ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOXY GETTING CUMF'

The whole family hit the road this weekend. We headed off to Mammoth Lakes, California for the final nordic ski race of the year. I did the 42km skate race and Hollie did the 21km skate race.

I was excited to hit the road!

Tamarack Lodge parking lot was our home for the trip. We "boondocked" right on the frozen shores of Mary Lake. The dogs love the snow...even when it is filthy!

Udo is the chief navigator. He makes sure no one up front is slacking off when driving.

The trooper poopers hanging out in the camper willing us to let them do their own thing!

Breakfest is served! Pre race meal, cereal and eggs...

The Line up of the 42km field...thats me on the far edge...is that a gun show pose or am I stretching it out?

AHHHH, a granite fin poking out of the shadows just after sunrise.

The race went really well. The conditions were pretty good until the last lap but all in all a good day out. I dont know what got in to me, but I had an itch to attack early on in this long race and I did. I think we got things going a little early in the race but it shook things up to make it very interesting. My hat goes off to my mate, Rick for using good tactics to help me get the initial gap and a big tip of the cap goes out the Jacub Benes and August B. August followed my attack and solidified the damage. Unfortuantley for August, i think his effort got the best of him as he fell off the pace. Jacub and I duked it out for the rest of the race. Jacub out skied me in the end. His skis were better in the softening snow, but his efficient technique and strength got Jacub the win. I came in second after getting popped in the last 10 kilometers. I was fighting my skis and wasting energy...it got me in the long run. We still went fast coming in under 2 hours...I should not blame the skis. They rocked the first 2/3's of the race, and it has most to do with the fact that I did not put a "rill" in the bases' to help evacuate the moister form the contact of ski to snow. MY BAD. Hollie had a great time too. She was the 8th female finisher and the first in her age group. Plus, she shaved 18 minutes off her time from last year. NICE WORK!
Anyway, ski racing is over for the year and it is time to move on. I am working hard to put together our route for our big camper trip and trying to coordinate some cool mountain bike races / riding with our trip...so if anyone has any "MUST DO" races in the the inter mountian west in the next 6-8 weeks let me know!