Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Travel day back home, and a much needed rest day after 24 hrs of training this week.

A really nice loop around Sovereign Lake area. Deep snow in thick forest with open glades, perfect sunshine, mountain vistas- more of the best winter trails ever!

Well, we couldn't let all those nicely groomed trails go unused now. A short loop before we head back home. It was that or go for supper before our flight- we had a sandwich in the airport instead, but got in a last ski.

Away with the namby-pamby 10M wide machine groomed trails, off with the princess lightweight skis, and on with the metal edged boards for some ungroomed classic back at Larch Hills. The skiing was so gorgeous it was almost surreal, as 10cm of powder fell while we skied narrow trails between massive snow mushrooms on stumps and Nessie-shaped snow formations on small trees.

Part 1 of the SL-SS Pursuit. We started on classic skis in Sovereign Lake, did some of the tougher trails, then up and over the mountain to the very top of the Silver Star ski lifts.

SL-SS part 2- we skied down the Silver Star side with some nice long telemark turns on the well groomed trail, then took a long loop out to Alder Point, avoided the temptation of the double black diamond downhill run and skied wa-a-ay back to our hotel for lunch. By now the tank was pretty empty. I think 5 days in a row, with the previous 2 being quite hard, are starting to show.

Part 3 of the SL-SS Pursuit. As tempting as it was to stay on the couch and watch the Long Track skating, we had to go back and get our car, so on with the skating gear, and up and over the mountain, taking the long way back over some more hills.

Oh yeah, we took the lift up the mountain this time. I know, Suck it up Buttercup and all that. At this point, pass the tiara!

Ski- O at Sovereign Lake with Bash.
Barbie had given us a map to test out, so we took the skating skis and tried the route. I wish I could download my HRM to see how much climbing we did, but suffice it to say that Barbie didn't miss many opportunities for descents and climbs. The route was a lot of fun, and the trail system's fairly complex so it kept us on our toes in spots. The skating's going far better now, in warmer snow with better technique and some acclimating to altitude.
Another perfect day.

Skiing at Larch Hills with Bash and The Wombat.
A fantastic mix of groomed trail, backcountry tracks, bushwhacking and some remove-the-skis-and-clamber stuff. This ares has a huge number of trails. The ungroomed ones make their way through an amazing West Coast forest, well worthy of the Lord of the Rings trail names. We were out for the whole day.

Skate Ski Lesson with Barbie at Silver Star.
A really great lesson. Barbie finally ironed out why I seem to skate like a speed skater doing the 500M- I'm not balanced over my glide ski, but my weight's in the middle, so I have to take quicker strides or fall over.. I finally have the middle gear where I can cruise along. Our climbing is more efficient now too. Barbie can really coach!

Again, beautiful conditions. We were out for 3hrs, but call it 1:45 @ 2.

An afternoon jaunt at Silver star. It's feeling smoother.

Yogilates class at Silver Star. Some new things, but less gruelling than the Caron Shepley DVDs. Glad we've done a bit, as this was an intermediate class. Didn't include the warm up/ relaxation portions.