Birkebeinerrennet

Today marks the day before I participate in one of the most famous ski races in the world.  The infamous Birkebeiner is a 54k classic "marathon" race.  It starts in a town called Rena with a continuous, no breaks, 13k uphill.  After that, it is a series up rolling hills and a lot of flat for about 15k or so.  You may think "Wow, it must be downhill now!", but don't be confused... There is another challenging hill lasting for another 5 kilometers.  This 5k uphill has been described to me as the hill that separates the men from the boys.  It is very challenging, and marks the highest point on the course.  At this point you have climbed over 600 meters, however on this particular climb you go from 650  meters to 900.  There is a flat after this hill lasting for about 7k or so before the final decent lasting 15k to the finish in Lillehammer.

I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to race this event that every skier dreams about doing.  It is simply a must do as a cross country skier.  I will be starting in the 3rd heat of about 25 heats due to a pretty good finish in a 42k classic seeding race earlier this season.  I'm hoping to ski it in under 3:10.  The conditions call for minus degrees the whole race, sunshine, and there should be a ton of people spectating! My skis are ready, I am in great shape after junior national championships, and waxing conditions should be pretty simple for kick!

More later after the race! Time to stuff myself to maximum capacity with steak, rice, and veggies!

World Championships Continued.

It's been a busy few days recently with all of the races.  After the sprint races was the women's 15k pursuit race, where they make a change in skis.  I had plans to go and watch this race saturday, but unfortunately, there were so many people taking the metro up to Holmenkollen it was impossible to take the metro up... That should give you a pretty good indication of how many people are watching these races.  None the less it was great to see on TV too, because we could see the skiers the whole time in HD.  It was a fantastic day for Norway with Marit Bjørgen taking her 2nd gold, making it 2 for 2 and Therese Johaug finishing 3rd behind Justyna Kowalczyk, who also had a fantastic race.  That night we went down into the city, watched the awards ceremony, and went out to a sushi dinner.  Fantastic.

Sunday, I met up with another American from New Hampshire who is also doing a year abroad in Norway  named Anna Breu.  We met up in the morning, took a 2 and a half hour skate ski and watched the race from various places in the woods which was fun.  After that, Anna went back down to Oslo and I stayed with some friends and watched some ski jumping on the smaller hill.  It was a long day of spectating and I was very tired after, but it was totally worth it.  I was able to take some decent pictures sunday, and it was really cool to take a picture with the Swede, Marcus Hellner.  For those of you that don't know him he is one of the best skiers on the world cup circuit and has the ability to challenge Petter Northug when he's in good shape.  He was the winner of the sprint last Thursday.

I don't like to talk about Monday.  I spent 3 hours waiting to get my passport stamped.  I finally got it stamped, which don't get me wrong, it's a good thing, however I missed Marit Bjørgen winning her 3rd! (that's right 3rd) gold medal.  That makes her 3 for 3 for gold medals here at the world championships.

Today, Marianne and I cut out of school early to watch the mens individual start 15k classic race.  It was a great day for Norway once again with Eldar Rønning getting silver, and Martin Johnsrud Sundby getting bronse.  It was exciting to see Sundby do so well because he is an Oslo skier.  Petter Northug did not race today to conserve energy for upcoming events.

Tomorrow I will be forerunning and course patrol for the mens and womens team sprint event.  It should be very exciting to watch, and one of the big events at world champs.  After that, also tomorrow, I have to do the same for the nordic combined race.  It should be a few hours of skiing.

Now for some of the pictures from this week.

Marit Bjørgen with gold again.  Not to mention a nice gold jacket.

Alex Harvey is the man.

Marcus Hellner! (Picture with the enemy)

Some of my friends watching ski jumping.

The small ski jump.

I had to try it on...

Today's fans with Holmenkollen in the background.

Start of the World Championships!

Right now, here in Oslo, marks one of the biggest events in the nordic world, the world championships.  There are painted faces, norwegian flags, tents out in the woods, and just about every TV in Norway is tuned into NRK 1 for the next week and a half.  Since I am skiing for team kollen I get to be løypepatrulje (course control and forerunner) for three races.  I also get to see all of the races inside the private workers, athletes only places which is really cool!  When I arrived there today we were kitted out in new craft racing suits, jacket, pants, and hat all with the world championships logo.  It's pretty cool to have and a great memory of the event.

I have been able to take some pretty cool pictures from today, the sprint race.  It wasn't the best day for Norway with some unlucky falls on the women's side, and the men not skiing so strong.  But, Marit Bjørgen of Norway held everything together well throughout the rounds and won the world championship sprint gold medal.  Petter Northug was 2nd today behind the Swede, Marcus Hellner.  It was fantastic to ski the course in between rounds, but even cooler to see everything up so close and be around the athletes.  You'll see I snapped a few pictures where I was very close up!  Sorry some of them are a bit blurry, it's hard to get such clear pictures when they are moving so fast!

Dario Cologna.

Part of our løypepatrulje crew taking some dips.

Everyone loves Alex Harvey

The King himself, Petter Northug qualifying

Petter Northug focused as hell as you can see.

I just had to take another picture of the King.

Me and some of the guys watching.

Semi finals mens sprint.

The ski jump.

You can see there are a few fans here.  20,000 today watching the sprint race!

Norwegian Spectators and Holmenkollen ski jump.

This was just the first day.  I plan on trying to get up to watch all the races for the next week and a half so there should be many more pictures to come!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's been a busy last month or so with ski season underway, college applications, and the holidays.  I'm excited it's now 2011! I've taken some pictures over the past month or two or whatever it has been since I last updated my blog.

The camera doesn't capture the amazing view of Oslo from the ski trail.

Marianne, Anders and I skiing Christmas Eve

Santa and Santa's helper for Ragnar's brother's children.  Comical.

A view from the Metro that goes past Holmenkollen ski jump to Frognerseteren.

New Years Eve with some of the boys.

January 1st we went for a hike and the view of Holmenkollen ski jump was pretty cool.

Trying to get the picture of Oslo from the short hike we went.

This weekend I have my first Norgescup races.  I'll be going 10k skate friday, classic sprint saturday, followed by a 15k classic race sunday.  I hope it will be a good weekend of racing.  I think the Norgescup is home to the highest level of Junior racing in the world along with World Juniors.  This will be a good experience and it is still early in the winter so I'm not too worried about top results yet.

I head back to school Wednesday which will be okay.  I guess I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine after the holidays.