Ah, the bliss of a post-holiday vacation… Testing out — or exchanging — those killer (in whichever sense of the word is most appropriate) presents, munching on tasty leftovers, SKIING, and just enjoying the simple pleasure of care-free day without agenda… Must be nice!!!

While this may be the situation for many right now — of whom I am extremely envious! — it is not the case for me. I did get a blissful four days off for Christmas — my first “vacation” since starting work in April — but as slowly as it came, it went even more quickly, and I am back on the grind. The holiday was amazing, and I particularly enjoyed being able to get some quality time on my skis… in addition to my lack of agenda and surplus of delicious treats, which I may or may not have overindulged in (I’ll leave it at that).

But, time passes, so inconveniently at times, and I find myself doing the holiday hustle, while many others are catching up on some R&R. I am somehow managing a fine balancing act of three jobs in addition to training, and of course taking the time to enjoy the finer moments in life and be a contributing family member and friend. I have become a relative master of this unique art, like a performer at a circus, and most people would probably find me just as crazy. But, while there are certainly some bumps in the road, I have to say, I am enjoying the act, despite its quick pace.

One would certainly be very lucky to be able to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to being an athlete, and call it their career in addition to their passion and practice. But in my experience, that is fairly rare, because life, and in my case other passions, come in conflict. And that’s where the balancing act comes in. I understand that the reality for me is that there are several things I am passionate enough about to want to pursue as a career: for the time being, writing, athletics, coaching and teaching, though there are so many others I only wish I could squeeze in, and likely will do in the future. I have chosen to pursue each of those things, in a quest to see where they will take me, and in an effort to support myself amidst the realities of life (more specifically, bills, and even more specifically, those nagging student loans). And I am doing my best each and everyday to give all that I can to each of these roles, because frankly I wouldn’t have it any other way.

While I know that my situation is probably not entirely unique or any more difficult than anyone else’s, I do acknowledge that it presents challenges, and is not the easiest path toward attaining optimum success in any one area, including skiing. But, it is the path I continue to chose, for reasons that perhaps only I can understand. And along with the difficulties, it continues to bring me many rewards.

Just before the holidays, my team, North Tahoe High School, raced in their first CNISSF race at Kirkwood. To say that the day was less than ideal is a gross understatement. The weather was unbelievably harsh. But the kids, several of whom were racing for their first time, got out there and gave it their all. And though some of them were disappointed with their results, I felt extremely proud of their efforts. I know there are only better things to come, and I am anxious to see them unfold.

In addition, several athletes I am coaching/have been coaching/ have coached, went out in yet another snowstorm and left everything they had on the Snowshoe Thompson course, and found themselves meeting the JO qualifying standards for the race. That was a first for several of these athletes. And while I couldn’t be there to witness it, I was so incredibly impressed and proud to see their results. A very big reward, for them, but also for me.

On teaching… I have started a few different clinics over at Tahoe XC, including a Women’s only clinic, which has been an immense success thus far. While I have heard feedback that the women are reeping the benefits of the class, I don’t know whether they know that I am too. It is, in so many ways, empowering. To be with a strong group of female athletes sharing in the same goals and challenges and working together to achieve and overcome them is really an incredible feeling, beyond what I had expected. I knew the atmosphere would be great for the women in the class, and conducive to success, but I didn’t predict that I would feel so empowered by it as well. Being able to teach and share with these women has been awesome so far, and I am looking forward to watching them, and myself, progress throughout the season.

I also got the chance before school got out to ski with a few of the middle schoolers that I had coached this summer through the development program. Again, I felt empowered by the atmosphere, though there were only four of us. I could see just how strong their passion for skiing has become, elevated by the season, and how many gains they had made over the summer. It was a sense of accomplishment for me, knowing I had something to do with it. And when these same athletes went on to win the middle school boy’s race, I felt I had a little part in that too, somewhere rooted in the background.

I have not done a ski race yet this year, as I just haven’t felt I had enough solid on-snow training days under my belt yet, but that will come soon. And so too will those rewards. For now, I am doing my best to hustle with grace — my dance of choice — and enjoy the moments along the way.

Hi all,

I’m safe and sound here in Salt Lake City, or I should rather say Cottonwood Heights (the suburb turned city on the outskirts of Salt Lake). I have got to do some skiing here, and the snow has been very good.

Yesterday I went cross-country skiing up at Alta Ski Resort while my family did a little downhill skiing, and it was a great day for a Christmas ski.

Today, I decided that I’d run across town to the radioshack for a workout (also to pick up the 1TB Hard Drive I’ve been pining for). It ended up taking me 1.5 hours round trip (after subtracting stopping to shop and those long waits at intersections). With my backpack chafing my skin, I eventually made it home, and learned that even errands can be workouts.

Just trying to keep things interesting while living in the sprawl

I’m spending the last couple days before Christmas in Leipzig, a city near Berlin with about 500’000 citizens. It’s mostly flat, it gets warm in summer and cold during winter, but not too much snow. Not the place you usually would expect to ski! Well this year it’s different. The snow is making the rules right now. Airports are closed and roads are slow which means there’s enough snow to ski!

Cruising around the parks where you normally see only runners is pretty cool and it gives me the opportunity to get those kilometers on snow. I wish it could be like that every time I’m here… =)

Well somewhat north.  I have just arrived home in Alaska for a short stay over Christmas.  The past week racing in Canada has been interesting, and I’ll ramble about it soon, but not now.   As I sit inside with my cup of tea I look out to see a bit of a winter wonderland.

I saw the token hippie Nordic skier stride down the snow-covered road on my way up the drive.  It cracked me up a bit to see long dreads whipping about beneath a fuzzy knit cap, classic Girdwood I suppose.  I do love seeing people from every walk of life wandering around, from those skiing on old three-pins to those on the new feather weight, gold plate base turbo skis.  At the end of the day we ski for ourselves, not only for a win someday (not that I would be particularly disappointed with it).  When I’m all alone and revering every moment, the simple stillness interrupted only by the curious squirrel and wandering snowflake.  Or the occasion I get to ski with someone who I’ve missed sorely and I spend the entire ski (and coffee afterwards) out of breath from too much chatter and laughter.  It’s every day that I feel more fortunate than the commuters creeping through traffic at 8:00 am and again at 5:00 pm.  Poor guys.   Mmm, to be out there day after day.

Off topic (again), I know. Standard.  But that’s how my mind usually works…drifting  (sometimes jumping) from moment to memory… and so on.

Just thought I would pass on a link to article about Farm Team skier, Chelsea Holmes:

http://fasterskier.com/2010/12/chelsea-holmes-fired-up-to-race/

Check it out!

Way to Go Chelsea

I’m done with finals (Organic Chemistry was tough on monday) and now I’m headed to Salt Lake City to spend time with my family during the holiday break from school. My training goal for the break is to get some good volume in while racing. There will be a few citizen races which I’ll be entering to get some good hard efforts in, but on the whole it is a training break (meaning that I’m going to try to train as much as possible while I’ve got free time and free meals at home)

Hope everybody is enjoying their December so far,

Gus

Here is an anecdote from Rossland, British Columbia:

SVSEF  arrived in Rossland last night (Tuesday night) around 4:30pm. After unpacking the van, myself, Mikey Sinnott and Farm Team member Chelsea Holmes decided to go for an easy jog in the dark to loosen up. We made our way to the race venue (about 1.6km from out condo) and had a look around. Unfortunately it has rained here the past few days. There is still plenty of snow, but it is really hard and icy (this makes for GREAT klister skiing however, which is not unfortunate). Anyway, after looking around the stadium and realizing the skate track was so hard and icy we could run on it we decided to run the 5km race loop, in the dark (there are lighted trails but this loop was not lit). The running was surprisingly good, with only the occasional annoyingness of a foot breaking through the hard crust. I wish I could say we were accosted by a Grizzly bear, but sadly that didn’t happen…

Anyway,  on the farthest part of the loop we saw two people skiing a bit behind us. We quickly ran and hid in the trees next to the course. When the two skiers came  cruising by us in the dark we jumped out and heckled them. We scared them pretty good. Some of you may be wondering if we knew who these people were. The answer is no. We had no idea who we were scaring but it was funny anyway.

This morning (Wednesday) when we arrived at the venue to ski, Jessie Diggins and Jason Cork (athlete and coach from CXC) made a comment about, “some clowns” who jumped out and scared the hell out of them last night when they were skiing. They  suspected Mikey and I were guilty… We subtly confirmed their suspicions.

Surprisingly (or maybe not surprising if you know Mikey Sinnott and I) this is just ONE instance of mischief from the last day and a half…

Races coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Mini Tour. High stakes, should be fun.

MG

First, thanks to Auburn Ski  Club for a great race at Royal Gorge. The snow was a little bit colder and faster than I expected. (Well, the downhill nature of the course helped too.) I was really happy about my 4th place finish and my crash-less race. I can never take the latter bit for granted.

In other news, Tahoe XC had a potluck dinner Saturday night. It was packed wall to wall. As a prologue to a slideshow, we were treated to a video hyping the next breakout sport. For nordies with fitness and tenacity, I think this is a can’t-miss opportunity for us to get in on the ground level. Who knows? It could be an Olympic sport soon.

Hear it from the skootchers themselves:

Last week, I started my new coaching job at North Tahoe High School. It went great.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and admittedly slightly nervous on the first day, stepping into a role that has long been occupied by the same all-stars, Elyah Gordon and Randolph Green. What would the kids think of me? Would they welcome me as their new head coach, or be opposed to the change? What would be the first thing I said?

But, luckily for me, both Randolph and Elyah are still around and helping out a TON, which has really helped to ease my transition in as head coach, and also helped make it easier on the team as well. Randolph even showed up the first day — greeted by enthusiastic hugs and hellos from all the kids — to provide an introduction and be a crutch for me to lean on that first day of practice. I was glad he was there.

Since that first day, which ended up being just fine — I committed no major coaching faux pas that I know of! — things have only gotten better. I am already getting to know the athletes pretty well on an individual basis, and learning about their skiing abilities and goals. They are a unique group, each with their own range of experience and very different personalities. It has been a lot of fun getting to know them!

There have been some adjustments, certainly, both for me and for them. I don’t know that they are particularly in favor of my hard-nosed attitude about drills, drills, drills… BUT, they will thank me later. This I know for sure. I mean, you have to learn how to ski before you can actually go ski, right?! I really think they’ve learned a lot already, and it’s showing. I like that! On the other hand, they’ve taught me lots too: the value of “adventure days” and what an adventure day entails; the fact that there is HOT CHOCOLATE in the huts at Tahoe XC (did you know this?! If not, you better get on it!!); the importance of a good apres-practice group sing and dance sess;  just how hysterical teenagers really are this days!! … and the list will only continue to grow.

I think things are off to a great start, and personally, I am just feeling really good about it. I am anxious to see where the rest of the season takes us, and I hope I can continue to be a good guide along the way.