The last several months, from Thanksgiving up through our latest adventures at US Nationals, have been a whirlwind.
I went from West Yellowstone to Bozeman
to Truckee
to Vail
to Pennsylvania
back to Truckee
and finally to Utah.
That is a lot of driving, flying, and sitting around and/or running around in airports when flight after flight was delayed. It was worth it though: I got to have Thanksgiving with these people, 
Christmas with these people
road trip with these people
hang out with this guy
and this girl
and race here
and here
and here.
Traveling will get ya though and it got me…about halfway through US Nationals I had to admit that the sneezing, coughing, snotting and “sexy voice” I had going on was more than just racer’s cough from the cold Utah air. Nationals only comes around once a year though, so I put my head down, raced, and hoped the training I put in this summer and fall would hold up against some of the fastest girls in the country.
Although I may not have had exactly the races I was looking for, I set some Nationals personal bests for myself with a 16th place finish in the 10k skate and a 15th place finish in the 20k classic. Thanks to rockin coaches Grassech, Martin, and August for skis and wisdom….and New Year’s entertainment.
And now….it’s good to be back in Truckee. Far West, far best.
This was the first year I have done all the races at Nationals. In years past I have only done the distance races. While the sprints are short and I didn’t make any heats to go on to, they are still quite tiring. By the end of the week of racing my body was very tired. I found myself almost constantly eating to replenish what I was spending during races. Pictured here is Martin helping my “supersize” my post race lunch after the 15km skate to get ready for the 30km classic mass start.
Racing wise, I placed a bit better then I had at nationals in years past. The significant increase in training I put in this summer and fall is going to take a while to sink in and I know I have some great races to come this season. I will just have to be patient and keep skiing.
As Spencer predicted, the last race in Bozeman was twisty, turny, tough and totally fun. The rain and snow held off until later that afternoon, allowing talented waxing specialist Coach Grassech and guest wax tech/former Bobcat Tim Whiton to deliver us excellent skis. Unfortunately I ended up having my own spontaneous Summit Sunday in the start, when an APU girl in front of me tripped on a pole and went down in front of me with just enough time for my skis to go under her and me to fall directly on top of her. I then got out-summitted by the racer behind me, who ended up right on top of me. Luckily I had my game face on and was able to fight my way back up to 12th place, getting to race briefly with Em and Katrin in the process. Racing with teammates is always fun – as Mr. Filly Hamilton would say, “teamwork makes the dream work”. Kat and Emily proved his point by racing together to a solid 28th and 29th place, scoring SuperTour points in a stacked field. Spence and Patrick had a chance to work together for a while in the men’s race, racing among an equally if not even more stacked field. Patrick managed to beat some pretty speedy elite skiers and finish as the 9th junior. Spencer spicily topped his previous early season racing PR, setting himself up for success as the season continues.
A quick summary of the journey back… Roger and George made a new lady friend on the drive home, spicing up the Far West van dynamics. We decided to get in an extra strength workout en route…
Ben rediscovered the joys of Red Bull. and we rediscovered that 14 hours is too long to spend in a van no matter who you are with….
Last but not least…don’t forget to buy your ticket for the Cottonwood-hosted Far West Nordic Kickoff Party featuring speaker Grant Korgan on Sunday! http://farwestnordic.org/fwnsea/ai1ec_event/season-kick-off-party/?instance_id=#more-7699
best view in bozeman.
The next two weekends there are cross country world cups here in North America, Quebec the 7th and 8th and Canmore the 13th, 15th, and 16th. Having these races on this side of the Atlantic has the added perk of additional athlete spots for the U.S. and Canadian teams. If you weren’t already excited enough, three of these spots have been given to former Truckee locals! Farm team alumni Matt Gelso and Chelsea Holmes, who both now ski with Sun Valley ID, will be racing in the distances races of the Canmore. Truckee local Russel Kennedy will be racing for the Canadians in the sprint races in both Quebec and Canmore. Also the Australians Callum Watson and Paul Kovas who have been training here in the Tahoe area for the last couple months will be at both races.
Results and live timing for these races can be found here:
Quebec: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=31848&cal_suchsector=CC
Canmore: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=31849&cal_suchsector=CC
AND you can watch the races live online here: http://www.frombar.tv/c-11.html
With two of the the three races in Bozeman down, here’s an update on how things have gone. On a hilly skate course Thursday the women crushed with all three qualifying for the senior heats in a stacked field, Beth 15th, Katrin 21st, and Emily 28th. Also Patrick qualified 2nd for the junior heats and was the 3rd junior boy overall. Times were really tight for both men and women and despite not qualifying for the rounds thursday was a solid step forward from the races in West Yellowstone.
Saturday was a flat classic course were many of the men choose to double pole it on skate skis. In order to rest up and be ready for the classic 15km Sunday I sat out the race and played coach/wax-tech helping ben with testing skis. Conditions were soft and flat favoring skiers who could ski tall and strong. It initially looked like Beth had made the heats, she was even given a bib, but the correction of a previous timing error bumped her back into the most unfortunate position 31. Katrin saved the team by solidly qualifying in the junior women’s heats and ending up 3rd for junior women. Sunday’s classic race is going to be wild. The course is hilly, twisty, and turny, conditions are supposed to be snow/rainy, and there are over a hundred men in the mass start.
If you didn’t already know, ski coaches work really hard. This morning Ben had the wax table set up and was testing top-coats before the sun was up. So thank you all. As good as I think I am at waxing we would be in a lot of trouble without you. Also during my pretend-to-be-a-coach-day I learned some other tidbits about coaching. . .
As fun and useful as Walkie-Talkies are their harnesses are also pretty rad. They make you feel super important and are surprisingly convenient for carrying things.
Also ski bags are an excellent place to take a nap.
Spencer is a born and raised Mainer and a recent graduate from Bowdoin College. After experiencing summer skiing and real mexican food during the first year of the Far West College Summer Residency Program in 2011, he had little choice but to come back and race for Far West!
Hi. I’m 24, live in Reno, NV and am studying for a masters degree in hydrology at the UNR graduate school. I competed in three NCAA skiing championships for Colby College from 2008 to 2011, where I majored in geology. Originally from Boise, Idaho, I’m pumped to be skiing and racing in the Sierras. I like mountain biking, running, eating salmon, walking on my hands, dumpster-diving, and playing guitar.
My full name is Gustavo, though I go by Gus. I was a member of the UNR NCAA Ski Team from 2008-2010 and a founder of the UNR Winter Sports Club. I have been a Far West Farm Team member for 2 seasons so far and am looking forward to my third year. I’m working my way toward being a ski coach and english teacher, while still trying to be as fast as I can be. I love mountains and canyons and rivers. My favorite place to be outside of skiing is in the Grand Canyon, though I don’t get to go there as much as I’d like. I’ve started a collaborative project called #summitsunday this year. Check it out and join the movement at summitsunday.blogspot.com
hey everybody! I am a recent Bates College graduate originally from the lovely state of Vermont. I enjoy snow, sunshine, and lounging….all great reasons to move to Tahoe. I’m stoked to be out here and ready to rip up some powder this winter!
2004 Graduate of Sugar Bowl Academy. Raced in 6 Junior National Championships (7 X All-American). 2003 represented the US Ski Team in the J1 Scandinavian Cup race series in Sweden. Spent the 2000 & 2004 summer’s training and racing at the Snow Farm in New Zealand. 2009 Graduate of Northern Michigan University. 2010 season competed as Senior member of Team Far West switching my focus from cross-country skiing racing to biathlon! During the 2011 season I focused only on biathlon, competing in 18 races with some respectable results. Currently, I’m racing for Auburn Ski Club and Far West Farm Team, focusing on the NorAm Biathlon race series attempting to qualify for the USBA team.
Hi Everyone! I hail from midcoast Maine and recently graduated from Williams College with a degree in Sociology…and skiing. I first came to Truckee during the first Far West Summer College Training program and now I can’t seem to stay away. I have been working for the Chewonki Foundation, a nonprofit outdoor education center, since June but I’m moving out to Truckee in November to be the Truckee High School Assistant Nordic Coach and join the farm team, since 22 is far too young to retire. My biggest passion in life is working with kids in the outdoors, whether skiing, canoeing, backpacking, or teaching them how to chop wood (my newest obsession) so I’m excited to start my career as a coach…and so excited for a real winter!
Head Coach Far West Nordic Senior “Farm Team”. UNR Winter Sports Club director. August Teague was head coach of University of Nevada XC ski team for six seasons. Teague helped UNR to top 10 finishes in three of his first four years in Reno, including ninth-place showings in 2005 and 2008 and a 10th-place effort in 2007. In May of 2007, Teague was named to the Cross Country Coaches Committee at the United States Ski Association (USSA) Congress in Park City, Utah. Prior to coming to Nevada in 2004, Teague spent one season as the head Nordic coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. Teague lettered four years as a member of the University of Denver cross country skiing team. He helped the Pioneers to three NCAA championships from 2000-2002.
Co-Head Coach Far West Nordic Senior “Farm Team”. Ben is currently the Head XC Skiing Coach for Far West Nordic as well as Head Coach for Auburn Ski Club. Ben grew up skiing in Montana and Idaho and was a member of the College of Idaho XC Ski Team. Ben’s strengths as a coach are his ability to keep athletes motivated and excited about training and competing. Coaching/Athletic Highlights Head Coach Far West Nordic Junior, Seniors, and Master Programs Head Coach Auburn Ski Club Juniors and Masters Programs Member of College of Idaho Ski Team US Ski Team Junior Scandinavian Trip Coach
Martin has been a Nordic coach for a range of programs from NCAA champion Dartmouth College to working with 1-2-3 Ski! at Auburn Ski Club. Martin grew up racing in the Far West division in high school, competing on three junior national teams. This is his 6th season as a Nordic coach, having coached for Auburn Ski Club, Dartmouth College, Bates College, Far West, and, currently, Sugar Bowl Academy. As a coach he has worked with Far West junior programs the past 5 summers as well as coached for Far West at 3 junior nationals, 3 nationals, and various other camps and competitions. He is also the founder/creator and head coach of the Collegiate Summer Residency Program. He has been Nordic skiing his whole life and raced competitively from 8th grade through senior year of college, serving as captain of his college team for his senior season.
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