This column originally ran in the Mountain Ear on February 25, 2010.
He now has every color of Olympic medals, along with World Championship medals, and a couple of those crystal globes they give to the skier who wins the overall World Cup. Bode Miller has gone from punch line to “redeemed” and while I’m happy for him I still feel like the mainstream media is missing it when it comes to Bode. Bode loves skiing at the limit more than he loves winning, and I don’t think that he’s kidding when he says that.
When I talk to friends or co-workers who think ski racing only takes place every four years they have a hard time understanding why “Bode doesn’t care about winning.” I find that perplexing considering the number of wins he has racked up in his decade and a half or racing at the highest level of the sport. But then, I have to remember that most casual ski racing fans don’t pay attention to the World Cup and the only time they get to hear Brian Williams mention a ski racers name it is during an Olympic year.
This got me thinking, Shaun White is lauded for “going for it” and for “progressing” the sport. He could have easily been in a situation where his second run mattered in the Olympics and been in a situation where he needed to throw down the double McTwist 1260 to win- and he’d have been celebrated regardless of if he blew up or stuck the landing- because he was pushing the sport. Yet Bode isn’t celebrated when he pushes so hard that he blows up.
I understand that there is a difference between a judged sport and a timed sport, Apollo Ohno won’t get any style points if he nails a triple axel in the 1500m short track race. I know that it is hard to compare progression in ski racing since we don’t have World Records for the athletes to beat, in terms of year over year comparisons on the exact same course. At that same time, the skiers are getting faster, technique is always being refined and even revamped, equipment is always evolving, and that takes athletes who are daring enough to push the envelope.
Bode pushes the limits to see how fast he can go, and when it all comes together, he is fast and he often wins. I also think he truly enjoys that sensation of putting down a run where he let it all hang out and that is more important to him than the time on the podium.
Personally, I’m glad Bode has gotten his gold, if for no other reason, that the casual fans can now say that he is a great ski racer. For myself, I will always enjoy watching a man from Franconia do whatever he thought needed to be done to go fast on a pair of skis, even when it meant that he might blow up. In my mind, Bode has progressed the sport- and for that I say thank you.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Is the end near?
I'm sitting at my dining room table looking over at Shawnee Peak trying to figure out if I can muster the strength to head over for a few runs. I feel like I should as they will wrap up their season next weekend and I'll be up at Sugarloaf, so today is my only real chance to say "until next year" to my home hill.
The issue of course is that in the last five days I've become spoiled. Temps in the 60's, bluebird skies, wet spring corn, and a great group to ski with every day. Today it's cloudy, it has been spitting snow (I haven't had snow in my yard for well over a month), and it's not warm. Wow when did I become such a whiner?
With that being said the past week has provided some fantastic ski days. Skiing with friends and family every day, even getting a day for just K and I- it has been great. I'm starting to get the hang of this alpine thing again and have stopped trying to drop a knee on my first turn every run.
So now I'm starting to get stoked to get out there. Just need another cup of coffee first.
The issue of course is that in the last five days I've become spoiled. Temps in the 60's, bluebird skies, wet spring corn, and a great group to ski with every day. Today it's cloudy, it has been spitting snow (I haven't had snow in my yard for well over a month), and it's not warm. Wow when did I become such a whiner?
With that being said the past week has provided some fantastic ski days. Skiing with friends and family every day, even getting a day for just K and I- it has been great. I'm starting to get the hang of this alpine thing again and have stopped trying to drop a knee on my first turn every run.
So now I'm starting to get stoked to get out there. Just need another cup of coffee first.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Back on Track
My ski season hit a bit of a speed bump a few weeks ago when all the snow in my yard melted. I'm not sure what the story was as I knew there was great snow up in the mountains, but since my yard was bare I figured cycling season had started.
Last week I got back on track by heading up to enjoy a day up at Wildcat with a buddy from work. We lucked out and got a bluebird day and perfect snow for gripping and ripping. I took out the alpine skis and had a good time trying to see how deep of a trench I could rip into the side of the mountain. There weren't too many people there so we were making full use of the trails making big, fast turns that left tracks that ran fully edge to edge. It was fun making turns like that as I can't quite do that on my tele boards.
We took a short break to give me a chance to try and fix a hot spot in my boot and while I was doing that I saw the coolest ski pants I've ever seen.
Enough said.
We made about a dozen runs and then pulled the plug as we both had to get back to pick up our kids from school, and we wanted to make sure we had time to stop by the Moat for a bit of late lunch.
That day on the hill got me fully juiced to ski again and knowing that we had a stretch of wet weather heading our way for the weekend I took advantage of the kids having Friday off from school and we headed over to Shawnee Peak. Elizabeth, my oldest, invited a friend of hers to come with us. He was talking big game in the car about how we were going to need to wait for him, I sort of chuckled to myself as he didn't seem to be able to comprehend that my girls can rip on skis and that he was going to find himself trying to keep up. That proved true very quickly and he settled his ego a bit, instead focusing on keeping up with the girls. It made me realize I need to find out if Team Betty is still around so I can get some new "Ski Like a Girl" stickers. Emma was taking special pride in schooling Liz's friend. What can I say it made me smile.
The weekend came and went with wet weather reminding us that spring is right around the corner. It took me most of the weekend to figure out how to set all of our clocks ahead, still have a few to go.
Then this morning I found motivation to head up the mountain for an AM skin and ski with a brief pause to watch the sun rise. I never tire of watching the sky change color and watching the snow slowly go from blue to white. The snow was a bit stiff in places this morning, but I'd bet by the time first chair spun it was in good shape.
Now I have a couple more days of AM skin and ski trips and then on Friday K and I are heading over to Bretton Woods for a good day out on the hill over there. In all it will complete a very good weeks worth of skiing.
Last week I got back on track by heading up to enjoy a day up at Wildcat with a buddy from work. We lucked out and got a bluebird day and perfect snow for gripping and ripping. I took out the alpine skis and had a good time trying to see how deep of a trench I could rip into the side of the mountain. There weren't too many people there so we were making full use of the trails making big, fast turns that left tracks that ran fully edge to edge. It was fun making turns like that as I can't quite do that on my tele boards.
We took a short break to give me a chance to try and fix a hot spot in my boot and while I was doing that I saw the coolest ski pants I've ever seen.
Enough said.
We made about a dozen runs and then pulled the plug as we both had to get back to pick up our kids from school, and we wanted to make sure we had time to stop by the Moat for a bit of late lunch.
That day on the hill got me fully juiced to ski again and knowing that we had a stretch of wet weather heading our way for the weekend I took advantage of the kids having Friday off from school and we headed over to Shawnee Peak. Elizabeth, my oldest, invited a friend of hers to come with us. He was talking big game in the car about how we were going to need to wait for him, I sort of chuckled to myself as he didn't seem to be able to comprehend that my girls can rip on skis and that he was going to find himself trying to keep up. That proved true very quickly and he settled his ego a bit, instead focusing on keeping up with the girls. It made me realize I need to find out if Team Betty is still around so I can get some new "Ski Like a Girl" stickers. Emma was taking special pride in schooling Liz's friend. What can I say it made me smile.
The weekend came and went with wet weather reminding us that spring is right around the corner. It took me most of the weekend to figure out how to set all of our clocks ahead, still have a few to go.
Then this morning I found motivation to head up the mountain for an AM skin and ski with a brief pause to watch the sun rise. I never tire of watching the sky change color and watching the snow slowly go from blue to white. The snow was a bit stiff in places this morning, but I'd bet by the time first chair spun it was in good shape.
Now I have a couple more days of AM skin and ski trips and then on Friday K and I are heading over to Bretton Woods for a good day out on the hill over there. In all it will complete a very good weeks worth of skiing.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Spring
I'm in my office looking at a very blue sky. The ground outside my office is void of snow, in fact most everywhere I look is void of snow at the moment- except the mountains.
When I worked in the ski industry we struggled with the NIMBY issue of no snow in Boston meant people were less likely to want to go out and ski. I knew it was a real issue but felt certain that it was something I would never face, being all dedicated to sliding on snow and such.
My how the mighty have fallen.
No snow in my yard and I'm in the garage ready to put the summer wax on all the snow sliding toys and go into full on bike mode. It doesn't seem to matter that just a few hundred vertical higher than I am at my house (I live on top of a big hill) there is snow, and not just a little snow, but a lot of snow- enough to have a really, really good time. Alas I still find myself unmotivated to hit the hill- what is my problem?
Is it the fact that I hurt my back a couple weeks ago, and haven't skinned since? Hmmm, that could be it- maybe an early morning skin and ski is just what I need to get out the door. If I go early enough it will be dark and I won't see these that popped up on Sunday.
Hmmmm, flowers in early March- strange.
The moral of the story- the skiing is still good so get out and get some, now I just need to take my own advice!
When I worked in the ski industry we struggled with the NIMBY issue of no snow in Boston meant people were less likely to want to go out and ski. I knew it was a real issue but felt certain that it was something I would never face, being all dedicated to sliding on snow and such.
My how the mighty have fallen.
No snow in my yard and I'm in the garage ready to put the summer wax on all the snow sliding toys and go into full on bike mode. It doesn't seem to matter that just a few hundred vertical higher than I am at my house (I live on top of a big hill) there is snow, and not just a little snow, but a lot of snow- enough to have a really, really good time. Alas I still find myself unmotivated to hit the hill- what is my problem?
Is it the fact that I hurt my back a couple weeks ago, and haven't skinned since? Hmmm, that could be it- maybe an early morning skin and ski is just what I need to get out the door. If I go early enough it will be dark and I won't see these that popped up on Sunday.
Hmmmm, flowers in early March- strange.
The moral of the story- the skiing is still good so get out and get some, now I just need to take my own advice!
Monday, March 8, 2010
NENSA J2 Race at Jackson
Top NH racers include:
Women:
3rd, Hannah Benson, Jackson, NH
5th, Tess Hamilton, Hopkinton, NH
6th, Shannon Nadeau, Hopkinton, NH
15th, Mikaela Paluszek, Farmington, NH
Men:
1st, Sean Doherty, Center Conway, NH
7th, Jack Schrupp, Gilford, NH
9th, Spencer Hardy, Ford Sayre Ski Club/Lebanon, NH – lives in Norwich, VT
20th, Calvin Swomley, Hanover, NH
Ellen Chandler
603-867-8707
JSTFLocal Man Wins TD Bank Eastern J2 Championships Freestyle 5K
153 Main St., PO Box 216, Jackson, NH 03846 (603) 383-9355
Contacts: Ellen Chandler (603) 867-8707; Thom Perkins (603) 383-9355
Jackson, N.H., March 5, 2010 – Local racer Sean Doherty (Conway, N.H.) topped an international field of racers in the TD Bank Eastern J2 (age 14, 15) Championships and National Invitational 5K Freestyle race today in Jackson, N.H. Beating more than 100 other racers en route to victory, Doherty was nearly 20 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, a stunning margin in a championship event. Winning the women’s race was Frederic Vezina who races for the Mt. Ste. Anne ski club in Quebec. The first American woman was Mackenzie Hitchcock from the Mt. Greylock ski club in Lanesboro, Mass. She was followed by Doherty’s Kennett High School team-mate Hannah Benson in third.
“These young people raced up a storm today,” said Jackson XC Executive Director Thom Perkins. “In both races the winning margin was decisive, but we had more than 100 racers in both the men’s and women’s fields, and both cases no more than eight minutes elapsed between the first and last skiers to cross the finish line.
The TD Bank Eastern J2 Championships and National Invitational continue on Saturday and Sunday in Jackson. This event represents the culmination of the competition season for young skiers in the East along with invited guest racers from the western U.S. (Washington and Idaho) and Quebec. All racing is taking place on the Wave Competition trail network located near the Eagle Mountain House. Spectators may walk to the race arena from the Eagle Mountain House, or they may access it by skiing in from Jackson Village on the Yodel Trail; there is also ski-in access via the Woodchuck Trail from the parking area on Carter Notch Road.
In addition to having groomed trails for the races, Jackson has recreational trails open and groomed for all abilities. Information on the races and trail conditions is available at www.jacksonxc.org; information about youth ski racing and clubs that are available to racers of all ages is available at the website of the New England Nordic Ski Association, www.nensa.net.
Women:
3rd, Hannah Benson, Jackson, NH
5th, Tess Hamilton, Hopkinton, NH
6th, Shannon Nadeau, Hopkinton, NH
15th, Mikaela Paluszek, Farmington, NH
Men:
1st, Sean Doherty, Center Conway, NH
7th, Jack Schrupp, Gilford, NH
9th, Spencer Hardy, Ford Sayre Ski Club/Lebanon, NH – lives in Norwich, VT
20th, Calvin Swomley, Hanover, NH
Ellen Chandler
603-867-8707
JSTFLocal Man Wins TD Bank Eastern J2 Championships Freestyle 5K
153 Main St., PO Box 216, Jackson, NH 03846 (603) 383-9355
Contacts: Ellen Chandler (603) 867-8707; Thom Perkins (603) 383-9355
Jackson, N.H., March 5, 2010 – Local racer Sean Doherty (Conway, N.H.) topped an international field of racers in the TD Bank Eastern J2 (age 14, 15) Championships and National Invitational 5K Freestyle race today in Jackson, N.H. Beating more than 100 other racers en route to victory, Doherty was nearly 20 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, a stunning margin in a championship event. Winning the women’s race was Frederic Vezina who races for the Mt. Ste. Anne ski club in Quebec. The first American woman was Mackenzie Hitchcock from the Mt. Greylock ski club in Lanesboro, Mass. She was followed by Doherty’s Kennett High School team-mate Hannah Benson in third.
“These young people raced up a storm today,” said Jackson XC Executive Director Thom Perkins. “In both races the winning margin was decisive, but we had more than 100 racers in both the men’s and women’s fields, and both cases no more than eight minutes elapsed between the first and last skiers to cross the finish line.
The TD Bank Eastern J2 Championships and National Invitational continue on Saturday and Sunday in Jackson. This event represents the culmination of the competition season for young skiers in the East along with invited guest racers from the western U.S. (Washington and Idaho) and Quebec. All racing is taking place on the Wave Competition trail network located near the Eagle Mountain House. Spectators may walk to the race arena from the Eagle Mountain House, or they may access it by skiing in from Jackson Village on the Yodel Trail; there is also ski-in access via the Woodchuck Trail from the parking area on Carter Notch Road.
In addition to having groomed trails for the races, Jackson has recreational trails open and groomed for all abilities. Information on the races and trail conditions is available at www.jacksonxc.org; information about youth ski racing and clubs that are available to racers of all ages is available at the website of the New England Nordic Ski Association, www.nensa.net.
Ski to the Clouds
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2010
Contact: Ryan Triffitt
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center
Office: 603.466.2333 x 177 / Cell: 207.837.5045
ryan@mt-washington.com
Freeman and Gill Win Ski to the Clouds
Pinkham Notch, NH—On a spectacularly clear day on Mt. Washington, 2006 Olympian Justin Freeman of New Hampton, NH and the Factory Team won his third consecutive Ski to the Clouds. Kirsten Gill from Lewiston, ME and Bates College was the top woman.
Ski to the Clouds presented by Maxiglide offers $1400 in cash prizes and features a 6-kilometer climb up Mt. Washington making it North America’s Toughest 10k.
Freeman let eventual second place finisher, 1992 and 1994 Olympic Biathlete, Duncan Douglas of Honeoye Falls, NY and the National Guard Biathlon Team take the early lead, and they were together at the start of the climb up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Freeman pulled away steadily on the climb to finish in 43:39. Douglas was nearly a minute back in 44:29. Jesse Downs of Jericho Center, VT and the National Guard Biathlon Team swapped places with Douglas this year after losing to Freeman by a single second in 2009. His final time was 47:29.
On the women’s side, Gill won a close race over Maggie Ryan of Northampton, MA and Berkshire Trails. Gill’s time of 1:01:38 was just over 30 seconds ahead of Ryan who finished in 1:02:16. Amanda Moreland of Bloomfield, NY was third in 1:04:12.
Along with his second place overall finish, Douglas was also the top male 40+. For the women, Meredith Piotrow of Jackson, NH took the top 40+ spot with a time of 1:07:17.
The Ski to the Clouds course includes 4k of racing on the trail system at Great Glen Trails before the climb up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The 6 kilometer climb up the mountain covers 2200 vertical feet making the race North America’s Toughest 10k. The race finishes just below the site of the historic Halfway House on the Mt. Washington Auto Road, at approximately 3800 feet above sea level. Ski to the Clouds is a true freestyle event: skiers can use either skating or classic technique in this mass start race. There are no separate categories for each discipline.
Thanks to the support of Maxiglide, Ski to the Clouds features $1400 in prize money. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three men and women: $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third. The top male and female age 40 or older collected a $200 prize.
Complete results and photos available at www.SkiToTheClouds.com.
A ski challenge of another type is on tap next weekend at Great Glen Trails in the Carl Johnson Memorial Ski-A-Thon. Carl Johnson, a great friend to Great Glen Trails and a lover of all things skiing, passed away in 2006 of ALS. This event is held in his honor and is a fund raiser for the ALS Association. Please visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com to learn more how to support this cause.
Contact: Ryan Triffitt
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center
Office: 603.466.2333 x 177 / Cell: 207.837.5045
ryan@mt-washington.com
Freeman and Gill Win Ski to the Clouds
Pinkham Notch, NH—On a spectacularly clear day on Mt. Washington, 2006 Olympian Justin Freeman of New Hampton, NH and the Factory Team won his third consecutive Ski to the Clouds. Kirsten Gill from Lewiston, ME and Bates College was the top woman.
Ski to the Clouds presented by Maxiglide offers $1400 in cash prizes and features a 6-kilometer climb up Mt. Washington making it North America’s Toughest 10k.
Freeman let eventual second place finisher, 1992 and 1994 Olympic Biathlete, Duncan Douglas of Honeoye Falls, NY and the National Guard Biathlon Team take the early lead, and they were together at the start of the climb up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Freeman pulled away steadily on the climb to finish in 43:39. Douglas was nearly a minute back in 44:29. Jesse Downs of Jericho Center, VT and the National Guard Biathlon Team swapped places with Douglas this year after losing to Freeman by a single second in 2009. His final time was 47:29.
On the women’s side, Gill won a close race over Maggie Ryan of Northampton, MA and Berkshire Trails. Gill’s time of 1:01:38 was just over 30 seconds ahead of Ryan who finished in 1:02:16. Amanda Moreland of Bloomfield, NY was third in 1:04:12.
Along with his second place overall finish, Douglas was also the top male 40+. For the women, Meredith Piotrow of Jackson, NH took the top 40+ spot with a time of 1:07:17.
The Ski to the Clouds course includes 4k of racing on the trail system at Great Glen Trails before the climb up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The 6 kilometer climb up the mountain covers 2200 vertical feet making the race North America’s Toughest 10k. The race finishes just below the site of the historic Halfway House on the Mt. Washington Auto Road, at approximately 3800 feet above sea level. Ski to the Clouds is a true freestyle event: skiers can use either skating or classic technique in this mass start race. There are no separate categories for each discipline.
Thanks to the support of Maxiglide, Ski to the Clouds features $1400 in prize money. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three men and women: $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third. The top male and female age 40 or older collected a $200 prize.
Complete results and photos available at www.SkiToTheClouds.com.
A ski challenge of another type is on tap next weekend at Great Glen Trails in the Carl Johnson Memorial Ski-A-Thon. Carl Johnson, a great friend to Great Glen Trails and a lover of all things skiing, passed away in 2006 of ALS. This event is held in his honor and is a fund raiser for the ALS Association. Please visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com to learn more how to support this cause.
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