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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: Pate Neumann

  • Frozen Thunder!

    Today I did my first intensity session on snow since the spring. It was a 4 x 6 minute zone 3 classic workout with some sprints at the end. It felt so good to do something fast on snow! The snow is so much more forgiving then rollerskiing on pavement (see video at end of post!).
    Frozen Thunder has been open for skiing for a few days now, and people have been coming from all over North America to make use of the early season skiing. The warm weather and rain in Canmore hasn’t been ideal for the integrity of the loop, but the cold temperatures later this week look promising.    
    Life in Canmore has been pretty good over the last few weeks. Training has been consistent, with good feedback coming from my body and race efforts. With the opening of Frozen Thunder has also come the realization that the racing season is fast approaching. Over the next few weeks we have some big events in town that will give everyone an idea of where their shape is, heading into November. This coming Saturday we have the annual Spray Drag running race put on by the AWCA team. The race is a 7.5km uphill grunt that requires an extended stay in the pain cave. Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov will be racing again this year, along with the AWCA team, so there is no shortage of competition. The following weekend we have the Frozen Thunder Invitational Sprint Race put on by the National Ski Team. Rumor has it that the US Ski Team will be coming up for the race, along with many other Canadians from across the country. It should be one of the most competitive sprint races in Canada this year, (second of course to the December World Cups!).
    Below are some video’s from this mornings classic workout.

  • BWTC Treadmill

    Last weeks 3x5min zone 4 intensity was done on the treadmill at the BWTC because of snowy weather. Filmed by my friend Russell!

  • August in Pictures

    August has come and gone… actually… so has September too. What that means is this blog post about August has been sitting on my computer for the last month, just waiting to be finished and posted. Usually things get better with age, I am afraid that my blog postings are not one of those things. As time goes by, I forget the little details and it is harder to retract them from deep inside my brain. Pictures however, can tell a story all on their own. This is what my blogging has come too, pictures with some words in between to fill the gaps and transition one photo to another. Good writers are able to paint pictures with words, I however opt to paint words with pictures!

    August was a good month. The Canmore team went up to the Haig for an spectacular week of skiing (I posted about that earlier). Once I got down from the Haig I had a rest week and my grandparents came out to visit from Ontario. We had a great week of touring Canmore, exploring Lake O’Hara and relaxing at Nipika. It was a busy week, jam packed full with the best of the Bow Valley.

    Emma and I out for a run at Lake O’Hara

     
    While we were out running, my grandparents hung out down by the lake, catching up on their reading and vitamin D.

    My grandmother and me

    Getting ready for Movember

    Next it was off to Nipika for two nights. Nipika has turned into one of my favorite places to go and relax. The few days we spent there involved some mountain biking, reading, fishing and lots of sleeping.

    The land features at Nipika are spectacular!

    Below are some wise words from some wise people. If you go into one of the warming cabins at Nipika you will be surrounded be quotes of deep thought and meaning…

    Fun river crossing on an afternoon ride.

    Breakfast of Champions!

    Awesome.

  • Last Day on the Haig!

     Well, today wraps up an amazing week on the Haig! 30 hours of training since Monday, and almost all of it was above 2400m. A pretty solid week! We were very lucky with weather and snow conditions. As you can see below, today was an incredible way to end the week. Blue bird sky’s, crust skiing and warm weather!

     Crust skiing

  • Last Day on the Haig!

     Well, today wraps up an amazing week on the Haig! 30 hours of training since Monday, and almost all of it was above 2400m. A pretty solid week! We were very lucky with weather and snow conditions. As you can see below, today was an incredible way to end the week. Blue bird sky’s, crust skiing and warm weather!

     Crust skiing

  • Haig Day 6

     Today was one of those days on the glacier that is hard to explain in words, so here are some pictures from this morning!

     The view on the mornings hike.

    Ben and Stefan heading up.

  • Haig Glacier!

    The Haig Glacier. One of my favorite spots to come and do some big volume. This week has been pretty spectacular so far. As you can see from the pictures below we have had lots of sunshine, and most recently 20cm of snow. Winter is definitely on its way in the mountains and this mornings fresh snow was a good reminder that racing season is just around the corner!

    The Canmore Nordic Ski Team split their athletes into two groups. The first few days were for the younger skiers, and the last half of the week has been for the CNSC Men’s Team. 16 dudes up here in total… that’s a lot of testosterone.

    Day 1
    I was lucky enough to fly into the glacier after staging on Monday and ski for a glorious 2:30hrs.

    Looking down towards Lawson Lake

    Day 2
    Amazing grooming and bright sunshine all day.
    Looking down the valley
    Mt Jericho

  • Spring Crust Skiing

    Next up, crust skiing in Sunshine meadows at the end of May! Opportunists like this is one of my favorite parts of being a skier. One of the most spectacular days I have had on snow!
     
      Groomed trail…

    Perfect crust

     Citadel Pass, our destination (smaller hump mountain just right of centre)

    Looking back towards Citadel Pass

  • Pictures

    The next few posts are going to be of pictures throughout this spring and summer. Hopefully the pictures tell the stories, there may be a few words here and there to string things together.
    First up, my motorcycle adventure from Canmore to Rossland, Rossland to Bellingham WA for the Ski to Sea relay race and then onto Vancouver before straight shotting it back to Canmore. This trip happened in May… I know, that was three months ago.

    Red Mountain
    Valleyview Cabin, my home away from home away from home.
    North Cascades HWY through Washington. Unbelievable drive.

    Bellingham

    Mount Baker- where the xc ski leg was held.

    Back in Canmore… I guess Vancouver got left out of the picture itinerary!
  • Gregg, Brooks Start Strong in Ski to Sea Relay (Updated)

    Gregg, Brooks Start Strong in Ski to Sea Relay (Updated)

    Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct time between Holly Brooks and Alysson Marshall, and include quotes from Pate Neumann.

    One was a native. Another was a ringer.

    Both Brian Gregg and Holly Brooks found themselves at the front of the pack in the first of the Ski to Sea seven-leg relay on Sunday in northern Washington.

    The U.S. Ski Team's newest member Holly Brooks (Alaska Pacific University) gives her husband, Rob, a birthday shout-out after finishing fourth in the 30 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Distance Nationals on March 30 in Craftsbury, Vt.

    Like several cross-country skiers at the U.S. and Canadian team camps in Bend, Ore., last week, Brooks drove more than seven hours to Bellingham, Wash., to take part in the 91-mile race.

    For the second straight year, she completed the four-mile nordic leg at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. That race was followed by a 2.5-mile downhill ski/snowboard, 8-mile run, 42-mile road bike, 18.5-mile canoe, 13-mile mountain bike and 3.5-mile kayak (usually around five miles, but shortened this year because of wind).

    Last year, Brooks competed in the family division with her husband, father, uncle, two brothers, sister and sister-in-law as team “Aint no big deal.” This time around, the 30-year-old took it a little more seriously.

    Awarded the “top gun” after the 2011 Ski to Sea, Brooks said she was recruited back to race for the newly formed Team Fast and Female in an effort to dethrone the 12-time competitive women’s champ: Boundary Bay Brewery. On Sunday, the Boundary Bay females clinched their 13th straight title, but not without a run from Brooks and a few of her seven teammates.

    Brooks was the top woman in the nordic race. Gregg of Winthrop, Wash., was the overall winner. Born about 150 miles east of Bellingham, Gregg estimated this was his 10th Ski to Sea.

    “Who wouldn’t want to do a cross-country ski race in late May?” Gregg wrote in an email. Not long before, he injured his wrist mountain biking and reviewed the X-rays with a trusted orthopedist in a coffee shop on his way to the race.

    “It swelled up about the size of a baseball and has been pretty tender,” Gregg wrote. “The x-rays show that nothing is broken and we think it is just a slight ligament tear.”

    Brian Gregg racing for CXC on his way to placing 28th in the freestyle sprint at U.S. Cross Country Nationals on Jan. 3 in Rumford, Maine. Photo: Toko.

    He wore a brace at the race.

    “The pain is pretty minimal,” Gregg wrote. “Skiing with the brace helps protect it.”

    Gregg finished the hilly 6.5-kilometer leg in soft conditions in 17:37, one minute and 11 seconds off his winning time last year. His team, Barron Heating, went on to win the overall title.

    Another Washington native, 2010 Olympian Torin Koos followed Gregg’s lead and clocked the fastest downhill ski for Barron. The team’s kayaker, Zsolt Szadovski, anchored the victory after its mountain biker, Colin Cares, took a wrong turn and lost the lead.

    Team Aeromech Takes Flight, which included nordic skier Matt Liebsch of Minnesota, placed second. Liebsch initially finished fourth and the team climbed to first when its mountain biker, Steve Fisher, capitalized on Cares’ mistake on near the end of the sixth leg.

    Szadovski regained control and sealed Barron’s 10th win since 1996, according to The Bellingham Herald. It was Gregg’s second year on the competitive-open team.

    “The other guys on the team are really fast and it is fun to follow their competitive seasons throughout the year and catch up on Ski to Sea weekend,” Gregg wrote. “The team battle is extra exciting because Alaska Airlines puts up a round trip plane ticket for each member of the winning team. I follow the entire race on the radio and with the splits online.”

    For him, the race is a family affair that brings him back to the mountains. The night before the relay each year, Gregg and his relatives camp on Mount Baker, giving him a taste of the terrain he misses while living in Minnesota.

    “Normally I would prefer not to sleep in a tent before the race but the mountains are so cool at dusk and dawn that it is totally worth it,” Gregg wrote.

    Back for More

    Two months after last year’s Ski to Sea, Brooks signed up for another at the request of race organizer and supporter, Tony Velasco. According to Brooks, Velasco assembled eight teams and she agreed to join Fast and Female.

    After Brooks put the team in first, downhill skier Jessie Young kept the momentum going, finishing 2-½ minutes ahead of the second woman from Boundary Bay.

    “I had quite the head start,” Young told the Herald. “My cross-country skier kicked some ass.”

    Brooks finished 1 minute and 7 seconds ahead of Boundary Bay’s nordic runner-up Alysson Marshall, a Canadian senior development skier, in 19:59. Fast and Female’s runner fell two minutes off her time from last year while another Canadian, Brooke Gosling, made up three minutes for Boundary Bay, overtaking Fast and Female for good.

    Despite remaining close through the transition, Fast and Female’s road biker wasn’t able to catch the draft that Boundary Bay’s did.

    “Ours had to do an individual 42 mile [time trial] which is tough!” Brooks wrote in an email. “From there it was a bit downhill and the girls from Boundary Bay spanked us. Maybe next year?!”

    Other Nordic Notables

     Brent Knight of Alaska Pacific University finished second, 10 seconds behind Gregg in 17:47, and Pate Neumann (Canmore Nordic Ski Club) was third in 17:58.

    “The race was really fun,” Neumann wrote in an email after competing in his first Ski to Sea with Team Northwest Sleep Solutions, which finished 10th.

    He was recruited by the team in its second year in the relay. Last year, Neumann did the Snow to Surf adventure relay race on Vancouver Island, which he said was similar to the Ski to Sea.

    “The course was a challenging … ‘figure 8’ loop with some monster climbs,” Neumann wrote about Sunday’s race. “Conditions were great with tons of snow and a relatively hard track. I think the best part of the race was the atmosphere. The whole town gets involved and everyone is cheering for you. It is fun having some of the top Super Tour and NorAm racers on the start line, it gives the race some serious excitement. It is also great to catch up with racing friends you haven’t seen for a while and hear about their spring adventures”

     

    Ski to Sea nordic leg results

    Overall team results

  • Killick Leads AWCA Sweep in NorAm Distance Race

    Graeme Killick (AWCA) on his way to winning the 10 k classic in West Yellowstone on Nov. 26, 2011. Killick won his first NorAm of the season in the 15 k freestyle interval start on Saturday.

    Minutes before the NorAm freestyle interval starts on Saturday, three Alberta World Cup Academy coaches scrambled to get into position. In the women’s race as well as the men’s, they had several athletes starting one after another, many of which they knew would be competing for top spots.

    Earlier that morning in the wax room, AWCA head coach Chris Jeffries jokingly told sprint coach Stefan Kuhn that the men’s team had not swept a distance podium this season.

    “I didn’t think it was going to happen today,” Jeffries later said in a phone interview.

    Some 6,500 kilometers their training centre in Canmore, Alberta, the AWCA athletes prepped their own skis at this weekend’s Eastern Canadian Championships mini tour in Cantley, Quebec.

    Before the races, Jeffries knew it would be a challenge to give all his athletes splits, and they weren’t able to set up an iPad application to help them do so in time for the men’s 15 k.

    Fortunately for them, it didn’t really matter. The coaches used stopwatches to measure the difference between Graeme Killick and Kevin Sandau, two of their athletes that started within a minute of each other.

    From the start, the teammates skied head to head, clocking the exact same time on the first of three laps. Killick remained a second or two ahead for most of the race, and at the beginning of the last lap, the 22-year-old heard he was 4 seconds up on Sandau.

    On the final climb, the margin was 2 seconds, pushing Killick to drive harder toward the finish. There, he edged Sandau by 0.5 seconds for his first NorAm victory of the season. After Killick won in 34:20.8, AWCA skier Pate Neumann finished third, 37.1 seconds behind.

    With Neumann’s bronze, the Academy completed the sweep and did one better by placing four men in the top five. Jesse Cockney (AWCA) was fifth after Erik Carleton (Rocky Mountain Racers) in fourth.

    Considering the AWCA coaches weren’t able to give much information to many of their racers, Jeffries said their results indicated the team was where it needed to be. In some ways, it was good that they didn’t have the technology working for them.

    “They’re in good shape and they train hard, and this is the time of year where it pays off,” Jeffries said. “I think sometimes athletes rely too much on splits and it’s good to just go hammer it out.”

    For Killick, all he needed to know was where Sandau was.

    “Kevin’s been fighting for that spot to go over to Europe,” Killick said. “I didn’t know where [NorAm leader] Brent [McMurtry] was, but I knew it was Kevin and I that were fighting for the win so I was sort of pumped to be up there with him.”

    Rossland NorAm mass start
    Killick leads the first of four laps in the NorAm 15 k freestyle mass start in Rossland, British Columbia, where he finished third on Dec. 18, 2011.

    Earlier in the season in Rossland, British Columbia, Killick was third in a NorAm 15 k freestyle mass start behind Sandau in first and McMurtry in second. On Saturday, McMurtry finished 11th for his first time outside the top 3 in a NorAm distance race this season.

    While Killick said he was better known for his classic skiing, a lingering hip-flexor issue forced him to skate more in training. That translated into improving freestyle results.

    “It’s really nice to have a good skate race like that going into U23’s,” Killick said of the under-23 world championships in Turkey at the end of the month.

    “Even though I’ve been kind of injured, I’ve been bringing up my skating,” he added.

    Both Killick and Sandau said they attacked the hills and flats equally as they tried to outdo each other.

    “My legs were feeling good so I wanted to try to one skate the hills and get some good speed,” Sandau said.  “I knew I was really tight with Killick for the majority of the race so I tried to get him at end, but I guess it didn’t work.”

    Regardless, Sandau said the finish set him up well for Sunday’s 30 k classic pursuit. According to Zone4.ca, he will start 7 seconds behind Killick and 1:01 ahead of McMurtry, his main rival in the NorAm standings.

    “The win would’ve been a lot better and it sucks to lose by [half] of a second, but that second place still does me good,” Sandau said. “It definitely helped me toward that regional spot.”

    While his two teammates battled for first on Saturday, Neumann said he had no idea where he stood until after the race. Upon discovering he secured third by 0.9 seconds, he was excited about his season best and felt he could have given even more.

    “It was nice to finally feel like my body is in race shape,” Neumann wrote in an email. “I was sick for a while after Christmas and it took a long time to bounce back. But I am happy to say I am finally back.”

    Rounding out the top 10, David Greer (CNEPH) was sixth, Christopher Hamilton (NDC Thunder Bay) was seventh and Russell Kennedy (Canmore) was eighth. Raphael Couturier (Skibec) finished ninth and Harry Seaton (NDC Thunder Bay) was 10th.

     

    Complete men’s 15 k freestyle results

    30 k classic pursuit start list

  • I Am Happier With That

    Today’s 10km classic was the race I was looking for. I went into this race hoping my body would be able to handle the tough 3.3km course, and it seemed to do just that. I was still a little further down the results list then I would have liked, but 14th is a lot better then last weekends 28th. The plan will be to keep splitting the results in half. Today was a good kicker to get the body back in race mode. I felt like I was actually racing out there and not just out for an incredibly painful shuffle on classic skis!

    I am excited for tomorrows skate sprint, looking to move past the quarter final. Stay tuned to Zone 4 for start lists, heat times and final results!

    Pate

    Photo: Angus Cockney
    Hanging on to Brent up the final climb of the day.

    Photo: Angus Cockney 
    Striding it out early on in the race.

    Photo: Angus Cockney 
    Here is a great picture of the 15km skate back in Rossland from Angus Cockney

  • How Much Can The Body Take?

    This is what I had to ask myself on Wednesday night when I was contemplating starting the 30km pursuit yesterday. If you look at the results from the race you will see that I started, skied 3.75km, and then pulled out. It was pretty clear that my body wasn’t ready to race yet, but I had to give it a shot. I had to hope for a miracle that would leave me fighting in the lead group.

    To back up a few weeks, I returned home to Canmore from a great Christmas in Ontario and immediately got sick. I spent 5 day with a bad cold (stuffy nose, sore throat, chest congestion and cough… the works). It was clear my body was run down and needed some time to heal. I spent those five days sleeping, stretching and being as quiet as I could. Eventually things came back together and I rejoined the team and started training again. I slowly built into it, and did my first intensity session since Rossland four days after being deemed healthy. It went well, and I recommitted to my original training program. Unfortunately, that only last two days.

    This past Monday our team did a time trail in Canmore. 9km of classic double poling on rocket fast tracks. Again, things went well and I was finally feeling some confidence heading into Whistler.
    I left the workout pumped, I went home and ate, slept, and had a massage. After my massage my stomach started gurgling. I walked home and just as I got to my house it all came out. When I say “it” I mean all the food I had eaten that day, strewn across my driveway in a disgusting mess. I made it in side, cleaned myself up and immediately got in bed. My stomach settled down, and the hot/cold flashes hit me. My awesome girlfriend came to my rescue and went out to buy the usual flu remedies; chicken noodle soup, ginger ale, Gravol and some bread. She urged me to eat, so I did. Little bits at a time but it wasn’t much use because a short while later I saw all that food again, this time in my bathroom.

    Sorry to give you the complete play by play but I figured it would give you a better idea of what actually happened! And don’t worry, that was the last time I puked.

    So there I was, a sick mess huddled up at home, not being able to digest any food since before the mornings time trial, on the night before our team was scheduled to fly to Whistler for trials. Great.

    I woke up the next morning feeling quite a bit better, but needless to say I wasn’t on my way to Whistler. I stayed home, sipping Pedialite and chicken noodle soup. After talking with Mike and our team doctor it was decided I had caught a bad 24hr flu that has been making its way through Canmore.  The plan was to try and eat as much as I could tolerate that day, and try and fly to whistler the next day (Wednesday). Wednesday rolled around and I was up early and heading to the Calgary airport. I was feeling much better, and eating my first real meals in two days, but a long way from 100%. It was a busy day, lots of waiting and shuttles, but by 4pm I was skiing at the Whistler Olympic Park, trying to decide if I should race.

    I decided I had nothing to lose. I may as well start the race and see what happens. My body felt fine off the start, but by the time we got to the high point of the course, it was clear it wasn’t meant to be. My heart was beating at 2,000,000 beats per minute and I felt a bonk coming on… at the 3km mark. Only 27km to go!

    That was the end of my day. Frustrating for sure. 30km pursuits are my favorite races, and they usually only happen once a year… at the U23/WJ trial races. For me, the 30km and Sundays 15km classic race are qualifiers for the OPA tour trip. Having already not finished 50% of the qualifying races I need to produce something incredible on my classic skis.

    The plan from here on out is to continue to eat and rehydrate myself as much as possible. My body is obviously still in the recovery stages, and yesterday was a good reminder of how much recovery I still need. I am going to take it race by race, hoping to see improvements along the way. I will start tomorrow’s skate sprint, and reevaluate after the qualifier. I have decided to throw the pressure and the expectations out the window, and just focus on getting healthy. Next weekend we have the Western Canadian Champs in Canmore and I want to be ready to go for that. Selection, team trips and race starts will be decided, but I don’t need to waste valuable energy mulling over what could be. I just need to go out and race.

    This year I have been plagued with sickness more then any other year. Underneath it all there is a fit skier just waiting to break free. It will happen soon, I know it. It will just take a little time.

    Thanks for all your support. I will keep you posted on what unfolds this weekend!

    Pate

  • Christmas then a whole lot of sick!

     

    This will be a recap of my Christmas mostly through pictures!
    Sunrise in Vernon!
    Our coaches are incredibly efficient waxers. Imagine having to race wax this many skis?!

    The travel gnome at Valleyview Cabin in Rossland. It has been signed by many skiers over the years!

    Mens 15km Skate podium in Rossland. Kev, Brent, Graeme, Pate
    Woman’s 10km Skate podium in Rossland. Alysson Marshall 2nd, Kate Brennan 5th

    Ski touring above Rossland.

     Peter Moffet teaching me the basics.
    Moving on to Wheeler Hut in Rogers pass with Emma, Phil and Kate
     Emma about to head out.
    Wheeler Hut with our big crew of 24 Canmorons.
    Lots of snow

    Breaking trail as we head up.

    Andrew, Annika and Phil climbing steady 
    Macx and Andrew
    Greg Thompson, our fearless leader.

    Some of the crew.
    The drying room at Wheeler Hut. Packed.
     
     Moving onto Christmas Eve back home in Ontario!
    My mom, the Neumann kids and my cousin Mads dressed to impress on Christmas morning.

    My brother Sam and his latest musical instrument from Santa.
    Christmas at Dads!

    Out for a humid and snowy ski at home!
    Palgrave on a beautiful morning!
    So that wraps up my Christmas post! Now onto the “whole lot of sick” part of the title. I bet you are all wondering how I am doing in Whistler? Well, I am surviving but I am going to nap first and then bring everyone up to speed on my health. So go back and enjoy the pictures, and I will have another update ready in a few hours! Promise!
    Thanks for checking in!
    Pate

  • Sandau Keeps NorAm Streak Going

    Sandau Keeps NorAm Streak Going

    Rossland NorAm mass start
    Kevin Sandau (AWCA) leads the NorAm 15 k freestyle mass start in Rossland, British Columbia, on Sunday. (Photo by Dan Roycroft/AWCA)

    ROSSLAND, British Columbia — It’s not that Kevin Sandau’s not a team player. He just puts the pedal down when he feels like it.

    One of four Alberta World Cup Academy skiers seeded in the top eight of Sunday’s NorAm 15 k freestyle mass start, Sandau pushed the pace early as he tried to break free of the 73-man field.

    The start of the NorAm men's 15 k freestyle mass start on Sunday in Rossland, British Columbia.

    It didn’t exactly work at first, but the man in the green leader’s jersey kept on.

    At the end of the first 3.75 k lap, Sandau sat in first with teammate Graeme Killick close behind. Three others remained on their heels, AWCA teammates Pate Neumann and Jesse Cockney, along with Brent McMurtry of the Pierre-Harvey National Training Centre.

    On the second of four laps, the contenders were much the same, except Cockney led and Sandau was second. Neumann sat in third, leading most outsiders to believe the academy racers were trying to monopolize the podium.

    That’s always the goal, but it’s more of a byproduct of their individual efforts, according to AWCA head coach Chris Jeffries.

    “They’re teammates, but they put a bib on and they’re not teammates anymore,” Jeffries said. “They’re going to work together and help each other out, but they’re competitors as well.”

    In Sandau’s opinion, there weren’t a whole lot of team tactics going on. It was simply a fast-paced race that never let up, and his teammates found a way to hang on.

    “The further it went, it looked like it was going to come down to the sprint,” Sandau said. “Going into the race, I just had my own personal plan. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to ski my own race and I knew last week I had my speed to do anything.”

    Last weekend, Sandau won his first NorAm race in the 15 k classic individual start. He went on to place third in Saturday’s 1.6 k freestyle sprint in Rossland, and continued his podium run with the mass-start victory. He pulled of Sunday’s win with a slingshot move on the final downhill, where he passed and beat McMurtry to the finish by 0.6 seconds.

    Killick finished one second later in third place, and Neumann was fourth for his best result of the season. In all, the AWCA ended up with nine podiums on the weekend (including first through fifth place), five of which came from the men.

    Kevin Sandau (left) leads AWCA skiers Graeme Killick (4) and Jesse Cockney (7), along with Pate Neumann (Canmore) (8) and Brent McMurtry (2) in the NorAm men's 15 k freestyle mass start in Rossland, British Columbia, on Sunday.

    While Jeffries said he was pleased with the team’s overall performance in Rossland, he wasn’t surprised with Sandau.

    “He’s trained so much in the last four or five years, and time just pays off,” Jeffries said. “He’s not really known as a sprinter, but I was telling him (Sunday), ‘If you’re strong, you’re strong.’ ”

    Cockney, who fell behind on the third lap, said he knew what Sandau was capable of after training with him for four years.

    “I know what he’s like when he’s in good shape and he doesn’t want to ski around people,” Cockney said. “(This) was one of those days he wanted to make sure he was far and away. He put down some really hard pace on the second lap and he’s strong, he’s really strong right now. It’s good to see.”

    After winning Saturday’s freestyle sprint, Cockney was in the running for sixth place on Sunday, but missed the finish and took the lap lane instead.

    “I was already thinking how I wanted to ski the finish sprint and I kind of blanked,” said Cockney, who ended up 10th.

    According to technical delegate Ken Hewitt, Cockney received a verbal warning for his mistake, but wasn’t penalized for skipping the turn since he went back and retraced his steps.

    The second-place finisher of the day, McMurtry was nearly as disappointed with his result.

    “What can I say? Second again is good, but it’s pretty frustrating at the same time,” McMurtry said.

    For the fourth consecutive race, he placed second. In the two distance races, McMurtry had been the runner-up to Sandau, and he lost the first NorAm race of the season to Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) in a classic sprint last weekend.

    On Sunday, McMurtry said Sandau beat him on a working downhill. Earlier in the last lap, McMurtry moved ahead on a long climb on the back half of the course. He hoped that would give him enough of a margin to seal the victory.

    “I wanted to win and anything other than that, I wouldn’t have really been happy,” he said. “But that’s the way it goes. You can’t win them all, but you can finish second in them all.”

    He laughed.

    Killick said he was surprised with his podium performance after feeling tired warming up. The pace set by Sandau was hard, he said, but he hung on.

    “(Sandau) was really putting the hurt on every chance he got,” Killick said. “Coming into the stadium, (Sandau and McMurtry) had a bit of a gap on me, but I was able to close it in along that stretch out there and sort of fight for it at the line.”

    The third AWCA skier in the top four, Neumann said he focused specifically on this weekend’s mass start after sitting out the 15 k classic race at Sovereign Lake.

    “I wanted to be on the podium,” Neumann said. “It’s close, but I didn’t quite have the legs at the end of the sprint.”

    Neumann finished about six seconds behind Killick (+8.9 back from Sandau). Leif Zimmermann of the Bridger Ski Foundation came through in fifth about nine seconds later. He had been at the back of the lead group for most of the race.

    “I was pleased,” Zimmermann said. “I’ve been feeling really flat here and just kind of the legs (are) feeling a little sapped. But skating 15 k is probably my strongest race so I can always fall back on that, and feel with the skating, climbing, it was a good course for me.”

    At one point when the pace slowed on the second lap, Zimmermann worked with the others and moved to the front. When it came to the hills, however, he found he couldn’t go as hard as he wanted to.

    “(But) it was fun to ski with these guys,” he said.

    Frederic Touchette (CNEPH) edged Mike Somppi (NDC) at the line for sixth place, David Greer (CNEPH) was eighth and Steffan Lloyd (Nakkertok) finished ninth.

    Men’s NorAm 15 k freestyle mass start results.

  • Silverstar

     Today I am sitting out the 15km classic. It was tough decision, but after last weekends 10km classic in Canmore, I was pretty run down. I woke up Monday morning with a tickle in my throat, (every skiers worst nightmare upon waking up!) but after some easy days and lots of sleep, I was able to catch it before it turned into anything major. I brought my energy levels back up enough to do an intensity workout on Thursday. I felt decent, and decided it was safe to start the classic sprint yesterday. It was test number two, and it didn’t go so well. I felt fine skiing easy, but during the qualifier it didn’t take long to realize things weren’t quite back to normal.

    I decided to play it safe and rest up for next weekend. I didn’t want to have two mediocre NorAm weekends in a row. I will rest up, and hope to get things back on track for next weekends skate sprint and 15km mass start skate race. 

    Disappointing for sure, and as hard as it is to watch my teammates hit the start line without me, I want to be 100% ready to go in Rossland.

    Before heading to Silverstar, I went to Lake Louise to watch Tess Davies race in her first World Cup Downhill. Annika, Kendra and I made up her personal cheering squad. It was an great day and super fun to watch Tess race!

    The cheering squad, Kendra and Annika.
    All smiles after finishing

    Leah was there in spirit. 
    Signing autographs
    Sunrise in Silverstar.

  • Only 3 Mo’ Days! + 10km Classic + A Wild Drive!

    Only 3 mo’ days to donate to the Acade’mos! 
    Please head to our team mo’ space and make a contribution to fighting prostate cancer!!
    CLICK HERE TO CHECK US OUT AND DONATE!

     A big thanks to those of you who have donated already!

    Things wrapped up pretty nicely in West Yellowstone on Saturday. The 10km classic race was one of my better classic races to date. I was still 53 seconds off of teammate Graeme Killick’s winning time, but things felt good. My body felt way better then in Fridays 15km skate (I think I needed a good hard effort to blow the crap out of my legs). It felt strong technically, and I stuck to my race plan. Now I just need to figure out how to find those 53 seconds!

    Overall I am very happy with our trip to West Yellowstone. It was nice to get the first races of the year under my belt. The first race weekend of the season is always a shock to the system, and the fact that these races were at over 2000m in elevation made it a serious shock. I have a good idea of where my fitness stands, and I have a solid plan moving forwards towards Silverstar and Rossland. Spending a week at altitude is also going to help out when we hit the start line in Silverstar!

    Yesterday we finished our long drive home to Canmore. The last 4 hours of the drive were pretty exciting. Check out these pictures and the article from CBC below…

    This pretty much sums up the drive “gusts reaching 144 km/h in Claresholm, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.” We drove through Lethbridge, Fort McLeod, Claresholm and into the south of Calgary. Pretty much right through the entire wind tunnel.

    Flipped truck #1.

     Flipped truck #2
     Flipped truck #3

     Flipped truck #4

    Here is the link to the CBC ARTICLE. We eventually passed 5 flipped transport trucks. The academy van and trailer were rock solid, thanks to the over packing by myself and some of my teammates. Better safe then sorry!

    This week is going to be a medium training week with some rest at the beginning to recover from Yellowstone and some racing at the end of the week. We have the Alberta Cup skate sprint Saturday and a Classic 10km Sunday. Should be a good time!

    Over and out.

    Pate

  • Some Photos

     Check out these pictures of yesterdays 15km Skate from Fasterskier.com. Some of the pictures give you a pretty good idea of how stormy it go in the middle of the race.

    Check out the full article HERE

  • The First Race of the Year is in the Books!

    It was a very challenging 15km skate today. The course was full of false flats and working downhills. My race plan was to go out at a comfortable pace, find my rhythm, and try and build to the finish. I went out at a comfortable pace, and it turned into an uncomfortable pace by the end of the first lap. Altitude is a silent killer! I was able to keep it together enough for a 10th place finish, respectable in my opinion for the end of November. It was for sure one of the toughest races I have done. The sensation is hard to describe; you feel as if you are skiing at a medium/slow race pace, but at the same time it feels like you couldn’t go any harder if you tried. Your heart rate is pinned, and with any increase in speed (especially on the climbs) you end up full to the brim with lactate. Another surprise factor of the day was the freak snow squall that blew in right in the middle of the men’s race. It coated the slick trails with that deadly powdery fluff that is detrimental to your glide. It affected the speed of the skis, but more noticeably it turned the rest on the course into work.

    Todays race was an excellent wake up call to the body. Race season is upon us and it hurts like hell! Tomorrow’s 10km classic is going to be fun. We are using the same 5km loop as today, and the steady grade will mean lots of kick double pole and long, smooth striding. It is time to get my BIG on and ski like the 6ft beast I pretend to be.

    For full results on the day and a start list for tomorrows 10km classic click HERE

    I would also like to send out a huge congrats to my friend Lenny Valjas on his 5th place finish today in the classic sprint World Cup in Kuusamo! Lenny stormed through the heats with his fierce looking mustache and was the top Canadian of the day. Also congrats to AWCA teammates Alysson, Drew, Kevin and Nish for representing the team on the World Cup. Today was the first race of a three race mini tour for the crew. Full results from today’s race along with results for the rest of the weekend found HERE

    Time for bed. Another tough day of racing tomorrow!

    Pate

  • It’s Race Time!

    West Yellowstone, it’s a pretty cool place. Lots of snow, sunshine and some really fun ski trails. West Yellowstone is the Silver Star of Canada. Not in the colorful elvish village sort of way, but in the “it’s the first time everyone gets together for some great on snow skiing to kick off the race season” sort of way. There are tons of teams here, from young junior racers to factory teams to collegiate teams. The town has been rundown with skiers and its awesome. Unfortunately I have limited pictures, but I will attempt to take some over the next few days. Fortunatley, I have some sweet teammates like Jess who took pictures and then let me poach them and post them on my blog (Thanks Jess!).

    Photo: Jess Cockney
    The finishing climb on the sprint course with some mountains in the background
     Photo: Jess Cockney
    Ski testing with coach Cavaliere.
    Photo: Jess Cockney
    Tomorrow is my first official race of 2011! 15km skate. Start lists can be found HERE
    I will be sure to post a race report after things are all said and done. There will be four Academy racers starting tomorrow, Jess Cockney, Graeme Killick, Annika Hicks and myself. Saturday is a 10km classic.
    Lets get this season goin!
    Here are some pictures of fun times in Canmore over the last few weeks!

    Emma checking out the fish on the other side of the ice at Carrot Creek

    Ice treasures! Elk antler frozen in the ice.
    Skating on crystal clear ice is amazing, but kind of nerve wracking at times.

    Emma and I hiking up above Lake Minnewanka on the C Level Cirque. 
    The magnificent Bow Valley
     Lake Minnewanka
     The first pond hockey game of the year!