Wind, Hills, and Hurt

Today was Team U.S.A.’s inaugural ski at Kantiolahti. Again, it’s eat, sleep, biathlon (and homework of course) here in Finland, and from the moment we get up in the morning to when we go to sleep at night it’s a constant mixture of focus, schedules, and fun.

It’s a 20-minute bus ride to the venue from our accommodations, and as we were driving through Finland I was impressed at how many people, young and old, were commuting by foot, bike, and ski in the dead of winter. It’s no wonder everyone here is trim and happy. Apparently our town is only 20 miles from the Russian border. Pretty sweet.

It wasn't all that cold, but the wind was killer on the range.
Photo courtesy of Judy Geer

The venue is to die for. The courses are some of the most challenging I have ever skied and the athlete accommodations are great, with team rooms as well as lockers and showers. We went straight to work on the range, quickly getting our bearings before our time trial.

Kantiolahti is famous for difficult racing conditions. We had a constant 40 knot wind blowing through the range, partly because of the venue’s proximity to open water bodies. The course occasionally opens up to a beautiful vista of Höytiäinen, the area’s massive frozen lake.

Getting a feel for the course and range will
be super beneficial come next week.
Photo courtesy of Judy Geer

It was great to get some race experience at the venue before the real competition starts next week, and I definitely used the opportunity to iron out some wrinkles and get back into the swing of racing after a long hiatus. It was awesome knowing that only a week ago the World Cup athletes were racing on these same courses, including my biathlon hero Ole Einar Bjørndalen.

Overall it was a good day. I have a lot to prepare for this time around. Wind, hills, and hurt. I’ve never felt so ready. Bring it on.