2/07 City of Lakes Loppet Skate

Thanks to Maureen for the GREAT Photos!

Today was the City of Lakes Loppet Skate Race. It was a great day of racing. Conditions were about 22 degrees with race start at 10:30. Everyone was doing it this year - Bill/Eric/Tom/etc. - it was great day, and I pulled off a good race this year.

The grooming was outstanding again this year, and the course turned out to be faster than I expected. I knew from Saturday that conditions on the lake were somewhat slow. In the woods and on the golf course, though, it seemed pretty fast. I'm really liking the Start wax system I'm using - and the na na na "Nano F7" was awesome today. I was outgliding just about everyone, which is always fun!

John/Dave C/Gene Kay/Nicolai Anikin

Maureen dropped me off at the start, I hung out with Eric Hedman, and saw his friend Eric, and then went skiing with Eric, Bill and others.  We took a warm up and then got ready for the Start.  This year the start area was moved up above the Chalet in the lighted loop area.  We were worried that it was going to be tight - but they had 7 waved, and it turned out OK.  The first 3 lines were full when I got up to the start - so I forced my way into the 3rd row.  That worked out well - as I got a clean start and was off to the races!   I skied with a group the whole way - and with Dave Christopherson for much of the race.  He pulled a lot of the way and he's fun to ski with - I took a few turns on the lake - Earlier, he even shouted out and asked if I was going to stop for water at an aid station - so we could ski together afterwards - pretty cool!  As we got onto Cedar Lake the 2nd time - we were all tired; I hung on for all I could.  On Lakes of the Isles Dave and Gene Kay and I worked together and had a strong finish - I felt wobbly but did what I could to finish up the Mall.  I only lost a few positions at the end, and I was quite happy with the race!

 Jean and Sanil came out to watch as well as Maureen, Joe and Ethan.  The boys climbed on top of a huge Snowman - but ran out and cheered when the saw me coming.  It's great having spectators out on the course.  Also, on the other side of Cedar Lake was Gerianne, JoJo and David Baldus - lots of cheering going on - it was great!

The only real bummer was that Surly was the Beer sponsor this year - but they ran out of Furious - uggggh!  I ended up having something called a Coffee Bender?  It was OK - but I was hoping for the good stuff!  They had delicious Brats, though - and the usual Soups/Bread/Cookies.