[Matt DeCarufel]

Hello Team!

GREAT RACING OUT THERE TODAY!  So much fun seeing everyone out there putting out such a solid effort.  One general comment is many were under-dressed.  There is no need to make our sport harder than it already is by shivering in the cold.  Also, you can not perform well when your hands and feet are blocks of ice.  So, if you were under dressed today, adjust for tomorrow.  Keep that puffy jacket on around the start, wear a buff/ toque/ mitts, and dress warmly for your warm up/ cool down.

Weather: Similar to today- A few forecasts out there, but typically -15 C for a low with a high of -10 C and snow.  Don’t forget your glasses to keep the snow out of your eyes!

Stadium Set up:

Adjustment to the Mass Start Grid noted below.

Access Stadium through the tunnel that goes down the stairs, under the finish lane, then up the stairs by the range.  If you do not know about this tunnel, ask your coach.

Start Grid will be loaded at the same time when your categories start only 2 min apart (male/female or Open/U18). They will start the first category on time (as soon as the start grid is loaded), then the second group 2 minutes after.  Your “wave” will be separated by a rope that will be removed as soon as the wave in front of you goes.

U12 and Older- Diagonal Stride Zone (or herring bone) on the course will be on the hill paralleling the Banff Trail.  This is a FIS rule, but simply put, stride or herring bone through this section, don’t double pole. It is a steep hill and you will be striding anyway, but good to know the rules.

U16 Distance Update: All U16 racing 7.5km

Awards 12:30 for U18 and Senior. 15:00 for U14 and U16 and masters.

Start Order (Start list on Zone4):

Wax your warm up skis at home with Swix Blue Extra.  Arrive at the teamroom max 1 hr 15 min before your start to get your bib, check in with your coach about updates, and start your warm up.  Test your race wax at race pace and allow some time for adjustments if needed.

Thank you everyone for dropping off race skis today as noted in the email sent Thursday and on yesterday’s forum post.  If you did not drop off classic race skis today as noted, they will not be run through the team buffer by the wax team as we have to focus on kick.  Any missing skis for the U14 and older categories will need to be delivered by 8am so we can apply your base binder and properly prepare the kick zones.

Mass start racing is a blast.   Have a great time out there with your teammates and competitors from across the province challenging each other all the way around the course.  “I also realize winning doesn’t always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself.” -Meb Keflezighi (Olympic silver medalist)

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