Today I did some intervals at Auburn Ski Club, the host of the Supertour Finals sprint. They, as always, did an awesome grooming the course, which has some solid climbs in the back half. Unless the snow is literally bullet-proof no one will do that silly double-poling on skate skis thing.

Here’s a photo of me with my younger brother Riley, a huger baller ski racer at Bowdoin College, who came out for a taste of California skiing on spring break. He almost didn’t leave…

Wow, it’s been a while since I last posted and I’ve been on a lot of sweet ski adventures, thanks to the undying support of the Farm Team and Far West. I had an incredible experience at the American Birkebeiner (all the people and enthusiasm for xc skiing literally brought me to tears at the start line…cheesy but true. It reminded me why I love this sport so much) and a less incredible time at the Great Ski Race (atmosphere was equally awesome…my skis and energy was not). I’ve also just returned from coaching for the Far West Juniors in Fairbanks, AK for Junior Nationals…Fairbanks the town wasn’t anything too spectacular (although it marked my first time ever in AK which was in of itself was awesome!) but the skiing was great and the kids were a pleasure to coach as always. The highlight was visiting the World Ice Sculpture Championships- I had so much fun being a kid again and playing on ice slides and spinning in ice chairs (also, I’ve never felt so sick afterward)- there were amazing ice sculptures and Dylan made sure he got a picture with every one. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. Truckee weather has made me a softy this winter, but Fairbanks definitely brought me back to reality so thanks for that, AK!

Me and my J2 ladies in Fairbanks…before it got really cold

Having fun on the ice chairs with Skyler…before I got really dizzy

After a quick one-day turnaround in Truckee, which included a fantastic birthday/farewell party where I got to say goodbye to many of the amazing friends I’ve made over the past 5 months, I packed up my car and am currently mid-road trip back to Maine. My job, at an outdoor education center, starts March 25th so unfortunately I couldn’t stretch out my stay in Truckee any longer (although it is heartbreaking to leave right before the supertour slash leave in general).

I just wanted to thank the Farm Team and all of the Far West Nordic community for all of their support and love this past winter- I can honestly say that I’ve never felt so welcomed and appreciated in my whole life and I had so many incredible days in Truckee- so many memorable training skis to Far Side and around the valley, so many wonderful moments trying to teach people from the bay how to ski, so many bent-over-laughing times with Truckee High School and the ASC Devo and Comp teams. After literally spending all day at TDXC, I always went home a very happy camper. I also got to check a lot of things off my bucket list- racing at Senior US Nationals, racing the American Birkebeiner, applying fluoros and lots and lots of klister (we don’t do that on the East Coast). And, after so many disappointing results in college, it was awesome to feel good about my races and have so much fun on the Fischer cup race circuit.  This winter has definitely rejuvenated my love of skiing.

Finally, I want to say a very special thank you to Ben Grassesschi for teaching me everything I know about waxing and coaching and trusting me with all of those rambunctious Far West kids. And to Jon Halvorsen, without whom I never would have ended up in Truckee- it was such a pleasure and honor to coach with you this winter!

one happy coach…about to give alex K a Mountain Dew feed during his last high school nordic race…whatever makes them race faster:)

That’s it from me- off to another perfect, not-real-world job with another group of incredible people- but I’m already looking forward to returning to Truckee next November!!

Love Holly

Hey guys,

I just wanted to give a quick thank you to the staff at Royal Gorge(ous) for putting on a very fun and fast race today at the Sugar Rush. The course was “flying” fast, the tracks were firm, and the sun was out. It felt like what spring skiing should be in California: lots of snow, lots of sun. The skiing in the Van Norden Meadow remains excellent, especially in the morning.

Here’s a picture from my inverted #summitsunday following the race.

Music: I love the drums and transitions in this one: The Dø ’The Wicked and the Blind’

Also, since it’s St. Patty’s Day

Be Brave. Live.

-Gus

I a few days ago I taught an 8 year old girl who had never skied before how to ski. The interesting part was that she didn’t speak English. It was a super fun challenge. I did lots of exaggerated demonstrations, and it made me realize how universal skiing can be.

Last weekend Wyatt and I, along with a solid group of junior skiers went and raced the Bjornloppet races in Bear Valley. The cross country community there, though small, is very strong and extraordinarily welcoming. They put all of us Far West’ers up in an apartment basically on the Nordic ski trails (I could actually jump from the front steps on to a groomed trail). The races were a ton of fun. I had a career first by double poling a classic distance race on skate skis. It was hard but definitely the right call for me. Plus it made me feel like some silly Norwegian skier who won the classic sprint World Cup Wednesday on skate skis.

After the races Wyatt and I did what we could to give back and skied played games with the Bear Valley Strider Gliders, a program that gets young kids on snow and having fun on skis. Everyone had a bunch of fun and it was super rewarding to see how excited the kids were about skiing.

It has also been great to see fast skiers start to trickle in for Supertour Finals. We’ve got some snow in the forecast and I hope to see you all at the races.

Some happy farmers

If anyone ever asks me what the Great Race is like, other then saying “It’s a great race” I’ll have to say its business in the front and a party in the back. This was my first time doing the race and I had a ton of fun. I was fortunate to have some of the fastest skis in the race. So fast in fact I went from being 3 minutes of the lead group, of Brian Gregg and farmer Wyatt Fereday at the top of the climb (11km), to winning the race by almost a minute at 22km. I ended up second behind Brian Gregg who caught me in the last two km partly because my skis weren’t quite as awesome in the last part of the race and partly because Brian is a darn good skier. Afterwards we all enjoyed the finish and watching other races come down the finishing hill. I think I saw everyone I’ve ever met in the Tahoe nordic community at the finish today, pretty awesome so many people came out to ski.
While skis will never completely make or break a race, the skis I had for the Great Ski Race helped out a bunch and I owe significant thanks to those who helped me not only have fast skis but also develop as a skier. All the Far West coaches, especially Martin Benes for waxing my skis and teaching me how to go fast. Madshus (I ski on their skis, boots, and poles) for all their support giving me the tools to ski fast. Also Roger Cheney, the local Rossi rep, last minute structured my skis and is a huge supporter of Far West Nordic and the Farm Team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vro1i2z0jb0&feature=youtu.be&t=3m25s

Holly’s first Birkebeiner and my second was just splendid. We stayed with a bunch of Colby alums and managed to take part in a bunch of great Birkie traditions, like waiting for a bathroom before the race in the famous Telemark Lodge (thanks to Brandon’s Coffee) and enjoying the post-race festivities at the soup tent followed by the Moccasin Bar (which has the world record Muskie on the wall). We both skied to top 50 finishes on some fast Farm Team wax. Warmer temperatures this year were welcomed – I didn’t even have to stop once to warm up or put on a sweater.