Since Fall

Right now I'm in Torsby Sweden for the Junior World Championships, with marginal results to show for my efforts. The fall and early winter preparation for these races went well. I trained hard through the fall, despite not getting on snow until December. November is one of the hardest months or training because it is the biggest volume training month, its dark, and the dryland training methods are very worn out. After finally getting on snow I was felling strong. The first two races of the year took place at Mt.Itasca in Grand Rapids Minnesota. These races took place a week before Junior World Team Trials. I was not completely happy with my results, but these races where largely preparation for Trials. Trials went well. I had a major breakthrough in the Pursuit race shooting 18/20 and posting the fastest ski time. I was 4th 1st and 3rd in the Trials races. With good skiing and shooting I was optimistic about World Juniors. After 24 plus hours of travel I arrived in Torsby Sweden in good form. The first race was an individual format. An individual race is 12.5k long with four shooting stages, in the individual one minute is added on to your time for every miss so shooting is crucial. I shot 70 percent. This was good enough for 45th place of the 90 competitors. I wasn’t happy with this race mostly because I had a great race going, but blew any shot at a good result in the first standing stage. My shooting misses where 1,4,0,1. I was looking to improve in the Sprint, but I ran into some food poisoning. I was puking and very fatigued during my race. With 60 percent shooting I did not qualify for the pursuit. I was 69th, with 60th being the last qualifying spot. I was very frustrated after this race. My final race here will be the relay race. My goal for the relay is to have a race on par with my potential. After the relay I fly back to Minnesota, and the next morning I race the high school regional championship race. One week after the region meet I should qualify for the State meet, and then I have a break until the next set of big races which will be US Nationals in Fort Kent. Thanks for checking in and I apologize for my blogging hiatus.