It was a season to remember for Durangoan Tad Elliott.
The professional cross country skier finished the 2016 season with a bang, taking second place in the 50-kilometer classic with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes, 36 seconds at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Northern Vermont on March 26.
“It was incredible, I did not think it was going to end up the way it did,” Elliott said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “This season was arguably the best season as a pro ski racer that I’ve had. With expectations low and getting healthy, I achieved that goal. I think this bodes well for things to come.”
In Vermont, the warm and dry conditions were not skier-friendly. Thanks to precise man-made snow from Craftsbury Outdoor Center, the race was still possible. Skiers competed on a 3.5-kilometer loop where racers went around 15 times. Groomers worked around the clock to ensure a steady track, grooming sometimes until 3 a.m., then resuming again early in the icy mornings.
“The effort was incredible to keep the skiing alive,” said Elliott, who skis for Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. “With the course they provided, it was great for sure. All the pro skiers were in agreement that it was the hardest race anyone has done. This is the best classic race, and maybe the best race period. All the best U.S. skiers were there; it was the deepest field the U.S. has had this season.”
Elliott, 27, added that the course was slow, which was comparable to the toughest courses he’s raced in Europe. The weary snow conditions prompted Elliott’s twin brother, Evan, and friends to help with waxing his skis to perfection. A clear ski base was used to keep dirt from sticking to his skis along with an expensive blend of other waxes to help Elliott’s momentum.
“Whatever they did was incredible, and my skis were some of the best skis there,” Elliott said. “I’m happy to say that my skis helped me with those results.”
Coming in first was Erik Bjornsen, 24, of APU Nordic Ski Center, in a time of 2:43:56.7. David Norris, 25, also of APU Nordic Ski Center, took third place with a time of 2:47:32.6.
Another Durangoan, Rogan Brown, who skis from Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, finished 16th with a time of 3:01:05.1. Brown’s younger brother, Cully Brown, who skis for the University of Vermont, finished sixth in the 20-kilometer Junior Men’s race with a time of 1:07:55.1
Elliott began the season recovering from mononucleosis that kept him out of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. Mononucleosis is a viral disease that is commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus that causes severe headaches, fever, extreme fatigue, muscle soreness and swollen glands
The 2007 Durango High School graduate recovered from the virus and won at the 2016 U.S. Cross Country Freestyle championships in Houghton, Michigan, with a time of 1:20.31.6. That gave him his fourth overall national title as a professional cross country skier.
From that point on, the stage was set for Elliott’s season to glide to success, and, after winning in Michigan, Elliott focused his attention on Canada.
“My goal was to make the Tour of Canada on the FIS World Cup circuit, which was eight stages in 12 days,” said Elliott, who was one of four Americans to finish the circuit. “That was quite special.”
Now that the season is over, he can focus on resting and playing golf with friends before returning to train for next season.
“I’m looking forward to playing golf and getting back to Durango,” said Elliott, who will be back in town April 5.
Elliott will split time between Durango and Anchorage, Alaska, for training for the following season. While in Alaska, Elliott will train at beautiful Eagle Glacier.
The following season will arrive quickly, as the first race of the 2016-17 season will begin on Thanksgiving at the Super Tour at West Yellowstone, Montana.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
