Cheese Whiz...

...it's like he's holding onto the rock with his hands!

-ANT

Champ Camp in Campton, NH

A weekend of training in picturesque fall New England

Weekend activities included: Rollerskiing, running, watching ski movies, Jacuzzi tubbing, homework.

View from the porch

Hike up the lift at Waterville Valley

Fall in New England

Some of the team

On top of the world

The Nordic Platypus

The Nordic Platypus
Genus: Ornithorhynchus vikingus
The Nordic Platypus is a bizarre example of genetic divergence, recently discovered as an extreme variant of the Australian platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). While the platypus is generally regarded to exist solely in Eastern Australia, the Nordic Platypus can be found in latitudes as high as Scandinavia. The most distinguishing feature of the Nordic Platypus, aside from its venomous spurs, is its prowess in the unexpected area of front squats. The Nordic Platypus needs to eat about 20% of its own weight each day. This requires the Nordic Platypus to spend an average of 12 hours each day looking for food. When not in the water or the weight room, the Nordic Platypus retires to various couches and other comfortable furniture. Preferred resting locations are usually strategically chosen due to their proximity to a mini-fridge and a large-screen television.

¡Hola, mi querida pterodáctilos!

Hi from Chile!
I've officially been here for 3 weeks now (hard to believe), and I think I'm settling in. My Spanish has improved to where I can actually understand most people, which is a relief, and I've begun to make friends with the people working in my office (all under the age of 30). I think I can call myself a true Chilean after living and dying with every play during the World Cup games (Chile hadn't been in the World Cup for 12 years, and hadn't won a game there in over 40. Everything stopped for the games. No exceptions. We're talking changing hospital surgery schedules, here.). Unfortunately, my cooking skills need some work, but hey - you win some, you lose some.

All in all, I'm having a fabulous time in Patagonia, "where the world ends." It hosts some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen, and I would recommend to everyone that they try to visit at least once.

Things I've learned in Coyhaique, Chile:
1. The neighborhood behind my house is ghetto. Not recommended for running.
2. I will NEVER attempt to cook fried chicken again. I didn't think it was possible for such a small stove to create so much smoke.
3. Avocados and mayo go with everything.

Yep. That would be a grocery store aisle of mayo...in bags.

4. The "macho" culture is alive and well in Chile, complete with middle-aged men leering from their pickup trucks.
5. The county prison is less than a mile away. But no worries, "it's just a little one."
6. Someone in this country needs to discover central heating. Immediately.
7. This may be one of the most beautiful parts of the world...evidence:




CM

Wwwwwwwait. Guys....guys, guys guys guys...you know what's really interesting? Ham...and water.

Carni Crush

There was lust. There was love. There was Tony and Kevin, wearing very little clothing, serenading girls they didn't know. Oh, and there was some baller skiing. All in all, a very successful Carni Crush weekend.

Evidence:



Fans!



Tony and Kevin's proclamation of love.



Audrey, Cara, and I letting Dylan McGuffin know how beautiful he really is...almost like part-time model.

Post V-day love!
C

Birthday Shoutout

Tomorrow (today already in France) is Meri's 21st birthday, and since we can't be in Grenoble to say 'happy birthday' in person, we sang to her today on the frigid slopes of Mt. Weston. Happy 21st Meri! We miss you!




-AM

Harvard Nordic Goes Backcountry

Well the new academic schedule put in place this year allowed for one thing and one thing only: SKIING. That's right, (almost) an entire month devoted to nothing but feeling the flex of our skis beneath our feet, the chill of the air against our faces, the powdery snow against our legs and the satisfaction of craisins in our bellies. We spent just about two weeks in Jackson, New Hampshire training on fresh powder and perfectly groomed, corduroy trails. After returning to Cambridge, we were treated to a delightful afternoon of skiing in Chris City's new backyard! Check out the photo documentary of our adventure, ending with some video clips of a round of Dave McCahill's favorite game to play on skis.

Clare and Trevor excited to start, with Chris City in the background applying kick wax to all our skis (per usual).

Scush and Alena anxiously waiting for everyone.

"Tor, just because you're on your skate skis doesn't mean you can outrun me."

Men. Being men.

"Audrey! Don't fall into the river!"

Smiles!

"Yeah, guys, I don't think that lake is frozen."



"So?"


Audweeeeeeee!


I'm on a boat.... don't you ever forget.

ROCK SKIS.

OMG... hot. so hot right now...

If all else fails, hug a tree.

Team America


Now for the videos... everyone starts with only one ski on. The point of the game is to be the last person on your ski, meaning you need to get everyone else's ski off. Kevin, Trevor, and Tony managed to make it to the final three.

And the rest looked something like this:


Thanks to Liz for a great dinner!

Ultimate Recovery Food: Crème de Marrons

Harvard Nordic, today I made you proud. For the first time, not only was I not on the last page of results, but I was on the first! And high up there too, 21st overall out of 388, and the 6th woman! Let me paint a little picture...

Setting: Autrans, Rhône-Alpes - where all the nordic skiing in the '68 Olympics took place

Event: the 32nd Foulée Blanche (rough translation: the white stride)

Distances: 42km, 20km, 10km (me!), and 5k

Number of Racers: 2200. not kidding. no really. take a look.

(and this only shows half of us)

Time taken to cross the start line: 14 minutes 8 seconds

Final Placement Overall (out of 388): 21st

Final Result only counting females: 6th

Needless to say, the trick to this race was maneuvering around all the small children, old people, and generally slow racers. The snow was amazing, so even on my rock skis, it felt like I had rockets on my feet, and a lot of the time, the best thing to do was hop in the tracks and double pole around the other skiers. All in all, what with the giant purple Milka cow mascot, the big blue squirrel of Autrans, and the course that took us through the village center, past little shops and houses lined with spectators, this was definitely the most festive and most fun race I have ever done. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time, but I definitely made it hurt.

Men's Top 10 in the 42k

Highlights:

1. Spent the night at the director of my program's father's house (he's 91) with 4 generations of her family, and after dinner (giant raclette--an interactive meal experience where you melt cheese in a tabletop oven type device and pour it over potatoes and various meats.) he spent an hour telling me about his time in the mountain troops in the army and his role as director of all nordic skiing in the '68 Winter Olympics in Grenoble.

2. The refeuling stand after the race: hot wine, tea, cocoa, juices, cheese, dried fruits, oranges, and of course, crème de marrons chestnut spread in a tube. Yes, a tube, a metal one, like toothpaste or Neosporin.

3. My souvenir: a custom buff!

Much much much love from afar,

Meri