Nordic Racers Ski Club:
The Leading Edge,
February 2001

President's Message

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the ski season. The snow has finally arrived (although not nearly as well as in the last few years) and the executive has been hard at work with this season's events. The Learn to Loppet clinic has just wrapped up and -- by all accounts -- was another success. Many members have taken part in loppets including Salmon Arm, Cariboo, and Whistler. Coming up soon are the Cascade Cup Loppet at Manning Park on March 3rd and the Sovereign Lake Loppet near Vernon on March 10th. These are both great events for our members to participate in.

It has been brought to my attention by Cypress Mountain management that we have had some unpleasant incidents on the trails at Hollyburn. The first involved a collision during a Learn to Loppet time trial. The second involved two club members who spoke obscenities to a skier who asked them to move to the correct side of the trail. This behaviour can result in Cypress management limiting club activities on the mountain and also in the pulling of seasons' pass privileges. Our club jackets make us a highly visible entity and I urge all members to obey the rules of ski etiquette and to conduct themselves with courtesy and responsibility.

I hope to see lots of members on Wednesday evenings -- a club host is in Hollyburn Lodge from 7:45 to 9:00 -- and at upcoming events, including loppets, the fondue dinner, and the BBQ/cabin party. Enjoy the snow!

Cheers,

-- Teri

Westerns Log

By David Wyness

Due to the results of the first BC Cup races in late December at Silver Star, I had the opportunity to compete for the BC team at the Western Canadian Championships in Canmore, Alberta. The races took place between January 10th and January 14th. I had qualified to be on the BC ski team for the duration of this trip, although I am on the BC Development Squad this year.

Wednesday, January 10th was the travel day. It was a typical travel day when dealing with airplanes: hurry up and wait. I had a 9:00 a.m. flight out of Vancouver, arriving in Calgary at about 11:00. I was picked up there by the CCBC coach, Nicky Manhard, and her brother, Dana. First thing: find two team members staying somewhere in Calgary at a relative's house. After much driving and arguing, we finally found Dave Grove from Prince George and Chris Werrell from Burns Lake. After an hour and a half with five big people in a little Neon, we reached Canmore, unfolded from the car, found our rooms, changed into our ski gear, and were off to the course. I was roomed with Dave Grove, Chris Werrell, and Michael McMillan, a friend from the Smithers ski team. Michael didn't show up until later because he had had a long drive. After skiing the course, a 10K skate, we waxed skis, bought some food, and headed back to the room for dinner. After dinner we had a team meeting, met our coaches and went over the basic routine.

The next day we woke up late, because we didn't ski until the afternoon. Showing up late, we were able to cheer some of the others on and had plenty of time to warm up. I had a ten kilometre skating race that day. It was a tough course. I could tell in the first thirty seconds it wasn't going to be good. I went too hard on the first lap and wore myself out for the second. Eighth place. I left, ignoring the results, and joined Michael and his dad for a trip to Calgary and a Flames-Predators hockey game. They don't get many chances to see NHL games in Smithers. The game was great, Calgary winning 2 to 1.

There was no race on Friday, so we slept in, ate a leisurely breakfast, and watched TV. Then we went to ski and wax our skis in the afternoon. We were in charge of cooking our own meals, and survived on lots of spaghetti, cream of mushroom soup etc. etc. The meal was filling but -- in spite of our special sauce -- was not what someone would regard as gourmet.

Saturday we woke at 9:00. I ate my bagel breakfast, got ready, and listened to some pre-race music. Green Day usually works. We left at 10:15, and had plenty of time to test our wax and get it adjusted for our race. Canmore's artificial snow is a lot different from Cypress Mountain mush. I was mad about my race on Thursday, so I was determined to go harder in this race, a 5 km classic. The race was short and seemed way shorter than the fifteen minutes before my start time. I wanted to find out my result really bad -- it seemed like a fast race -- but the results took forever to come up. I finally found out at about 4:00, I was fifth! This brought my spirits up and I got a ride back to the hotel, where I washed up for the banquet. The banquet was short and to the point, which I think made everyone happy. We got back to the hotel quickly, and I packed all my gear. My ride to Calgary would be right after the sprints on Sunday.

Next morning I got up earlier, put my bag into the CCBC car, and went up to the trails to race. This was my fourth sprint race ever, but I still felt I had a good grasp of the concept, GO FAST! First I had a qualifying round at 10:00, where I placed 7th. Then I had to recover, by elevating my legs and taking in lots of sport drinks. Then I got to race again at 1:00. In this race I was 2nd, so I got to go on to the next round. In this race I was third, so I was knocked down to the race for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. In this race I had a horrible start and had to fight through the other three skiers. The first guy I passed, I cut off on a corner. The next guy, I skied over his ski basket and his pole came off. I guess he was mad, because he wouldn't let me pass and the guy in front was starting to take off. This made me mad, so I passed number two on the hill and caught up to the guy in first, my friend and teammate, Chris Werrell. I was less than a second behind him when we got to the straightaway. Unfortunately, my leg wasn't long enough and I finished a foot's length behind in second place in the heat, 6th place overall. I was whisked away by the coach and we had to run up to the car. I had forgotten my warm-up skis, so I had to run back, my legs burning with lactic acid. In my rush I happened to pass Neil Connolly, no time to chat, sorry Neil. We drove from Canmore to Calgary in 40 minutes (world record) and got to the airport in an hour, just enough time for my friend Chris Werrell to get his flight to Burns Lake. Then I read my book for a while in Calgary Airport, and was soon on a flight home.

Biathlon Gives Utley a Complete Sporting Challenge

By Dan Stinson, The Vancouver Sun, January 23, 2001

Martin Utley isn't involved in the traditional high-profile sports in high school. Basketball, volleyball and soccer hold little interest for him. Instead, he's earning a high profile as an up-and-coming biathlete.

Biathlon is a discipline that combines the endurance of cross-country skiing with the marksmanship of target shooting. And Utley, who's only 15, already has a trophy case of gold and silver medals as he gradually moves up the ladder from his current status as a boys' 2 competitor to junior men's.

Utley entered the 2000 BC Winter Games as a 14-year-old last February and won gold medals in the 10 kilometre and 700 metre super sprint and silver in the 7.5 km race in Quesnel. Last month, he shot flawlessly -- 25-of-25 -- and won gold medals in the boys' 2 sprint and pursuit races at provincial cup races at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon.

Utley returned to Quesnel recently for BC Cup races and repeated as the boys' 2 10 km champion while earning another silver medal in the 7.5 km sprint.

"Martin is doing exceptionally well in biathlon and I expect his success to continue when he moves up to junior men's competition in two years," says Celine Feagan, one of Utley's coaches. "His goal is to compete on the World Cup circuit and I think that's a very definite possibility down the road."

Utley placed sixth in the individual 15 km race and eighth in the 10 km sprint in his category at the Canadian national biathlon championships last year. His relay team was second in the 10 km event.

Born in Rossland, Utley and his family moved to West Vancouver when he was eight. He says he has skied since he was three years old and eventually found that the added challenge of target shooting also appealed to him.

"Biathlon is taking up most of my free time," he says. "I ski three or four times a week, shoot live fire once or twice a week and dry fire [no bullets] three times a week. I'd like to eventually become an Olympic Games biathlete, but this is definitely a step-by-step process.

"I just want to keep on improving at every level."

Martin Utley File

School: Rockridge Middle School, West Vancouver.

Grade: 10.

Age: 15.

Height/weight: 5'9", 140 pounds.

Best part of biathlon experience: "I like racing a lot, I like competing. The highlight for me so far is competing at nationals."

Favourite car: Audi S4.

Favourite sport (besides biathlon): Mountain bike racing. "It's just a recreational sport for me."

Favourite movie: Gladiator.

Favourite musicians: U2.

Favourite sports figure: Thomas Alsgaard (Norwegian cross-country skier who was part of Norway's gold medal 40-km relay team at the '98 Winter Olympics).

Person most admired: "Alan Ball, my main biathlon coach."

Quote: "I like biathlon because it's a multi-personality sport. When you're a skier you're just skiing and when you shoot you're just shooting. But when you combine the two, you face a special challenge."

Reprinted courtesy of The Vancouver Sun

Club Events

Cascade Cup

Though not on the CCBC calendar, the Cascade Cup is still being held at Manning Park on Saturday, March 3rd. This is a 30 km classic-technique loppet, with a 15 km option for recreational skiers. Entry forms are available on the club's website, www.nordicracers.bc.ca, or you can register in person at Sigge's on March 2nd, until noon.

Contact Feng Chen if you're interested in car-pooling to the race.

Fondue Night

Keep Wednesday, March 7th free in your calendars for the Nordic Racers' annual fondue night at Hollyburn Lodge. Dinner is a cheese fondue, followed by a fresh fruit in chocolate fondue for dessert, all for $20. A 7:30 reservation lets you get in a ski beforehand. RSVP by February 28th to Richard Sones or Esther Croft.

Barbecue / Cabin Party

Once again, the Hollyburn Ridge First Aid Ski Patrol's cabin will be the site of our season's-end party. To be held on Saturday, March 24th, it will be similar to last year's do. There will be a fee (TBA) for hamburgers, salad, dessert and appetizers. The cabin can also sleep about twenty people, for those wishing to stay overnight.

If you'd like to attend, or if you can help with preparations, please contact Craig Oliver. More details will be sent out by e-mail closer to the date.

CANSI Course

We are thinking of holding a Level 1 CANSI course in late March. This is the first level of ski coaching certification, and is a good way to focus on your own technique while becoming trained to help others learn both skating and classic skiing.

If interested, contact Dave McKee ASAP.

Many congratulations, also, to Tony Chin and Sonia Marazzi, who recently qualified as Level 1 instructors.

Citizen Chin

By Tony Chin -- February 2000

Citizen Racer. What a curiously quaint term to describe the non-competitive ski racer. As I stand in the incredibly blinding sunshine at Nickel Plate, awaiting the start of the loppet, I suddenly feel overdressed amongst the lycra race suits. That is, until I realize that I am in the majority and not the minority. If clothes indicate the type of racer one is, elite/competitive versus citizen/non-competitive, then citizen racers dominate almost all cross country ski races. I'm a citizen racer, Citizen Chin!

An air horn shatters the morning air and interrupts my musing.

A hundred and twenty skiers take to the tracks. I glance over and spot Grace and Diana, both of whom are participating in their first ever 30 km classic ski race.

I yell out words of encouragement, "Looking good! And your diagonal stride's not bad either!"

Fearful of physical retribution, such as wayward poles hitting my backside, I break for the woods. Tom ducks out from behind a tree and ambushes me with his camera. Tom, who is the epitome of a citizen racer, has taken up the role of club photographer this weekend. It's the love of skiing and not the competition that brings Tom out to race after race. The sight of him elicits a chuckle as I remember the joke we shared on the drive up to Apex.

Tom: Whoa! Dude! Where'd you get the new RCS Skate Cut Skis?

Tony: The other night in the parking lot, this beautiful woman came up to me. She threw her skis on the ground, stripped off all her clothes, leaned over and whispered into my ear, "Take what you want."

Tom: Good choice! The clothes probably wouldn't have fit!

God! I love road trips!

As I settle into my race pace, memories of my first loppet came to mind. It was here at Nickel Plate exactly a year ago. It was an epic battle between me and a septuagenarian that I had nicknamed Red Green. A battle of titanic proportions! Up there with Holmes and Ali, Palmer and Nicklaus, the Rock and Triple H! Maybe not quite that apocalyptic, but it was a very memorable race. I learned many things that day; by far the most important lesson I learned is that attitude is just as important as level of fitness.

Boss: Homer, if you take Friday off, don't bother coming in Monday!

Homer Simpson: Woo-hooooo! Four day weekend!

Think positive! The power of your mind cannot be underestimated!

As I approach the aid station, I notice all the cups scattered down the trail. It dawns on me that for the volunteers, the race is about the citizen racers, not the elite racers. The elite racers whiz in, grab a cup on the fly, gulp it down and toss the empty cup down the trail. To the volunteers, the elite skiers are an indistinguishable blur. But citizen racers are another story. I, being a typical(?) citizen racer, stop at the drink stations, talk to the volunteers, thank them for the job they are doing, neatly deposit my cup in the trash bin, and then ski out. I know if I were standing in sub-zero temperatures for several hours, I would feel more appreciated if people stopped to talk to me and thank me for all the work I'd done in setting up and manning an aid station. So I make it a point to stop and spend a few minutes at each aid station -- I would probably spend even more time at the aid station if they served martinis!

I complete my first loop of the course and am ecstatic! I have completed 15 km in a much faster time than the last time I was here! All those Wednesday Night ski sessions (and hot chocolates!) have paid off!

Ascending to the upper meadow for the second time, I know that I am in trouble. My energy level is low and I am about to have my first experience with that dreaded "B" word, B-O-N-K. The last 6 km are a struggle as I stumble along. I refuse to quit.

"Four day weekend!" I yell out in an attempt to keep my weary body going. Dominique gives me the "I don't know you" look as she passes me.

As I descend the last hill into the meadows towards the finish line, several Nordic Racers cheer me on. I am fatigued, gasping for air, and ready to hibernate. In that briefest of moments, all the thoughts in my mind clash together and I come to the realization that this is what Willy Amos, maker of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies and thus one of my personal heroes, was talking about.

"Life is not a sporting event. But if it were, it would be a relay race in which we work with and support each other rather than compete."

That's what being a Nordic Racer is all about! It's not about competing, it's about developing friendships and -- along the way -- becoming a better skier! The Silver Star Ski Camp, the day trips to Whistler and Manning Park, the Learn to Loppet clinics, the Wednesday Night ski sessions -- these weren't about trying to find out who was the best and fastest skier. No, it's about making life-long friends and it's about collectively becoming better, faster skiers! If I ever make it to the podium, I would consider it a victory for all Nordic Racers because I am definitely the product of the support and guidance I have been receiving from all my fellow skiers.

I cross the finish line and dive into the nearest snowbank.

"Are you okay?"

In my weakened condition my mind has regressed to my childhood, to a more innocent time, to a time long ago when I first fell in love with skiing. Just before I pass out, I hear my disembodied voice whisper: Rose-i'nol!

[Anyone interested in sharing accommodations for the 2001 edition of this 30 km / 15 km classic race near Penticton, to be held on Saturday, February 24th, should contact Russell Jutlah.]

Ullr -- God of Skiing

By Dave McKee

You know the feeling -- you are on your skis, working the downhills, enjoyin' the speed, and then suddenly for a few turns you seem immortal. The feeling is difficult to describe, but perhaps you sensed a little inspiration from Ullr...the god of choice among Scandinavians and cross country skiers alike.

Ullr (a.k.a. Uller, Ullin, Holler, Vulder, and Ull) is one of the older Nordic Gods (pre-Viking era), who kept fine company with the likes of Odin, Thor, and other esteemed deities. Among his many skills, he was the god of skiing, archery, and hunting, and was known to be quite promiscuous (which may have been inherited from his mother Sif, the Goddess of Fertility).

Now sure, Ullr seemed to have had some neat traits, but in our world of plastic boots, cap skis, laser sights, and Viagra, it's easy to dismiss them as the quaint skills of some randy old god. Nevertheless, think back to the old days when being noted as a master of archery was no slight task. At the time, Ullr competed with the likes of Thor, who brandished a hammer capable of shooting lightning bolts in battle -- sort of like skiing old fish scales while your buddy is on a pair of the latest skating skis. Despite his lack of supernatural powers (aside from skiing), Ullr was the name invoked to warrant luck when undertaking a duel. His name, which means glorious or dazzling, clearly reflects his abilities; myth has it that he once held the seat of the highest god. His character and legends are pervasive throughout the historic tales of the Vikings, Goths, Saxons, and ancient Britons. Basically, Ullr rules!

In addition to duelling, Gods were also known to have a penchant for good times, and Ullr (when he was not out rippin' up the tracks) was known to flirt with the Goddesses on a regular basis. His sexual prowess is legendary and if modern pop culture has any value at all, then the Goddesses may well have been sporting horns and pointy metal bras -- necessitating some smooth talkin' and delicate moves on Ullr's part (and they thought the obstacle course on Survivor was tough). As an historical aside: Ullr's sexual prowess seems to support archaeological evidence that polypropylene underwear has not existed until recent times given the effect sweaty polypro has on most folks amorous inclinations.

However, most important to us snow lovers, Ullr is the god of skiing. As the undisputed master of skis, he often used his skill to escape from foes or to track down prey, in addition (I am sure) to shredding fresh POW. In a sport intimately tied with Scandinavian tradition, it is no wonder that in Norway there are a number of place names that incorporate the name of Ullr.

In the days of Ullr, skis were not entirely what we'd recognise today. In fact, what we know as skis probably did not evolve until the last century. In the time of the gods, skis were akin to two planks of wood -- one wrapped with cord to provide traction. As people were often hunting or at war, a single ski pole was often used, allowing a free hand for a weapon (much like what is seen at the Whistler loppet when all the tracks converge at the start).

It is said that Ullr was such a great skier that he would streak across the sky leaving the brilliant stars as his trails. (They obviously had some fine powder days.) Though very skilled, Ullr guarded his knowledge closely and refused to show the other gods how to ski. Luckily for us, he let the secret out of the bag and we can all celebrate his glory . Next time you are trying to climb a steep hill with bad wax or tucking down Russel, be sure to invoke his name and remember -- ULLR RULES!

Buy and Sell

[Ad space in our newsletter and on our website is free for club members; contact Feng at 738-5695 or fengski@yahoo.ca for details.]