West to Silverstar
Wed, Nov 28, 2007 - By Pat Casey, TeamToday.org
We had 60 degree days and sunny skies for our training camp in Park City. It was warm... Maybe a little too warm... Leading up to the first races of the year for the Continental Cup team no one wanted to talk about how warm it really is was for that time of year.
On Monday of last week we were loading the vans to embark on the first trip of our race season the following morning. However, we were unsure of our actual destination. If West Yellowstone didn't get snow that night then the races would be cancelled and we would likely head past West and go straight to Silver Star, BC. If West got snow then we would go to West and race... West got pasted with snow. 10" was plenty of snow to make the skiing in West good enough to hold the races.
The race organizers, and volunteers, in West Yellowstone deserve a huge thankyou for their hard work during the '07 Ski Festival. The week was a total success and the races were well run... Thank you.
West Yellowstone is a great time for the whole nordic skiing community. We spent the week catching up with our sponsors, donors, supporters and the kids in the sport. It was good to see everyone.
One week ago these two pics were taken near Salt Lake City... That was the night west yellowstone got 10 inches of snow that saved the first leg of our trip...
Morgan Arritola and Liz Stephen in the background finishing Emmigration Canyon near Salt Lake city.
Liz making her way up to the top...
Lindsey Dehlin working on getting over her ski before she gets on the double pole...
Rosie Brennan in the prelims of the first race of the year.
Reid Pletcher on the way to qualifying 6th in the sprint...
Ian Havlick of Utah leading Alex Howe of Gunstock Nordic...
Chambo in the prelims... Going on to get third on this 1600M sprint course...
After the races were done Randy, Matt and I hit the road for Silver Star, BC where we would meet back up with the athletes who flew there... R..O..A..D.......T..R..I..P... The drive was clear roads and smooth sailing. We really like road trippin'.
The skies over Butte MT.
Big Sky country...
The boarder between Idaho and Montana...
We made it to Silver Star where we will race the World Cup courses at Soverign Lakes this weekend...
Photos: Casey