Matt White has skills

For most of us cross is over, but this video makes me want to max the credit card and get over to Belgium and race a few more times. He's almost as smooth as Keller. Anybody wanna go?

Early Out

Perfect ski, I had a commute that couldn't have been better. Touring skis, fresh snow and a narrow trail. The best part was I did it solo without a stop other than to shed a layer, better trails better skis to come. A perfect way to get in on the last day of work b4 another long weekend. I came around a corner on the trail to see a 175 lb beast in the middle of the trail up a small rise, not real sure if it was a bear waking up for a snack (me?!) mid-hibernation or a stray yeti-like dog out for a morning stroll, I greeted him from a distance and made sure he knew I was there, he didn't want to be off the trail anymore than I did, I slowly skied up to him and passed him as I accelerated away I got to see that it was a really big dog, not a bear and he was old and hobbled, I wanted to make friends but I needed all my fingers and blood too. I moved on down the trail, bad ski for batteries, the iPod and the camera were dead, I had more stuff to hear in the woods. They were so quiet though, not much sound at all, my breathing and a few squirrels getting some breakfast, I like that, silent sports at their best. I wish I had pics to show how amazing it was, no camera though. After how blown out I feel from a 90 minute ski I know I have some work to do b4 I'm ready for the Commando Run. I'll Need to ski to and from work a few times to get the time in for that tour. The body needs more winter work April isn't too far off. Goals like the Commando Run are ones that are going to make me fitter for the first races, after that it all falls together into long rides some with gears and some without. Ready? I can eat and drink a beer without guilt tonight, I did my work and the weekend holds more of the same. Stay out of the way, town is way too crowded, explore some new trails and avoid main street at all costs. A night tour or two, no chance of seeing anyone then. Maybe I'll see the yeti-dog again. I got one photo off before the camera died, here is the trail early on more near the start.

Quiet

I feel more tired the less I do, I think institutional life is the key for me. Less is making me tired(er) than more. The bikes are there, the skis are there I need to be out there. Food isn't filling the void, only activity can replace the vacuity, I fall asleep and I want more sleep. It's time, the break is over, it didn't last too long, I need to be outside, I'll run, ski, ride or whatever. The snowboard was fun the other day, fast and grippy snow made me feel like a surfer again, variable speeds and more than a few hard frontside turns put a smile on my face. I could do more of that, maybe I'll walk up the hill and fool around, poach a lift ride or two. Winter is here, shhhhhh.

Post Xmas

I made it through, the highest of commercial holidays was surprisingly mellow. A good little ski in the morning after gift time and then a nice day with family. Somehow town isn't loaded to the gills, three of us got out on the hill yesterday and didn't wait in stupid lift lines too long or get hit by errant southerners. Wow, a good xmas in the mountains. I rode my snowboard and it was beautiful aside from the 60km/h winds coming off the peaks that scare the crap out of you. The snow was good and the runs were uncrowded. The chairs swinging in the gusts wasn't the most comfortable thing, reminded me of my first trip to a big ski area in high school, we have warmer clothes now, that made it easier. Now with New Years so close I get to plan the longer efforts, bike or skis, long is all that matters for the first block.

Xmas

Remember to keep the Christ in Christmas. I haven't read the bible but somebody did to help all of us sinners learn just how wrong we are and how right (and righteous) they are. Whatever this is some funny shit. I bet Leviticus was a blast, he had some problems too, I think.

• 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

Mormons

This was too good to not grab and post. Ridetrash is an underrated site. Go there and enjoy the good news.

a%

I think I'll have some new skis in the next week or so, lightweight touring gear to replace the 8 year stuff that we manged to cook 5 years ago, glide? What's that? Smooth? Not on those old battered Madshus the new stuff will be flowy for a while, I hope. Anybody need some used nordic gear? Guaranteed to make you get a workout. I'm all about covering real estate this winter, not short tours but longer stuff that challenges the effort. 18 inches since yesterday, Denver got even more than that, they were so hammered it closed down the whole Front Range. Nobody rides their new rigs outside until mid week, xmas bikes. The most nightime of any day in the Northern Hemisphere, the day isn't shorter, it's just got less daylight. The stoolstice is important, we only get more daylight from here.

Rolling

Winter work for inside sports, the outside sports are bit nicer right now, ski and ski some more, tune that engine it only gets bigger. Big news out soon.

Buy

Is the similarity between Santa Claus and Uncle Sam a little too similar. Good stuff. This was stolen from the kitten factory. Read and learn what's up. New stuff in the pipeline. More windshield.

System

The more I learn about the system the more I regret not getting in sooner. It's not hard, I just never knew where the door was. The tricks are there for the taking and the result comes out on it's own. Feeding the urge to make it better helps find the door. Look deeper and get to the place you want. The break has lost it's appeal, I want to do more, buy my nordic pass, get to the gym for a bit of winter work and get out for the long days. Jan 1 is the real beginning, right now it's skiing with the family and getting next year's program up off the ground. Spy photos before the year's end. The pieces do fit and I have the order in my head, now it just needs to be in the legs.