Jay Richards

Another week gone just like that. Beautiful summer weather continues and some great times with the kids doing fun summer stuff. Cramming in amap before trip to NY and VT on Wed.am. Fourth of July in there as well and could not of asked for better weather. Fast laps on Saturday on Loppet course at 36 minutes for Jake and 34 for me. We added a section we cut a few years ago that has seasoned nicely and might add another section.....get lap times around 35-40 minutes for Sport/Expert lap with 3 laps on order for Experts, 2.5 for Comp and 1.5 for Sport. Rode Resort ride first time this year today with Jake to meet family at lake cabins. Four wheelers having their way on the quad track but Jake said the ride was "awesome". Perfect afternoon on the lake though hanging with family.



Some former students from Norway who worked at Maplelag in years past stopping by this past week to visit. Meta who lived here when I spent my year over there (20 years ago...yikes!) and her husband Harald. Meta and Harald were skiing in Galdhopiggen last weekend. Still tons of snow up there they said. Was the place where I first learned to tele ski. I hiked up Glittertind when i was there as well which was the highest peak in Norway but now the Galdhopiggen takes the honor since the glacier has retreated. Anways, Harald has a friend who designs and builds mtb downhill courses and his wife is from Switzerland so potential contact for possible Swiss Power Cup trip next summer. Jan Olav is now married to a Norwegian and living/working in CO. They used to hang out with Gunn Rita before she hit the big time. Guess Gunn Rita visits LisAnne's family now and then in CO when she is there training. LisAnne said her dad dated Gunn Rita's aunt. Anyways, fun talking to them and catching up on Norway stuff. All the Norwegians I have met have a most sense of adventure for living and exploring. For about 20 years we had students from Norway with around 60 students in all. Now that Norway is one of the richest countries in the world, the young people don't need to work, they can just travel (but I am sure people would argue against that).