My intention was to compete in American Vasaloppet in Mora, Minnesota.
The winter was poor in snow but I managed to have decent skiing in few parks in Minneapolis.
On Thursday, 3 days before the race, I heard on the radio, that the race has been cancelled due to the lack of snow.
On Thursday, 3 days before the race, I heard on the radio, that the race has been cancelled due to the lack of snow.
It was a shock!
Next morning I rang the race office. They confirmed the bad news - sorry, the race is cancelled.
- That's impossible! I came here all the way from Australia! It cannot be!
- We are very sorry, but it is cancelled.
- But there is quite good snow in parks in Minneapolis...
- We also have good snow in the forest. But the race is run in the open area and there is no snow there.
- So shift it to the forest!
- That's impossible, we have around 4,000 participants, we cannot squeeze them on narrow tracks. Anyway, the decision is FINAL, there is NO RACE!
I tried the last chance - please connect me with the club secretary.
I had Valerie Brown at the other end of the wire and I laid down my proposal:
I understand that you are unable to run the regular race. But on the other hand there is still quite good snow in the forest. And on another hand, I came here all the long way from Australia.
Why not to put these two hands together and let me do a solo race in the forest?
There was a moment of silence and then ....come to Mora, we'll see what we can do for you. I could hear smile in Valerie's Brown voice.
I came to Mora on Saturday morning.
The big red Dalarna Horse reminded me my race in Sweden 3 years earlier.
Next morning I rang the race office. They confirmed the bad news - sorry, the race is cancelled.
- That's impossible! I came here all the way from Australia! It cannot be!
- We are very sorry, but it is cancelled.
- But there is quite good snow in parks in Minneapolis...
- We also have good snow in the forest. But the race is run in the open area and there is no snow there.
- So shift it to the forest!
- That's impossible, we have around 4,000 participants, we cannot squeeze them on narrow tracks. Anyway, the decision is FINAL, there is NO RACE!
I tried the last chance - please connect me with the club secretary.
I had Valerie Brown at the other end of the wire and I laid down my proposal:
I understand that you are unable to run the regular race. But on the other hand there is still quite good snow in the forest. And on another hand, I came here all the long way from Australia.
Why not to put these two hands together and let me do a solo race in the forest?
There was a moment of silence and then ....come to Mora, we'll see what we can do for you. I could hear smile in Valerie's Brown voice.
I came to Mora on Saturday morning.
The big red Dalarna Horse reminded me my race in Sweden 3 years earlier.
It was the saddest place in the world. Thousands of race bags and bunches of medals for finishers.
I took one of them in my hand.... Valentine Day..
Yes, of course! It will be Valentine Day tomorrow! A heart, two skiers inside, Love to ski .
- What are you going to do with them?
- They all will be scrapped.
- O, no! You must let me to race for this medal!
We studied maps of ski trails in the forest. Valerie showed me ones where the snow should be OK.
I did simple arithmetic...
- Valerie, so if I will ski around these loops until I clock over 58 km, will you give me such a medal?
- Find his racing bag - she said.
9 o'clock Sunday morning, blue skies, light frost, no wind.
In the Log Cabin I left a bag with warm clothes and some food and drinks.
I put on my red racing suit with kangaroos on the back and on the leg. I put on my race number 503...
In the Log Cabin I left a bag with warm clothes and some food and drinks.
I put on my red racing suit with kangaroos on the back and on the leg. I put on my race number 503...
START!!!
For a long time I was the only person on the trails.
Later some people arrived, whole families for a relaxing session of skiing in the sun.
Some of them were quite shocked when out of sudden a crazy racer appeared...
- Go away from the track - shouted parents to the children - thousand skiers will be here in a moment!
- But they said , that the race is cancelled.
I left them in such puzzled state and skied on and on...
5 times around The Point Trail, 4 times Beaver Dam Trail and every possible trail between and around. Eventually my log showed more than 60 km, it was almost 3 pm.
I skied back to the Log Cabin where some local ski club members waited for me with the medal of my dreams.
Later some people arrived, whole families for a relaxing session of skiing in the sun.
Some of them were quite shocked when out of sudden a crazy racer appeared...
- Go away from the track - shouted parents to the children - thousand skiers will be here in a moment!
- But they said , that the race is cancelled.
I left them in such puzzled state and skied on and on...
5 times around The Point Trail, 4 times Beaver Dam Trail and every possible trail between and around. Eventually my log showed more than 60 km, it was almost 3 pm.
I skied back to the Log Cabin where some local ski club members waited for me with the medal of my dreams.
Back from home, I wrote a detailed report of my effort, it showed almost 65km.
What a surprise it was when few weeks later I received mail from Valerie Brown.
She sent me a special diploma...
What a surprise it was when few weeks later I received mail from Valerie Brown.
She sent me a special diploma...
... and another medal.
... and there is only ONE such medal in the world!
Wow, what a wonderful story! I absolutely admire your determination, perseverance and innovativeness!
ReplyDeleteI often travel to Minnesota and spend about 4-6 weeks there, usually camping or relaxing at the cottage (or rather the cabin, as it’s called there). There are plenty of excellent trails in Minnesota, perfect for biking, jogging and walking. Perhaps some of them are great for cross-country skiing in the winter we well. I think we passed through Mora, or very close to this town, while driving to the northern part of this state.
I’m not surprised to see the Dalarna Horse in Minnesota—after all, so many residents are of Scandinavian Origin. During my first visit to the state we went to a big outdoor store (Cabela’s) and after a while I could not find my friend. “All I have to do is look for a blond woman”, I thought. After a few minutes I realized that every other woman was blond! Also, the Kensington Runestone is connected to the Vikings and even the farmer who allegedly found it was of Scandinavian origin.
All the best!
Yes, it is one of my favourite memories:)
DeleteMinnesota, Wisconsin (I visited it for another ski race inspired by Norwegian tradition) - beautiful forests, great for cross country skiing and for biking too.