Last week I traveled to Thunder Bay for our first set of races for 2011. These races were one of my more important ones because they were also the selection races for the Under-23 Championships in Estonia at the end of the month. Generally if you are the top skier under 23 years of age in any of the three races, you automatically qualify for the trip. My first race was the 30km pursuit, which starts off with a 15km long classic leg, and switches to the skating technique mid-way through the race for the final 15km. Despite some numbingly cold weather, I finished the race in 4th overall and was the top Under-23 athlete to cross the line, stamping my ticket to Estonia.
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| The pursuit race podium, I'm 2nd from the right. |
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| Midway through Sunday's 15km skate race, which wasn't as great as my pursuit race |
Today is a travel day for myself and the team, as we travel from Calgary --> Toronto --> Frankfurt --> Helsinki, making for a really long couple of days. I will be training in Helsinki, Finland for a couple days to adjust to Europe, and then we will drive to Otepaa, Estonia which is our race venue and home for the remainder of the two week long trip. The championships begin on the 27th, but I get the special opportunity of racing the World Cup's next weekend on the same trails, acting like sort of a primer before my bigger races.
I'll be sure to update you once the racing begins; wish me luck!
Kevin Sandau
Canadian National Development Team
Alberta World Cup Academy
Canmore, Alberta
www.sandau.ca
Canadian National Development Team
Alberta World Cup Academy
Canmore, Alberta
www.sandau.ca
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| sponsored athlete |
