Things kicked off with the sprint races. I raced the sprint event back in 2013 and I was surprised when I saw this course. I remembered the course in Pelvoux being shorter, and with its position at the base of a ski hill, the downhill skiing was down through gates on a groomed run. This descent consisted of a taped lane, more reminiscent of a bike race, and had some rocks poking out. Fortunately after more work on the course, the snow hardened up for race day.
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| The course with its flat start, kick turns, bootpack, and downhill through a taped off lane. |
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| Mel, Kylee, and Michelle moved on to the heats, which was a great experience for them. |
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| Post elimination spectating. |
Vertical:
The vertical took place the day after the sprint. Starting below the Verbier village in an open field. I had a bit of last minute panic as my race gear was locked inside a car, when in retrospect, I should have stored it in the race hall at Espace St. Marc.
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| Skinning through the Verbier village, the wet, brown snow soaking our skins. |
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| Good crowd at the top of the vertical to watch me suffer. |
Individual:
I spent the day off between the vertical and the individual race previewing the individual race descents, and I was stoked about the ski quality. My legs were still heavy from the vertical race and during the warmup I checked out the first part of the initial climb. It was up a steep groomer, something resembling the tales of American skimo races. This was followed by some steep mogul skinning, also reminiscent of American skimo races (or what I've heard about them!). Grippy skins were must for this first climb. After a short crusty descent, the skiing was more pleasant, aside from some stepped, blownout skintracks to take us up the ridge for our first summit of 6 Blanc. My descending was weak and I was not consistently nailing my binding step ins and I got caught by 2 racers. As we descended beside the next climb's uptrack, it was interesting to see the race ahead playing out with Nick Elson right there in the mix, and Travis racing stronger after suffering hard on the first climb. I was strong on the bootpacks relative to my companions and clawed back on the final 2 climbs. The final descent was down your classic liftline mogul run and while 2 skied away from me, I was able to snag another spot by carrying more speed into the finish line. 72nd and 37minutes behind the winner.
Teams:
The teams race course is longer and more technical than the individual race and skiers are required to partner up with someone of the same nationality and remain together for the entire race. I was partnered up with Oliver Bibby, a junior who had competed in his individual race just the day before. I had a "rest" day between the races, which I used to pre-ski the course!
I enjoyed the more relaxed pace at the start, which was good because I wouldn't have wanted to be too deep in the pain cave while trying to thrash my way up the icy skintrack of the first climb!
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| Teams race during the 4th climb. I got a break from towing as there were more kickturns which were hard to coordinate during towing. |
The third descent was sketchy! Down an icy couloir and icy bed surface and through debris at the bottom. I was glad to have survived that and get out of the bowling alley of ice balls sent down the couloir by skiers above me. OThe liver started to fade on the 4th climb and I put him on the tow rope as 2 teams passed us and skied away. He was really struggling on the 5th climb and I could hear him dry heaving. The tow rope was stretched pretty tight at this point. When I topped out the climb, I looked over and saw Ben Ohler cheering for us, while crouched over a stretcher, some Dynafit One boots sticking out. Oh no, is that Brent?
For once, I was the faster on the descents as Oliver's tired legs were not up for the demands of the top part of the 5th descent. He caught back up at the bottom before the long skating section. This was slow going with the warm snow and we were glad to not be in a close battle with other teams. Near the end of the skate, Oliver was feeling better and started charging towards the final part of the descent. I lost sight of him ahead, and then I kind of shut it down on a piste section right before the finish. I coasted across the line and the only two Canada suits I could see were of Michelle and Kylee, who had finished just before us. Then I looked down and saw Oliver on the ground and people rushing to get blankets on him and setting up an oxygen mask. I found Dave Dornian and got him to call Ben to ask about Brent. Brent had collapsed at the top of Mt. Gele at 3000m after stepping off the tram. He was airlifted out quickly.
I was assured that he would be okay, but to be honest I was pissed that he had just left me in his dust, pretty much breaking the main rule of teams racing. But at least I knew my partner gave it his all.
Relay:
The relay was exciting. The course added another climb to the sprint course, so I knew pacing would be important. Word was that Brent was okay, but he would have to remain in hospital so we would not be able to hear his encouragement during the relay.
There is always a bit of a rivalry (some people take it more seriously than others) between Canada and US, although the US never sends their top guns (except this year, when their selection was not solely based on 3 individual races, but a sprint and a vertical as well?). I say that out of respect as the fields in the US are incredibly deep and that I would be in a tough battle for the top 20 if I ever showed up to Jackson.
Anyways, the US women had just beaten the Canadian women, and Nick Elson handed off to me with a bit of a gap over the American starter, Andy Dorais. As I chilled out on the first part of the first climb, American Colin Cares closed in on me, but I eeked out some gaps with some solid transitions and had something left in the tank for the top of the 2nd climb. I held a gap as I handed off to Oliver, who going against doctor's orders, raced. Oliver botched some transitions and was caught by Teague, who paced smartly for the 2nd climb. However, instead of heading into the lap lane to give the American anchor Billy a head start over our anchor Travis, Teague skied through to the finish chute and once he realized his mistake, he had to ski back around to the lap lane. Billy and Travis left for the final lap at the same time.
Travis raced with some smart pacing and clean transitions and we finished in 9th place, almost 50 seconds up on the Americans. That battle was the subject of many drunken ramblings at that night's closing ceremonies.
It was frustrating that I was not able to build on my successes in Pelvoux/Puy St. Vincent in 2013, and I'm sure friends and family members will come up with some excuses to help comfort me. I had a lot of fun training for Pelvoux and I never really felt like I was pushing myself too hard. To get back to that level while training in Edmonton and working full time is going to require greater discipline (specifically the ability to push myself harder on flat terrain and to find an analog for a climb longer than 2minutes), time management, and diet (can I afford to be lugging more weight up the hill than I need to?). I think it will take a lifestyle change before I am ready to attend another World Championships.
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