn’t my best or worst race, but I felt like I was slowly getting the racing feeling back in me. I ended up 6th in the Junior Men category, around 1:30 min off the lead.
In race mode
Overall, it was a great week of good on-snow training at the Canmore Nordic Centre, and it was great tune-up races for the following weekends first set of NorAms at Silver Star.
Second stop- Silver Star, B.C.
Second stop- Silver Star, B.C.
Ever since starting competitive skiing I have always heard of Silver Star but have never gone there. From what I had herd previous to arriving is that it is basically like paradise because it not only has amazing ski trails and endless snow, but has several other activities that you can do, one being pond hockey. So, if you know me, of course I had to come out of retirement and get the old skates and stick out for a game later in the week.
Silver Star is located about 40 minutes up a big hill from Vernon B.C. When we arrived in Vernon it was clear that there was no snow there, and I felt somewhat lost and was kind of wondering why I was here. However on the drive up the mountain, you could slowly see more and more snow, eventually leading up to the hotel where id say there was more than a meter of snow.
Silver Star is located about 40 minutes up a big hill from Vernon B.C. When we arrived in Vernon it was clear that there was no snow there, and I felt somewhat lost and was kind of wondering why I was here. However on the drive up the mountain, you could slowly see more and more snow, eventually leading up to the hotel where id say there was more than a meter of snow.
Where Silver Star is
Skied up to the top of the downhill ski resort. Lots of snow!
Colin happy to be here!
We were at Silver Star for a week, in which it included the first set of two pre selection races for the World Junior/U23 team. With lots of competition coming from the other side of the border, it was going to be a tough weekend of racing, especially with the temperature steadily being around -20 sometimes -30.
Saturdays race featured a tough and challenging 15km skate race, 3 laps of 5km. It was a very cold morning with the race time being pushed back by 3 hours and the Junior Boys/Girls and below having their race cancelled. I had felt fairly good during this race despite being somewhat cold on the second lap, however I ended up with a strong 10th place and 2nd 1995 Jr. Men. I felt good for most parts of the race, but felt like I could have done a bit more on the second lap to make up time. Despite the long race and cold temps, we had little time to get recovered and ready for Sundays 1.8km classic sprint.
Saturdays race featured a tough and challenging 15km skate race, 3 laps of 5km. It was a very cold morning with the race time being pushed back by 3 hours and the Junior Boys/Girls and below having their race cancelled. I had felt fairly good during this race despite being somewhat cold on the second lap, however I ended up with a strong 10th place and 2nd 1995 Jr. Men. I felt good for most parts of the race, but felt like I could have done a bit more on the second lap to make up time. Despite the long race and cold temps, we had little time to get recovered and ready for Sundays 1.8km classic sprint.
Sundays sprint day, me in the qualifier. Thanks to Bob Greer for the photo.
Sundays race featured a long-climbing course that involved a tricky turn after going over the bridge. With the qualifiers being moved back one hour due to cold temps, I powered my way to a 8th place qualifier. I was very happy with this result, and hopefully picked up some good CCC points. In the quarterfinal heats, I ended up getting tripped up off the start and was overall feeling a bit fatigued from Saturdays race, and was put out in quarters.
Coming up the hill in qualifiers
Also being at Silver Star, it marks the early on-snow training and racing for the Ontario ski clubs. Many teams from Ontario came out for a week of training and the weekend races. It was great to see my team (Highlands) and all the others and to catch up with friends.
Monday night pond hockey with the team!
Big snowman in the village
Overall, I felt good after this weekend and felt like I had made some major improvements since last year. I feel that I can now be in contention for a podium spot every race and I felt confident going into the NorAm in Rossland.
Third Stop – Rossland B.C.
With Rossland hosting the second set of NorAms and the last part of the World Junior team pre-selection, we arrived on Tuesday afternoon with the races occurring on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend featured a 1.6km skate sprint and a 15km classic race.
Third Stop – Rossland B.C.
With Rossland hosting the second set of NorAms and the last part of the World Junior team pre-selection, we arrived on Tuesday afternoon with the races occurring on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend featured a 1.6km skate sprint and a 15km classic race.
View from the ski trail
Now ill tell you what, I’ve skied at a few places over the past couple years, but no course has compared to Rossland. On the 15km course, they had re-designed the trails for this NorAm. It consist of climbs, hills, climbs, big downhill’s, climbs and big downhill’s. It is a very tricky and tough course for classic.
On Saturday morning I competed in the skate sprint qualifiers. I didn’t feel good for much of the race and my arms felt tired, however I ended up qualifying in 12th place. I moved on to quarterfinal heats in the afternoon. I was seeded third for the heats, however I knew that I could be top 2 no problem. Our heat went slow off the start and stayed like that for the long climb, than I decided that I should try and make a move to separate from the pack. It worked as there was only 3/6 of us (including me) left to finish together and it was a fight to the finish however I had came in 3rd place by a close lunge. It was fairly disappointing to have it go that way, but after all that is racing.
On Saturday morning I competed in the skate sprint qualifiers. I didn’t feel good for much of the race and my arms felt tired, however I ended up qualifying in 12th place. I moved on to quarterfinal heats in the afternoon. I was seeded third for the heats, however I knew that I could be top 2 no problem. Our heat went slow off the start and stayed like that for the long climb, than I decided that I should try and make a move to separate from the pack. It worked as there was only 3/6 of us (including me) left to finish together and it was a fight to the finish however I had came in 3rd place by a close lunge. It was fairly disappointing to have it go that way, but after all that is racing.
Martin sprinting in Silver Star
After Saturdays 1.6km sprint, Sunday featured a tough 5km loop of 3 laps. I was fairly excited for this race as I thought I could perform a bit better in the distance race. I got off to an okay start, trying to settle in and relax up all the long up-hills. Over half way through, after all the big downhill’s and onto the flats, I somehow managed to get tripped up and fell awkwardly on my groin area. I broke a pole and I could feel pain in my groin, however I tried to keep going. I ended up dropping out because I didn’t want it to get any worse. It was frustrating the way it went, but I believe you have one bad race a year, and this was it. I will learn from it, and will move on.
A video below of one of the long downhills on the course with tricky corners.
A video below of one of the long downhills on the course with tricky corners.
All in all, after being on the road for a month, it feels good to be back home in Whistler, and tomorrow I will be headed back home to Goderich for a week and a half with family and friends. I was pretty excited despite the last race on my progress and results thus far. The real test comes in January for World Junior Trials in Canmore, and I hope I can pull together some big races there.
Until next time, Merry Christmas,
Andrew
Until next time, Merry Christmas,
Andrew