| slunesnkbgaq | Date: Saturday, 30 Mar 2013, 08:13:47 | Message # 1 |
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| The snow was wet, heavy and blowing hard <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-sale/743-new-hermes-shoulder-bag-blue.html>New Hermes Shoulder Bag Blue</a> when the horn blasted at 9 a.m. Saturday to signal the start of the 25th Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival.
The conditions were hardly ideal for a cross-country ski competition that challenges its toughest competitors with a <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-kelly/130-hermes-kelly-handbag-35cm-purple-silver.html>Hermes Kelly Handbag 35CM Purple Silver</a> 55-kilometre course. But <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-passport-holder/101-hermes-compact-passport-holder-patent-leather-red.html>Hermes Compact Passport Holder Patent Leather Red</a> for many, the Birkie is an <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-kelly-35cm/583-hermes-kelly-handbag-35cm-yellow-silver.html>Hermes Kelly Handbag 35CM Yellow Silver</a> event not to be missed.
<quote>The Birkebeiner is an Edmonton tradition,</quote> said London Olympic medallist and Edmonton native Tara Whitten, after crossing <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-passport-holder/97-hermes-compact-passport-holder-crocodile-leather-saddle-brown.html>Hermes Compact Passport Holder Crocodile Leather Saddle Brown</a> the finish line at the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.
Whitten, who won bronze in track cycling in the women鈥檚 team pursuit, started her athletic career as a cross-country skier, so the Birkebeiner was familiar territory. But even an Olympian like Whitten felt exhausted after the morning on skis.
<quote>I鈥檇 say I was trained very specifically for cycling <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-sale/715-new-hermes-shoulder-bag-peach.html>New Hermes Shoulder Bag Peach</a> for the past four years. So it鈥檚 funny when you鈥檙e so specifically fit but it鈥檚 hard to translate it right away into other sports.</quote>
At two hours and 12 minutes, Whitten finished ninth in the 31-kilometre competition, about 20 minutes behind winner Matthew Vreilink, 19, of Calgary.
About 1,650 people this year pre-registered for the Birkebeiner鈥檚 various races, the highest <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-picotin-herpicot/175-hermes-picotin-herpicot-crocodile-leather-chocolate-silver-bag.html>Hermes Picotin Herpicot Crocodile Leather Chocolate silver Bag</a> number in five years. The ski festival includes a 55-kilometre race where skiers carry a pack, a 55-kilometre race without pack, the 31-kilometre event and shorter races for children and adults.
As always, the ski festival attracted a mixed crowd. There were professional skiers who lined up at the <a href=http://www.onlinehermesoutlet.com/hermes-sale/218-new-hermes-shoulder-bag-white.html>New Hermes Shoulder Bag White</a> start line in Lycra race suits, their strong arms propelling them onto the course. There were recreational skiers from Saskatchewan who were drawn to the great trails and atmosphere. There were veteran Birkie participants, who have skied in every event since it started in 1985.
And there were those who showed up at the race with only one goal: survival.
<quote>Start at the back and stay at the back and survive,</quote> said Curtis Boyington, 42, about his race strategy.
Boyington and Matthew Prowse were entered in the 31-kilometre race. Both were wearing gold and purple Viking helmets, in honour of the Norwegian legend for which the Birkie is named. The legend claims an infant Norwegian prince was rescued during a bloody conflict by warriors who travelled 55 kilometres on skis through treacherous terrain.
<quote>It was Curtis鈥?idea and I鈥檓 here mostly so that if he does collapse, someone can alert the appropriate authorities,</quote> Prowse said, jokingly.
With temperatures that hovered around 0 C on Saturday and fresh, wet snow, everyone knew the course would be a tough slog for competitors. Many, however, were just glad to race, especially since the Canadian Birkebeiner has been cancelled four times in the past due to poor snow or extreme cold.
To see race results, go to
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