That aside, I thought I had some pretty decent races in Canmore. Two top-10’s and a spectacular qualifier in the classic sprint (the only thing spectacular about it was that I qualified, but different strokes for different folks). I didn’t feel particularly fresh for the 15km skate; legs were a bit heavy and that sometimes doesn’t play out well for all the climbing on this course. I was happy to finish “near” the leaders and was thinking the pursuit would be my day of comeback (rather it was my day of judgment). Come the start of the pursuit, everyone went out like a Christmas tree in January (haha) and I didn’t have anything to keep with the pace. Racing these days just aint the same as it was when I was younger. In a mass start back then, everyone would keep the pace off the start nice and chill (you could have a little conversion with a few people, have a break at the picnic tables), and just when the slower guys like me started to feel like their training had paid off, the fast guys spring off and make a one minute gap on the last climb. Hmm. Anyway, although the classic wasn’t what I had hoped for, the skate leg sure felt good and sort of balanced things out.
A picture of me in the 15km Skate. Just to add some color.
So no Europe or World Cups for me this year, but the over-20-under-23 group sure brought their A-Game and I’m sure hoping they bring their A+ game to Praz-de-Lis and bring home some hardware. But don’t fret, there still may be updates from Europe as Sandau.ca try’s to gain exclusive publicizing rights for one of the Juniors selected for the trip.
Now that all that is said and done, this is what the rest of my winter is shaping up to be. I’ll be off to Rossland B.C. for the NorAm’s there in late January and then Western’s in Canmore in late February. I then hope to peak for the Cookie Race (or the Kananaskis Ski Marathon), which is usually on par with world cups and claims to be the most elite and difficult cookie related ski event in the world. Once I recover from Cookie Overdose, I will be off to Nationals in lovely Duntroon Ontario to end the season.
There is also speculation that Mr. McMurtry’s people are talking to my people to set up another "The [McMurtry] Report", although I heard the show is near collapse after the host was nominated for an Emmy and is now requesting a substantial raise. Some people are just greedy. I’d probably just keep checking back here hourly in regards to that.
McMurtry likes to race hard, and talk hard.
Well that’s all I have to say for now, check back for the next ski update, which at this rate, will be in September.
![Dreaming of a White [May]](http://www.sandau.ca/media/k2/items/cache/19f9cefdfb07230a68581d617885a3af_S.jpg)
