Whipping post

Tale of two days! Yesterday it was 5 out while I was skiing and today it was 27. It was fast and a good work out seeing that I ended up skiing with the Birkey guys. They are so efficient, I can keep up but some times feel like I have to work harder because they are so smooth. Of course the first nice day all year and i am working, So the road and mtb bike are in to get headset swaps and some new cables. Would rather be outside skiing and making my self work hard. Might have to ride outside if this weather holds.

Short cuts will slow you down

Wax may have been right but the snow temps were all over the place. Fast in some places and slow in others dead slow. Two hours were done but the toes are still pissed on how cold it was. What weather this weekend comes? It is friday so that means some beers will be sucked down!! Plan is intact and things are tracking well, things will change for February.

Go Faster

Waxing+Sonic Youth = Fast Skis>>>>>> Fresh coat of teal and small bit of blue, hope this is a good mix for my morning.

Skiing better than running?

Groomers had been out before me so the skiing felt easier. The snow was fast and the HR was low. Finished off with a coffee and scone. Tomorrow should be better a two hour enduro session will hopefully make the legs burn. Make hay while the sun shines, and drink beer when the moon comes up. Got to have motivation.

Blast Chiller

Nothing compared to the bone chilling cold of a week ago that was plastered all over the news, but still cold. Even with the right wax and boiler plate conditions the skis moved slow. This was a benefit seeing as I wanted some LSD skiing not the type form my early 20's the Long Slow Distance that I normally skip. Low HR and good technique helped pass the time as my toes turned in to ice cubes. Warmer would be good but this sunshine stuff is not that bad. Take what ever I can get right?

Coffee dark like my Heart

The repition of my daily retuine is falling in to place. As much as I sometimes dread it I always feel better when it is done. It was cold this morning, as I warm up i ski with my hood on to hold heat in but today it never came off. It felt that cold. I have jet fuel in thermos and tons of good food. I can't forget to go to the hippy market and get some rice for dinner. Maybe a sweet treat from the bakery.?

Fuel Shortage

Breakfast for dinner, sounds like a good idea. 10 Grain waffles and some eggs, try to trick my legs in to thinking that it is morning and see what they have left in them. Food is my weakness now and the more I put in the harder my efforts can be. Now is it too late for coffee?

One Way

I made sure that the tank was fueled for an afternoon ski. The oldest kid was at swim team so I had a bout an hour to ski. Lots of people out on a sunday afternoon, great to see so many people sliding around. Good end to the week, work is getting done more would always be better but I am taking the blocks as they come. May is a far way away. I did just lean from some of the Madison freaks that the Hell of the South race will be happening again. This should be a good test of April fitness.

Take the skin heads bowling

I got to spend my saturday nite, with a slice of Americana. It was our company christmas party and we went bowling again. Now I am not saying that I am above this, it is actually some fun. I don't get out much partly by design but also by choice. Not a big fan of smoke and not used to hanging out in bars. I get bit over whelmed in these situations epically if I am not drinking and just hanging out. Then add karaoke into the mix and i'll throw down my walking papers. Pretty funny to watch, but now as I sit here I am ready for something else to happen. The skis are waxed and wheels are ready to spin. No football so is it really sunday?

Half Drunk on the babble U MIx

Time is some times all it takes. This morning I had that time. I was able to get out earlier than normal for a ski and after three waffles I was more than fueled up. Upon ariving at the trail head I ran in to a Pickle and his little buddy Frodo, they were going running in the woods. It was funny they looked like Abbot and Costello. I settled into my groove and as an added bonus I was following the groomer. At the hour mark I swapped jackets and went out for more. Things were firing on all cylinders good movement fast glides and good hill climbing. All said and done a hair under two hours. A great play list kept me moving the whole time just pumped to be out, because here it comes again for the weekend cold almost as cold as last week.. Have Fun and Go fast!

Another

Another morning when I just did not want to stop. I could have gone for hours. The temps were just right the skis were moving fast. Best part was I was the only one. Worst part is that the city of Lacrosse has some stupid snow golf thing going on this weekend so the city drove loaders out on the golf course and screwed shit up. So I found my solace in the woods. I realized last night that my rollers have a sweet spot and just happens to be 2" from the end, which can make some interesting spinning. Go Fast Have Fun!

EpU?

#4 I's

With great Power comes great reponsibilty,, or just being a parent you can't always do what you want. With that said no ski this morning had to take the oldest to the ortho to talk about plan of attack on braces. That means that I'll have to push it extra hard on the rollers to no where tonight. I finally got some new specs and I am having a hard time getting use to them 6 years behind the same frames. Change is good right? That is what yesterday was all about! Get the Wax out get your skis tuned up and lets go make our legs hurt.

Once in a life time.

Usually when I am out skiing the sound track in my ears is a mix of 80's punk rock and jazz. Today because of the Time they are a Changing I listened to NPR while I moved through the snow. The plan was to hard charge and see how the body would react. For the most part all went well, my brain and legs did not want to stop at the hour mark. The trails are holding up so well the groomer had been out and the sun was starting to peak out over the coulee. A good morning! I am trying to make up for the mellow week that I had last week when the temps went past frigid.

Slices and dices

You know that it has been cold when 7 degrees feels warm. This morning felt great to be back on home turf. The skis moved fat and with precision. Before I knew it my hour was up and it was time to go to work. I learned what this here pic is and want one for our skiing area. The Ginzugroomer is the shit. This would change our already good skiing to even better. This is what they use at St. Mary's and is why they have such a great ski system.

612

Plans never seem to work the way that you want them to. But as always I was able to cope and change things as needed. We did make it to the MOA's aquarium, which was super cool getting to walk through a large tube and see the fish up close. Did not get to ski with Jared but did get to ski a good loop outside of Stillwater. Good food and beer and family with lots of play time for the kids. I have to say it was a good time but always better when you get home. Now starts monday, and we are out of the deep freeze so more skiing is on the list of things to do this week. Load em UP!

Comfort Zone

I know how to

drive a car, and sometimes

even well.

But today made me glad that I am

not a big city dweller.

It has been year since I have be in the heart

of the Twin Cities and forgot how much

getting around can suck.

At time I felt as if I was back in the

valley of the sun with out the heat.

Hope to ski tomorrow with the

Wah Report.

Until then beer and food.

Stay Warm!

Chilly Willy

-22 air temp and -39 wind chill. Schools are closed and it is dam cold. But still not as bad as it can be in Alaska. You can see Russia from Alaska.

Bitter Cold

Ok you can say it I am weak. Something about -25 windchill is making me stay inside. Even riding the rollers is out because the garage has dropped in temp. A few day off should help me fell a bit recharged, sleep has been good 11 hours last night, good stuff. So I am going to fill up on coffee and then head to work, need to box up the kids bike and get ready for new one. STAY WARM OUT THERE!!

What Now

New plans on the horizon. Looks as if Sophia's bike is sold and going to Texas, now just need to find some local or semi local team for her to race on to keep her motivated. Both Sophia and Anna have expressed interest in some skate ski equipment so that is a new goal to find them something to slide on. I am going to keep my eyes out while in the cities this weekend. I have been having a blast with it>>>it beats tempo riding in the garage where I'll find my self tonight. Have fun stay warm and keep moving.

Blue toes coming

Jury duty was a bust and I think that it is fair to say that if dumb people stop doing stupid things that people wont be subjected to go through such a boring and long waste of time. That being said I need something to do so what would a wise man do. GO SKI!! With a cloud covering the valley and white flakes falling and the temps to drop through out the week that is what I did. The woods were empty with only one or two people out. About an inch or two on perfect groom made for a nice afternoon. I stayed in the wood because the golf course would have been like skiing in a milk carton. Up and down hills and then back again, all made for good work. On some of the downhills the snow was deep enough to make some skinny ski tele turns. Then out of no where came the groomer, which made me more modivated and ski some more I did. Body and legs were into it and if was not for overheating and being covered in snow I may have stayed out longer. More snow on the way and then the temps drop to super cold like highs of -4 oh yea fun stuff.

Sleepy Eye D

Sunday nite I am tired my legs are heavy and I got stupid jury duty in the morning. I would rather be skiing. Was asked if I wanted to ski the Birke, have a ride and place to crash, just not the cash they want a C note for late reg. Maybe next year. The family asked tonight for ski equipment so need to find some for them.

Rubber Legs

The Blue Birds were out and the skiing was good. It is starting to catch up with me, Yesterdays ski in the new snow with hill repeats made my legs heavy today. I got to play with my new camera,only problem was I was moving so fast with little stop time epically after I ran in to Paul and Milt. i hope to get back out in the AM to round out the week,,,,I may have jury duty this coming week then we head up to MN to do some skiing there hang with family and see some old friends. This here is Sophia's Mountain bike that is now for sale going to get her on some bike wheels. Her and this bike got along for the past two years,fast light weight, but it is time to get on some 9er wheels and go even faster. So if any one out there in internet land is looking for a 15" Race bike let me know.

Tones of home

New snow on the ground this morning, changed the woods once again. Yesterday brought race like conditions and speed where today was sliding through powder at lower speeds. It is nice when I can slow down and work on form and really fell the hard work. Once the groomers get out there and work their magic it will be back to fast skate lanes. Until then nice peace full winter wonderland.

Slip sliding

When it is good it is soo good and today was one of the good days. Must have just been a few minuets behind the groomer. They took the 1.5 inch snow fall and turned it in to some nice corduroy. After so mush ice skating this was Just Like Heaven. Pushing hard up the climbs and flying across the golf course. Now I wait for the Trek rep, to see what kind of baked goods he brings. I am thinking that for 2009 I am going to go with the new Bontrager RXL mountain shoe. Stiff and fast. Hard to think bikes with all of the snow on the ground.

Hellonwheels

Snow is falling which is nice to see. They are not saying that we are going to get much, we only need a little to cover up the leaves and ice on the trails. Anther good hour of skiing lots of hills and fast descents. I am starting to worry about what the ice is doing to the inside edges of my skis? Might get a stone grind when I am in the cities next week.. Never had one not sure what it will do just been told that it will make a difference. We'll see until then I have to keep up the work so I can post a good lap if I make to the race this Saturday. Be careful and don't fall off the ski lift!

Ice skating

Out skiing again this morning, good work and helps pass the time until warmer weather is here. The trails have a good base and if we could get that 1-3 inches of snow they speak of they would be right back to great condition. As for now you need to be on you game with the icy patches and careful on the down hills, they can eat you alive. At one point today I got my skis in a rut and thought that I would be a tree ordainment. So bring on some more snow and keep the bitter cold away.

Snow cones

Transformed once again thaks to the freezing rain that fell yesterday. Looks as if some one tried to groom, kind of made it look like shaved ice. On one hand it was good because it forced me to go slow but on the other after such a fun hard ski yesterday, I wanted to do it all over again. I think that a few passes with groomer it will back to normal and very skiable,,maybe a ski race next Saturday.? GO Eagles!

Moving faster

Thanks to all the hard work of the Groomers here in LAx the trails have been transformed once again. Skiing is back and the work was good.Legs were responsive after a hour in the garage last night.After a half an hour of warm up I ended up skiing with some of Birke freaks. I would love some more snow but this is good for now. I am slowly starting to feel a bit Norwegian.

Winona Dudd

The new year is here and I hope that all had a safe and good night. I kept it mellow as I was in charge of driving the mini van. After getting the kids from grandma's this morning I headed up north to Ynonia and hit up the Ski trails. It is the real deal up at St. Marys, well groomed and laid out. It felt as if i was doing nothing but climbing the whole time. First class,,, this system of skate trails is as good if not better than the Breckenridge Nordic center.

No hikers no sledders no snowshoes!! I would love to work this in to my week,,,skiing there not to far you just have to go all the way to Minnesota. CRAZY. More work is needed before I go and ski with Anna's aunt and uncle. Have fun go fast and enjoy the Ride.