Updates! - U.S. Nationals (As Told by Jake Brown)

Adventures in the Beehive State

We never truly determined why Utah is called the "Beehive State." Even Nora, our resident beekeeper, couldn't solve that riddle. But we did solve the altitude riddle at US Cross Country Nationals at Soldier Hollow in Heber City, Utah! Nora, Paige, Evan, Coach Tom, and I ventured out to the sunny side of America from January 1-9 and, in doing so, traded Minnesota's polar vortex in for 30-degree temperatures and sun (plus some snow for variety on the mass-start day).

Is that an ice castle?!?!?!? Yes, it was, but really more of an ice maze. THEY HAD AN ICE CASTLE. (we didn't go inside it)

Man did it feel good to get back to big-time racing! Truth be told, we all had our ups and downs. Nora crushed the sprint, making the junior B-final, and Paige placed in the top 50 in both the 10km classic and skate sprint. Evan and I both raced best in the mass starts and had our own follies in the sprint (Evan lost his pole right out of the gate and had to pick it up and put it on in the first 100 meters). Then there was Tom and the school credit card, which was lost. After a rigorous search and two trips to a restaurant in town, it was found! Hooray! At that same restaurant!

Skipbo became a new favorite card game of mine at the beginning of the week. Skipbo is now my least favorite card game. I think that's all that needs to be said about that.

The HWK guys, Kevin and Karl, are the best dudes out there! Not only did they wax Sylvan Ellefson's skis to victory in the 30km, but also, and more importantly, they outfitted us with pink trucker hats, yeeeeee. We're all about HWK and, as JFK once said, we are all part of the University of Alaska.

To recap: "Every 15 seconds in Soldier Hollow a skier goes of, an angle gets its wings, and a baby is born in Utah"

Jake "Vilhelm" Brown
St. Olaf skier in conjunction with Moose Nordic

Race course/Olympic stadium at Soldier Hollow
Paige and Nora in the stadium
Sunny stadium views!
Fajitas for dinner the first night!
The Homestead had some horse friends
Men's classic race... nice weather huh?
Training day ski!
Reppin Moose Nordic in Park City!
Jake, Evan, Tom, Paige, Nora
In front of the Soldier Hollow Snowflake for the 2002 Olympics


Back to Minnesota!

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