What a crazy, memorable, historic weekend. Gallivare is
perhaps my new favorite place on the face of the earth :)
I’m not even sure what to say. The reality of it all is just
sinking in and I’m still not exactly sure what to think or say… or how to
express all the emotions of the weekend.
Giving "Sadie" a kiss!
Fish paste for breakfast!
We've been staying in cabins which is always preferable to hotel rooms!
"Hellner Stadium" in Gallivare - Swedish ski star who lives in the town...
The optimist in me is purely PSYCHED. The act of making a goal & meeting
it – or in this scenario, exceeding it has got to be the most rewarding feelings
in the world. Two days alone made all the Friday nights spent alone in the APU
weight room worth it… the missed Alaskan adventures, family trips… everything
that I have sacrificed in the last couple of years pursuing the life and goals
of a professional athlete.
It’s crazy to start the season on such a high note. In the
span of two days, the first two days of the season, I blew some of my (entire)
season’s goals out of the water.
On Saturday I was 5th place, just 2.9 seconds from the podium
and in the company of World Champions and Olympic Gold medalists. In fact, I had
to take multiple pictures of the results such that when I woke up the next
morning I could ensure myself that the day – and the result – was more than
just a vivid dream!
Sitting in the reindeer leader’s chair was an experience in
and of itself. Going into the day
it was one of my goals to be the race leader when I passed across the finish
line. Being bib #6, this didn’t initially mean a whole lot seeing that there
was 72 girls that started after me with the opportunity to seize the furry
chair from under my behind! I
remember Liz being in the same scenario last year the season opener in Sjujsoen
when she was the early race leader. It looked like fun and I wanted the experience! Little did I know that I would occupy
that seat for the next 25 minutes until I “passed it off” to Kikkan! The weather was less than ideal and the
FIS people kept telling me that I was free to change my clothes and come back
but I insisted on staying. I had
never been in this position in my entire life and I wasn’t about to throw a
single second of it away. It was
by far the best seat in the house and I wanted to watch the race from the
line. Over and over, I kept
expecting to get bumped down.
Great skaters like, Anouk from France, Anna Haag from Sweden, Martha and Stiera from Norway……somehow, my name remained at the top of the list
through all these fast girls. It
was an unreal feeling and looking back, I was ten-feet tall, floating in
mid-air despite the lactic acid surging through my entire body.
Pure joy & excitement... pumped to share the moment with teammates!
Hugs
Raw emotion
A historic day with the coaches! Chris Grover (left) Head Coach USST and Matt Whitcomb (right) Head USST women's coach
Not to forget this guy! Kikkan and my personal coach, Erik Flora at APU!!!!
Autographs with the kids
The results.... REALLY?
Our TEAM!
With our Swedish Friends Charlotte Kalla and Lisa Larsen pre-awards ceremony
Saturday night downtown awards ceremony... super FUN!
Like I said, Swedes, especially those in Gallivare love a home town boy!
Then, on Sunday it just got even better. Our women’s 4x5k
relay took the first-ever relay medal for USA Skiing!
I'm in the front, black suit!
The start
Ides was an AMAZING cheer leader and an important member of the relay team
I was lucky enough to be selected to ski the “scramble, lead
off” leg for the team. I love the scramble leg and just like it’s namesake, it
is a TOTAL scramble. Each team has their “bulldog” out on course. There are
lots of big girls that will do anything they can to push you around or ski a
line on course that will stop you in your tracks. Unlike the men (!) it’s pure
aggression and vying for position.
I started bib#3 which is historic in and of itself. I was on the second
line at the start gun, even with Sweden and just one stride behind Norway #1.
I had a great start and was skiing with the top girls until
part way through the race I got tripped up on a transition and a small gap
started to form. It was a high-speed downhill with a transition into a
herringbone and either I tripped or someone skied over my ski just as I was
trying to lift it. I had an “uphill fall” but it was enough to let some of the
girls behind me pass and I wasn’t able to fully recover. That said, I’m proud of the leg I skied
and feel like I kept our team in contention for the remainder of the girls to
do their jobs! (While I am
historically a better skater, I am able and open to doing any leg of the relay
– it’s whatever our team needs on any given day!)
The anticipation was palpable during the next three legs of
the relay. I quickly changed and then spent the next 35 minutes PACING back and
forth from the TV screen, to the track, to my teammates that finished one by
one. The excitement was also too much – I don’t think my heart rate dropped out
of zone 4 for at least 20 minutes PAST the end of the race. Jessie’s sprint to the line was incredible
and after she collapsed on the ground, we all pig-piled on top of her, sobbing
in happiness, disbelief, and elation.
I think we can all agree it was one of the more emotional moments of our
entire careers. I am certain that everyone
thought we were absolutely crazy and we made quite a scene of the finish
pin. To say we were happy is a
HUGE understatement!
The socks!
Per tradition photo, via our last season's best in Nove Mesto!
The aftermath
Things have finally settled down now and we get to race
again tomorrow! We’re currently in
Ruka, Finland outside of Kuusamo.
Friday the 3-day mini-tour kicks off with a classic sprint. Saturday is
a 5k skate and Sunday is a 10k pursuit start classic race. Kuusamo was the site
of my breakthrough race last year so it’s sweet to be back. Each race weekend
and the style of race suits different skiers…. Last weekend suited my strengths
so it’s going to be hard to compare but all in all, I’m going into the race
with a new level of confidence and an elevated level of enthusiasm. Go TEAM
USA! I’m lucky number 13 tomorrow!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the kind emails, messages &
facebook posts we’ve received. The Internet here in Kuusamo is a bit rough so I
apologize that I haven’t gotten back to everyone but your words mean the world
to me – THANK YOU!!!!!
Cheers & thanks for reading!
Holly :)
