August 4, Park City, UT
With an exhaustive coast-to-coast survey that makes the 2000 Census look like a show of hands, the IRS is trying to put its shady history behind for good. And there is no better way to help the healing process along than with a wildly successful race where everyone shows up to support the series. But unfortunately, that did not happen here today. People stayed away in droves and only the three mainstays of the series made an appearance at today's race. Despite renewed efforts by the IRS Scheduling Committee to work with the US Development team (Andrew Johnson and Kris Freeman) to set up a time when all could attend, the US D-team still bagged out.
But nevertheless, the race must go on, even if there are barely enough racers to fill a podium. Because if we can make a difference in just three skiers lives, it has all been worthwhile (as long as they mention us in the newspaper).
The course was a shortened version of one used last year, located in the Silver Summit area of Park City. Essentially 3.5K of rolling, gradual uphill terrain, with a kilometer of steep, hard climbing at the end. Scott Loomis, who was participating in his first IRS race of the season due to an extended retreat into the vineyards of France to study the nuances of fine living, was not very excited as he stepped to the starting line. He even campaigned to have the race canceled. Had he gone soft in France or was he just feeling the effects of having "trained 20 hours this week already." Either way, there was no backing out and Loomis took off out of the start with Stange 30 seconds behind him and Smith one minute back (seeding for today's race was the result of a well-played "nose game" by Smith about one minute before start).
Loomis, who said later that the first five minutes were very tough, was looking strong. Meanwhile, Smith was slowly making up the gap between himself and Stange. Were we in for the mano-e-mano match-up that many of you suggested in the vote? Was it time to break out the Twizzlers? That looked to be the case as, with a kilometer to go, Smith pulled up along side Stange. But today it was not to be, as Stange tired on the last hill and Smith began to reel in Loomis.
Was this payback for the newspaper article? "I just wanted to ski my own race today. I could care less about all the publicity stuff. That is just the Race Committee being self-serving and egotistical." When it was pointed out that, in fact, Smith is the sole member of the IRS Race Committee he quickly muttered, "No Comment" and skied away.
Stange was clearly distracted by the weight of the scandal. "It's hard to get motivated to race when you have stuff like that hanging over your head." A suggestion was made by a certain reporter to attribute a quote to Stange such as, "A scapegoat can't run very fast," but the suggestion was rebuffed and the reporter had to keep his witty remarks to himself.
Considering his frame of mind and mass of training he had done this week, Loomis skied a good race and threw himself into the thick of the points race. "Yeah I was really fired up today. I was thrilled to be back in the IRS," he said. Loomis could not comment any further because his tongue was now stuck firmly in his cheek.
Smith, still undefeated in this year's series, had this to say about his victory: "Same old same old."
Ah yes, it's good to be back to racing!