November, 2009

Silver Star is a 14 hour drive from West Yellowstone.  By Tuesday morning, it was time to leave my home away from home for the first half of November.  We got out for a short ski in the morning then packed up the  car for a road trip.    The weather could not have been better and we made great time on our journey.

We spent the night at my Grandparents half-way through the drive.  It was great to catch up with everyone in Idaho.  After a big breakfast on Wednesday, more than enough to get me through the day, we continued on to Bozeman.  Leif and Kristina stayed in Bozeman and I hopped in the van with Fish for the remained of the drive to West Yellowstone.  As Donovan says, it’s one of the best drives in the country.  On the route, we came across some big horn sheep getting their daily dose of road salt.

Big Horn Sheep in Big Sky Country

We pulled into West Yellowstone in time for a big pasta feed with the Team.  Great to be back in West!

Not sure if this is legit.  If there already is one or this is illegal, let me know. . .

There are hundreds of skiers heading to West Yellowstone in the next week, but no way to coordinate rides.  If you’re looking for a ride or have an extra seat to or from West, feel free to use the comments section on this post to organize.  Save some money, save the environment, make some new friends.

Bozeman Airport to West Yellowstone

Great weekend in Silver Star.

Kuzz and Zimm post workout

Photo: Roberto Carcelean

This trail is called Paradise. I wonder why?

Finished up the week watching an awesome Packer game this afternoon, followed by an evening ski.

If you’re looking for more reading, you can check out this interview I did for fasterskier.com last week.

Leif Nordgren is a biathlete on the US National team from Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.  He flew in yesterday and will be staying with us in Silver Star for the rest of the week.  I caught up with him while watching the French Masters Tennis Tournament on TV this afternoon.

1. Leif is a pretty unique name.  Have you ever had a teammate named Leif?  We have three skiers named Bryan on the CXC Team.  We call them by their last names: Gregg, Cook, and Fish.  Nordgren and Zimmermann are a little too long for that to work here.  What should we call you so we don’t confuse Leif and Leif?

Leif Nordgren:  No, I’ve never had a teammate named Leif.  In fact, Zimmermann is the only other Leif I’ve met face-to-face.  That’s a tough one.  Deno Johnson calls me “Leafy Greens” or “Leifers.”  I don’t have many nicknames, because it’s such an uncommon name.

Leif Nordgren

2. You’re a biathlete.  So, are you a faster runner or biker?  I always thought winter was your off-season.  Why did you come all the way out to Silver Star?

LN: I’m a faster biker.  I’m a pretty bad runner.  Believe it or not, biathlon is actually cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship.  I came out here to get some extra on-snow training before my first races next week in Canmore.

3. For me, traveling with a ski bag and duffel is a pain.  What is the most challenging thing about traveling internationally with a gun?

LN: I’m limited to two bags when I travel on the airlines.  Usually my ski bag and my rifle case are my two checked bags.  That means that I have to travel with all my clothes in my ski bag, which can get pretty heavy.  Traveling within the US and Canada is not too difficult with a rifle, just an extra form to fill out at customs.  Traveling within Europe can be more difficult.  Driving from Czech into Germany two years ago we got pulled over crossing the border and they found 10,000 rounds of .22 ammo on our way to World Juniors.  Our coach was in a different vehicle, so we had to wait for him to come back and clear things up.  We almost lost our rifles, but managed to make it though okay in the end, about 3 hours later.

"There's only one pair of skis in my bag. I swear."

4.  You finished 3rd in the Korteloppet and your teammate Wynn Roberts was 7^th in the Birkie last winter.  Is there a reason why biathletes don’t compete in more Cross Country events?  Is it because you don’t want to make us look bad?

LN:  No, that’s not it at all.  I’d love to do more cross country events, classic races too.  Our main focus is on biathlon, so that’s what we need to race.  When we get an open weekend its always fun to jump in a cross country race.  I’m just trying to ski my fastest, but beating the cross country specialists doesn’t hurt either.

5.  No offense, but you’re pretty skinny, even for a junior biathlete.  How do you stack up against the Jacked Up Old Man?  Will you ever start your own website, skinnyfastyoungkid.com?

The Jacked Up Old Man just doesn’t compare to me.  I was fortunate enough to do some roller ski races against him in Soldier Hollow just last month.  I was a little disappointed by his fitness level.  I love Duncan, he’s a great guy.  Hopefully he was just having an off week.  It’s always fun to get out and train with him.  I don’t have my own website yet, but now I’ve got a good name for one!

Leif kicking back in Silver Star

GK: Cool, thanks Leafy Greens!

LN: Yep, no problem.

and they want their corduroy back. . .

They’re going to send it to West Yellowstone.

I was caught on camera this morning by Sovereign Lake photographer Jim Miles in the middle of my morning classic ski.  Beautiful day, perfect tracks.  Thanks for the photos, Jim!

Heading into my second week out here in Silver Star.  Marshall, Brayton, & Sam took off this morning, while Leif Zimmermann and Kristina Trygstad from the Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, Montana moved in.  Nice ski this morning, then we went down into Vernon to pick up groceries–my first trip off the mountain in a week.  Less than 1km down the road from Sovereign, there is no snow on the ground at all.  Amazing considering we’re skiing on race skis at Sovereign!

Leif Zimmermann

On a non-skiing related note, today is the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  To commemorate, here’s a little Wall humor.  This is one of my all-time favorite bumper stickers.  Big points to the first person who can translate.

We’ve been skiing on snow for a week now, but today was the first day that we were able to ski in snow.

Good thing, too.  I’ve heard “Sewer up!” on group road rides, but never on a ski. . .

Today was a relaxing rest day on the mountain.  Mostly catching up on business that’s been put off in favor of skiing this week.  Brayton and Marshall made the cut for this week’s Silver Star Nordic Update.  I got out for a light jog before sunset and took a couple shots around town.  The building code in Silver Star states that all buildings must be painted with at least five different colors (or colours, as the case may be), which makes the town feel like a giant Candyland.   mmmm.

If you’ve ever seen the film Thank You for Smoking, you’ll know the Mod Squad stands for the “Merchants of Death.”  If not, this short trailer will get you up to speed. . .

In the Nordic World, the Mod Squad is the hot new team on the scene.  The Methow Olympic Development Project is comprised of three athletes, quietly putting in the time, getting ready to throw the hammer down this winter.  They’ve had a presence at virtually every training camp I’ve been to this year: Bend, Hayward, Whister, and here in Silver Star, yet outside of the Methow Valley, no one seems to have heard of them.  Keep an eye out this winter for Sam, Sadie, and Erik.  I had the opportunity to ski my cool down this morning with Sam, Erik, and Roberto.

Sam, Erik, & Roberto

The Mod Squad