Vasaloppet 90km xc ski race - 2006 edition!

[sylv]

Dear all,

As some of you already know, on 27th February I will be taking part for the first time in the Vasaloppet race in Sweden, along with six workmates, a couple of whom have raced last year.

The Vasaloppet is one of the most famous cross-country races in the world, with participants in the thousands, and a distance of 90km which could take anything between 3.5 hours (for the elites) to more than 7 hours, with disqualifying time gates.

I do downhill skiing about once every other year, but have only tried cross-country once, and that was as a kid. For the Vasaloppet the "skating" technique is not allowed, this means you have to stay in parallel tracks all the way (unlike on the picture!), which promises to be challenging on the downhill sections - and hard work on the arms, which is my weakness and will warrant a daily trip to the gym for the next few weeks.

I would like to take this opportunity to raise money and have once again chosen Médecins du Monde, an international humanitarian aid organisation which provides medical care to vulnerable populations. Obviously a good part of the funds will go towards the tsunami victims relief effort, but it will also ensure other problematic areas of the world are not forgotten.

I have no idea how tough this race is going to be (though will have a better idea after our training weekend on 15th Jan!), especially with the mighty time gates, but I think that if I put to myself the pressure of collecting charitee money only if I complete the race, well it might add a little extra motivation.

If you are willing to help please log on to my webpage http://www.justgiving.com/Vasaloppet2005 and pledge whichever amount you choose. This is a secure site and you can pay by credit card. If however you would prefer another method, like cash donation that I will transform into a credit card payment myself, or a cheque directly payable to Médecins du Monde, please let me know. On the site you can choose to donate anonymously so that only I will see your name.

I will report to everyone who does with photos of the training weekend, and be back to you after the race.

Many thanks in advance


Sylvain


[img]http://www.mnnordicski.org/photos/mora.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.herjedalen.se/images/18.14520ebf5b1b5ebb57fff19195/Vasalopp5.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.sahlen.se/bilder/vasaloppet.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/citadelle/Notre2.jpg[/img]

[sylv]

Knee is fine, weather forecast is good (minus 10, no snowfall), sponsoring has done well, carbo-loading has started - bring on the 90k!

[img]http://www.s3.kth.se/~giese/vasa/01.jpg[/img]

[Maria David]

Great piccies Syl - will get onto the MduM site.

Oh, and Good Luck - and on this occasion, don't break a leg !

Maria

[sylv]

Thanks!
None of the pics here are mine, those that I sent by email were though.
But I won't be taking the camera during the race.

Might be able to do some skiing here tonight!

[Rory]

enjoy the punishment and beware the yellow snow

[sylv]

Thanks guys!

Marco I've just pledged the amount on my credit card (as you can see now on the justgiving site), so you can give me the cash afterwards.

[Grahame]

Allez Sylvain!

Put me down for a tenner as well.

[sylv]

Wohoo thanks!
I've just put you down as well Grahame.

Like Marco says, if anybody else is not willing to pay though the site, I'm happy to put the donations on my credit card and collect afterwards.

I'm not back till Tuesday by the way, so don't assume I'm lost in the wilderness or frozen solid if you don't hear from me on Monday.

[Grahame]

So "I'm going for a little ski, I may be some time"

Sylv - have you looked at the October info yet?

[sylv]

Looks a bit like me! No I found it on the web, it was taken by someone who wasn't racing. Should get a pic taken during the race though, like yours of the marathon finish

Grahame, yep but haven't got around to phoning, will do early next week.

[Elliot M]

will you be growing a beard like the other guys in the pics sylv?

[sylv]

Thanks Elliot. I HAVE to finish now with all this sponsorship.

No shaving on the day as the cold would make your face hurt. not even washing it is recommended! if i take more than a couple days to finish maybe the beard will start growing...

[sylv]

I finished. And survived. Did way better than expected. Email report & pics on their way..

[Will]

Good job Sylv. Well done!

Presumably much harder than the Cristalp?! Like a non-stop Pas de Lona?

I think I sponsored you (online) but can't remember. Are you able to check? If I didn't, please put me down for a tenner.

[sylv]

YHM