My World Cup Debut

Yesterday I had a pretty cool experience. I got to race my first World Cup race here in Canmore. It was a classic sprint. I finished 49th and was very happy with my race.

3 of my NTDC team mates are also racing in these World Cups this week and we have been trying to figure out a penalty for coming last (i.e. shaving one eyebrow or something along those lines). I am happy that I don't have to worry about that after yesterday's race.

It was pretty intimidating lining up with the best in the world and having my entire race filmed. For the last 20min of my warm-up I was followed by a camera man who stayed within a metre of me the entire time. It was weird. One cool thing was that I got to keep my race bib.

Now I am getting ready to race in the 10km individual start skate race tomorrow and the skate sprints on Saturday. I skied the 10km course today and it is very hard so I might be shaving an eyebrow after all. There is a ton of climbing right off the start that I am a little worried about.

The skate sprint course isn't quite as technical as the classic sprint course was so I am happy about that. It definitely has a nicer flow to it. There aren't as many 180 degree turns in it.

Also, this morning we were informed that World U23 Championships in Poland are being postponed until the end of February. I was supposed to fly straight from Canmore this Sunday over to Poland to compete at the start of next month, but there is a serious lack of snow in Szczyrk. Now I have to quickly make some changes to my training and travelling schedule to make sure that I will be in top shape for U23s. I will spend today figuring out what I have to do. Maybe I'll be able to go to Eastern Canadians after all!

Skiing With The Home Crowd!

On Sunday I got to meet some of my Kanata Racers team mates. I was invited to go for a ski with three of the junior racing team girls, Sabina Grossman, Marta Kierkus, Shelby Howard in Gatineau. We worked on some drills and went for a ski. There was lots of talking and laughing and I can’t wait until the next time. Thanks to Steve Howard for setting it up and all my team mates for such a fun day! I would also like to thank the entire Kanata Cross Country Ski Club for the financial support to help with my travel costs to the Under 23 World Championships in Poland. Time to take on the world!

Heinz Niederhauser

On January 5th the man who introduced me to cross country skiing, and coached me for over 8 years, died. Heinz Niederhauser was remembered last Saturday at a beautiful memorial service in Arnprior ON. My team mate, Danielle McVicar, and I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of many of Heinz’s athletes. Here is what we said:

--Kate--
Everyone will remember Heinz in their own personal way but I know that I speak for quite a few athletes when I say that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for him. In the last few days I have heard those words from so many people. He was one of the key people in cross country skiing in this country and he will be missed by the entire ski community. He influenced so many people in the sport and he was by far the most influential person in my ski career.

I met Heinz through Sven and Jana at our daycare. He was recruiting even then. I can remember my very first time skiing with him in his backyard at Lowney Lake when I was 6 years old. I remember him looking down at me asking me if I would like to skate or classic. I immediately answered skate thinking that he meant ice skating. I remember Sven skiing circles around me saying “Do you even know what skating is?” It turns out that was the first lesson he taught me.

There were many other lessons along the way but one of the funny ones that stands out in my mind is when he taught Sven, Danielle, and I to never underestimate our opponents. We spent a week at an early snow camp at foret Montmorency a few years ago and on our down time we would play ping pong. The three athletes practiced all week to take on Heinz in the finals and he still managed to annihilate each of us.

--Danielle--
It is rare to encounter a coach who invests himself so entirely into the success of his athletes. Heinz took the time to know me; my personality, my strengths as a skier, and most importantly, my goals. Sometimes I think that he knew me better than I know myself. He dedicated so much of his time and effort to me and his other athletes, and for this I will always be grateful.

Heinz constantly exceeded his expectations as a coach, teaching me the importance of exceeding my expectations as an athlete. All he wanted is to make his athletes the best skiers possible, and he did anything to achieve it. Whether it be phoning me everyday to check up on my training or driving an hour and half to Gatineau Park for only one athlete. Because Heinz wanted to make sure my hills on penguin were always the best that I could do.

He led by example, reflecting his drive and focus onto his athletes. Even if we had a successful race he always thought of the next race, telling to focus for the next race not to compromise it by the celebration.

In his 6 years of coaching me, he coached me in far more than skiing; he taught me what it meant to be a focused, determined individual, and for this reason I attribute most of my success as both an athlete and a person to Heinz.

--Kate--
I think I always thought that Heinz would out ski me. Or at least I thought that he would be there to watch me finish my career as a skier. It never really occurred to me that he would be the first to stop. It feels a bit daunting to know now that I have to put on my skis and cross those start lines and finish lines knowing that he won’t be somewhere in between, cheering me on. He was our biggest fan. He cared so much about each and every one of his athletes. And we know that he will still be out there at each race encouraging us as always.

So thank you Heinz for the passion, guidance, and all of the opportunities you have given every one of your athletes. We owe it all to yo

World Under 23 Championships Trials

This past weekend was the World Under 23 Championships trials races in Duntroon, ON. There were some good moments and some sad moments.

I am proud to say that after the 3 races I qualified to represent Canada in Szczyrk, Poland (Try saying that name!). The website for the event is http://www.beskidy2008.pl/?catid=1&ver=2. There is not much up on it right now, but soon it will be very busy. The Canadian contingent flies over to Poland on January 26th to begin adjusting to the time change and location. We fly home on February 11th. I don't know which race(s) I will be racing yet. That is up to the coaching staff.

This weekend was also very hard because the man who introduced me to cross country skiing died while out on the trails in Duntroon. Heinz Niederhauser was 72. Without Heinz I would have never made it to where I am today. I owe him so much. Cross Country Canada has lost a great coach and skier. I hope that I can make him proud in Poland.