Shorter is better!
BY MIKE VIEIRA
JuST aS THe naTIon’S capital offers a
plethora of triathlons and running races in
the summer, the opportunities for fun and
speed on snow are just as plentiful with
nordic ski competitions in a variety of
distances and formats.
learning to race longer distances usually
requires an athlete to race at shorter
distances first. This allows the athlete to
learn proper pacing, strategy and technique
in a manageable situation before graduating
Local Olympic-style
to the epic racing distances. It would be
Nordic races worth a try
pretty difficult to complete a half or full
marathon before first attempting a shorter
5km or 10km distance. The same can be In an olympic-style race, gliding and the art of selecting the best line and
OLDEN
said about racing an Ironman before a speed are your friends and the challenge of technique in all skiing situations.
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triathlon. Then why do so many recreational the race comes from your ability to keep a New formats: If starting in large mass -
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nordic skiers make their first race a 25 km steady tempo and maintain momentum, start races overwhelms you, there are many

B
Y

or 50 km, especially when shorter local rather than the distance completed. loppets short distance races in which competitors
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races abound? are amazing races and I highly recommend start at 15-to-30-second intervals. These
P
HO
longer distance races, known as loppets, completing at least one in a winter season. time gaps should ensure that you have the
are great races, but can miss the mark when However, if you crave something a little space and time you need to perform all
it comes to the essence of ski racing. They more exciting and a bit different, you should tricky manoeuvres on the course. other
are usually held on wide-open trails with definitely try short course races. events, such as pursuits, which require
thousands of other people and on a course not convinced yet? Here is my list of switching from skate to classic gear halfway
with very few technical turns or descents. reasons why you should try shorter through the race, and sprints are also
on the other hand, cross-country ski olympic-style races this winter. becoming very popular these days.
racing on an olympic-style course puts you The little things: In nearly all
on a moderate-sized trail that winds merrily They will teach you to be better skier: olympic-style races, you wear a race bib
through the woods, with numerous twists The terrain that you will be racing on is rather than a paper pin-on number; entry
and turns, multiple climbs and descents, generally more challenging than your typical fees are usually no more than $20; and you
and usually one good long grunt climb loppet course, because either it is more get to ski on new and exciting trails.
thrown in for good measure. olympic-style technical or it has more climbing and Many local events: you don’t have to
races are simply more interesting and fun descents, relative to its distance. By racing drive far to try an excellent short-course
because of the speed of the race and terrain these courses, you will learn to ski at a event. every year, the ottawa region hosts a
on which you are competing. These races faster rate because you actually can go large number of olympic-style races and
are not all-day suffer-fests, where packing faster without worrying about bonking there is even a district championship called
supplies are necessary, but rather halfway through. eventually if you compete the national Capital Division race Series.
20-minute to one-hour events, with in a few of these races, you will also be able The local winter schedule includes the
distances ranging between 5 km and 15 km. to read the terrain better and will master following events:
Date Event Location Information
Dec. 26, 2008 Time Trial, Boxing Day Burn off Nakkertok South Cantley, QC www.xcottawa.ca
Jan. 10, 2009 Coupe Skinouk Rélais Plein Air, Gatineau QC www.skinouk.ca
Jan. 24-25, 2009 Nakkertok Invitational Nakkertok South Cantley, QC www.nakkertok.ca
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2009 Eastern Canadian Championships/O Cup 3 Gatineau. QC www.skinouk.ca
Feb. 7, 2009 Silver Spoon Deep River, ON info@drxc.ca
Feb. 13-15, 2009 Gatineau Loppet Weekend Gatineau, QC www.gatineauloppet.com
Feb. 28, 2009 Nakkertok juniors (U19 only) Nakkertok South Cantley, QC www.nakkertok.ca
Mar. 8, 2009 Thea's Race Nakkertok North, Val-des-Monts, QC www.nakkertok.ca
Mike Vieira is head coach of the Nakkertok Nordic Ski Club.
30 OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009 www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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