Sandau Crowned Western Champ
Article posted by Rocky Mountain Outlook - January 26, 2012
Some have dubbed Canada's men's cross-country ski team to be a collection of "Nordic Knights" defined by bravery, ferocity and victory on the frozen tracks of the World Cup.
Another athlete made his bid for a place at the round table on Sunday (Jan. 22) with a Paladin-esque performance at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
On bended knee, Kevin Sandau accepted his gold medal for winning the cross-country ski mini-tour at the Western Canadian Championships, lining him up for a shot at the World Cup later this spring. Sandau was the fastest aggregate male over the 10 km classic ski, skate sprint and 15 km free skate competition. Graham Nishikawa finished second, while Brent McMurtry was third.
The title goes to the top racer over three days of racing. In order to claim victory, Sandau had to make up 41 seconds on McMurtry in the final pursuit race on Sunday. He did so - and more.
Sandau was second in the classic race on Friday, behind McMurty and just ahead of Erik Carleton, who had a strong tour as well. In the sprint race, which was won by Canmore's Jesse Cockney, Sandau didn't pass the semi-finals, while McMurtry was third, putting him in the driver's seat.
"I thought 41 seconds was a lot for 15 kilometres. I don't know what to think, it was a hell of a race," Sandau said.
In Sunday's pursuit race, McMurtry was given a 41 second head start thanks to his dominating performance in the classic race on Friday, and needed a strong result after coming up short in the sprints, where he won bronze. However, Sandau, who started second, was on a mission and caught a struggling McMurtry by the halfway point and refused to relent.
"In the mini-tour, you can't win with one race, but you can lose with one race," Sandau said.
"When I caught Brent, I could tell by the way I was moving and he was moving there was no point sticking with him. I knew I had to keep the hammer down and worry about the overall time."
Nishikawa also crept up on McMurtry and edged him at the line to earn second place in the mini-tour.
"This weekend was kind of confusing. I was superbad on Friday. I don't know what happened and didn't know what would happen (in the skate). I kept reeling in guys and had a shot at second," Nishikawa said. "I'm super happy with this result."
McMurty was extremely frustrated after the skate, calling the race his worst of the year. The NorAm leader going in, he'll be hard pressed to capture the last World Cup spot.
Sandau has had a remarkable season since returning from Europe, winning three races and battling with McMurtry and Nishikawa as the top-ranked NorAm racer. The win in the mini-tour came as a surprise though.
"I'm speechless. I did not expect a tour like this. I'm thrilled. After the sprint my body was crashing badly. I tried to stay positive and it worked out in the end," Sandau said.
He's off to the Eastern Canadian Championships in Gatineau, and will wait and see if he gets the call to join Canada's World Cup squad in spring.
In a final surprise in the race, World Cup veteran Ivan Babikov showed up for the skate ski. Since he didn't compete in the other races, he had to join the mass start, six minutes behind the leader. However that didn't deter him, as he posted the second-fastest time of the day, passing skiers left and right around the course.
Whistler Once Again
Racing has started up again for 2012, and I'm back in Whistler for what seems like the millionth time for some NorAm races. It took awhile for me find my legs in yesterday's 30km, but by the time I transitioned to skate, things were looking better and I was able to grab the win.
Taking a turn at the front in the skate leg, thanks to Angus Cockney for the photos
Brent McMurtry and I to the line, making it 3 for 3 for distance races this season. Jesse Winter grabbed this shot of the sprint to the finish - check out his shots at his website here
Tomorrow is the skate sprints, something I've started growing a soft spot for. We'll see how this one goes...
K
Round 2 - Rossland: My Sprinting Made an Appearance...
The racing is over and after hanging around in Rossland for a couple days, it's back home for me for some good ol’ Christmas time. Greyhound could be a bit more reliable with their bus service as I'm stuck in Revelstoke for the time being, but it's given me some time to do some computer jamming and whip out an update.
This past weekend's NorAm's were a bag full of firsts for me, particularly in the skate sprint. I can't really remember the last time I've moved on past a quarterfinal and on to the later rounds. Saturday was a bit of a welcome surprise to me, as I started off the day with the 4th fastest qualifying time. Turns out there is a bit of sprint in me.
First Ever NorAm Win and off to Rossland...
The straggling bits of jet lag have passed and the racing season in Canada is in full swing. Upon returning back home from Europe, I had a week and a half of Canmore time before packing up my bag again and returning to the road. This time Sovereign Lakes and Rossland NorAms.
Already having more than a few races in the bank this season, I was excited for the 15km classic race at Sovereign, generally a good distance for me. There were a couple things I took away from my World Cup experience in November that I wanted to apply to Sunday's race, specifically speaking: ski smooth, long, and efficient.
Kuusamo Mini-Tour
It seems like my brain is starting to function again after a few rough days of jet lag. I'm back in the snowy homeland after my three week stint in what could almost be described as Europe during the spring. Kuusamo, Finland was my last stop on the trip with some world cup mini-tour action. In the end I finished 73rd, jumbled back in the pack but gained some good insight and experience in my 3rd, 4th and 5th world cup experience. Insert race breakdown:
Day 1: Classic Sprint
Well, there had been quite a bit of emphasis in training over the summer to improve my short distance and sprinting speed, but this wasn't exactly the race to best gauge how things fared. Not to say that it wasn't a fun race. The course in Kuusamo was to my liking, with some good steep climbs and little of the double pole stuff. I'd say of the sprint qualifiers I've done over the years, this one felt relaxed, fast, and with not a huge amount of pressure going into it, pretty controlled. I crossed the line in 111th and 20 seconds back. On to the good stuff.
Actually before we get to day two, a special note. Moustachioed Len Valjas started his season off pretty decently with a 5th place finish in the sprint, keeping the energy going from Harvey's 5th the weekend before in Norway. It must be the intimidation factor of his Movember Mo.
Day 2: Turkey Legs in the 10km
It's funny really. For dinner the night before we were served turkey, and the joke at the dinner table was if you eat too much of it, you'd be plagued with turkey legs the next day. The claim of turkey legs doesn't really have any scientific backing, or well so I thought. Saturday's 10km skate race was turkey legs buffet. Just after the first climb my legs locked up, unable to clear lactate quick enough to maintain any sort of fresh feeling for the remaining 8km. It was a battle between mind and legs as I tried to ski smooth to the finish line, and ended up with the 69th fastest time.
Day 3: Semi-redemption in the 15km
With yesterday's race behind me, I was focused on finishing the tour on a positive note. Because it was a pursuit style start, I started my race about two minutes after the leaders. Skiers were starting every second, so there was a long line of skiers going around the course and plenty of positions to move forward. The body was night and day compared to yesterday, and things started off smoothly and controlled. Things were going well until mid-way through the race on the downhill we had to repeat six times I had a small lapse in judgment.
Deciding to try the furthest right track for a change I got in my low tuck and gunned it on the downhill. Near the bottom of this hill is a slight left turn that flatten out before hitting a steep climb back into the stadium. Upon hitting the curve in the trail, I jumped out of my track to navigate the turn. Carrying a bit too much speed, and having to cross two other tracks, my one ski decided not to join me and gave me a sudden encounter with the ground. By the time I hopped back up, I lost all my speed for the next climb, and the time I thought I was making had slipped by. Shit happens.
It took me a while to get back in my groove and I did my best to try an regain some spots. By the end I finished the overall tour in 73rd, but withholding the result and the faceplant, Sunday's race felt good. So positive beats out the negative, 9 times out of 10.
I'm hoping a photo turns up, but in the meantime was reminded of the sweet crash I took of Brent McMurtry a couple years ago... O, the memories
So I'm back in Canmore... for now:
I've had a few days at home to ponder the overall early Europe experience, and well, I'd say it went by way too quickly. Seem's like not that long ago I was in Sweden praying for some cooler weather and less rain. Like all my trips across the pond, this one was a blast, with a sweet crew and some valuable racing moments to take home.
There isn't a pause yet, with Canada starting it's racing season this weekend with some Alberta Cups in Canmore. Next weekend I'm off to Vernon for the start of the NorAm series and then to Rossland. Awesome.
Have a good one,
K
Things are Getting Slow-Moed in Östersund...
It's my final few days here in Östersund before boarding a plane and heading to Kuusamo for the final and most important stretch of my trip; the World Cup mini-tour. Today there was a race organized with some of the local clubs and us because our original races in Roveniemi were canceled. I ended up 3rd in the men's 12km classic race, just 9 seconds from the win. It was a nice change of pace compared to last weekend in Bruks, with today's 4km loop involving some much steeper and longer climbs.
And I'm not calling it a comeback, but I've finally made my return to YouTube. Check out the slo-mo fun Lenny, Nish and I had one afternoon. (Hopefully this was a test for things to come in Kuusamo. We'll see.)
Until next time,
Kev
And We're Off...
The season is officially a go. All things considered, yesterdays 15km skate race wasn't too bad despite finishing in the 50's and just under 2 minutes back. It was a pretty windy course with just a couple short hills (not the best for me) but things generally pick up after a few races in Europe.
(Photo: Erik Wickström - www.erikwickstrom.se)
I'm back in Östersund where the skiing is now a 5km loop with some pretty decent climbs. Some of the guys take off for the World Cup Opener later this week while the rest of us will be be staying in Sweden until flying to Finland on the 21st.
K
