Monday, 1/26

That was a Noquemanon unlike any I’ve ever seen. And I should know—I’ve been at all of them.

I’ve done the finish line announcing at Noque races that had too much snow, or were lacking snow, or were too warm. However, I don’t think I’ve ever announced at one where the temperatures were so cold and the winds so strong that I actually saw skiers being blown down the course or, at the very end, just blown down like a big chunk of ice.

It was bad.

I feel sorry for those hardy souls who took part in this year's marathon and half-marathon. Between the delayed start, the slow course, and the wind chills of 20 or 30 below it took most skiers, even the elite ones, a half an hour to 45 minutes longer (or even more) to complete the course than in a “normal” year. There were some people out skiing for four or five hours on Saturday, and as they crossed the line you could tell by the looks on their face that they had been through a struggle.

And these were the skiers who actually took part in the race. I can imagine that there were a ton who just took a look at the forecast and decided not to do it. And I don't think anyone would blame them whatsoever.

I do have to hand out kudos to everyone in the crowd who stood out and braved the icy cold for a few minutes, or those volunteers who stood outside at the finish line for hours in the bitter wind chill to collect chips or guide skiers where they needed to go. I’m one of the lucky volunteers. All I do is sit in a heated shed and talk. That’s nothing compared to those volunteers who spend the entire day outside in whatever Mother Nature throws at them.

Saturday, she threw her worst at them, and they persevered.

So the Noque is over for another year, and I’ll be curious to see what the 2027 race holds. After all, two years ago it was too warm. Last year was cancelled because of a lack of snow. This year, they were worried it would be too cold. What on tap for next year? Too many lava flows? A tornado?

These days, nothing would surprise me.

*****

By the way, you know last week was supposed to be my “busy” week? Well, what would you call TV tonight, “High School Bowl”s Wednesday and Friday, and the release of last “Pieces of the Past” of this batch, along with all the usual stuff I have to do?

Yeah; that's what I thought, too.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)