NSCF-FXC Racing

April 6, 2012 Race Day 2

Today was super exciting! Our first big race of the trip, and my first FIS race. We had an early morning and drove south to Tornio, Finland before the first racers went out so that we got an opportunity to ski the course. Then we drove back into town and were able to hang out in a café/shopping mall center for a few hours before our races. There were over 650 racers today so our start times weren’t until late afternoon. Everyone had an awesome race and had a lot of fun. I have been a bit out of sorts and feeling unwell, but pulled it together and had a blast out on the course. The snow was fast and it was sunny and warm. I earned my first ever FIS points and am told by Nick that they are pretty good (although I am slightly clueless to the system) so I am happy! There was a lot of good competition and I think we all performed our best. We were interviewed and photographed for the local newspaper, as they are running a story on our travels and skiing here in Lapland. We also saw Vahur Teppan, a former UAF skier from Estonia who is here for the races with his team. It is awesome to be a part of the skiing community on such a large scale, and to feel so involved and welcomed. What a great exerience!!

-Kira Leonard

We had an awesome day today! I raced well despite being the first to start in my age group since I didn’t have an FIS points but I tend to race better when I’m not pacing off on someone else so it was great to ski my own race and do pretty well. I had to do two laps which was cool because I love 10k’s and this course really had all on my strengths in it. The wax today was really good and the temperatures were well above frezzing. Its exciting to finally get some FIS points and hopefully they will come in handy later in life if I ski in college.

-Neill Toelle

Today was quite the experience. The snow was fast and our skis were faster-thanks to Nick. It was so warm, I love being able to just wear my spandex and not five layers underneath for the cold winters in Fairbanks. I met a girl from Finland who went to the J1 Scando Trip in Estonia- the one Kyle went on in february- and she had on a USA jacket and we talked about the race and Finland. She was really nice. The race went well and I am getting even more excited for the next three.

-Claire Ferree

I had a really fun race. The wax was awesome, Thanks Nick!! It was really warm and there was a lot of fast people to race against. I am excited about tomorrow’s race.

-Ema Mayo

Today was my first race in Europe! It was exciting to see all the different people from across the world (a girl from Japan won the J1 girls race), and to race against the great competition. It was a fun race from the beginning, and it was very quick and sunny throughout the rest. I felt pretty good, getting back into the racing mindset, and had a pretty good finish. Kira and I crossed the line very close together, which was fun. Now, that there is one race down, im getting psyched for the other three!

- Eliza Rorabaugh

We'll be in touch with Mikayla's race story tomorrow, as she is in the other room down the road.