Jay Richards

Pretty quiet weekend. Not much going on.
Jack with final b ball tourney at home Saturday which was nice vs being on the road. Our banker blowing the whistle nicely. Thanks Steve for sponsoring the Laddies Loppet weekend.
Thought Jens was done with hockey but added in house deal on Saturday. All good. Arena boards waving the flag nicely.
While Jack and Jens were doing their thing, Jake and Jon were over at Rainbow ski racing. Jon raced his first race and took the win in the 6km. Jake took the win as well in the 10km setting a new course record on the super fast conditions besting Chad Giese's time. Nephew Reagan going along to watch as well as Jack Hinkens who came up for the weekend to hang out and play.
Jack Hinkens and Jake after Saturday afternoon ride in the slush.

Saturday night techgadget slumber with nephew Ripley and Owen Adelsman.
Lotvola Cup Sunday. My biggest concern before the race was the open water on each side on the lake crossing on Bullhead. Had been checking the ice daily leading up to the race day and decided good to go. Tied a rope to a snag led to the water for good measure and had staff person nearby to watch.
Jon racing first classic race and grinding out 12km in soft and slow conditions. Super proud slugging it out for an hour and a half after racing the day before and no one telling him he should do it. Totally on his own.

One of the most exciting Lotvola races in years with slow conditions keeping things tight. When Conrad Roberts went off the front before Twin Lakes I thought he would pull away but just too soft to be blasting at the front. Sounded like some good stories with skis falling off, guys falling in to the snow etc.
I honestly did not expect Jake to be in front when they crested the last little hill up to the finish. Having raced the day before, bike and jib skate in the afternoon and night ski at night he was pretty toast on Sunday morning and usually Lotvola isn't taken very seriously. But skiing in the pack made things interesting and fun. Jake skied a very smart race being near the front of the pack towards the end. On the last hill made an attack that stuck and was able to hold off the pack with slow snow making it tough to close down gaps. Fellow DL ski teamer Dylan RS right behind also having a solid race. Jake was using the crowners I picked up a few years ago. Glide nicely and no worries on kick. Maybe a bit draggy but everything was draggy it sounded like. Awesome race day though. No one hurt, no one lost, everyone finished and as long as there is snow to slide you can't ask for anything more.

Jack stayed again Sunday night and Jake and I hooked up with him for a nice morning ski before Jake off to school and Jack back home.

For sure.