Obviously, I didn't make it.
Well, not taking tart in a Winter Traithlon.
I did "win" the Dutch non-championships race on the Ramsau WorldCup course, sans real hills.
In January, I enjoyed 7 days on snow there. February, another 8 days in the Leutasch/Seefeld region.
My total of snow days now stands at 24. I no longer am a pityful rookie that doesn' know how to go from standstill to forward movement, or to keep from sliding down a hill - backwards.
Coming out of Davos, December '07, I didn't quite have the progress I would have wanted. COuld barely climb, and shitted my pants on the slighted sight of a downslope.
Arriving in Ramsau, Austria, I skipped the opening classic lesson (and all the following). Went for some pure XCsperience, checking out some local trails.
Testing my new Salomon Equipe 10 skate skis. I found them to make it easy to make a turn, albeit in my usual V-slide. At least crashing was becoming optional rather than a given.
The skate lessons (part of the VasaSport Dutch Champs program) were good, but I learned most from doing longer tours, and dozens of repeats on too-tough-for-me hills. I still struggled with fast downhills, finding them just way scary. I worked on that though, and made (some) progress.
By the end of the Ramsau week, I had won a medal (being the fastest man (8th) to not take part in the real skate nationals. Of those who took part in anything, that is.
Oh, and a girl beat me actually. A fit one though, reigning European Champ of sorts.
My own fitness was still pityfull though. Running has been scarce.
So, I made it up maybe 10 vertical meters, before needing a breather. Chasing Kazakhstan national team members helped keep the speed up, but didn't nett me more meters per effort.
All in all, Ramsau was a great re-acquaintance with snow. I learned (mostly myself) to get up some of the steeper hills that XC courses can throw in my way. In Davos, I struggled like an elephant on a green soaped waterslide. In Ramsau, I worked to get my steps up a particularly steep WC hill down to 20. The national champ, did it in 14... Number 2 in 16, numkber 3 in 15. NOt sure anyone in the main feature ever took 20, but I had a goal set. Some day, I want to fly up that little bugger in 13 or less steps, without really forcing it.
Arriving in Leutasch, we were treated to lots of snow, and often soft trails. Careful with the poles. I got to improve my feel on the skis, a lot. Lots of hills, and zero lessons, made it about the steepest learning curve I'd had since snow day 1.
Braking and downhills got better and better. Loving the Salomons. Many crashes, resulting in only minor injuries, oddly added to my confidence.
Stepping through turns is still one of my weaker points, but doesn't really cost me a lot of time compared to my climbing or endurance and wax speed.
Join me! Sub-optimal phone cam angle. Care for your neck:
Better recording, not upside down. Head bands work for phones!
Nice downhill:
A few more on YouTube itself. I'm Cloxxki there.
No WorldCup grace, just yet. Well, just blind rage on skis really. But, I'm making it up the hill, in somewhat of a hurry (near max effort really). In Ramsau, I was definately less agile. In Davos, I would have looked for other routes to the summit.
So, progress, yeah!
Still no luck finding a coack. Even the world class wintertriathlete that lead the Ramsau groups didn't know anyone for me. And I really can't even get started by myself. All that can get me off my lazy ass now is a whole lot of snow, and a pair of skis.
My goals are far from being reached, but my progress, especially in speed and technique, hint me that I just may not end up the world's worst skier. It's clear I don't have natural motoric talent for this, but as I hoped and expected, I CAN learn this, with time. One day I WILL be proficient enough, to let my ski speed be a direct reflection of my physical fitness compared to the race winners, not my level of experience.
When I find a coach, and get working towards being the fittest man I ever was, I will not need to be a backmarker in wintertriathlon who loses another half hour on the ski leg.
Next year I hope to be ready to truly contest the Dutch Champs in skating. I did register this year, but back out for 2 reasons.
2- really sore left ankle, likely from bad edging technique (my right ankle was fine, but was my wrrry due to running pains)
1- the downhill after the steep uphill was actually steeper still, and ending in a right turn. I got down it safely 2 attempts in training, and crashed it many more times. After Leutasch, I may have been able to slide through it at semi-decent speed.
15km of non-stop racing though...a very long hour. I just was not that kind of athlete. Twice 7km on a city bike to work each day, and once in a while a running practice. That doesn't make a National XC racer, also not in Holland. Those guys were FIT! Half of the participants actually lived in snow countries.
Will I move to Austria? I just might, if the occasion presents itself to me...
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