Tremblant Revisited - The 2003 Baltex Eastern Masters Cup
Once again, Mt Tremblant hosted the Baltex Eastern Masters Cup. Baltex, a maker of fine swim wear, pulled off a fine competition. The two giant slaloms, held on the 5th & 6th of December, really tested your readiness for the upcoming season. The start rocketed you up to a speed that you only reached last year when you were in much better shape, a hard turn to the right, a hard turn to the left which spilled you onto a steep pitch, then a roll, then a hard turn to the right , hard turn to the left, across the flats, and as the legs were burning, another pitch to the finish. Hopefully you saved enough strength to stop before hitting the net. The fastest times were about one minute, for the rest of us it was a lot longer! The very strong field of Canadians, some of whom traveled as much as 10 to 11 hours for this race, would challenge the best that the New England Masters could muster.
When you were off the hill the ambiance of the village just seemed to add to the pleasure of the event. The charm even lured out the New England Masters Executive Director, Gary Colwell. Although Gary wouldn’t race physically, you could see the mind gearing up for his return to the race course. Gary was also gearing up for his return to a normal diet after his surgery, by eating the “Hot Chicken”. This is poutine taken to the next level. (See description of poutine in the newsletter). You start with poutine, add chunks of chicken, cover with green peas and another scoop of gravy and VOILA!, Hot Chicken! (You should get a cholesterol check when you get back to the States).
For me, after the races I sought out the best cup of espresso to hold me up until the awards parties. Baltex provided a very pleasant array of nachos grande, chicken wings and other items which I couldn’t make out, but ate anyway.
On Sunday we left the blue skies of Tremblant and headed back to Vermont to catch the tail end of the major surprise snow storm, which seem to make it all the more difficult to leave. But fortunately this event is a regular event each year in Tremblant and now a regular event for myself and my family.
Steve Foley |