Lake Placid Loppet: The Forecast Called for Pain

I haven’t blogged much for NYSB this year. Skiing at Mt van Hoevenberg on 1 December, I crashed hard when Pumphouse Road turned from groomed powder into a rock garden. A torn acromioclavicular ligament put me outta commission. When I returned to skiing, it was decent early season conditions. No one wants to hear “It’s thin, but really good” when downhill writers are contributing stories with epic powder shots.

Early on, the big storms were missing us in Saranac Lake. Gradually, conditions improved in the Tri-Lakes. Three inches here, three inches there, and pretty soon you’re skiing in good conditions. By the time the Lake Placid Loppet rolled around, we had serious midwinter conditions.

Traditionally, the Loppet goes over Porter Mountain first before venturing to the mellower biathlon side. This year, we went to the biathlon side first. Heading out Three Trails, I skied behind two younger skiers. I had better technique, but as my motor is 30 years older, I couldn’t get past them.

From the Perimeter Trail, the race veered away from the traditional route. We went back and forth and zigzagged to the point where I didn’t know where I was. From the feed near the 1980 biathlon range, we went f’n backwards down Three Trails. A steep descent into what’s locally known as The Pit, with a near 180-degree left turn across a bridge. Suffice to say, the trail wasn’t designed to be skied in this direction. Climbing outta the pit was brutal.

Suitably softened up, we crossed the footbridge to the cross-country side. On Porter Mountain, for the first time ever, the Loppet dropped into Peggy’s Puddle. The young bucks off the front took best line, leaving a massive berm down this careening, curving, off camber descent. Pointing them straight ahead would have committed me to terminal velocity. I opted to sidestep halfway downhill before letting them fly, then I went up the stiff climb outta the hole.

I managed the next two hors catégorie climbs and pointed ‘em downhill on the Roller Coaster Hills. I’m no Mikaela, but my downhill skillz have improved since I moved here, and I carried a lot of speed to the Hill With No Pity and Russian Hill.

Russian Hill is so named because at the 1979 pre-Olympic World Cup, Russian coaches complained that the hill exceeded FIS maximum climb regulations, and the organizers cut out 10 or so meters of elevation gain with a short connector. Surprise, surprise: we bypassed the connector and went straight to the top of the Russian Complaint.

Thoroughly exhausted since coming off Porter, I descended Russian Hill to Ladies 5, and it dumped us on to the new World Cup 5k loop. We skied to a short connector to Innerloopen. Another segment where we were going the wrong way, another massive berm. Sidestepping down this amounted to self preservation. Later, I learned that one of my friends had banged herself up pretty badly here.

I finished Innerloopen and dragged my sorry backside to the finish. In the woods, two-time Olympian Duncan Douglas passed me, fresh as a daisy. He won his age group in the 50 km handily.

My 50 km days are over, and I was happy to finish the 25 km, even if I was DFL in my age group. It was an extra hard course this year, but that’s OK. I’m thankful that I can still do this.