If you read enough articles or books related to Nordic skiing, you’ll start to realize how much the term “ski culture” is brought up. This is often in reference to Norway, with images of ski wax sold in vending machines and loaves of bread with Petter Northug or Therese Johaug on the packaging.
But what does skiing culture look like here where we live? I commonly refer to New England as the “Scandinavia of America” and Vermont as the “Norway of that Scandinavia.” And while we may not have quite the same level of lifestyle and Nordic skiing crossover as Nordic nations, a few days last week gave me some goosebumps that we might be moving in that direction.
On Thursday morning the MNC University group was joined by Julia Kern, an Olympian and US Ski Team member who was spending some time in Richmond. Julia didn’t do anything special or unique to announce her presence…she just showed up when training started, listened as drills were explained, went through the same steps as the rest of the crew, and chatted among everyone while they were all skiing easily around.
When we did running speeds up a steep hill, it wasn’t until partway through a number of reps that I remembered Julia’s credentials as a sprinter…as Geo got ready to start a speed, I nudged that “you might want to follow Julia on one of these: she’s probably one of the top six skiers in the entire WORLD at this sort of thing.”
What was revealing of a ski culture was not how novel this session was, but how normal it felt for what seemed like everyone involved. Really cool stuff.
On the following day, Friday, we had no official practice scheduled for the Juniors. An on-your-own workout of your choice was suggested.
It was a big day, training notwithstanding, because of the official signatures on various dotted lines completing the acquisition of the Mansfield Nordic Community Center (MNCC). Read more on that here!
While Liz and I were down at the MNCC checking out the space and making grand plans, we heard a knock on the door. It was Taylor, who saw our cars on a return from a bike ride nearby. The buzz was already growing!
A different day for bikes…Taylor and Nico in Waitsfield on Sunday
Gillian (front) being the skate role model for Mia (back)
When we left the space it was time for me to pick up some groceries…it was a beautiful summery scene, with a hazy late-afternoon glow and the scent of grilled meat in the air and the sound of lawnmowers in the distance. I cruised slowly through a busy Richmond, whose downtown is currently celebrating a “share the road” advocacy/art event. Signs and displays were visible at a couple of creative houses.
Then I turned left at the light in the center of town. The Farmer’s Market was buzzing and there were pedestrians everywhere. Yet I quickly spotted (as their design intends) a pair of familiar yellow Mansfield Nordic Club t-shirts…it was Astrid and Mia, walking up the sidewalk by the railroad tracks, rollerskis in hand! They were on their way to a pickup at the middle school.
A town filled with everyday people going about their business, and rollerskiers just another part of the scene. Ski community at its finest.
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