Explore Sweden

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Across country on cross country

Susan McKenzie / 17.05.2005

The sky is overcast but light, and it’s difficult to figure out what time it is without looking at a watch. Looking up from CP36, all you can see in the distance are snowy mountains, icy peaks and sharp cornices. On the ground, the view from this hut at Durrenjaure at the base of Ostra Fjallfjallet is a quilt of concrete-hard snow and lichen covered rock, a swath of green and burgundy surrounding by snow so white it’s almost blue.

At five in the morning, Cross Sportswear and Lundhags have already been and gone from this CP, and from the tricky ropes section high above.

Salomon Suisse glides effortlessly along the slippery snow. What a difference a day makes: yesterday, Luc Beguin was so sick the team had to stop for almost seven hours at TA4. The team dropped from first to third with one stomach bug. Last night, at TA5, he was listlessly poking at his food, and his team worried they might not be able to continue.

This morning, there are very few remnants of that potentially race-ending illness. Beguin looks strong and healthy, his cheeks rosy from exertion and cold.

“I have been eating more, and I feel much, much better,� he says.

Salomon Suisse has not been able to make up time against the Swedish, but has easily maintained its lead over Montrail, the American/South African/Australian combo more known for its paddling prowess than its skiing skills.

Montrail left CP34 just ten minutes after the Swiss, but quickly lost time on the icy ski surface. They arrive at CP36 more than an hour after the Swiss, and are greeted by Billy Mattison of GoLite/Timberland, who together with his teammate Isaac Wilson, came out to staff this CP for the race organization.

“Yeah, I’m not really getting into this,� says Australian John Jacoby. “I don’t like this cold weather racing very much.�

“This isn’t our thing,� says Rebecca Rusch.

“And I’m not really getting the hang if it,� adds Jacoby. “I’ve done some cross country, but only on groomed trails, not this stuff.�

Hot on Montrail’s heels is the Spanish team Buff/Nike ACG, a quartet of Spaniards strong on the skis.

“We’re being chased by skiing Spaniards,� says Rusch. “We’ve got to go, got to hurry.�
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