The Newluks

February 25, 2010

MARSH LAKE LOPPET

Do you know, I don't even know what a Loppet is? I now know where Marsh Lake is (south of Whitehorse, maybe 45 minutes?), but, technically, what a Loppet is? I'm a bit vague on that one...

To me a Loppet is a cross country ski race that is quite relaxed because they serve you alcohol while racing. If I'm honest, that's the only reason I agreed to go in it.

Shea will attest to the fact that I've been known to be a bit of a grudging skiier - but it's not my fault that I'm Australian and nervous about sliding around on snow! I've taken to it, these last few months, but it's been a slow and gentle process, hastened quite significantly by the meeting of two other new teachers to the Yukon, Maggie and Emma. More about those ladies later. I just want to preface this story with a nod to the not-so-distant past when I had just moved to Dawson City to be with my new beau; the Mountain Man; the graceful skiier who has led me down a hill skiing backwards; who has taken (nay, yanked) my poles from me as I'm "not using my legs enough;" and who started our first fight ever when he had me hike up a seriously steep ski-hill run in Dawson then cheerfully said he'd see me at the bottom. We're still not laughing about that one...

The Marsh Lake Loppet I was against at first, but on being told that the refreshment stands along the way give you the option of water or tequila, I figured this was my kind of race. The ladies and I were game, decided we'd dress up for the occasion and we'd have a great day of giggles on skis. Unfortunately we followed the advice of an over-enthusiastic friend of ours who encouraged us to register for the 20km race. Maggie, we knew, could manage this, Emma and I, first year skiiers, blithely didn't think about it too much until the day. As we were waxing our skis it dawned upon us that neither of us had ever skiied a consecutive 20km, let alone raced it.

I must say, it was a fun day nonetheless. The beginning was so exciting.....

The beginning of the race, we were running a bit late.

Shea was bemused, but not patient (he finished in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!)

I couldn't start 'til I had my 'tash! The ladies and I were dressed as "Yukon Men!"

A picture indicative of our relaxed attitude toward the race. We're at the back of the pack, waiting for the gun to sound. Shea was elbowing his way to the front of the mob. This is Emma, also 'tashed up.

Now, this is where things begin to go awry....by this stage, Maggie has left Emma and I as she is indisputably a better skiier and really wanted to see if she could push herself. Emma and I mosyed along, not really pushing ouselves (bar UP after we fell down), chatting, enjoying the day and gradually becoming aware that we were quite alone out on the tracks....no-one was passing us anymore. Our sagging spirits were mightily lifted by this cheery refreshment stand, one of two on the course, who, true to the legend, offered us tequila! Not only that, but mulled wine, beer and "moose nuts." I have a hunch that these kindly folk running the complimentary stand had been partaking of the refreshments themselves. We don't know who this girl is with us....she did however, give us lots of booze and kind of rolled around on the front of our skis for a while in the snow. A bit alarming when you're already naturally unsteady on skis and feel that further heightened by your own inebriation. Having passed this stand twice on the course and then another further down the track, it was no surprise when the sweeper of the course decided to help us ski out. It was a bit concerning when we heard our own description put out on the radio of the sweeper and hearing marshalls asking how far away we were.

I guess it turns out that the Marsh Lake Loppet is a casual affair but it's not meant to take over 3 hours to complete. Emma and I ended up being escorted home by three marshalls and told that we had to take a shortcut home as the awards ceremony had started and the people waiting out on the course were getting cold. "It's going to get dark soon," one of them grimly informed me.

Maybe it was our naturally buoyancy, maybe it was the adrenalin of making it or maybe it was just the fiery liquor in our bellies, but arriving at the finish line was a moment of pure jubilation. We heard the cheers before we saw the crowd at the line and it made us feel wonderful.....

even if it was only from Shea and Maggie....