World Championship Report - March 15 (Posted here on April 30)

Kicked-back on the sofa watching replays of the 2003 World Championships from Val Di Fiemme, it is hard to believe that the racing has pretty much come to an end for the 2002/03 season. It only seems like weeks ago I was stepping off a plane in Oslo on a snowy October afternoon to begin the long journey of making it to the World Champs. What is even more amazing is thinking about how many real tough training sessions, intense lung-burning races in the cold, super-long car trips, Grandiossa 15min Pizza, old episodes of Home and Away, or the enormous amount of green cement wax I have gone through in these last five months! Spending that amount of time overseas isn't exactly easy on the pocket either, but I won't dwell on that, everybody has heard the story of the poor Australian XC Team Skier a hundred times. Plus, I believe in that old saying that it's the 'quality of life', not the size of your bank balance that matters anyway. Having said that, a spare 10,000 dollars thrown my way would be handy for next season (Mum, Dad, FIS???).

From the very beginning of my trip I had my mind made up that I was going to the World Champs, and that all I had to do was ski a half decent FIS race or two and I was in. There was also the thought of doing a World Cup or two in Dec/Jan once I had gone under the magic 100 FIS Pt barrier. Since I had skied a few races in the low hundreds (106pts best) two years ago in Europe when I was still a junior, I figured that it should be no problem to ski under this mark. This was a simple plan, although somewhat ambitious in hindsight, and after my first big FIS races (Gaalaa and Vang) I realised that trying to qualify by doing FIS races in Scandinavia was not just gonna be a walk in the park!

These first two races (see my previous email reports) were a loud wake-up call to just how serious XC skiing is in Norway. Never before had I seen so many wax technicians, running so fast, with so many pairs of skis, testing so madly! I suddenly found myself doing the same, checking snow temperatures, comparing waxes and changing base structures, anything to bring my equipment up to the same level or at least a bit closer. The other athletes on the other hand were totally relaxed, it seemed all they were worrying about was what colour headband to wear. Their coaches and techs took care of all the other 'stuff'- all they had to do was get out of the team van, walk to the track, ski a warm-up, then race. Their system seemed to work quite well, and after being well down the list in both races I began thinking that maybe these other skiers had a slight advantage over me in this area, with my support crew of 1 (Torill; manager, wax tech, cheer-leader) and my couple pair of skis.

After these early defeats (yet very worthwhile experiences) I pushed on regardless, training harder, and doing more races than ever, figuring that I was just giving myself more chances to get under 100pts. I entered all the possible sprint FIS races in Norway and Sweden, as well as regional sprint and distance races almost every weekend.

By late January I still hadn't skied fast enough in any FIS events, so I decided to get on a plane and head down to Switzerland- for 5 races in the space of 9 days! Talk about a whirlwind tour, I got to see a lot of the Swiss/Italian countryside and did a lot of km's, via buses, trams, trains, and rally cars (thanks to Mr. Matt "Let's take this corner sideways" O'Rourke). Before I knew it, I well and truly had the bug, doing what is termed 'Chasing Points'. This basically involves picking races to go to (usually the furthest distance away) based on a rough calculation of the possible race penalty if skiers with low points show up (they never do) and providing you get the wax right or have fast skis (occasionally) and have a good race (if you have recovered from all the travel)! The 4 Aussie skiers I had just joined up with (O'Rourke, Calder, Mock, Circosta) were quite experienced at this, so I was in safe hands (!!!). These guys really knew what was going on, and I was happy to get some tips from them along the way: on driving (thanks Matt), drinking vodka (thanks KT), women (thanks Mocky) and how to fly the Aussie flag in many different ways (thanks Circa).

Once the U23 Continental Championships at Val Di Dentro came around in early February I was well and truly in the swing of travelling again, although my skiing in the main sprint event there seemed to be lacking that bit of 'shine'. Probably the only shine evident at those races was coming off Mocky's chin, and our team's performances were pretty average overall. Nothing too bad, but not really impressive either, and this time there were no excuses for poor support- Finn and Keebs were on the ball! They really did an excellent job and gave 110% to make sure everything was looked after. Circa also put in the early morning hours down in the wax room much to his credit and will make a pretty handy wax-tech one day too (if he figures out there's probably more money in that than skiing). Following the duathlon, where I somehow cut my lip at about 7.5km and managed to ski around the last 7.5km like a wounded pig, I sat and reflected on my lost opportunities and the thought that I probably wasn't going to Val Di Fiemme for the World Champs. However, just when all hope was lost, I was offered a start in one race due to being just outside the selection standard, and in the National interests of gaining experience. I was hesitant at first but after a bit of thinking figured that a chance like this doesn't come around every day, so I accepted the kind offer. The part about racing just 1 event didn't really bother me too much either, for many reasons, but mainly because I was just happy to be going!

What happened in Val Di Fiemme seems like a blur now, the races all came and went so fast that before I knew it I was standing on the starting line about to race the sprint. I can't really remember much from the race at all, but some things will stick in my mind for a long time to come. The emotion, colour and excitement of the thousands of spectators, the loud whining sounds of air-raid sirens and homemade noise-makers, the serious looks of ice on the faces of fellow competitors, or that immense surge of adrenaline you get as you power out of the starting gate. As far as experience goes, it was about more than just my one race, and there are many things I saw and learnt that I can take away. The actual result itself, 65th, was a good starting point and now I know I have been there and raced at that level and can aim higher in 2005. For me this year it was all just about getting there.

Thanks go out to the 2003 Australian team support: Finn Marsland, Brian Keeble, Niccola Corradini, Andrew Circosta, and Matt O'Rourke.

Thanks to my sponsors for awesome gear: Atomic, Toko, Oakley.

See you on the trails back in oz...

Duane Butcher,

March '03.

Email Report 3 - January 13

Excerpts from (near) Oslo:
I'll give you the newsflash: Three sprint races in two days, each one less than half an hour from Oslo. It started off on Sat. with the Maxbo-Sprinten (regional championships) at Gullhaug (1.5km F). Turned up and who should I bump into but Bob Cranage and his crew of youngsters from Telemark. Good suprise to see some familiar faces, and they did ok too in a massive field of juniors. I was feeling really great after a sensible week (more rest, less intensity) and had some spring in the legs again! The senior field was restricted to only 8 starters, meaning you were automatically eithier in the A or B final after the TT. I had a solid qualifying run, and my skis were really running good. A few minutes later I found out that I was the fastest qualifier by 4secs (!!), so straight into the A final... Started well and had a 2m break after the first 400m straight and uphill, and managed to keep the lead until the first downhill section where I pulled away. Despite being challenged again on the last steep uphill I held on again for the last big dowhill, then flat section, and came home strong up the finish straight to win by a good 8-10m. My first win in Norway and great to have some other Aussies there with my cheer-squad (Torill) to all cheer me on!!! Bob has fair a bit on tape, including the presentations where I whip the crowd into a frenzy when I jump on the podium (haha). A great day, lots of fun and good to be feeling fast again.

The next day at 2pm was the Holmenkollen Sprint Cup (1km F), another huge turnout, and much bigger senior field too. The format was quite unique (bizzare), with no qualifying TT, but random heat seedings instead. The fastest two from each heat then went straight into the A final and the next two straight into the B final. The heats were also run back-to-back, as in 4-5min rest!!! Talk about a straight-to-the-point sprint! This also meant the heats and finals were massive (between 6-10 guys) and chaotic, luckily the trails at Holmenkollen are 10m wide. To add a little more excitement, there was also a 100m sprint 20min before this- random heats of four, with the times to count for an overall winner. My heat was a smoker, with the winner doing the 100m in 12.8secs- I came 2nd in the heat (14.00) and equal 4th overall. In the 1000m heat it was all neck and neck, and despite a strong finish and a big lunge I was 10cm short, coming 3rd, but still into the B final (4 mins later). I started strong and came out of the straight in 3rd, and managed to pull in behind and cruise on the downhill (same skis from Sat.) and recover a bit.

Until the last steep hill coming into the stadium I was just holding on, but over the top I somehow pulled out alongside, gliding past on the flat, and onto the back of the guy leading. As we came down over the bridge into the stadium I tucked all the way behind him to the corner, letting my skis do the work! Into the finish straight I slung out wide into the lane beside and turned it on, slowly catching every step...and with another lunge at the line I just got there, to win the B final by cm's! Won't mention the pain, but it was worth it anyway.

So, there's the news- a great weekend of sprint action, a few more cups for the cabinet and I am feeling 150% better. My body was just too fatigued before I think. Anyway, at least it's good to find a bit of form!

Email Report 2 - January 13

Excerpts from from Vang:
I suppose you have seen the results from yesterday's race? Well, I will start off on a positive by saying that I was only (?) 25 seconds behind Bjerkeli, fastest qualifier over the tough 1.5km course[also fastest qualifier in Salt Lake City 2002], but finished in 72nd place... Felt not too bad, but not 100% "springy" like I know I can be, pretty much like last race really, just "ok". I could go fast, but not fast enough, and my legs were absolutely shot after the second 50m wall climb, the last half of the race I was dying a bit, although finished good. Skis were quick, but not quick enough (raced on plain old HF8 after some race day adjustments). It was a little disheartening actually to see the other dudes just standing around, relaxing, 'cause they had 20 pair of skis and 5 guys madly testing and waxing for them, and there was me running round like a spaz doing everything and then racing as well. Man, it was basically a World Cup, the amount of testing and wax crews and all that stuff. For a FIS race, it blew me away... Another funny thing... Did I mention that we were 4 hours early too??? Yeah the organisers decided to change the start time from 9:30am to 2:00pm, despite saying on the internet that everything would be exactly the same!! Not too happy after getting up at 5:15am to drive there!!!! Oh well, you get that. Not sure about points...[Race points were approx 140, plus a penalty of 16]

Bjerkeli, Svartedal, Solbakken, Iversen, Elden and Brors were all up there in the top ten at least qualifying, but given that I was 72nd, looks like I probably won't be flying down to join you guys for the world cups sorry. The big guns were all absolutely smokin', very fast, and every single heat was a sprint finish and lunge! Iversen was knocked out early again, Elden too after some protesting. Jon Kristen Dahl (a young guy) seems to be the talk of the town, absolutely blazing, along with Kristian Horntvendt - they were in the final) and a couple other kids. I think Svartedal won, but not too sure because by that stage I was becoming hyperthermic.

Email Report 1 - December 6

Excerpts from the Bulsprinten:
The Gålå Sprint, ah yes, the first FIS race on my schedule and my first classic sprint race. Well, drove over there on the Friday morning early with Reidar my driver/wax tech, to check out the course, suss the place out, etc. Arrived at the trails eventually after getting lost a few times (due to dodgy directions from locals with absolutely no idea, and possibly the speed of the car). When we got there there was not even the slightest hint of a race being held the next day, no signs, no bunting, nobody warming up, nothing. The trails were basically in the middle of nowhere, and it was a gusty and snowy -10, so I guess the locals were just down at the pub or somewhere warm. Skied round a bit and found a start/finish area and something that resembled a sprint course- about 2km long at a guess. Anyway, skiied round for an hour or so, did a few quicksprints, and found a few waxes that were working good (Blue Extra Stick and Rode Blue Super Extra).

Next morning we arrived to find the place buzzing, skiers everywhere and the track all set up. To my dismay, the course was the same one as the day before, approx 1.7km long with three hills, one of them 550m straight out of the start after 100m of DP, and a 200m uphill finish. Went to get my race bib, and got the reply, "The Australian's were already here, they collected all the numbers". Hmmm, figured out that some funny Norwegian's were being pranksters, or either that KT and Nick must be around the place somewhere. Sure enough I bumped into them- couldn't miss the bright yellow tops and the looks of total disorientation on their faces as they walked through the many Norwegian skiers (who all look the same- like they're on the national team). KT's first race too, she and Nick had been driving around Europe looking for snow. Come race time I was all set to go, had good wax, felt ok, but knew it was a tough course first up. Just had to make it up the first hill quick... Had a good start and felt ok double poling (maybe too good, because I kept on double poling just a bit too long) and started striding as fast as I could, only about 250m from the top. After the first hill my legs were toast, but I managed to hang in the tuck until the next DP section. Suddenly some guy yells out "Oi", so I pull over into the other lane and a dead-ringer for Odd-Bjorn Hjelmset comes poling past. I jump onto the back of him and manage to stick with him for a good 400m. By the time I reach the finish, it seems slightly more uphill than I remembered, but I manage a lunge anyway.

After a few warm gatorades I feel that I am not very tired and start to think that I didn't go hard enough. It felt alright, and I was pushing really hard, but I wasn't convinced. The results told the story- 35th place, about 26secs off qualifying. The guy who passed me, Roar Hjelmset (bro to Odd-Bjorn) was just below the cut-off in 17th, .5sec off qualifying, 11secs down. I have not seen the FIS points yet, but it was a genuine schlacking, and I am sure they won't be so good. Trond Iversen, Morten Broers and Håvaard Solbakken were not on the pace in the TT, and apart from Solbakken, the others were knocked out in the first round. It appears that the guys really blitzing were first year seniors, all skiing very fast. KT can give you her version of the race, not sure how she felt she went, but I was just stoked to see an Aussie in the finals anyway! The finals were exciting, but too cold to be standing on the sidelines watching.

Other news; last night I had a pretty big crash during training at Geilo. I somehow crossed my tips tucking down a steep, very fast dowhnill section in the dark and cartwheeled quite heavily off the track and into a drain, landing on my back (not fun). At a quick glance my poles were ok, and one ski was damaged. My neck suffered a good jolt and I have bruised some ribs, but the worst was that my back (which was already a bit tight) is now so sore I can't bend down and it seems to be spasming a bit. After the crash and a quick limb check it was all laughs, however now I am not so sure...

The next race (Sprint F) is on Friday, only two and a half hours from Oslo, so I'll just drive up in the morning, no need for accomodation anyway. I am all entered, etc, and set to go, skis are fast, just need to get the body working again now.

Will keep you updated,

Duane