Last Friday, Ontario’s lake effect swept from the Western and Central Adirondacks across the Great Sacandaga Valley bringing snow to Saratoga Biathlon Club’s (SBC) venue for the January 28 Shenendehowa Classic 10K. Master groomer Curt Schreiner was delighted with the new snow that freshened up old crust he’d been dragging and tilling for weeks. “Classic conditions are good for the Shen race on a 3.5 loop of rolling terrain,” Curt reported. “Just finished carving great tracks with a mix of powder. You’re gonna love it!”
However, racers begged to differ on Saturday when they searched for a kick wax to work in tracks that had everything – crust, sugar snow, glaze, ice and powder. Even the SWIX and TOKO Wizards couldn’t quite get it right. Some racers “skipped the kick” to favor double poling the course.
Check out Men and Women RESULTS for Scholastic, Open, Masters, BKYSL and Try-It Citizen Divisions.
The field of over 30 racers at the Shen Classic included some “blast from NYSSRA past” celebrities: three long-time NYSSRA racers and Section 2 champions: Aaron Huneck (2015), Eric Seyse (2002) and Greg Stevens (2001).
As for Sunday’s Great Sacandaga Freestyle Mini-Marathon 25K and 15K at SBC, the tracks had been erased to create “nice and fast conditions” for skating (as Curt reported the night before). Sure enough, the frenzy of the mass start might have gone to everyone’s head as they jockeyed for breathing room on the first downhill. The ESPN camera crews missed being set up on this part of the course. Had they been there, the replay of the racer pile up that occurred would have been broadcast worldwide. The result: a broken ski, fragments of broken poles, sprained shoulder, dislocated thumb and stiff necks. Could have been far worse.
See complete Mini-Marathon RESULTS.
More comprehensive results including Wilkinson cup points are in this seasons archive HERE.
Despite a strong Showing from NYSEF and Rochester teams UP in LP, HURT showed up at saratoga in force, and pulled off the win for yet another Racing block. POINTS
Attention now turns to the February 3-4-5 Empire State Winter Games at Lake Placid. It’s the 37th Winter Games! That’s right, continuous since 1981. See the Athlete Check-In information and Event Schedule.
Race as many races as you want, but awards will go to each event, and combined results for the x-c series .
This model is based on the popular FIS Tour De Ski -without the alpine hill climb, come try your luck in this weekends race series.
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