As I've mentioned in social media, I
have – in seriously exaggerating terms – conquered other endurance
discipline than cycling. It was crosscountry skiing, and it was a
week ago. And yet, I don't think my shoulders have recovered, but
that is already different story.
My team mates brought up the event,
Hyvinkää hiihto, just in a middle of a general discussion and as I
have been planning to participate in such mass event – I kind of
took the bait. Main reason being that Hyvinkää was near and the
date was suitable.
So, the weather on Sunday was clear,
but windy with temperatures in slight minuses. I had also learned from
Ville, a team mate of mine and a wizard in ski waxing, that in
xc-skiing picking the right pair of skis and the perfect ski
preparation is a key to success. Therefore, I spent my Saturday doing
careful testing of different types of skis, ski waxes and the perfect
grind. I think I found one. I picked the skis and prepped them with
care for Sunday. After all, the choice was relatively easy. I picked
my classic skis with the zero base, because they are my only skis.
On the morning of the event, I saw
bunches of keen skiers prepping their skis with passion all around
the start area and I didn't have to. Then, I went to the start and
after first few kicks and pushes I made one heck of a discovery. My
skis didn't glide too well, but they did so forwards and backwards,
which wasn't such a pleasure to discover in a classic style event. I
couldn't help, but laugh – and yes, but to do a raw push for the
entire 40km distance.
The course wasn't so bad for such
style. Not perfect, but not bad. The only thing is with a roughened
base, the skis just don't work as they should for such style. So
there I was, trying to glide with skis, that don't glide – hard it
was. Nonetheless, I did my two laps of the course and finished the
event anyway. I had good time, and I got what I wanted – good
training and mass event experience.
To wrap this all up. I participated, I
finished and for the next event I need to change my ski guy, in
other words some expertise could help. So, the conditions and skis
were against me, and me, my technique and condition was somewhere
between terrific and amazing. What I'm saying is that the skis took
my chances of having skiing event of my life. And in fact, that is not true.
I had the event of my life, as I've never done one before and I
learned lots. The importance of skis, position in the group,
conditions and so on. Now, what you should learn from this never to
blame yourself for unsatisfying performances – it is the equipment,
conditions or someone else. And yes, I am just kidding.
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