Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying the warm weather in Whitehorse this weekend.
It sounds like the races at the biathlon venue yesterday were great fun.
I have been in Sochi since wednesday and it has been a busy five days working for the National Ski Team in a series of three World Cup races that are used as the test event for next year's Olympic Games.
Here are a few observations and highlights from my time in Sochi so far;
- first of all, the greatest moment happened today when the team of Perianne Jones and Dasha Gaizova won a bronze medal in the classic team sprint. It was a very exciting race in challenging conditions with quickly changing conditions and rising temperature during the day. It is very exciting for the team to have had this success on the Olympic trails and a good sign for next year.
- The race courses are very challenging with massive climbs. This is made even tougher with very challenging weather as the location of the trails is near the Black Sea at a very southern latitude. So far in five days, we have had all kinds of weather conditions with constantly rapidly changing snow conditions.
- For the athletes to be successful here next year, they will have to be in great shape. Not a good place for tired skiers as the race course are too demanding.
- Waxing and ski selection will play a major role in the results of the races.
All for now, I will try to send pictures later today. Take care. Alain
It sounds like the races at the biathlon venue yesterday were great fun.
I have been in Sochi since wednesday and it has been a busy five days working for the National Ski Team in a series of three World Cup races that are used as the test event for next year's Olympic Games.
Here are a few observations and highlights from my time in Sochi so far;
- first of all, the greatest moment happened today when the team of Perianne Jones and Dasha Gaizova won a bronze medal in the classic team sprint. It was a very exciting race in challenging conditions with quickly changing conditions and rising temperature during the day. It is very exciting for the team to have had this success on the Olympic trails and a good sign for next year.
- The race courses are very challenging with massive climbs. This is made even tougher with very challenging weather as the location of the trails is near the Black Sea at a very southern latitude. So far in five days, we have had all kinds of weather conditions with constantly rapidly changing snow conditions.
- For the athletes to be successful here next year, they will have to be in great shape. Not a good place for tired skiers as the race course are too demanding.
- Waxing and ski selection will play a major role in the results of the races.
All for now, I will try to send pictures later today. Take care. Alain
