.: First NorAms of the season

This weekend saw the first NorAm races of the season, which were also qualifying races for the World Cups in Quebec next week (sprints), and in Canmore the week after (distance races). Saturday was a skate sprint, and Sunday a 15km individual classic race.

Skate sprints are probably my worst event, so I wasn't quite sure what to except. I placed 23rd (16th Canadian) in the qualifier, which I was happy with. I'm usually better in heats than in Qualifiers so I was looking forward to my quarterfinal. I got off to a good start in my quarter and was sitting in third place halfway through the race, but then the two Swiss guys ahead of me got a little gap on the last climb before the big downhill into the finish. Going into the downhill I was leading the other three skiers right behind me, which was not were I wanted to be. Naturally the three skiers behind me caught my draft and two of them passed me. I was able to pass one of them back in the finish stretch, and was catching 3rd place but I didn't have enough time and had to settle for 4th. Not good enough to advance to the semis. I ended up finishing 18th overall (13th Canadian). This is not a bad sprinting result for me, so I was happy enough. Later that day I got a call saying that my 18th place was good enough to qualify me for the World Cup sprints in Quebec. I talked it over with my coach, Alain, and decided to decline my spot. I think it would be more beneficial for me to race the two distance NorAm races next week in SilverStar instead of the World Cups in Quebec, not to mention that if I were to go to Quebec for the World Cups I would have to pay my own way, find my own lodging and waxing support, which would cost me at least another $1500!

Sunday's distance race was tough. Distance races in Canmore are always though. The courses here have a lot of steep climbing and not very much flats or gradual climbs, which is not my favourite type of course but I was looking forward to it none the less. I skied most of the race alone and was getting splits saying that I was sitting in about 5th place halfway through the race. I was able to pick the pace up a bit in the last lap and had a strong finishing push and ended up 3rd! The top three were quite far apart (I was almost one minute off the winner) but after me it was quite tight (6th place was only 6sec behind me!). I'm quite happy with this result and it was a good start to the season! This result will also qualify me for the distance world cups in Canmore in two weeks which I'm looking forward to. It felt good to step on the podium wearing our team's Yukon Elite Squad clothing! Now the plan is to make the 6 hour drive over to SilverStar tomorrow and start preparing for the two NorAm races there next weekend.