I have had a little mid-season break from racing after a planned training block and an unfortunate race cancellation. Thankfully I was able to add in a race to my schedule in preparation for the Birkie and that is one of my favorite races, the Owl Creek Chase. The Owl Creek used to be a regular stop on the Super Tour as well as the college race circuit. The race has become smaller and less competitive in the last few years but it always a fun event. I am super impressed with Steamboat Winter Sports Club Coach Josh Smulin who waxed and coached his juniors for over three hours in the morning before hopping in the race.
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| 1st Place Owl Creek Chase |
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| Double Win for Team Gregg and a Madshus Sweep on the women's field. |
The Owl Creek served as a great tune up race and a cap to our altitude block. We were met with some pretty awful traffic and weather on our drive to the Denver Airport but were able to get Caitlin on her flight to Sweden. The Alpine World Championships at Beaver Creek had just concluded and every team seemed to be on either Caitlin's Iceland flight or the Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt which checked in right next to it. This group of skiers don't travel light and the airport crews were slightly overwhelmed.
I was happy to have Caitlin aboard her flight to Europe and for myself to head home to Minneapolis and then to the American Birkebiener.
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Love these smiles
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Unfortunately I came home to a 28F house. A guest had accidentally turned the heat off and the AC on. Usually I can control the temperature wirelessly through my phone, but a squirrel had eaten the internet connection.
Thankfully everything worked out just fine. The house eventually heated back up and the water starting flowing and draining. I did have one pipe burst at 4 am on Tuesday but it couldn't have been in a better place and I was able to fix it for under $5. A big potential disaster avoided.
Here are some photos from the Birkie. Text will be coming after I arrive in Sweden.
Thanks, Brian
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Birkie Expo
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