Skinnyski Race Team Weekend Recap
By Bruce Adelsman
December 16, 2003
Josie, Ben, Margie and Dave coming off
Maplelag's
North Loup with smiles |
On most weekends during the winter, the Skinnyski.com Race Team
is doing just that -- racing. However, last weekend was an exception
to the rule. With a fairly light racing schedule, eight of the
team members were able to attend a weekend high school ski camp
at Maplelag. Dave and Josie Nelson, Grant Nelson, Per and Margie
Nelson, Ben Popp and Maria Stewart (via Wayzata high school),
along with Maplelag's own Jay Richards were able to participate.
The camp not only offered a fantastic time to kick back with
teammates (eat, ski, sleep -- what else is there?!), but also
allowed them to workout with enthusiatic high school skiers
in clinics each day.
Our newest team member, Maria Stewart, has already proved
to be a huge asset to the team, deftly handling clinic sessions
during the day and on Saturday evening, fielding a wide range
of sports nutrition questions (ask her about glucose index
studies sometime).
Team Member Reports
Weekend Report from Josie Nelson
The Skinny Ski race team got to spend last weekend at
Maplelag Resort, where we helped coach some clinics for
~150 high school skiers. Besides coaching and skiing, it
was a chance to recharge in the enormous hot tub, sauna,
and steam room. We refueled with made-from-scratch delicious
family-style meals and four bottomless cookie jars (I recommend
the ginger snaps, Dave the oatmeal raisin). We had trouble
getting to bed on time since there were so many fun skiers
to catch up with.
Josie leads some striding drills |
We were inspired by the enthusiasm of the skiers we
coached. Besides having a lot of talent, they were hard-working
and eager to learn. We were humbled to race the same 5km
course on Saturday and compare times- they were speedy!
We also found it interesting to discuss our coaching sessions,
as we had different teaching styles. Dave's favorite lesson
was the flying herring bone classic technique, while Grant
worked on high speed downhill cornering. Maria's and my
sessions were brimming with excitement and the love of classic
skiing was definitely contagious! On Sunday Ben, Per, &
Margie got a large group of skiers to work on extreme balance
and quickness while having a load of fun playing "the
Game".
You could tell that Jay Richards is really doing a service
to the ski community in Northwestern Minnesota, after listening
to what the local skiers had to say about him and Maplelag.
He does a fantastic job grooming and makes everyone feel
welcome. We were sad to leave on Sunday afternoon, but we
are already talking about when we will be able to go back!
Weekend Report from Per Nelson
Some months ago Jay sent us all an invitation to come
up for the weekend to ski and coach the high school ski
camp. Margie and I independently decided that it was way
too good to pass up. We may not have been so quick to take
up the offer had we known we'd be leaving the first perfect
snow in years behind, and I'll admit to some worry, but
we soon found that what Bruce has said for years is absolutely
true: Maplelag can take even minimal snow cover and make
excellent skiing.
We arrived at about 9:30 PM and by 10:00 were skiing
a tortuous route trying to follow Skater's Waltz. We were
instantly amazed by the high quality, not only of the skiing
with only a few inches base, but the trail itself. I consider
myself somewhat of a connoisseur of after dark skiing, usually
relying on a very good knowledge of the trail system. In
this case the regular flow, and perfectly maintained trail
made moonlight more than sufficient (although reading the
signs was a bit tough).
The accommodations were excellent. Our cabins offered
comfort, amenities, and yet a real break from the stresses
and rigors of modern life. The meals were prompt, tasty,
and perfectly suited to sustain long hours on the trails.
Jay's 5 km skate race was the first order of business.
The Skinny ski team went out first, and successfully stayed
ahead of the high-school racers that followed several minutes
later. I wish I could say none made up any time on me, but
alas, it is not the first time in recent years that I've
been slower than some of those guys. At least Ben, Grant,
Dave, Margie and Josie all faired better.
Per offering advice on some uphill skating drills |
The technique sessions were a lot of fun. The groups
that I worked with were patient and ready to learn. The
trails provided a great setting to focus on technique with
a variety of terrain suitable to skier of all levels as
well as being protected from the cold wind.
We covered a lot of trail in two days of skiing. My
favorites were the North End loop skating and the Mother
Northstar classic. Both offer scenic wooded courses and
were in really good shape. The skating was somewhat better
as the classic tracks occasionally bottomed out, but all
were very nice ?especially given the snow depth.
I cannot conclude this report, however, without mentioning
the game of "The Game" (aka soccer on skis- although
team handball on skis may be a better description). Sunday
morning we rounded up a rag-tag group of Skinnys and Mpls.
South skiers and hit the new soccer field. Happy to say:
no equipment was broken (that we know of), only minor scrapes
and bruises were sustained, and, of course, the good guys
won.
Thanks very much to Jay, the Richards family, and all
the staff at Maplelag for one great weekend.
|
