After A Nice Break

A break after my first rollerski session.

I would like to apologize for being a little lazy and not updating my blog in the past month. I know that I should have updated straight after my last race, but that didn’t happen and the more time I left my blog go to a disgrace the less I wanted to update it. Damn selfish of me I know! Even though I have had a month off training, I’ve been busy doing normal things like going to Uni and seeing friends, and for a short period of time I tried to forget the snow, skiing, and training.

I left for Tyumen straight after my races in Uvat. I was pretty excited when we arrived as Tyumen is my home training base and I love the tracks even though they are killer hard! This base is newly built and is one the best in the world, it was its first international competition this year and they are planning to hold World Championships in 2017.

Myself and Bjorndalen

2 days before competition I was zeroing with all the other internationals, legend Ole Einer Bjorndalen (NOR) and Bjorn Ferry (SWE) 2010 Olympic Champ, it was good to see that they were enjoying themselves, laughing, joking, and having a good time. It was a shame that on the day of the race torrential rain decided to drop and suddenly everyone’s mood slightly dropped. Day of the race I had a great first lap, came out of the shooting range with 1 penalty and skied the 2^nd lap strong, but for some reason I came into standing a little unfocused and in a result I shot 3 penalties, which was really unacceptable. I was really disappointed when I saw the result and found out I was only 17 seconds off pursuit, but overall I was happy with how I skied and counted that with zero penalties I could of place in top 20.

My last competition were the Cross Country University Games. It was smoking hot and the snow was super slushy. The Organisers made a decision to cut the distance to 5km for men and 3km for women. While I was racing I felt like I was doing the “clean out the cobwebs”, a race at home in Perisher where you just smash out 5km as fast as you can! It has been a long time since my last 5km smash out so I a little nervous, I know that 5km is much more pain than a longer distance race so punishment was going to be served. I placed 6^th, 59 sec behind Evgeny Belov who was 30 seconds in front of 2^ndplace, it didn’t surprise me as he is places top 10 in XC World Cup. My muscles and throat were hurting but I was happy with the result and relieved to be done with the season.

Enjoying my first bike ride in the wilderness!

The past month I have been really busy with Uni work. A lot of catching up was done and I’m still not finished! I have been also seeing old friends and meeting new ones that have become very close in this past month. All the biathletes were also taking time of training so we have been spending a lot of time together, enjoying life and its serenity.

My first rollerski session

Yesterday was my first training session and it wasn’t easy. It’s always hard to get the rhythm of training back, but I know that soon I will adapt and be fully into it! We are living at my Grandmothers place at the moment, but I hope we can get onto a training base soon and punish out some solid training. I will be travelling to Australia on the 3^rd of July and I can’t wait to see and catch up with everyone! I won’t be updating you frequently as the winter season is now finished, so follow me on twitter for quick stories!  Thanks you for reading and talk soon!

Almost Done

Definitely it has been a long hard season, constantly travelling and never getting enough rest played a bad consequence on my health. I have been sick a little too often this season and most of the time couldn’t perform to my 100% best. The worst thing was I had to keep racing to maintain top 30 in the Nation Cup Score, this was important as it influences how much support funding Australia receives from the IBU. At the end of the season Australia placed 29th in World Cup Nation Score so sweat wasn’t spilled for nothing. I will be working on my immune system in this off season and I hope I can be a machine next year and somehow maintain my health through out the whole season.

4 days ago we arrived to Uvat (RUS) to compete in the Russian Championships. This morning it was -16 and that’s a little abnormal for spring, winter is still Rock’n’Rolling which makes skiing here perfect. Yesterday was the 20km Individual, there were 101 of the best Russian athletes competing and the snow conditions made it equal for everyone. I started 101st (last) and finished 57th, beating some athletes that I raced in Europe I was happy with the race. I skied consistent but was a little disappointed that all my 3 penalties were on my first standing, other than that I was happy to knock down all the other remaining targets. Even though I qualified for the pursuit I am not allowed to compete because it’s a closed National Championships, so now I am done racing in Uvat and I will enjoy skiing on this good snow and train for my last races of the season.

RBU has invited some “big guns” such as Tarjei Boe (NOR), Ole Einer Bjorndalen (NOR), Bjorn Ferry (SWE), Darya Domracheva (BLR) and Tina Bachman (GER) to compete in the “Governor  Prize” in Tyumen. It is a Huge race and the whole Russia will show up as the one with most points calculated from the 2 races will get a brand new Toyota Camry, so there is defiantly something to wax your skis for. These will be my last races of the season and I’ll be happy if I crack top 60. The level of competition will be not less than on World Cup, It is the same as racing Norwegian Champs in Cross Country skiing top 30 are all good enough to win a World Cup.

After these races the stars of World Biathlon will travel to Moscow(RUS) where  there is show race called “Race of Champions” an interesting event with lots of spectators and money involved.  After that’s over they all fly far East to Kamchatka (RUS) next to Japan, where  is another set of interesting races.  Kamchatka is a special place with lots of mineral hot springs so after the race the athletes can enjoy a little and bubble in a natural “Hot Tub”. The winner will not come out empty handed; a shiny Land cruiser is up for grabs for the one to rip everyone apart on the track! I don’t actually know what the internationals do with the car but I guess they just sell it right there on the spot? I dream to one day go to these places and compete for all these fancy prizes! These races invitational for the international athletes and all paid for by the organisers.

Today skiing I met the boss of the ski base, he was hunting or something on the ski track. When I finished my training he was waiting for me on the bridge to have a chat, and literally when I patted him he was meowing “OHH BOY THAT FEELS GOOD!” literally purring and meowing were all over the place he was defiantly a friendly chatty guy, after we finished chatting he following me back to my hotel and said goodbye. Love all animals especially when they act like bosses!

Thanks for reading and I will update you after my races in Tyumen which start on the 3rd of April. The weather forecast is predicting warm weather so I hope the snow will stay in good condition!

Worlds Done And Dusted. Aussie Team Departing To Different Locations

Munich Airport

- Grand Theft Auto

Key right at the door. Asking to take it.

Today while we were walking to our van I saw a convertible Mazda, on the top of the windshield there was a box of chocolates and when I approached closer I saw a key on the ground. Yep, it was the key from the car! I wanted to munch on the chocolates and take the car for a spin, it was just too easy and if it wasn’t illegal, I would be in that car doing sneaky brains (burnouts) all over the place. But I’m not that badass, all I did was open the door and rev the engine until it blew up……………. Ok I didn’t even do that, I just opened the door and had my picture taken. But that was a pretty close encounter to my first GTA, I didn’t steal it but I could have if i was stupid enough. Now that would be pretty good blog written from a German jail cell.

Yep, I'm that badass.

-          Atmosphere

It was an awesome feeling to be here in Ruhpolding this year. Every day there were thousands of people in the street drinking beers and enjoying the concerts. With 210 000 tickets sold the track was packed with spectators and each of them would cheer for you like your were a German! It was defiantly a fun World Champs despite that I didn’t have the best races.

-          Race

With screaming hot temperatures and difficult snow conditions, this was one of the hardest World Champs I have ever participated in. Not sure why these champs were held so late but it was defiantly not the best decision, with all the best skiers starting in the first group and smashing everyone else made the race only interesting for 20 minutes. Yes it was good skiing for the athletes starting in first group, but with the track quickly turning to slop anyone further then bib 50 said goodbye to their ski-time.

Just before the 20k Dyllan and I went around the course; the track was re-groomed and salted which made the snow hard and fast. We were both motivated and ready thrash it, but by the time we actually started it was that soft mushy snow again. When you have skied the track an hour before and know how fast it was, during the race you die mentally! My form has seen better days so skiing was really tough. I placed 82^nd with 2 penalties.

I wanted to have better form for these champs, but being sick practically the whole season ruined all my preparation, even if I was on top form here the unfair snow conditions would have slayed all my chances. Both race days I was in the middle of the pack and I wanted much more than that. The season is coming to an end and with World Champs over I may as well try enjoy the rest of it!

We are now in Altenberg (GER) for the last IBU races. I feel pretty weak and I think my body has had enough for the season.  Being sick literally every second week I feel like I haven’t shown what I’m capable of achieving.

Once I get home I will have some tests and find out why my immune system is torturing me! In the mean time I will try to stay healthy and enjoy my last races.

Thanks,

Alex

Australia = Fires and floods. Today my town is flooding.

Just down the road from my place. Hope my home will stay dry!

Swimming With Skis On

I can swim ok in a pool, but when it comes to swimming with skis and a rifle on your back, for some weird reason it is a little more difficult.

Today was the sprint event, +14 made the track soften quickly and turn it into deep heavy slush. Athletes with World Cup points started first with all the others starting in group 4-5, with every minute making the track more wet, It was defiantly a massive advantage to start in the early numbers.

I was starting 81^st, my main goal was to not blow up during the race and shoot well. By the time I started it was really slushy and heavy, your skis would dig in with every push and it was hard to get propulsion, so you needed to adjust your technique for the conditions. The downhills were really choppy and steep making the uphills the easier part of the course. I placed 87^th out of 139 starters, 3.58 behind with 2 misses. I am not satisfied but I don’t find it was a disaster, it is hard to be competitive in these conditions. My fastest skis were my coldest pair which means I just don’t have any good warm pairs! Pretty disappointing when that happens.

The forecast looks a little better for the 20km, so fingers crossed it won’t change. Also the forecast predicts it will rain these 2 upcoming days so not looking forward to getting wet during training! I feel like I can ski much faster then what I did today so looking forward to the weather change for the 20km.

Game Time

It is stinking hot in Ruhpolding, +14 during the day makes you pull your top off and show your pale skin to the sun. On the balcony with the warm sun in your face and a cup of coffee is just that pleasing after a long cold winter. Although it is nice weather the tracks are far from it, heavy slush that covers your boots making you trip on the gnarly downhills is far from ideal. I absolutely hate these conditions, even though a lot of the time we do ski on this in Australia, it doesn’t make me good at it.

Chill Session Day Before Sprint

Tomorrow they have made the decision to put the weaker nations in group 4-5, all the others get to pick from 1-3. This means by the time I start I will need a wetsuit and a surfboard, I can see the point of their decision, but it puts us in a very unfair race to get into the pursuit. I am feeling good and pumped for the race, so hopefully I get over my fear of this slushy snow and pull of a good race.

Thanks to everyone for the support and I will update you after my race.

.

Opening Ceremony In Ruhpolding

The kid wasn’t too excited, but I was!

Back On Track

Probably my worst enemy and fear every year is illness. When this nasty thing gets a hold of you, it doesn’t let go and keeps haunting you until it feels like you have suffered enough! I think I have suffered enough in this past 2 months, I am finally feeling healthy so I am hoping it has let me go for good!

Perfect Travelling Combination

I had 4 days rest when I arrived to Finland and I assured I was fully healthy before I started training. I have now had 4 days of really hard prep work for Worlds, I am feeling pretty exhausted but in a couple of days this training should pay off and I should be feeling good again. I have missed vital training because of my sickness, and I have had no choice to fast-track my training for worlds. I have tried to fit in everything I can in this short period of time and this is the reason I am so tired, but I think the training worked out well and I should be feeling good for Worlds.

Overall Finland was good, we were staying in a little apartment house and cooking for ourselves. It was good to see the other Aussie Juniors that were competing there, I am sure they enjoyed their experience and will train hard for next year. I didn’t really like watching the races from a side, I just wish I was a year younger so that I could fight and compete, but my junior years are over. I hope the junior team will keep training hard and improving, so that one day they will join me on World Cup and we can have an actual team!

Flying to Ruhpolding we transited through Stockholm, our plain was delayed 2 hours because of the strike in Frankfurt Airport, so I had some time to buy Scandinavian goodies for duty free, delicious Smoked Salmon and Norwegian Caviar Is exactly what I need before Worlds. When we got on the plain there were so many people standing up because of double seated tickets. The flight attendants were calming everyone down telling that the flight is full from the other cancelled flights, and everyone just needed come down and wait until everyone boarded. I honestly thought that there were not enough seats for that many people standing. After each seat in front and baggage compartment fully packed and the longest take of ever, we finally got in the air!

After 24 hours of travelling we are here in Ruhpolding, it is really warm so not sure what the tracks are going to be like, but I will find out in a couple of hours.

Thanks for reading, and I will update you after my races in Ruhpolding!

IBU CUP Canmore: What would you do if you saw a bear on the track?

What I do best

Frozen River

What would I do if you saw a bear on the track? As Bjorn Lind (SWE) once said, “Ha-ha I would try to wrestle him”. While I’ve been out training, there have been that many bears/cougars around that I’ve been having a wrestle or two just to keep myself fit. No big deal really, that’s just what everyone does in Canmore. Unfortunately I didn’t get to eat any feral rabbit while I’ve been here, even though the locals were telling me to give it a crack. Overall the Canadian trip was pleasant and I am happy with it, well at least for now. The reason I say “just for now”, is that I’m hoping I will recuperate in a day or two, and not redevelop my illness from the overall fatigue.

Canadians know the status of a "Unicorn" so they engrave it out of Ice.

About a month ago my mate blogged about “Chasing The Unicorn”, it is about athletes searching for the ultimate balance of training and keeping healthy. When is too much? When should you have a rest or push yourself to the limits? And for me the answer is to listen to what your body wants/needs, are you tired, feeling run down? Have a rest, and don’t overdo your body’s competency. Sometimes you neglect the need of rest; you go out training because you feel lazy and guilty that you’re not doing everything you can to be the best. I think this is one of the reasons I got sick In Canada, I was super jetlagged and I had 2 hard training sessions the first day we arrived. My immune system dropped and I caught a virus.

Thanks to close family friends we were able to get some funds and make the trip to Canada, and after getting ill I felt so guilty and disappointed that we went to Canada for nothing. I knew that I couldn’t perform to my ability and the first races were going to be hell! After a whole week of lying in bed and doing everything I can to beat the virus, I was able to get back on skis.

As I anticipated, the race was pain, plus a little more pain, but I got through it. It was reasonable, I placed 38^th only 13.2% behind with 3 penalties. Then we had 2 training days before the next IBU Cup, every day I was feeling better and better and on the day of the 20km individual, I felt ok. The race turned out to be a PB, 13^th place 4.1% behind with 3 penalties. I was surprised with the result, with 2 less penalties I could have had my first podium, and with 3 less I would have had a victory! Most importantly I redeemed myself from a hole I dug myself into. To keep your qualification on WC you need to place top 40 and be 12.5% behind, I easily made the cut so Canada was overall successful. Next day we had the sprint event, I skied even faster than the 20km but unfortunately I missed 4, 34^th position and 9.6% behind Nathan Smith (CAN) who won his 3^rd race in a row.

10km sprint

Straight after the race we left for Calgary Airport and flew out for Kontiolahti (FIN). As you could imagine travelling from Canada to Finland is not the most pleasurable trip. With the time difference being +9 hours, I barely had any sleep the whole trip. I am now super jetlagged and I feel my sickness is coming back to haunt me! I am congested with mucus and phlegm, and again I am in this “not ideal” situation. I have 2 weeks left before World Champs in Germany and I need to get some hard training in, but instead I’m again trying to get healthy. It again all comes to “Searching for the Ideal Balance”, should I be training and preparing for World Champs while I am slightly sick? The answer would be to certainly not, I should get fully healthy and avoid the risk of getting any worse, however if I don’t start putting in some hard training a week before Worlds, I will not show the result I am aiming for. Sometimes risks are worth taking and sometimes not, for example; racing in Canada still being ill was a risk, but I requalified for next year’s World Cup and the trip went as to plan, but doing that I may have jeopardised my preparation for World Champs.

My focus is to get healthy and start training. Then have good prep work for my main event of the season!

Let’s hope my body has enough antibodies to fight my virus and get me back on track, because I feel like all I do is complain and whinge.

Talk soon, hopefully with some good news.

Alex