Sunshine skating
September 2, 2010
In Australia, the last weekend of August has played host to the snow seasons premier xc ski race for the past 20years! The Kangaroo Hoppet, a marathon ski race (42km), with support races of 21km and 7km, is the pinnacle of Falls Creeks racing calendar.
The 21km event was my pick, with the 2010 edition being my 4th xc ski race, and my longest single session of skating.
The mountains turned on one of the best days of the season, clear skys, sun shining, on top of a massive dump of fresh snow only days before.
A friend, Big Mak (Cam), was kind enough to let me crash at their lovely Svarmisk apartment in Mount Beauty on Friday night, which was in stark contrast to my usual mountain accommodation. As a relative newbie to xc skiing, it was great to be able to hang out with Cam, who has grown up on xc skis.
The race was great, hard, but great, with a loop of Sun Valley and Heathy Spur, which includes the ascent of ‘the paralyser’, a 3km climb of about 7%.
Moments after the start you soon remember why xc skiing is the most cardiovascular taxing sport, with your heart rate jumping straight to 200bpm and the metallic taste of blood in your mouth. The next 21km’s are much of the same, yet with a focus on skating technique, not crashing, chasing, and passing other competitors.
Across the finish line your legs want to keep skating, and walking is a strange sensation. Pleased with my finishing time of 1:17:53 (24th male,4th in cat), I stand and wait for the Pros finish the 42km’s, and I watch with envy of their effortless style, yet with a face of absolute pain.
The more I skate, the more I want to skate…. Especially in conditions like that!
Keep you posted,
Ryan
