Finally, I found a downhill turn that I can take flat out. It’s the sweeping right hander that takes you into Mount van Hoevenberg’s biathlon range. Look around the corner, where you want to go. In the name of all that’s holy, don’t look down at your ski tips. Step lively in the apex. The transition back to diagonal stride is a challenge.
A few months ago, I moved to Saranac Lake. I’m getting used to the rhythm of life in the north country. I should have known better, but I dilly-dallied with pre-season ski prep. So as Mount van Ho and other northeast ski centers open, I’m still organizing my quiver.
On 4 December, I made it to Mount van Ho for my third day of skiing. At that point, only the stadium had enough snow to ski, but it was a bombproof base, and there was a warm lodge to boot. I skated around and around the 500 meter loop for 90 minutes. The scuttlebutt was that local former Olympian Duncan Douglas knocked off 50 km that same day. A cool 100 laps.
With cold temperatures, Mount van Ho made more snow and gradually opened more terrain. By Wednesday, the entire 1500 meter sprint loop was open.
Wednesday was the first day that the Ho was busy. Athletes from Paul Smiths College, Saratoga Biathlon Club, and elsewhere swooped around the lower part of the sprint loop. Jan Weller brought the Keene Valley high school team for practice late in the afternoon.
Jan is no slouch. He’s won the Manitou’s Revenge 54-mile trail race in the Catskills. At one point, he held the fastest known time on the 30-mile Pemigewasset Loop in the White Mountains. It was very kind of him to ask if I had any technique drills I could share withy his charges.
On Friday, I opted for classic skiing. When I arrived the parking lot was jammed with people coming to watch the FIL Luge World Cup. While I booted up, Fritz’s Polka Band – all the way from Syracuse! – rocked the crowded lodge with a mix of polka and oldies.
Outside, the tangy-sweet aroma of an overtaxed septic system graced my nostrils as I applied kick wax. I clipped into my skis and set out. Once around the stadium, then I headed up the sprint loop. In order to keep my heart rate down, I walked the uphills. In addition to overtraining concerns, I don’t have the technique to stride the steepest sections of the loop. That’s OK, because I still get to practice descending.
My kick wax wasn’t working, so I stopped and and replaced it with one of the newfangled kick wax / klister blends from Start. Tacky, with silver and pine tar in the mix, it gave good “race grip” I.E. it feels like it’s gonna slip, but you have good kick.
On Saturday, I came back with skate skis for an interval session. As I warmed up in the stadium, Clarkson, Paul Smiths, and St. Lawrence University ran an informal time trial. Fortunately, by the time I was ready to go hard, they were cooling down. I brushed aside my fears of being a slow-moving obstacle and went out hard. This early in the year, a hard lap and a half would have to suffice.
A successful first week at Mount van Hoevenberg. I’m stoked for winter.
Well done. Thanks for sharing.
Wasn’t there a major renovation at this facility? How could the septic be having problems, and so early in the season?
Dennis, it was subtle but noticeable. There’s luge athletes, coaches, spectators, and skiers in there. The most crowded I’ve seen it.
Heh, everybody knows to stay out of the lodge when the Lugers are in town. They always wreck the place. Seriously though, way to get after it.