Maiden Looms

As the summer heats up and early fall race events loom, the Team and the Director have been rapidly preparing for the future both close at hand and months away. The HRT news team has been put to the test keeping tabs on HURT athletes as they employ the previously indicated "divide and conquer" strategy.

The first real test will be the upcoming IRON MAIDEN event hosted by Peru's Nordic juggernaut. Several HURT athletes have already committed to the event (Kvam, A. Huneck, and T. Huneck) but the Director still feels a few more of his boys will tip the scale away from the deep and heavily favored Peru squad. The Director was asked about the prospects for the race and he said, "Last year Farry joined in the melee and hopeful he will return and Tetlow, Yarsevich and some of our western boys should make the trip too. Its a big field this year and with Wynn the heavy favorite and Rose on good form, Peru is looking to have a strong representation on the podium". Since many HURT skiers are yet to fully commit the the race much of the Teams hope lies with Kvam. With a year experience and much better knowledge of the course he hopes to turn in a strong performance and land a spot on the podium. The HRT reporter, Hat Nerz, caught up with Kvam after his final altitude block before the Maiden.

HRT: How's the last few weeks of training been going?

K: Feeling good, Hat, The past two weeks really had a double purpose. I really feel that chasing French livestock around mountain sides at 9,000ft on a bicycle pretty much exactly mimics the type of mid-race situation I'll be faced with next week. Truthfully, I also wanted to see if I could get some of the Tour de France boys to swap colors and join the HURT squad for the upcoming season.

HRT: Recruiting? Really? Explain.

K: Well yeah, you know....green jersey....HURT shirts are green....Thor Hushovd is Norwegian.....Norwegians are good skiers....It made sense to me at the time.

(Hushovd...presumably leaving upset)

HRT: Did it work?

K: Well, unfortunately, I spoke to Thor as he was on his way up the Tourmalet and even brought the HURT championship banner to show we were no joke, but he was just pissed I slowed him down. In fact, I think it may have caused Petacchi to get the points he needed to grab the jersey. He wasn't pleased with me. But fortunately, the banner came in use as it was able to function as motivation/cape/thing-to-wave/rain hat/something-to-sit-on. Anyway...the recruiting was bad but the training was sweet. Assuming I can stay on course this time (no guarantees) I think I can mix it up pretty well.

(Team Banner travels East to keep the flood waters back)

The Director, also there with Kvam at the time, was quick to encourage all Team Members that may read this before Saturday to consider rallying up in Peru. Its a big day to send an early season message.

Besides...Thor won't make it this time.