Pursuit

Today’s pursuit race didn’t go as I would have liked. I shot 2,2,1,2 (misses) and didn’t kill it skiing. My early misses separated me from skiing with others. In a pursuit race the general rule for shooting is, if you clean you move up, miss 1 you stay about the same, and any more than that you move back. That was my experience today. I lost 16 place to finish a disappointing 53rd. Now I’m resting and resetting for the Individual race on Wednesday. Judy Geer took some great pictures today; everyone (especially me) appreciates her documenting these championships.

37th in the Sprint

Today’s race was a sprint competition; I had my best shooting ever, with 90% and quick range times. I was happy with my performance. Tomorrow I race the pursuit. The top 60 racers moved on, and we will start in order of our finish today. I’m ready.

Czech Cup #2

Yesterday's relay format race didn't go well for me. I struggled on the range and didn't feel great out on the course. On the bright side I'm glad I made these mistakes this week and not next week during the really important races. Thanks again to Judy Geer for some great pictures.

Czech Cup #1 (Judy Geer Pics)

Today I raced in a Czech Cup race here in Nova Mesto. I felt good on the skis today, and I paced the race pretty well; however, shooting was subpar at best. I missed 3 shots in prone and 2 shots in standing. I’m really lucky to be able to race these races ahead of Junior World Championships. I gives me a great opportunity to figure out how the wind on the range works and how the course is best skied. I was 18th today, my teammates Ben and Ethan where 15th and 16th with 2 and 3 misses each. I’m looking forward an opportunity to improve my shooting tomorrow in the relay format competition.

Pictures via Casey Smith

Jalbert Athlete House Fort Kent Maine

My new home in Fort Kent. A million thanks to Phyllis Jalbert for her design prowess and amazing investment in the MWSC.

Czech

My Baggage and I made it to Nova Mesto Czech and I’m almost all settled in. There isn’t much natural snow here, due to a spell of very warm and wet weather. Today the organizers only had a 1.5k loop, but they have a huge pile of reserve snow that they are spreading out with dump trucks and front end loaders. The town itself has a cool old country feel and a really cool looking church. More pictures to come soon.

Nationals and Euro Trip 2011

I am now into the heart of the racing season, and racing will be coming hard and fast for the next months. Immediately after the last race at US Junior Trials I drove over to Rumford Maine for US XC Ski Nationals. I contested the 15k classic race and the 10k skate race. The classic race was tough because I don’t have the specific strength I have had in the past because biathlon training is almost exclusively skating. I was happy with my race and one of the US Ski Team coaches was impressed with my classic technique. I wound up 101st of 202 overall and was around the 20th Junior racer. The next day was the skate 10k, on paper I should be better at this because of my biathlon training, however the cumulative fatigue from Biathlon Trials and the 15k caught up to me in a big way and I ended up the 33rd junior. Nationals and provided some great physical training and racing experience.
Now I am back in Fort Kent for a week before embarking on the longest overseas trip I have ever taken. I will leave Maine on the 16th of January and fly to Munich Germany. From there I will:
1) Go to the Nova Mesto, Czech Republic for World Junior Biathlon Championships.
2) Drive to Ruhpoling Germany for a training and to compete in German Cup Races
3) Either Ridnan Italy for Under 26 World Championships or Czech for races.
4) Drive back to Munich, and fly back to Maine.
5) Fly back to Minnesota for Junior Nationals XC Championships in Minneapolis
6) Drive from Minneapolis to Grand Rapids for Biathlon Nationals.
7) Drive homeand watch the NCAA Basketball tourney, sleep lots etc.
That will take me to the end of my season in late March. I will do my best to keep updating my blog, but internet is sometimes tough to find in old Europe. The next weeks should be exciting and fun, and I can’t wait to get going.

From the Classic Sprint (I didn't race)

Open Rounds, Check out the dirt! Despite the less than stellar skiing it was a sweet event to watch and it goes to show that no matter what its like outside you better show up ready to race. I'm showing up on Wed and Thurs this week for some distance racing action. Should be good.

Youth/Junior World Championship Team 2011