Rochester Nordic Racing: LP Loppet, Trapp EC, and MORE !

It's been a while since I have updated the blog but that's because we have been on the road in search of Snow, Races, Points, and FUN !

Let's start by rewinding back the the weekend of the Lake Placid Loppet and JNQ's at Old Forge. The Senior Crew packed up and headed to LP to take on the Loppet. I always head to the Loppet with mixed emotions. I'm excited to race and visit with friends new and old, but in the back of my mind I know what I'm in for.

"Yeah that x 2"

The Loppet is a great event and very well run, I know a lot of people work hard on pulling off a great event but I wish it was bigger and better ! I don't know if people are scared of the course, the lack of prize money, or what but I'm hoping the event keeps growing and starts to pull in some more elite racers from around the country. There is no reason that the Loppet can't be the Berkie of the EAST ! Maybe we should call it the "Beast of the East"©®™ Did I just trademark that? I hope so...

"These guys may have beat me to it, but I will wrestle them for it"

The Loppet went well and I was personally able to have my best result yet 2nd place overall. I skied with JUOM for the entire race until about the final 200m when he somehow found the sprint speed that eluded him for ever ! In all honesty once him and I were able to get rid of everyone else I knew I was in for a fight because when the going get's tough the tough get going, and I'm not sure I know anyone who is tougher than JUOM. He has proved that throughout his skiing career !

(You don't want to see this guy going in to the final 200m of a 50k)

Even if you look like this !

(It was a cold one with temps around -16 when we woke up warming to 5 or so during the race)

Chad, Marty, Derrick, and Frencski also raced and had good day's out on the trail. All in all it was a good weekend hanging and racing with some of my closest friends.

(Chad lapping through the stadium)

(Derrick grabbing a drink, thanks to Nancy and Libby for the feeds)

On Sunday I loaded up the car and headed to Old Forge for the Final JNQ race of the year. The junior crew was on scene the day before as well, and the were kickin butt !

On Saturday Conner and Adam led the way for the boys going 1st and 2nd, Rob got in to the mix finishing 5th making it a good day for the OJ/J1 boys. Ryan led the way for the J2 boys finishing 4th. Madi also made the trip east and finished 7th in the J2 girls race. On Sunday more of the crew came out and they were ready to put the HURT to the rest of the NY scene !

	Last/First	Nordic	NYSSRA	USSA	Out	In	Elapsed
	Name	Team	License	Class	Time	Time	Time
49	Luban, Adam	RNR		J1M	00:02:20	00:28:48	00:26:28
45	Hess, Gavin	RNR		J1M	00:02:00	00:28:47	00:26:47
42	Mallery, Peter	RNR		J1M	00:01:45	00:29:21	00:27:36
47	Green, Connor	RNR		J1M	00:02:10	00:30:19	00:28:09
41	Huneck, Austin	HURT		J1M	00:01:40	00:30:05	00:28:25
48	Criss, Colin	Polar Bears		OJM	00:02:15	00:32:21	00:30:06
43	Murn, Tom	Wolverine		J1M	00:01:50	00:33:47	00:31:57
39	Britton, Wesley	RNR	Yes	J1M	00:01:30	00:33:56	00:32:26
44	Straw, Scott	Fairport Nordic		J1M	00:01:55	00:36:08	00:34:13
40	Ruud, Tor	Polar Bear		J1M	00:01:35	00:37:52	00:36:17

The Boys have been skiing well all year long and today was no different ! Sara also had a great race finishing 3rd in the J1 girls race and Madi had another solid day finishing 5th in the J2 girls race. Griffin made his official RNR debut and had a good day finishing 5th in the J2 boys race with Tim close behind in 8th.

Here is a short video of the boys on the first lap.

(Taken with my iphone)

With the Loppet and JNQ behind us the next stop for Trapp for the NENSA EC and UVM Carnival.

Before the races even went down the weekend was a success due to the fact that there were so many

Mid-A skiers in one place getting ready to throw down ! We are always overshadowed by our cousins to the East but Mid-A is producing some fast guys and girls all the way from the WC down to the EC ! Our RNR alums are also starting to shine. Steve Mangan who is skiing at Dartmouth is having a great year with the BIG GREEN, Reed and Margot are skiing great for SLU with Reed having some of his best results of the season, and Hanna is improving each week skiing with the Harvard crew ! ! Not to be outdone Gavin, Adam and Conner had great days. On Saturday Gavin led the way finishing as the 6th J1 and on Sunday Adam took over the lead position finishing as the 7th J1. We make the trip east to race against some of the fastest guys and girls in the country with the goal of becoming more and more competitive, things are headed in the right direction but we still have A LOT of work to do !