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Happy Valentines Day!

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
Staying warm in the winter chill

It’s February 14th! Happy Valentines Day! Arctic temperatures have blanketed the Alps these last 2 weeks, some mornings with the thermometer reading -19 C (-2 F)!  Growing up in Vermont and Maine  these frosty temps are quite common in January. Back then I grew tired of freezing my tail off at the top of a GS course. Not only did I soon switch over to a more aerobic sport , cross country skiing, to keep my engine warm  but also moved to a sunnier state, Colorado. Now I have switched over to another sport, ski mountaineering which keeps my heart and mind equally warm.

Sunshine warms the heart

I have had a little break in the World Cup calendar. Despite the Siberian temps, I have bundled up just like we did when we were kids,and headed for the mountains on my own, with friends and with my family, all heartwarming and important moments to stay balanced.

Enjoying warm winter moments as a Family

Perhaps it’s only in ski towns in France that when teachers strike and there is no school, kids go skiing! These two weeks I took advantage of having some more time to pump up the volume in my training but also get out find some new terrain that I had not skied before. I headed out with a friend Max one day  up the Col de la Floria, a good climb from the valley floor to the top (1440+meters) There was a nice long boot pack at the top and a great steep ski coming down. Another time I explored the, Aiguille de la Gliere Nord, once again a great varied climb, boot pack, with an impressive view to the other side. It is these kind of days in the mountains that bring me warmth and a smile.

Heading to the Hills

I managed to get in some good races as well in these 2 weeks. I squeezed in 2 Mountain Ski tour uphill victories ( Flaine and Les Contamines) Both excellent for my own uphill climbing but also really fun ambiance.  I did not have these on my calender but decided to go as there were not only good training opportunities but also a great chance to see another part of the Alps and go with other from my local Chamonix Ski Mountaineering club. The Tour de Grand Veymont in the Vercours region of France was also the CAF (Club Alpine Francais) national championships. This time artic temps prevailed. Mittens and hand warmers were the ticket. It was a gorgeous course, a great sunday out as a club and I came home with the win for the women and the CAF national champion title.

Tour de Grand Veymont & Trophee de Gastlosen

 The Trophee de Gastlosen is the 2nd largest race in Switzerland next to the famous Patrouille des Glaciers, with over 1200 participants. Two years ago this race was a world cup and I raced with my USA teammate and pal lyndsay. It was the first team race of the year for me and I raced in Chamonix Club mixed team with Yann, our coach from our club and an experienced skimo racer. We placed 23rd overall with a time of 2h53 reaching our goal of being the first mix team and also breaking three hours. It was probably the coldest temps I have ever raced in with the thermometer around -21 at the start but the great backdrop of the Gastlosen mountains and the technical climbs and descents kept me moving and made for an excellent day.

 

Warm moments together

Now it’s tapering time for the next world cup which will be held on the active volcano of Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy. on February 24 and 25th. For our family, a great time to spend with the boys who are on vacation from their busy days at school. It is a time for everyone to slow down, breathe, and rejuvenate together.

Staying warm

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”—

Anne Bradstreet

 

 

 

Winter Rainbow

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Grateful for the rainbow at the end of a long training day!

A fellow classmate from Dartmouth is doing amazing work with her  Raising Happiness project. Not only is she an amazing woman, but also an amazing mom and an inspiration to so many, myself included.

Weekly Thoughts

As the the French say, Grâce a Christine! 


“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
-–Melody Beattie

Amazing afternoon light around Chamonix-Mont Blanc

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” –Buddha

A winter miracle

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

–Albert Einstein

Enjoy your miracle!

1st Ski Mountaineering World Cup of the 2012 Season in Andorra

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Heading for the finish in the vertical race ski mo world cup

 

As I leave sunny Andorra and head for snowy Chamonix I look around at this beautiful countryside here which I am so fortunate to have had a chance to explore. What I love most about racing in other countries is it gives me a real chance to experience a country more than in the eyes of a tourist.

A map of Andorra to give you a sense of where in the world this little country is

This goes back to some of my earlier jobs in life which allowed me to work abroad, teaching English in China, working in Africa as an outdoor educator and even mountaineering in South America. I feel very fortunate to have had these experiences as a young professional. Surely they have enriched who I am today and given me a global perspective.

The start of the womens vertical race: I always start a little too fast!

Racing in another country allows one to  not only take in the land while racing but also meet the people locally with first hand flavor.

A view of the course track for the individual

On the world cup ski mountaineering circuit it is a fairly small group of athletes( 40 men and 20 women) from a variety of countries – mostly alpine nations. It is nice to say hello again and meet new people to expand horizons even further. The locals in Andorra were welcoming, enthusiastic and put on a great weekend of racing.  It amazes me how this sport grows and grows each year worldwide. With that the levels get higher and higher each year.

I think I am happy to be done with the vertical!

The World Championships were held in Andorra two years ago and I was lucky enough to go. This weekend, the Font Blanca, was the kick off weekend of the ski mountaineering world cup with a vertical race on saturday and the individual race on sunday. The vertical, not my favorite event but a good training for me, and I managed to hold my own finishing 12th overall behind some real climbing specialists, and in the 80th percentile behind the winner. I had no idea I had placed 2nd in my new age category!

Map of last 2 climbs

The individual race was really what I was looking forward to. It was a technical course on profile with 1380 meters of ascent, 4 climbs , with 2 boot crampon sections and some fun couloirs to descend.

Climbing to a personal best in the Ind. Race

Sr. Men on the crampon section

For me, all of my favorite things in ski mountaineering. I was pleased with how I felt, each climb a little stronger, trying to stay consistent and focussed throughout the course. Hammer Nutrition Heed provided me with consistent energy throughout, a perfect energy for a race just under 2 hours.

Descending, what I love most on the individual course

I ended up with a personal best for me with a time in the 80th percentile of the winner and an overall 9th place out of a very strong field of women. Results can be found here.

View of technical section of course

Staying consistent and focussed outside of the race is equally, it not more important. All parents know that this applies to raising children but also to oneself in following a path or a dream.

Having fun with the boys who remind me each day I must be consistent.

So,now it’s back home to my boys who keep me motivated on and off the race course, keep me focused on being the best mom I can be, keep me consistent with what is important and keep my dreams alive!

A huge thanks to Michael, who helps me keep my ducks in a row and reminds me to be consistent.

Another 2nd for Nina in French National Championships in Sprint!

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Nina- 1st place sprint in age category, 2nd place overall womens final

Just three years ago I helped found the section ski-alpinsime club with the Chamonix club des sports. This year we have reached the 60 member mark in our club. This is not only a result of the passion behind this sport but also the fact that the sport of ski mountaineering is growing exponentially worldwide, especially here in Chamonix, the heart of the Alps. The international ISMF is working hard with others to see that this sport will one day be in the Olympic Games.

Top 3 Women at the finish of the French national Sprints: Laetitia Roux 1, Nina 2, Emile Favre 3

Sunday evening, under the lights of the Les Planards ski area, volunteers from my ski alpinisme club joined forces with the Chamonix Sports Club and the FFME (French Federation Montagne Escalade- the governing body for ski-alpinsime) to host the 1st ever national championships in sprint.

The sprint race is a fairly new format that encompasses many variables of ski mountaineering. This format includes: skinning, to kick-turns-to a boot pack- more skiing, a descent with giant slalom gates and a finish in skating, all of this in an area of around 80m of elevation gain and under at time of 3.5-4.5 minutes.

The sprint event has already taken place in ski mountaineering world cup and in the World Championship in the past 2 years. This is an event that I personally really love and also have had good results with a 5thplace last year in Gavarnie World Cup. This was the first time the sprint has been part of the French national championship series. The cool thing about the sprint event is that it is very exciting to watch from a spectator standpoint. It is similar to the Cross Country Sprint where there is a qualification round, followed by ¼ finals, ½ finals and then finals.

The start line for the womens finals. I had first choice my lane with fastest qualifying time

The race was my second big objective of this season. I am really happy about how I felt in the qualifications and in the final. I had the fastest qualification time, trying not to go out too fast.  In the final I had the lead above Laetitia Roux, the current world champion in this discipline, until the kick turns and then she gained on me in the boot pack.

Warming up before the finals!- It was a cold night! I had Michael and Birken in the pit crew! Thanks!

I placed 2nd overall behind Laetitia Roux, who holds the World Champion title in the Sprint, and I placed 1st in my new age category, with elite athlete Corrine Favre in 2nd.

For me I really love the sprint race because it encompasses so many variables in such a short time. It requires clarity and grace both equally  important in our daily lives. For me, it is easy to get caught up in all of the million things I feel like I need to do at home, with my children, and family. There is a lot going on in our household with lots of transitions, and it often feels like a sprint race: school, ski-club, hockey practice, meal time, bedtime, piano practice and more. It is important for me to be graceful, compassionate and swift in day to day transitions, and at the same time keep a clear vision of what is important.

Some things that really help me stay focused are yoga,  meditation, getting plenty of sleep. I like aromatherapy too. Thanks to my friend Valerie of Ciel et Terre in Chamonix I have discovered Altearah’s wonderful scented oils that work hand in hand with the senses and the mind. Indigo is a favorite of mine.

Purple cornflower a.k.a Bachelor's Button- Color- Indigo -symbolizing Clarity

 

My next big objective, 1st world cup in Andorra this coming weekend. Thursday I will hop on a plane and head to the Pyrenees.

 May all your daily transitions be graceful and swift.

Nina places 2nd at French National Ski Mountaineering Championships!

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Happy that my legs are feeling good!

Areche, Pierra Menta country hosted the French National Championships (individual) yesterday. This was my first real objective of the season and I was happy that it fell into place for me on this day, my oldest son’s 8th Birthday. I came in 2nd overall just behind Laeticia Roux and in front of Corrine Favre, both of whom are exceptional athletes. Laeticia a World Champion in ski mountaineering and Corrine and exception trail runner and ski alpinist. I took first place in my “new” catatgory this year, Veteran. I am proud to bring home a French national Championship medal, but even more happy to go home after and give my birthday boy a squeeze after a great day of racing.

Happy 8th Bday B!

After a summer of being injured, this is great start to a beginning of my ski mo season, but surely with lots more work to come. Our club, Chamonix ski alpinisme  had a strong presence of 17 people at the French Nationals which was a record! It was a great ambience to have the whole skimo family there!

A little word of thanks to my Sponsors! Thanks Petzl, Hammer Nutrition My gel pouch fell out in a transition but HEED got me through all the way in the race just under 2 hrs! Sportlegs kept my legs from cramping on the killer descents! I used my Camelbak Race vest which worked great and kept the drink from freezing! Pierre Gignoux boots were awesome especially in the descending in the tough snow with the compression. My Swix poles worked well even in the deep powder snow. My Suunto kept me on track with cardio. Thanks to Eyeshop for protecting my eyes with some great goggles!  It was snowing and tough to see! I can’t forget Wild Roses, who adds the splash of pink to my wardrobe,  keeps me warm and dry on and off the slopes and encourages all women to follow their dreams.  I will surely be heading to Maison Carrier sometime soon to celebrate!

Today I will enjoy a little recup and make some turns on some fatter skis.

Next big objective, French National Champs in Sprint which we are hosting here in Chamonix next sunday evening under the night lights of Les Planards. It should be a great event to watch!

Pre-Season Training Camp in Cervinia

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Happy to be back on snow!

Hard to believe I spent 3 amazing days on snow last weekend in Cervina, Italy, when as I write this today here in Chamonix, we are in short sleeves and riding bikes and roller skiing, and just one week before I was on the beach in a bikini! This was the 2nd time of our Chamonix Club pre-season camp in Cervina, where we had a chance to dust off the cob-webs from summer and get the ski legs under us a bit, remembering how to take skins off and on and do a kick turn. It takes a bit of remembering, but just like riding a bike, it comes right back rather quickly.

Enjoying the view!

What a great way to kick off the season with a group of people who are passionate about ski alpinisme and sport! It was not long ago, maybe 5 years ago, I fell in love with the sport of ski mountaineering. It combines all that I love in a sport: endurance, strength, speed of downhill, technical climbing and of course being in the mountains! I found it strange that in Chamonix, the heart of alpinisme in Europe, the local sports club of Chamonix which hosts most other sports including ping-pong and boule, did not have a ski mountaineering team.

Chamonix Ski Alpinisme Club photo in front of the Matterhorn

With the encouragement from my husband, I went ahead to try and start one. Just three years ago, joined by a team of others equally passionate about the sport, we founded the club. Now on our 3rd season, we have grown to nearly 50 members which include 8 nationalities and have an age range of 14-70 years old, all of whom take part in competition of one form or another, as this is a competition club, not one for purely ski touring. Here is our link: Chamonix Ski Alpinisme

Great conditions

During the weekend we were blessed amazing snow conditions and great weather. We were able to walk from the base of town up the dreadfully steep Mezzalama trail, to about 2300 meters where we could put our skis on. It was a perfect warm up and a great way to avoid the crowds of alpine skiers. The weekend included technique drills, avalanche beacon training (always important to do pre-season!), a small race-course combining all the skills and of course some great cappucino’s and pasta!

Relaxing after a hard training session!

It looks like I’ll be making some more trips to Italy as the ground is still quite bare here in Chamonix, even though the first race on the calendar is just a couple weeks away. 

Think snow and Be Happy!

Be sure to check out the winter line for Wild Roses at the following link!  And to see the Wild Roses ambassadors Blogs click here! 

Cycling the Cols & Finding New Roads

Sunday, October 30th, 2011
Wait! This is not the Alps!

Discovering a new road

 

Often we say when one door closes another one opens. This season my trail running season was side-lined due to an injury. I do love trail running and it was tough not to be out there on the trails, but it opened a new door for me, Road biking.

Riding with my lil' training partner

My first road bike was actually one I borrowed from my younger brother. I can say that I did cycle on the same team as Tyler Hamilton and Chris Davenport in high school at Holderness, however with that said, I never learned how to change a tire and I don’t think I even learned how to draft.

At  Dartmouth, I spent most of my time on skinny skis with the ski team, free heel skis or roller skis. At the end of my 4 years, I dabbled in a few triathalons. I think I tried,  3 tris until the EBA’s pizza delivery guy backed up over my bike. I went out to get my bike the next morning and came to a crumpled bit of metal.  I ended up borrowing a bike 2x my size but managed to finish the tri in one piece.

Since then, my husband, who was once a Cat 2 competitive cyclist in the US, has been encouraging me to get back on the bike.

Michael guiding a group for Bike Switzerland in the Jura

I left the biking by the wayside until about 8 years ago when picked up a used bike for a couple hundred swiss francs 10 years ago and had been riding that bike ever since. This summer I picked up a sweet, new ride and have fallen in love with riding, not horse back riding. I already fell in love with that as a young girl, and competed seriously at the sport until I was 16.

One thing about living in Chamonix is that you can’t do many flat rides, it’s either up or down and then back up. I got pretty friendly with the Col des Montets.

Always a good session to the Col des Montets

I have to be honest. The roads in Switzerland are great for biking. If it gets too hilly around here, you can always ride flat around the lake.

A spinning session on the swiss cycle paths

One of my favorite rides and probably one of the best rides from Chamonix is to  Lac Emosson. It is a challenging ride but well worth the climb.

One of my favorite rides up to Emosson Dam

Lake d'Emosson almost looks tropical!

 

I managed to make it over to my old stomping grounds, parked the car in Aigle, Switzerland where my two boys were born. Probably the best maternity hospital around! I climbed up past my old town of Villars, crossed the Col de la Croix and down into les diableret and up to Col du Pillon. I had hoped to continue onto Gstaad and Col des Mosses but the time constraint of getting back for the school pick up at 4 caused me to cut my ride short.  Here is a map of the large route 

 

Col de Pillon

 

The view down to Les Diablerets

 

Col de la Croix- near my old stomping grounds- Villars

One of my favorite views

 

 

I am not sure if the cycling season is wrapped up or not. We may still get some warmer days in the coming weeks.

 

Enjoy your ride and the new roads you may discover! 

 

 

 

 

The Journey is What Counts

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

It’s good to have goals but the journey is what counts- Wild Roses

Looking ahead on the Journey

 

Here are a few shots from a team race I did- the Italian Adamello Ski Raid. This race is the 2nd in the Grand Course series including the Pierra Menta and the Mezzalama. Blandine and I placed 8th in this race. In a team race it is all about working together, sharing the passion of the mountains, and the challenge of the journey. We climbed 3400 meters, climbing up to 3500 meters in altitude, across glaciers and down narrow couloirs.

Looking to the Adamello Peak

Adamello Peak

Just Believe and you can make it

Sunrise

The Adamello Glacier

Nina and Blandine at the finish! 8th place overall

 


The Yin/Yang Couloir

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Nina toping out on the Y couloir- Aiguille d'Argentire

When you look at the Y Couloir on the Aiguille d’Argentiere it really does look like the letter Y.

The Route Aiguille d'Argentiere- Y Couloir/ Glacier Milieu

The Y couloir

The letter Y is like a tree with its roots firm in the ground and its branches reaching high.

The Tree of Life

It is a balanced symbol, a little analogy for keeping balance in life.

Yin/ Yang

Yin and Yang- One needs the other to be balanced.

All of us have things that keep us in balance. Take a moment and think about what balances you. For me, doing a route in the mountains like this is just one of the things that keeps me balanced and reminds me what I love about being out there, pushing myself to new limits and challenges.

Looking around at the inspirational surroundings

I know I need the balance of the mountains, and sport to be strong and balanced as a woman, mother, partner and friend; equally important I need the family, friends and community to be strong in the mountains, in life and sport.

Sometimes it's not always clear which path to take- looking down Y couloir

Summit Aiguille d'Argentiere

Summit Aiguille d'Argentiere

Just the other day I was telling a story to my children about Native Americans and their beliefs in the four elements that keep life in balance: Fire, Air, Earth and Water

4 Elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth

And talking with them about the things that they love to do, biking at the BMX park or playing soccer, hockey, skiing  or doing art.

A finding his balance

They are already discovering the many things that keep them balanced in life.

Route Report: Y Couloir-Aiguille d’Argentier, March 26th, 2011. The couloir itself was in good condition for going up, but not great snow for skiing down. Equally, the snow down the Milieu glacier was frozen crud. We had very low visibility at times. Here you had to be well balanced on your skis. In fact we did the first part on foot. Lower down, we made some nice turns in spring snow!  Another great day in the mountains, and fun for me to do some more technical climbing. We did the route in 4h:30 from the top of the Grand Montets cable car back to the car park.

Here are more photos from the climb:

 

Pierra Menta 2011

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Veronika & Nina on the portage

The Pierra Menta is often called the Tour de France of Ski Mountaineering racing. It is a stage race of 4 days long, each day involving long stages sometimes up to 5 hrs long.

I can’t quite believe that this was the 4th time I have done the Pierra Menta and completed it too, as that is a feat in itself. The first 3 time were with my great pal and partner Lyndsay Meyer of Brava Bella. We will race the Trofeo Mezzalama this year in a Chamonix Team. This year I raced with Veronika Swidrak of the Austrian National Team.

Veronika & Nina all at the Finish Stage 4- Pierra Menta

The Pierra Menta- could also be called the Pierra Mental….It is not over until your team crosses the finish line on day 4. So many things can happen over the 4 days- illness, broken boot or ski! Just to finish in one piece is a success!

Portage on a ridge

It is especially important to work well with your team mate. Not knowing Veronika very well before the race, and never having raced together we soon were fast friends and worked well together on and off the course.

Nina and Veronika working together as a team

Nina & Veronika working together as a team

Every day you finish a stage,  you have immediately  get yourself ready for the next day. The first thing you think about is recovering from the day. Right away we tried to have a recovery drink with in 15 minutes of crossing the finish line.  I really like Hammer Nutrition Recoverite.

Perservering through bad weather

Then it was time to change to dry clothes and eat some more. It was not often you felt like eating but it was so important to refuel your body!  Sometimes stages were over 4 hours and we burned so many calories that needed replacing. Who ever thought eating would be hard work!

In the afternoon, it was time to recover the legs! Lots of stretching and yoga poses for the quads, calves and hips.

Inspired by the crowds!

Thanks to my yogini friend Tite of yogarunners, she helped remind me of good leg flushing poses like Sirsasana against the wall,  Sarvangasana on chair and Savasana legs on chair. You can find all these restorative poses and much more at the Yoga Joural website.

As usual, the Pierra Menta is fueled by passion from many volunteers. They put on a great race despite the snow and weather conditions. 2 out of 4  days were bad weather: day 1 and 3.

Seriously we have to race in this???

The worst moment! Stage 3 arrete

Then we were blessed with sun on day 2 and day 4!

 

Beautiful sunshine on the Beaufort landscape

Images from the Beaufort countryside

Each day is all about endurance. You are out there between 3h and even up to 5 hours sometimes.  It was important to be fueled well during these long races. In my water bladder, I would put 1- 2 Nuun tablets.  It adds a nice subtle flavor and also keep the electrolytes balanced to prevent cramping. My favorite flavors are orange-ginger and wild berry! It really is about keeping your legs fresh for the ascents and descents too which can be just as challenging in off piste conditions. Sport Legs too are great for keeping the cramps at bay.  Sometimes the stages feel never-ending and going on forever- Hence Hammer Nutrition Perpetuum is a great fuel for any endurance efforts over two hours. The flavor Cafe Latte is a great way to start the morning! This year we got a head start on the trail running season too!

It's never over til it's over! Running to finish on last day!

Our goals were to finish the race in one piece, get stronger each day (1st 2 days in 7th place and last 2 days in 6th place) and to have fun! We achieved all these goals!

All Smiles at Finish!

 

Pierra Menta 2011- 7th Place Overall

 

 

P…..Perserverance

I………..Intensity

E………Endurance

R…………….Race

R…………Recover

A……….Amazing

 

M……………Mental

E………………….Eat

N………………..Nap

T………………Team

A…………..Again??