Ski Rando Training Photos

Perfection : |pərˈfek sh ən|noun : the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects :

• a person or thing perceived as the embodiment of such a condition, state, or quality

Sometimes it envelopes us and we know we are doing what we were meant to do. Sport, in the mountains, free of flaws because we are fit, healthy and can move through the environment with skills derived from training. This is what we live for.

Together with my friend Paolo Pitscheider, we spent an afternoon training for ski randonee racing (sci alpinismo) in the Dolomites. Without clouds, cold, wind, and weight on our backs, we practiced what we love to do on the first warm day of the coming spring but in a big, big winter landscape.

Ski Rando Racing is not about going down, it is about up, and it is about effort. Down is not pretty, the boots are soft, the skis narrow, down is something you hang on and ride out, up is pain you train to endure.

Janine came and made photos of us, her timing also perfection. Just in time to catch two very happy skiers and a beautiful sunset.