Caitlin Compton

Photo set from Steve Kotvis – Minneapolis Based Photographer

http://f-go.smugmug.com/Sports/Nordic-Skiing/2010-lympics-XC-Ski-Relays/

Team Sprint with Kikkan Randal – 6th Overall

Olympics – 15K Pursuit – 43rd (23rd Fastest Skate Leg)

Full Results

30th Place – Full Results

12/12 -10K Freestyle

12/13 – Sprint Freestyle

Brandan and I arrived last night in West Yellowstone, MT and got in a nice 30 min jog in the new falling snow.  We arrived in Bozeman around 2pm and found 2 feet of newly fallen snow. The roads were actually in really good shape and the drive was very uneventful, which is a good thing. Once in Bozeman we picked up Dave Chamberlin and finished getting the last of the supplies needed for our two plus weeks in West Yellowstone. We then joined Brandy Stewart for a quick bite to eat at the Burrito shop before the final hour and a half down to West!

Today I skied in fresh powder, mild temperatures and sunshine. Heaven!

12/5 – Skate Sprint – 1st Qualifier – 2nd overall

12/6 – 10K Classic – 18th

11/25 – Classic Sprint Qualifier – 34th

11/27 – 10K Free  – 18th

11/28 – 5K Classic – 21st

Phew!!!

After a very busy month of training and fundraising Brandan and I are off for my Olympic Qualification races!

This has been one of the most challenges years for me (for many reasons) yet I am so motivated and excited to start the season off strong and continue to get faster every week

Brandan and I are under one of the tightest budgets imaginable. We are leaving with just enough money (not all the fundraised checks have cleared yet) to get to West Yellowstone. Please check in often to hear funny stories (that’s right Dave I will have more to share!) and news of success from both of us.

I cannot thank everyone who helped organize and come to both my Fundraisers eanough! You were all incredible and I wouldn’t be heading out West without your help. I am so lucky that there are such wonderful people in the Twin Cities Ski Community. I know I will make you all proud

A few people I would like to thank here are: Piotr Bednarski, Ben Kremer, Cheryl + Jeff DuBois, Kate Ellis + John Harrer, Kuan + Heidi Teoh, Angie Robinson, Dave Christoperson, Mary Vancura, Kevin +Deb Ivens, Brandan Ostroot, Ahvo Taiple, Jan Guenther, Andy Turnball, Rudi Hargesheimer (Midwest Mountaineering), Kim Rudd, Mary-Beth Tuttle, Luke Skinner, Fast Wax, Ian Harvey, John Munger,  Peter Hanson, Bruce Adlesman and everyone else who contributed to the silent auction items. I would also like to thank the huge crowds that showed up for my fundraiser, and those who could not, who sent their words encouragement and support for this journey. I will never forget what you have done!

I have learned so much from my experience this year and what I have taken from this all is…creating an Elite Racing Team is more than just talking about it. This takes a lot of planning, sacrifice and money. Anyone out there considering starting their own team should have a very thorough budget and business plan before they start recruiting athletes. Especially very poor athletes (no matter how fast they are!) I give CXC and the US Biathlon Team a lot of credit now that I have seen how difficult this all is and how far they helped me get. I hope I can help other athletes in the future pursue their dreams by sharing my experiences and guiding them to the best opportunities available.

I will leave you with a quote I received from a very nice gentelman at the Mobil station where the van is being prepared for the trip.

“The race is not won by the swift and the quick, it is won by the one who endures to the finish.”