Minnesota: Tickets, Racing, Beer and More!

Currently sitting in the Milwaukee Airport. Hoping to make my way back east after being in Minnesota for the last week racing in the world team trials for biathlon. The races went as well as they probably should have for me. With the lack of snow in NY I raced on my 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th day on snow. As one might have guessed I got faster and faster but poor shooting kept me from having any respectful results. It was a great experience and it was good to knock heads with the best in the country.

With Tim Burke taking over the yellow bib this past weekend as overall leader on the world cup it is truly a special time to be part of biathlon here in the U.S. We have some of the best biathletes in the world racing on the world cup and a bunch of guys waiting to break on to the scene. Can’t wait to see what happens

In other news the trip to Minnesota was eventful to say the least. We got pulled over on the first and second day we were in Grand Rapids. I have to say the event organizers and volunteers were very welcoming the local law enforcement not so much! The first time we got pulled over Marty was dropping the hammer on the rental to get us to our hotel when we came up fast on a car; unfortunately the car we were chasing down was the local state trooper. Thankfully since we came up behind him he had no idea how fast we were going other than too fast and could only give us a written warning. The very next day on our way to the venue to wax up the boards we got jacked up by the local cop. He said we were going 45 in a 30?!?! Not sure about that but he did not give us a warning he gave us a summons to appear in court sometime in January. Not sure we will back for that one!!

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I also lost my Black Berry only to find it later that same day in the parking lot at the venue. As I pulled up I could see that it had been run over a couple of times and figured it was junk. Miraculously it still works! I’m not sure if it is that tough or if it was just frozen solid from the cold temps!!!

Last night we made out way back to the twin cities so that we would not have to make the drive this morning. We stopped at local hot spot Finsisu and I left a couple pairs of Madhsus for Tom to grind for me. I know a lot of people swear by the UNI grind he pumps out so I thought I would give it a try. Can’t wait to get them back and try them!

I also got a six’er of Summit’s Extra IPA. It’s a local brewery located in the twin cities. I have to say after a long week tipping back a couple with Marty was the perfect way to end the trip. I know Marty has posted a couple first hand accounts of our run in with the law and other activities while in MN. Check it out at his blog! Marty's Blog

Thanks again to everyone at Mnt. Itasca who made the races possible!

It's On Like Donkey Kong!!

It’s on like Donkey Kong!

From Urban Dictionary:

A phrase to denote that it's time to throw down or compete at a high level; something is about to go down; a phrase used to incite fear in an opponent, so much more than simply 'it's on', the inclusion of primate legend Donkey Kong stems from DK's penchant for victory.

So yea it’s on tomorrow! Most of the team is ready to throw down at the World Famous Oceola Christmas Race. This is the first Junior Olympic Qualifier for Mid-A and also the first race of the season for most skiers in NY. Alyssa Likly will look to increase her overall lead in the NYSSRA points race and also have a good points race to start of her bid for a spot on this years Junior Olympic Team!! The rest of the juniors will also be looking for a strong start to the qualifying procedure. Look out for them as they are on a mission!!

Even though Adam, and Reed were able to foil the attempts of P.N.M and H.U.R.T last weekend we have decided to send the big guns in this weekend and blow those guys clean in to next year! Chad will be in the hunt for the overall win as well as solidifying himself as the best senior racer in NY. Steve will be in there mixing it up with the masters as well and will continue his rise to the top!

Marty and I are currently in Minnesota ready to kick of the Biathlon season tomorrow at the World Team Trials. Everyone who is not on the world cup is here so it will be a great test to see where we stack up. It’s will be interesting since we have only been on snow 4 times this year but everyone has excuses!!!

Good luck to everyone who is racing tomorrow and be sure to Get it On!!!!

Big Weekend for R.N.R

New York has finally received some snow and everyone has been making the most of it. Last weekend a couple of the Juniors headed north to Lake Placid. Without any time on snow except for a tour of the course on Saturday they had some exceptional results.

Alyssa Likly started the season off with a bang winning the J2's girls race!!! Her brother Reed has moved up from the J2's to join the big guns this year in the J1 age group. Reed had a great debut placing 4ht in the J1 category. Adam Swayze also had a great start to the season now in his second year as a J1 placing second in his age group and proving that all his hard work this summer is sure to pay off this winter. The winner of the J1 race was Charlie Bencze (NYSEF) this was also Charlie's first race as a J1. On a side note both of the boys took care of business on a club level beating all of the big guns from Peru and putting the H.U.R.T on a couple of other local

NY Clubs

The senior team headed to Byrncliff on Saturday and Sunday. With lake effect snow hitting the Buffalo area hard on Thursday the best skiing around was found on the Piston Bully groomed trails. Often forgot about Byrncliff offers 5k of lit trails and about 20k of total trails and often has snow due to it's close proximity to the lake effect snow bands of Lake Erie. If you live in the Rochester area you gotta make it out there. There ability to groom with a Piston Bully make for some of the best skiing in the state.

That's it for now. I'm currently in Hartford airport waiting for my flight to Minneapolis. A preview of the weekends plans will follow!! Get out and enjoy the snow!!