Lake Placid NorAm #5, February 16-17, 2008

Just returned from Lake Placid NorAm #5. Overall the races went well. Saturday's Sprint 10k was held in below legal temps. It was -10 at the start and warmed to -5 or so at the finish. They delayed the start to look like they cared but it didn't matter. The two best analogies I heard about the conditions were "skiing on sandpaper and velcro" and the snow on the shaded hillsides was so cold and dry you could almost classic up with parallel skis. It was more efficient to run the hills then try to skate them. The overnight temps were -20 and the snow didn't warm up at all. My face was so cold I couldn't feel the rifle cheek comb. I have never shot in temps so low and the wind chill on my face must have been -30 or -40. I greased the hell out of my earlobes, nose and cheeks so no damage but they were all numb. I had a hard time speaking as my cheeks were stiff and I couldn't annunciate too well. Trying to find the normal rifle feel I pushed the comb too hard and sent my shots right. I'm a lefty so the pivot around the trigger moves the muzzle right. I didn't shoot as well as I'd have liked. I'm better then the results show and cold weather aside I am a bit disappointed in my performance on the range. I finished 5th in age group less then 1 second out of 4th spot.

Sunday it was warmer, maybe +15 but the wind was ripping. Flat calm w/ 30+ mph gusts and blowing snow on the range made shooting not hard but extremely difficult and frustrating. Skiing into the wind was like going uphill. The poles swung wildly and one gust grabbed my ski and pushed it into a V-board marking the P-loop and almost caused me to crash. I think the wind actually pushed me back up! I was a 50% shooting effort which I was told fantastic considering the conditions. I spoke w/ 2 former Olympians and they shot worse than I did! There were only 5 clean stops from all competitors all day. My zero was set neutral and I waited for a lull to set it. Since I was set no wind in a lull I just shoot and don't have to make adjustments. My prone went well and the first offhand was in a blinding windstorm. It was difficult to hold the rifle remotely steady. Out of a sense of pride I didn't just "machine gun" the targets to sent the lead and save time waiting. Get to the P-loop and get going. I couldn't do it although the last shot I just sent and got out. Deb mentioned the feeling of not wanting to quit on the range but mentioned it is a race and if the wind is going to hurt you send the lead and get skiing. Maybe next time. I finished 4th in age and the overall results were not published when we left.

Off to Canada next weekend and I'll send a report when I get home. Thanks again, Kevin