Bozeman Sprint - Classic
· Dec 8, 04:54 PM
A few years ago I figured out how to qualify in sprints. It was something about being able to go actually fast over a short distance, and it seemed to be more of a mental thing than anything else. But the last time I was good like that was West Yellowstone – in 2006. Today was not much different. I was 17th in qualifying, but instead of it being the unluckiest (or luckiest depending on your attitude) place, they took 30 through, so I was in safely.
6 person quarters (they run 5, something about the definition of quarter must have got lost in translation coming over from the FIS) always have the potential to be dicey, but mine went smoothly. No carnage. I got off the line not in last and made it over the first (and only real) climb in second. By the end of the long gradual downhill I’d drifted back to 4th going in to the final U-Turn before the 2-300m finishing climb (very gradual). There were three tracks so I had to sit and wait.
Snorri Einarsson threw down a rather impressive double pole to get clear of our group, and I fought my way be an MSU Norwegian before picking off Matt Liebsch going over the top into the finish. He was on skate skis and either ran out of steam or was no match for my kick double poling. So I was into the semis.
In my semi I was totally outclassed. The furthest up I was was 4th, and that was the top of the first climb when the CXC boys on skate skis were still behind me. I made it to the U-Turn tacked on last in the 2-5 group (Liebsch self-selected himself for the B-Final by choosing to slide the downhill side of the compression). I was ready to go just like in the quarter, and since the top 3 were going through this time it was the same deal. I had to beat two of the three in front of me. Except I cranked it up and my top gear was not good enough. The gap just kept stretching out. So it was off to the B Final.
Before the B Final Colin said he thought the classic skis were an overall disadvantage. We weren’t gaining enough striding on the first climb to make up for the fact that the CXC boys flew by on the downhill. And on that last, long gradual climb, it really was double poleable. I figured why not go for it as well. It was a B Final, not much to lose, and a good time to experiment. When C crested the first climb in second, behind Colin I decided that maybe it had been a good idea. (And I have to give all my double poling this summer a little credit, because I hit the bottom of the climb tied for third!) We got a gap cresting, and it didn’t get shut down. I sat in behind him all the way to the U-Turn when I picked my own track and went for it. It’s just that Colin wanted it more, or was faster, or something. So I was second, or eighth overall. Not bad really.
Very satisfied with today, though I’m planning on being better tomorrow. We have a real (read hard) course tomorrow, and I’m ready to see how my skating is going for real.
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