Lake Placid Loppet: So good it….HURTs

Saturday morning arrived with lots of sunshine, deep fresh snow, and quickly warming temperatures at Mount Van Hoevenberg. This played havoc with the HURT Classical team.

Yarsevich was heard saying “I have 10 layers of 3 different types of wax, to try and get some kick on the varying hard cold tracks, sunny hills, and torn up powder. In the end all 3 waxes let me down, I might as well had skate skis on going up Harry’s Hill the first lap in full sunshine. Don’t even get me started with the Toko Wax Tip, HF Blue, give me a break it was like 20 degrees by 9am!”


Huneck just went with “lots of layers of VR40” and it “kind of worked, sometimes, if I really was careful and patient.” Not what you want for the non-stop climbing of the Loppet.

But the fun, pain, and misery was not only limited to the classic racers. Matt and Dave braved the 50K skate and after the first lap it looked like a bomb had gone off in the skate lane. The hills were literally 6” deep in some spots. Legs have never hurt so badly! After the race Kvam stated “all those soft track skate sessions at QHS really paid off, I mean who knew skating in 6” of powder was good Loppet training!” Matt was more to the point “It felt like someone was charley horsing my legs for the last 20k or so, ouch!”


All in all it was a good day and we could still smile at the end of it. It was also nice to ski a marathon event in temperatures above single digits. Tim Huneck was so delirious he was planning on racing the next day at Dewey Mt, this guy is nuts!


HURT Loppet Results:

25K Freestyle

Alec Davis, 1st M8
Carol Fisher, 1st M6
Heidi Underwood, 2nd M3
Sherry Dixon, 2nd M7
Richard Dixon, 10th M7
Chris Kvam, 10th M1

25K Classic

Roger Henry, 1st M8
Rene Clark, 3rd M8
Dave Burt, 4th M6
Roy Keats, 4th M7

50K Freestyle

Matt Torniainen, 2nd M2
Dave Kvam, 3rd Sr

50K Classic

Tim Huneck, 1st M5
Chris Yarsevich, 2nd M1
Matti Torniainen, 2nd M8
Tom Wolski, 4th M7

Next is the HURTATHON, Sunday February 13th, 10am Queensbury Schools.

Glenville Hills Report

The HRT news team followed the race team to the newest and hottest nordic venue this past weekend nestled in Glenville, NY. While the trail system typically functions as the training grounds for Section 2's Scotia/Glenville Nordic team, this week it tested itself as the host of the Glenville Nordic Freestyle Race. The private trail system makes its way around in a mostly flat but still technical loop that offered racers very little time to ease off the pedal.

For HURT nordic is was a chance to lay claim to the NYSSRA team championship once and for all for this season. With upcoming off-season changes to the points system it appeared this would be the best chance for the team to take advantage of having a huge number racers spread over so many age groups. Additionally the location this past weekend was as big a home court advantage. Almost as big as the upcoming HURTATHON.

We caught up with the Director (who set the bar for the team and dominated the J3M race) after the race and asked him about the team's performance.

HRT: So what did you think of the race course, Director?

D: I was fully prepared for this race. And so was my team. I have spent hours and hours studying my "Ford-vs.-Chevy-Cyclone-Canyon-Racecar-and-Track-Set" and it helped us prepare for the twists and turns on this course. I may have paid a little too much attention to my full 360 loop-de-loop but it only cost me a few seconds in the race.


HRT: Any big performances in your perspective?

D: The race was highlighted by performances of new HURT members Chloe Boutelle and Becky Christoffel who skied to a 2nd and 4th place finish in the Scholastic Female race. We are really excited about the way these two ladies are skiing and they add
some big talent to our growing women's team. Having the Hamilton family, the Torniainen family and the "Queen" get out here and race was just awesome too. We had a big day!

HRT: Any disappointments?

D: Well. I don't how many more times Kvam is gonna be able to suit up and get beat down by M. Wynn. Race after race he just can't make the leap. I can't find a way to get that slacker in gear. He seems to be operating under a "first is the worst, second's the best" mantra that is just killing me. Torniainen and Kvam had a chance to team up to chase down the Peru powerhouse and they just couldn't pull it together. However, I am pretty pumped that Halligan and A.Huneck are getting their speed on. I guess the biggest positive is that after Wynn, the next five fastest times went to HURT skiers. That is real team power.

HRT: What's next?

D: Get ready for the LOPPET!!!!! WOOOOOHHOOOOO

Enjoy the video recap

THE RACE IS BACK!

The HURTATHON is back!

Plus the new Pick-Your-Poison Intro Race.

Sunday February 13, 2011

10am start time for Open/Masters skiers. 10:15am scholastic

Queensbury School Campus (Elementary School)

a 2K BKYSL race will follow the Try-it event.

10 km Continuous Pursuit Race: 5km mass start classic race, then skiers quickly switch skis in transition area and ski a 5km skate loop.

New this year will be the "Pick Your Poison Intro Race". This race is designed for new racers or recreational skiers who want to give racing a try. You can pick either classic or skate technique and ski one 5 km loop. The race will be a mass start and take place after the HURTATHON is over (around 11:15). This will allow minimal lap traffic, and no really fast guys wearing spandex passing the new skiers.

T-Shirts (with HURTathon logo) to the age group winners.

$20 for the HURTATHON or $10 for the "Pick-Your-Poison" race.

Bib Pickup at the Queensbury Elementary School Cafeteria 8-9:30am (bathrooms and indoor facilities available).

Directions:

From The North: Exit 19 off I-87 Take left off exit, see below for further directions.

From The South: Exit 19 off I-87 Take left off exit, see below for further directions.

Travel 200 yards, to traffic light. Queensbury Middle School will be on your right. Take a right at this light, enter the Queensbury School Campus. Follow this winding road, passing over a few speed humps and passing the elementary school on the right. Park in the far right corner behind the elementary school.



TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT VISIT SKIREG HERE

HURT Invades Holland Patent

Saturday morning HURT showed up to the Holland Patent Classic Race to be greeted by fresh snow and beautiful conditions. Kick wax was surprisingly tricky, with powder snow and temps in the high 20’s by race time. Most racers settled with Violet/VR 45 that “kind of/sort of” kicked. The course was a very fast double pole-fest, so fast skis trumped good kick.

HURT skiers took 2nd, 4th, and 5th overall (Yarsevich, Torniainen, Adam Luban) and also came home with SIX age group wins (Yarsevich, Torniainen, Adam Luban, T. Huneck, Ed Luban, Matti Torniainen). The Director, Aaron Huneck, also jumped into a Bill Koch race, after skiing approximately 50K beforehand doing timing splits and barking orders at his team on course. Nothing makes a HURT skier faster than seeing that menacing glare in the Director’s eyes.

Nice job to everyone there! Great job to Holland Patent for putting on a great race!

Big Days in Day...and Glens Falls

This past weekend saw a flurry of racing as HURT athletes were enticed to races in and Saratoga County. Saturday held two races, the 10K Queensbury Invitational at Crandall Park and the 24K Sacandaga Mini Marathon in Day, NY. Both races saw a solid HURT contingent show up to battle for the win.

In the Mini Marathon, Kvam jumped quickly into a lead group with Peru's Mike Wynn and Jon Santor. Over the course of the 4 laps of the twisting 6K loop the trio split apart as Wynn skied to the win with Kvam sliding across in 2nd a couple minutes ahead of Santor. In a battle royale for 4th place it was HURT's Matt Torniainen who edged out Peru's Stan Hatch by 2 seconds. Perhaps this was foreshadowing for the end of the year throwdown at NYSSRA champs against two of NYSSRA's top contending clubs.

Other great results were had by:
Jill Kozoil: M2 first place
Kathy Schwenk: M4 first place
Dan Schwenk: M6 3rd place
Dave Burt:M6 6th place
Eric Hamilto: 1st place M8

A short drive away, at Crandall Park, Queensbury HS team and Bob Underwood hosted the annual JOQ/ESG/HS/MASTERS/MENS/WOMENS/OPEN/SCHOLASTIC/CITIZENSRACE/ANYONEWHOSKIS/ANDTHEIRMOM race which draws massive numbers from all around the state.

In the ESG/JOQ J2 race it was once again the HURT "trio of triumph" that flexed their muscle. In 2nd, 3rd and 4th place it was A.Huenck, Adam Luban and Brian Halligan who were just bested by Gavin Hess.



Even the Director himself jumped into to tangle in the J3 race and finished in 2nd.

The race of the day went to Will Frielinghaus who skied away with the fastest time of the day in the J1 race.

In the J1/OJ race Newly signed Becky Christoffel had a solid 6th place finish.

HURT masters showed up in numbers for this race and it was Chris Yarsevich who led the way in 2nd place followed by Tim Huneck, Ed Luban, Matti Torniainen, Rene Clark and Alec Davis finished in 4, 5, 11, 14, and 15th respectively.

Carol Fisher took the 3rd podium spot in the Women's race.

SUNDAY:
HURT skiers were back at Day to contest the Shenendehowa Classic race and it was HURT's Chloe Boutelle and Becky Christoffel who went 2 and 3 in the Scholastic Women's race.

The Scholastic Men's race was dominated by the devastating speed of the "threesome of thunder" and the guys shuffled spots from the day before and Brian Halligan, Austin Huneck, and Adam Luban went 1-3.


NEW ALBUM COMING SOON


The Director has another solid effort in his 8th place finish.

Jill Kozoil returned to battle the Saratoga Biathon course and finished 4th in the women's race a few spots ahead of the "QUEENS" effort. (way to go GINA!!)

In the Open/Masters Race it was Classic specialist Bob Underwood who skied to the win just edging a barrage of Peru finishers. Tim Huneck skied to a 7th place just ahead of Ed Luban in 9th. More HURT finishers included...Dave Burt in 9th, Matti T in 17th, Alec Davis in 18th, Rene Clark in 19th and Eric Hamilton in 22nd.

Great job by everyone who raced.

I have writers cramp.

Or the typing equivalent.

Ouch.

And my eyes hurt from peering through results.

Ouch.

See you in Glenville!

Super Tour 2011: "Faster, Colder, and a Little Tighter Pants."

HURT nordic showed up in force at the 2011 USSA Super Tour in Lake Placid. Enjoy the HRT coverage of the event. Well done to Chris Yarsevich, Tim Huneck, Ed Luban, Dave Kvam, Adam Luban, Austin Huneck, Brian Hailligan, Will Frielinghaus, Becky Christoffel, Eric Hamilton and all the many other people that came out to make the Super Tour race as awesome as advertised!



See Full Results here

Back in Business!

Ok ladies, gentlemen, the unladylike and bums!!! We have snow! (lots of it)....we have races coming up (many)....and we have many available training facilities just waiting to host massive K's of skiing!

Wednesday nights are back on and we will have our regularly scheduled training ski at 5:30. Please visit our calendar page on our website for last minute details on the location. We will either ski at Crandall Park, QHS or Lake George Elem. depending on the best available conditions. Visit http://www.hurtnordicskiing.com/teamschedule.html

Get ready for some quality sessions with your teammates. Both distance skis and interval sessions. Or come and ski with us and see what we are all about.

Tonight 1/12 we will be skiing at QHS at 5:30. We have lots of new snow and it may not be groomed yet so plan accordingly.

HURT TEAM NEWS:
This Friday and Saturday is the USSA Supertour race in Lake Placid hosted by NYSEF. HURT team members will be skiing in both races on Friday and Saturday. We have arranged a HURT team wax room at the biathlon stadium that will be available for HURT members to use. Please chip in a couple bucks to Ed Luban for setting up the arrangements. Friday's race will be at the Ski Jumps so if you need to use the room, please plan for transportation time. Saturday's skate race is at Van Ho so if you want to add a top coat Saturday morning the room is there for you. Come watch our group tangle with some of the USA's best!

Get Ready FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTERVALS. Time to go HARD.

6 x 2 minute snow ball fights

Hill repeats

8 x 1 minute snow angels.