Year 1998
I decided to continue my project to do ski marathons in as many places as possible. Actually, I got an encouragement from Japan - they placed my photo from last year's race, on the race poster - I am in the bottom right corner. It was probably not my result but kangaroos on my pants, which earned me such a fame.This year I decided to visit Poland and ski Euroloppet races in the neighbourhood - in Slovakia and Czech Republic. There was a Polish Euroloppet race but at different date so I gave it a miss. But to make some progress for the second Worldloppet medal, I decided to ski Finlandia Hiihto again. Firstly I remembered my disappointment from 1996, secondly, this year it was classical only, so it would be novelty anyway.
My first stop was Poland. Here I visited my friend - Jan Marek, great sport person, who was a farmer in the mountains. We skied few days together, then I moved to Slovakia.First steps were quite memorable, they deserved a separate NOTE.
After few days of skiing around Smokovec and Strbskie Pleso, I took train to Kremnica, place of Biela Stopa ski race. It was a tough race with very poorly prepared tracks.
Then I travelled to Czech Republic, to Prague. Opera, concert, museums, royal castle. I was so enchanted by this city, that I did not worry too much with the news, that snow was melting everywhere.
Still I travelled to Liberec for Jizerska 50, which at that time did not belong to Worldloppet yet. I enjoyed great night at Liberec Opera. I met a group of Estonian skiers, who travelled 36 hours on the bus to get here. We went together to Bedrichov to see the scale of the disaster.
It was simply unskiable.
I returned to Poland and after few days of social and culturak life, flew to Helsinki.Finlandia Hiihto.
I took bus to Lahti. On the bus I met our outstanding skier - Camille Melvay. Lahti greeted me with freezing -28C. Firstly, I looked for good classical skis for hire. People could not understand me - you do not hire good skis, you just own them. So I bought a pair, maybe not so good, but should last the race. Then I met another Australian - Sue Luscombe, we had some skiing adventure few months later. For time being, there came a great thaw. Rain. Snow melted very fast. The race was held in very poor conditions. It was only 50 km, not much effort, but Finlandia disappointed me again. On the return flight to Poland, I met Dorota Dziadkowiec, the second place getter in the first Hoppet. Very charming lady. What a pity, she had no opportunity to come to Australia again.
Hoppet. Beginning of winter was fine. I kept in touch with Sue, who was ski patroller at Mt St Gwinear. We participated as a team in Ski Rogaining event in the area she had known so well. No wonder, we came in fourth position.
But later, in Falls Creek, it was not so good. Hoppet was shifted to higher areas. Three loops like in 1993 but this time we did not have to take off skis. Weather was beautiful. Michael, Ania and Sarah were there. When I approached the finish line, they shouted: Dad, you are flying!
So I raised my arms and waved them, that was the best I could do. I completed the race in cursed time of 3,5 hours, but this time I was happy. it was longer and harder course. Michael beat me by 15 mins. Ania cemented her domination of Birkebeiner - second in her age group. For Sarah, these were first steps on skis. Still managed to complete Birkebeiner with smile.
It was not the end of skiing. Sue made me aware of Hotham to Falls tour/race. In 1998 it had to be changed to Hotham to Dinner Plain. And there was no way to ski it. But still it enchanted me, I stayed faithful to it till the end, and even longer. Here is more detailed STORY.
