So I thought I could ski...

As an amazing start to the new year Axel, Stefan and I went up to Sollefteå (6 hours north) to a camp/clinic to teach and get in shape for the Vasaloppet or other races.  Ok let me back up a little...

At the beginning of the year maybe the second or third time I had every met Stefan we got to talking about athletics and how I like to be outdoors and stuff.  He told me that there is this cross country race that he is doing and has done in the past and how it is a very Swedish tradition.  Being an exchange student and not wanting to say no to anything I said, "Oh that sounds like fun!  I'll be living with you at that time, can I join?"  Yes of course, why not? 

Well looking into it a little bit more I found out this is an anual 90 kilometer race (that's what? About 56 miles) that people train for year round and sometimes years in advance...oh crap!  Then came some good and bad news:  I cannot do the Vasaloppet because I am too young, but I can do the KortVasan which is only 30 km (19 miles about)...Ok I can do that (hopefully!)

Anyways this clinic was put on by a few very good skiers including a former member of Sweden's female cross country ski team and a two time winner of the Vasaloppet.  I was the second youngest there, (other than 5 or 6 from Denmark) the only one from another country let alone continent, and debatebly the most inexperienced skier there.

 I didn't just learn to ski, I learned to wax the skis too!

 Things got a little sticky and everything stuck to anything!

 A typical day was about 3 hours of technique skiing in the morning and about 2 hours of hills, trails, and/or other terrain skiing in the afternoon followed by 1 hour of weight training inside...Ya it was a lot of really good work!

 Only one of the days were we able to see this beautiful sun rise through the clouds.  The other days it was so foggy that we could not even see all the way across Stadium (that big field I am in in these pics)

 A very Swedish tradition is that whenever you go skiing you have blueberry soup in stead of water breaks!  It is warm, more filling that water (for long races) but still a liquid to hydrate you.  Oh did I mention it is really good too!

 The last day (today) we had a race type thing.  My first racing number from sweden! 

I shall keep it forever (typical exchange student action)  :)

 Yep you can probably tell that the picture above was taken moments before I fell...But don't worry I survived the week with only 2 broken fingers, 3 broken toes, a dislocated knee and elbow, several pulled muscels and torn ligaments, along with my entire legs (including hips) covered in bruises, and don't forget the black eye! :)  They are just souvenirs!

(All jokes I hope you know...well except some of the bruises)

Now I might be able to survive the KortVasan in February without breaking BOTH of my legs! 

Wish me luck!