Sub - Mardens Club

A sense of relief enveloped me as I shot onto the gently sloping road which meanders across the
mountain. Over to my right stood the mighty peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungrau but I wasn’t
going to be distracted by such visions of awesome splendour, I was catching up the racer in front! I
soon left him in my wake and I started to focus on the next racer ahead of me. By now my legs were
beginning to burn as I felt the lactic acid start to build, but I still forced myself to stay in the tuck to
keep as much speed as possible. As I reached the end I skated into the next section feeling my legs
come back to life. A slight sense of déjà vu hit me as I found myself on a path very similar to the
one I had just come off. Just as long and just as much agony on the legs!
I reached the other end in agony. A girl was pushing up the short hill ahead of me and I was
determined to overtake. I skated and pushed with grim determination and managed to get past her
just as the next downhill section began. I could feel the speed pick up under my SuperG skis as I
sped through next few turns, adrenalin soaring through my veins as I entered the Mineshaft, a series
of steep slopes culminating in a narrow canyon leading into a sharp right hander. There was now
another racer just in front of me taking it quite easy so I was forced to be a little cautious as I went
over the jump into the Kanonenenrorh (cannon barrel), but I passed him quickly as I went back into
the tuck, accelerating down this steep slope. At the bottom there is a very sharp left hander which
came up on me far quicker than I expected. I nearly left my turn too late which would have resulted
in me crashing into the netting, the only thing between me and the abyss.
The switchbacks are next and
the sharp section of turns
proved tough on my tiring legs.
The way I negotiated it would
not find its way into any ski
manuals! However I was soon
out of this section and
schussing down the Hog’s Back
where lots of spectators were
gathered, cheering on the
competitors. A sweeping left
hander and then a right and I
was now trying to make as
much distance up the hill before
having to start pushing. About
half way up this most gruelling
section of the race the skating began. Amidst a handful of spectators shouting “hup! hup! hup!” my
skating soon descended into a sidestep as all energy deserted me. I reached the plateau and pushed
for all I was worth, attempting another feeble bit of skating and by the time I was on the downhill
side I felt myself retching. But now the wind was back on my face as I flew through the woods, the
new found reserves a complete surprise as I felt the end in sight. I tucked through the last turns and
carried the last uphill section, passing half a dozen fellow competitors puffing their way to the top.
Fifty yards more and I was going through the finish. My body was a wreck but I was completely
elated!
I cannot recommend this race more highly. It is terrific fun and a wonderful experience. I would
love to see more Marden’s entrants on the start list and if anyone would like information on how to
enter then please let me know.
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