Is anyone ever ready for an early season ski race? Ready or not, members of the Ohio Nordic Ski Team gauged their early season conditioning in a pair of races in Ontario the weekend of Dec. 21-22.

Tom Cook, (ON president), John Reade (our web guy), Martha Brennan (pippy longstocking) and me (Greg Rudl) hit the road on Friday for the great white north.

On Saturday, we raced in a pursuit event at the Highlands Nordic Center in Duntroon. The event consisted of two races: a 4k classic in the morning and 4k skate in the afternoon. Your start in the afternoon was determined by your placing in the morning. Heavy snowfall the night and morning before the races made for slow conditions and difficult kick wax selection. All of us agreed that although the races were short, the morning classic felt much longer because of long, gradual inclines. The three males finished in the middle of the pack and Martha was toward the back of the pack. In dealing with the cold air, Martha tested out her trademark double-balaclava combination despite comments like, "It's not that cold."

The race on Sunday took place at the Sawmill Ski Trails near Owen Sound, a town on the Georgian Bay. This three-person team event featured individuals skiing around a 1.5 k loop and tagging off to their teammates. Each team had to have a female. Tom, John, and Megan successfully completed 21 laps in the two hour time period finishing 3rd of 4 teams in the 50 and over combined age category. My team, Team Slivovitz, was made of a 13-year-old local boy, Martha, and myself. We completed 18 laps, finishing 4th. Team Slivovitz derives its name from my uncle's home brewed schnapps. The conditions were fast and slippery with bare ground showing through in spots. Martha thought that it was more fun than Saturday's race. She said that you had to keep on your toes to anticipate the next skier. Yours truly took a face plant in front of everyone in an effort to give a push-off to the next skier who was distracted counting down the time. All in all, it was a great pre-season training opportunity and we had a blast.

While in Ontario, we stayed at the Door Knob Inn, a charming bed and breakfast about an hour north of Toronto and a little off the beaten path. Breakfasts at the Doorknob Inn were nothing short of gourmet. How does broiled grapefruit with pomegranate seeds in a homemade fruit syrup sound? I shouldn't leave out the smoked bacon and sausage from a nearby Mennonite community. Did I forget the French Toast casserole or home made biscuits with Saskatoon Berry preserves. Martha liked that the owner insisted that we take the quiche, muffins, and cookies we didn't consume at breakfast with us for fuel during the day.

The season has started. Rock on Ohio Nordics!