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Showing posts with label Nordic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nordic. Show all posts

Friday, February 3, 2012

Camber

Photo Credit skinnyski.com
Photo Credit skinnyski.com
                                                   
Photo Courtesy of James Thomas McKinney

Photo Credit skinnyski.com
                                                     


William O'Brien Cross Country Ski Race, 41st Edition. 

The night before a Nordic ski race is pretty much the same now as it was 20 years ago, I wax my skis, I eat some complex carbohydrates, I try to fall asleep and then I wind up reading for a few hours.  Last week, I skied in the Classic 21 Kilometer event at the William O' Brien / Marine on St. Croix Cross Country Ski Race.  Classic skiing is different from Skate skiing and also different from Touring - a narrow ski with flexible tips and a modest camber is necessary for riding in the groomed tracks - glide wax is ironed into the ski and a layer or two of kick is then applied to a central location on the ski, "The Kick Zone", to ensure reliable and consistent kick.  The kick or stride of classic skiing is what generates forward motion.  In skate skiing, only glide wax is used, the skier rides a flat ski until employing the edge of the ski, similar to a hockey skate, to gain propulsion.  Touring is a more relaxed and recreational means of skiing, wherein a waxless ski with a fabricated Kick Zone guarantees reliable and consistent kick. 
After waxing my skis and getting a good nights sleep, my sister Cate and I made it to the race and had a great day among the people and trails of the event - my first time skiing this race, I was all of twelve years old, and got lost on the William O 'Brien trail system.  My time was over half an hour behind the winner - circa 1986.  I never fail to feel a sense of belonging, (I may go so far as to say a profound sense of equanimity) when skiing or running on this trail system; Mountain biking on these trails has never been endorsed by the Park.  As a kid, as a high school skier, as an Assistant coach, as a racer, the solitary gratitude I feel during my time there seems as reliable and consistent as the unpredictability of the snow cover. 

My time this year was in the top five, 1:09 and change.  I included a number of photos from 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, including action shots from skinnyski.com  Enjoy.

Thanks to Everett Meyer and Fruitshare and all of the sponsors for a great event, and happy retirement to Randy Lorenzen...though as a Nordic coach recently told me, "Nobody retires."

Monday, June 6, 2011

Another place holder


Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of robbiehalvorson @ flickr

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com


Photo courtesy of Skinnyski.com
2000
Summer TCUL League, Sport Grey

2001
Summer TCUL League, Brick red
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 4:32:31

2002
Lumberjack days 5 K, 23:51
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 4:01:04
TCUL Summer League, Maroon

2003

2004
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:28:43
Summer TCUL League, Lime green

2005
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 2:49:36
Summer TCUL League Apu
Northshore Inline Marathon, 1:33:57

2006
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:01:13
Northshore Inline Marathon, 1:36:23

2007
Northshore Inline Marathon, 2:07:13
American Birkebeiner Open Field Participant
TCUL Men's League, Subject to Change
Lake Rebecca Cyclocross, 26th
Boom Island cyclocross, Cat. 4, 53rd
The Hub cyclocross, Cat. 4, 40th
LGR Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 44th
Rum River Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 22n

2008
City of Lakes Loppet, 1:34:1
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:04:54
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, 9:35
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 2:09:40
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 2:00:47
Big Woods Half Marathon, 1:50:51
In Yan Teopa 10 mile, 1:25:45
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:44:44
YMCA Cyclocross, 30t
Wirth Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 49th
The Bikery Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 23rd
The Red Barn Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 34th
MN State Championship Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 31st
NSC Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 25th
Green Acres Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 31st

2009
SJU Saints Invite 11 Kilometer Freestyle, 34:56
Marine O' Brien 12.5 Kilometer Classic, 42:30
City of Lakes Loppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:41:50
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, Unofficial, 8:46
Mora Vassaloppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:34:26
American Birkebeiner 54 Kilometer Classic, 3:34:35
Pole Pedal Pant Winter Triathalon, Unofficial, 1:43
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 1:48:33
Summer TCUL Leage, Jacob's Ladder and Warmouth
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 2:03:37
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:34:01
Wirth Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 45th
Bikery Cyclocross, Cat. 3, 16th
Red Barn Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 24th
Behind Bars / Velodrome Cyclocross, Cat. 3, 42nd
Minnesota State Championships Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 23rd

2010
City of Lakes Loppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:45:28
Marine O' Brien 25 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:17:18
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, N/A
American Birkebeiner 54 Kilometer classic, 3:04:58
Summer TCUL League, Akita and Jeweled Lacerta
Jon Francis Memorial Half-Marathon, 1:44:41
4th Annual Wooly Mtn. Bike Race, Recreational Category, 34:53
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 1:43:42
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 1:53.04
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:22.15

2011
King Boreas 15 k freestyle, 42:05
Marine O'brien 25 k freestyle, 1:17:17
City of Lakes Loppet 33 k freestyle, 1:46:01
Mora Vassaloppet 58 k freestyle, 3:15:02
Pole Pedal Pant, 1:36:59
Get Lucky 7 k, 31:56
Surly Trail Loppet, 2:01.18

2012
Marine O'Brien 21 K Classic 1:09:56
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, N/A
City of Lakes Loppet 17 Kilometer Freestyle, 50:04
UCare Tri-Loppet 1:55:26
Minneapolis Duathalon 1:31:18
Nice Ride 145
Surly Trail Loppet 1:41:13
Hoigaard's Challenge 4:26:43
TCUL Fall League, Thundercats

2013
Twin Cities Ultimate League, Mens Hat Tournament, Team 3M
Marine O'Brien 25 K Freestyle, 1:20:52
City of Lakes Loppet Hoigaards 25 k Classic, 1:35:10
American Birkebeiner, 51 k Freestyle, 2:57:34
Saint John's University Red Ride Century participant
UCare Tri-Loppet, 1:55:58
Nice Ride 170
Surly Trail Loppet, 1:47:08
Hoigaards Challenge 5:32:58

2014
Twin Cities Ultimate League, MLK Jr. Day Hat Tournament.
Surly Trail Loppet, 2:04:57

2015
City of Lakes Loppet Age Gap Relay

2017
City of Lakes Age Gap Relay
TCUL, Masters League, Flintstones