It was nice to be back at home in Whistler after a disappointing week of races in Canmore for World Jr. Trials in early January. While we were gone, Whistler received some new snow so it was good timing to back home training, and to spend a couple of weeks at home before heading out on the road to Ottawa.
Eastern Canadian Champs
Ottawa, ON.
Every year, the Eastern Canadian Championships are held at Nakkertok, just outside of Ottawa in Quebec. This is my 3rd year coming to these races, and it is a weekend of races that I really look forward to. With the Canadian World Jr. team racing in Italy and our Olympic team in Sochi, it was still going to be a competitive and tight field despite the top skiers gone.
The 3-day event featured a 1.6km Skate Sprint, 15km Interval Skate start, and lastly a 20km Classic mass start. I was looking forward to these races because not only were my family and friends there, but I felt as though the race format favored my style.
Ottawa, ON.
Every year, the Eastern Canadian Championships are held at Nakkertok, just outside of Ottawa in Quebec. This is my 3rd year coming to these races, and it is a weekend of races that I really look forward to. With the Canadian World Jr. team racing in Italy and our Olympic team in Sochi, it was still going to be a competitive and tight field despite the top skiers gone.
The 3-day event featured a 1.6km Skate Sprint, 15km Interval Skate start, and lastly a 20km Classic mass start. I was looking forward to these races because not only were my family and friends there, but I felt as though the race format favored my style.
We flew in on Wednesday afternoon to Ottawa, with the races getting underway starting on the Friday. My goal for Friday’s sprints was to make it into the finals, whether it be the A or B finals, and also put down a good qualifier. On Friday morning, I felt like I had a good qualifier and climbed well on the two big hills. I ended up in 6th place after the morning. So, it was onto the quarterfinal heats!
After racing in the quarters, semis and than B finals, I ended up in 8th place. I was very happy with this race, and I felt as though that it was my best sprints of the year so far. Saturdays race featured a 15km skate race, in which I felt once again very good, powerful and relaxed.
Sundays race was a bit more difficult for me because not only was there fresh snow falling but the tracks were falling apart on the hills as well. I did what I could, and was satisfied with my effort. I was honestly very tired from the past two days and felt that my energy level was low. Overall, I was happy with how these races went especially after my disappointing trials races.
Western Canadian Champs
Prince George, B.C.
So it was back off to the west coast for two weeks at home before the Western Canadian Championships kicked off in Prince George, B.C. Since Prince George is host to the 2015 Canada Winter Games, I was looking forward to skiing on there much talked about renovated ski trails. With a small competitive crowd at these races, it was still going to be a tough weekend of races. The races for the weekend consisted of Thursday’s 10km Classic, Saturday’s 1.6km Classic sprint and Sunday’s 20km Skate mass start.
Prince George, B.C.
So it was back off to the west coast for two weeks at home before the Western Canadian Championships kicked off in Prince George, B.C. Since Prince George is host to the 2015 Canada Winter Games, I was looking forward to skiing on there much talked about renovated ski trails. With a small competitive crowd at these races, it was still going to be a tough weekend of races. The races for the weekend consisted of Thursday’s 10km Classic, Saturday’s 1.6km Classic sprint and Sunday’s 20km Skate mass start.
After what seemed like a never-ending drive from Whistler (8hrs), we arrived at our tropical hotel on Tuesday night. We kicked things off on Thursday. Classic distance isn’t really my ‘forte,’ and with this course having technical downhills and long up-hills, (hear its right below a World Cup elevation standard) it was going to be a tough day for me. I had a pretty poor race and was left very disappointed. However, the good thing about ski racing is that there is always another race. So, it was onto the sprints after a day of recovery on Friday to try to put out a better result.
I was satisfied with my qualification sprint, and felt fairly fresh for the quarter heats. The sprint course offered a double pole start followed by a lengthy climb and than back down. With the juniors racing with the seniors (not enough people), it was top three move on in each heat, and unfortunately I finished fourth in my heat. It was again disappointing not to move on, but I felt satisfied at the effort I put down.
I was satisfied with my qualification sprint, and felt fairly fresh for the quarter heats. The sprint course offered a double pole start followed by a lengthy climb and than back down. With the juniors racing with the seniors (not enough people), it was top three move on in each heat, and unfortunately I finished fourth in my heat. It was again disappointing not to move on, but I felt satisfied at the effort I put down.
With Sunday’s race being the last one of Westerns, I really wanted to do well this day, especially because it was skating technique. With the course consisting of a ton of climbing, I wanted to establish a good pack to ski and stay with throughout the 4-lap course. I did just that, and pushed myself as hard as I could. I was very happy with this race, finishing in 11th place overall.
So it was back home to Whistler for just under two weeks before heading off to Kelowna, B.C. for the B.C. Champs.
So it was back home to Whistler for just under two weeks before heading off to Kelowna, B.C. for the B.C. Champs.
B.C. Champs
Kelowna, B.C.
With Nationals quickly approaching it was time to turn the mindset and start prepping for the big event. In the midst of a high volume week, we traveled to beautiful Kelowna, B.C. for the local B.C. Champs as it fit in with our training schedule. I have never been to Kelowna before (only drove through), I was surprised at how nice it really was, especially our hotel, which was honestly better than our house. We stayed at The Cove which is right on Okanagan Lake, overlooking the lake and the beautiful backdrop behind it, made waking up that much easier. The 3-day event featured a 15km skate mass start, 10km classic race and a fun relay event. I opted to race the two distance races and skip out on the relay event.
Kelowna, B.C.
With Nationals quickly approaching it was time to turn the mindset and start prepping for the big event. In the midst of a high volume week, we traveled to beautiful Kelowna, B.C. for the local B.C. Champs as it fit in with our training schedule. I have never been to Kelowna before (only drove through), I was surprised at how nice it really was, especially our hotel, which was honestly better than our house. We stayed at The Cove which is right on Okanagan Lake, overlooking the lake and the beautiful backdrop behind it, made waking up that much easier. The 3-day event featured a 15km skate mass start, 10km classic race and a fun relay event. I opted to race the two distance races and skip out on the relay event.
With a pretty small field at this race, it was still going to be a competitive and tough couple of races especially with the rolling course and steep up-hills. Despite the later start times and chewed up course, I felt really good for Fridays race. The main group went off very hard off the first lap and kept the pace up. I couldn’t stay with them, and dropped off at around 5km in. I kept pushing as hard and much as I could despite some serious fatigue setting in, and finished in a sprint for 8th overall. I was happy with the effort I put in with this race considering the hard week at hand.
So, with Fridays race under the belt, it was onto the last race before Nationals, a 10km classic. Again, this week was more or less a training week in prep for Nationals so I was finding myself once again very fatigued and tired going into and during the race. I felt as though I did what I could and I was happy with how it went.
So, with Fridays race under the belt, it was onto the last race before Nationals, a 10km classic. Again, this week was more or less a training week in prep for Nationals so I was finding myself once again very fatigued and tired going into and during the race. I felt as though I did what I could and I was happy with how it went.
With less than a week before heading to Newfoundland and less than two weeks before the first race, I have to say I am feeling the best I have all season. I feel like this is the best shape I have ever been in, and I am really excited for the next few weeks. There’s not much left in the season, after Nationals I am heading back to Huron County for some downtime. It is time to get re-energized, rested and recovered before next week!
Thank you,
Andrew
Thank you,
Andrew