The Ted Means Memorial Citizens Ski Race was held at Hazen’s Notch on February 25th 2007. This was ten days after the Valentine’s Day blizzard and the snow was deep and plentiful in remote Northern Vermont . This is a small low key citizens’ race where anything can happen and the race directors go with the flow of the athletes rather than dictate rules, start times and any other official business.
This year the conditions were the best of any Ted Means Memorial Race. The crew at Hazen’s were grateful for the recent deep snow, and busily set there trails over the preceding week. They were 100% open, and recent upgrades to trails were paying off. Widening, improved drainage, and new bridges made the Hazen’s experience even better. The skies were completely clear as if the Heavens were looking upon this special place wedged between the majestic Jay Peak and Burnt Mountain . There was no wind and the temperature held steady in the mid teens for the day. Grooming had taken place the night before on the first half of the course and the morning of on the second half. It was setting up nicely with fresh tracks to ski in. The 8k course was in beautiful shape as it looked like it was carved into the snowy landscape with two little tracks running down the middle. If ever there was a perfect day and a perfect place to ski, February 24, 2007 at Hazen’s Notch was it.
In recent years the Ted Means Memorial has been a special race to NWVT. We have had different champions from Scott Magnan, and Perry Bland, to John Bolduc. We have learned that this is a place were classic technique beats freestyle, but later that freestyle means freestyle even when you have kick wax on your ski. Hazen’s is a place where you can feel how the first skate skiers must have felt when they invented the technique, along with the challenges prior to the wide freeway like trails that dominate the skiing scene these days. Stepping onto the trails at Hazen’s Notch is stepping back in time.
This day was made to be a beautiful backdrop to a fun event. But an old score was to be settled. Before we proceed lets take a look back to last years race and the tension that mounted and carried over another year:
A long standing tension has existed in the Bolduc house. As talented as the Bolduc children were in athletics none has ever beaten their father, John in a competition. Whether it was Tania who blazed trails and laps on the track setting the endurance standard, or Demetre who killed John LeClair's penalties, or Damian who had the heart to go 48.00 in the 400m or Phil who would win high school invitationals and events in the meet of champions to Andre' who came in to skiing with strength and guts, none has ever beaten John Bolduc. It has been suspected that he is very selective of his events. Perhaps not competing against his children after they turn eight to maintain his record as unbeaten. The fact remains that no matter how good or strong we get; we have never beaten our father in a race or game. Today at Hazen's Notch John lined up in a race where all was equal to face the music. Today was Damian and Andre's chance to beat the unbeatable. Damian age 28 in his biological prime, and Andre' peaked for this week's State Championships, with family as witnesses, the race began. John was off early in the interval start. Andre' left 10 minutes later, and Damian two minutes thereafter. The race course had a long climb of about 4k to start, then a 3k loop, then back down the 4k. Andre' was able to over take John on this climb, Damian made up the ground as well. Finally after years of waiting for the chance the old man was going down. As Damian and Andre' cruised through the course leaving John in their snow contrails it looked grim. How could he make up the ten minutes they had taken out of him in the first half. Could John a patient thinker find a way. And then he got a break. Andre' blew through a blind turn, and continued on back to the lodge where he finished, going in the wrong direction on the wrong side of the road. Damian missed the same turn as well, and followed the tracks set by Andre', BFA Coach Scott Magnan, and BFA teammates. However Damian knew when he arrived at an intersection that he was off course and began back-tracking. As he back-tracked he encountered the rest of the field and instructed them that they were going the wrong way. They paid him no attention, as did he, when he passed his wife, Jessica Bolduc, and fellow citizen racer Dave from Champlain College . As Damian made it back on course, there was John, the only athlete to make the turn, plodding away steadily with the mind to make the right decisions and complete the race course as planned and laid out. Nothing more. Nothing less. He studied the map and knew the trails names. John remains unbeaten by using the largest and most important muscle of all, his BRAIN! Though Damian was able to overtake him again and finish having skied the whole course plus 3k. He had to concede defeat to the man 32 years his senior with 8 grandchildren. An ancient fable came to life today at Hazen's Notch. Slow and steady wins the race. It does not matter how fast you go, you have to finish to win.
This defeat was so profound that it sparked the only ski business discussed at the annual NWVT Banquet last year. Perry motioned that 2007 would be the year the dream was over, and Damian seconded it.
After much planning and promotion only two athletes showed up for the race. Reigning Champion John Bolduc, and last year’s also-ran Damian Bolduc. Hoping to be relieved of racing and continuing the dream by babysitting granddaughter Camille Bolduc; John’s Plan A was cancelled, Damian had come alone to take care of unfinished business. John was forced to toe the line and face the music of 20 years worth of affliction being the unbeatable who refused to compete. Only the race director and his assistant would witness what would transpire during the event. John formulated a new plan.
He knew Damian would make no mistake. He had been taught by the best to put someone behind him and never see them again. Damian believes that once overtaking someone he breaks them and takes their spirits to serve him on his quest to defeat anyone who stands in his way. Once Damian latches on to an opponent he not only wants to beat them to the finish, but completely exhaust them physically and mentally so that the next time they meet the other will concede without a fight. This is how he competes, and drives him to keep coming back always motivated for the next time. John knew this was going to be the next time.
With an hour before the race John worked on a new plan. He studied his opponent and contemplated his fate and how to preserve it, or at least prolong the inevitable as long as possible. He came up with a three tier plan. First he exploit Damian’s weaknesses. He was in luck, Damian’s balance issues had been exacerbated by an inflamed tibial nerve as the result of the seasons many and long classic races. Damian had to switch to a less supportive boot to relieve pressure on his painful nerve. Next John visualized himself as the strongest skiers of our time. He would be Bjorn Dahlie skiing flawlessly on the flats and up the hills, then for the third part he would transition into Bode Miller as he would take every risk on the down hills to gain speed, saving time; knowing Damian will sacrifice speed to stay upright in these situations.
10:00 a.m.: Chief time keeper Sharon Anderson started her watch. Do not worry the kitchen clock had stayed home but the watch was still the old fashioned analogue type. At this time Race Director Rolf Anderson requested Damian wait 15 more minutes to allow him time to finish grooming the second part of the race course.
10:01 a.m.: John was off and put his plan into play. Using his Fischer touring skis he opted to stick with the two year old wax job that served him well last year. The also happened to be a little wider then the average race ski. John enacted phase one of his approach. He obliterated the tracks with his skis. The tracks Damian is so dependent on for balance. John left large divots gouged into the corners to through him off even more. John envisioned Bjorn’s perfect technique and drive as he skied across the road crossing he new Damian would remove his skis for, and kept the vision as he climbed up Burnt Mountain . He thought of Bjorn’s huge lungs, and his matching heart pumping fresh oxygen to his muscles like no other human can. He kept his vision clear as he skied on this historic day.
10:16 a.m.: Enough waiting. If Rolf was not done grooming I will just ski over him. Damian was on a MISSION . Damian encountered the mess left by phase one of John’s plan. It would not matter. Damian had his own vision, and it included power, domination and thrashing was an option. As he approached the road he contemplated if he would remove a ski and hop across or just go with it. He saw his father’s tracks but the thought of scuffing his bases was too much. He removed the ski costing him valuable seconds. As he climbed Burnt Mountain he thought of how his power has always made him a strong climber. He saw where he went wrong last year and this only fed his drive. As the race course approached the abandoned orchard, a peaceful, open beautiful vista, Damian caught John. This was the moment. This was where it would take place.
10:39 a.m.: The time had come to hand over the crown. The time had come to end the dream. How would this be executed? John hesitated he briefly stepped to one side to surrender, but chose not to. He got back into the track and would make Damian go around him fighting to the end. Damian pulled along side and only few words were exchanged. “Are you feeling ok?” He asked. John replied “I am doing alright… Anybody else show up?” No said Damian as he pulled away.
10:39:20 a.m.: The deed was done. Now Damian thought of what to do? Should I ski it in with him? Only to drag this out? Damian pressed on as thoughts and reflections raced through his mind.
He carried on through the amazing switchbacks and working sugarbush. As the course rolled through the woods, over water bars, under sap lines, around a summer camp and back to the finish he thought about what he had done and what he should do. He knew it was the right thing to do. It was some weird way of being respectful. To not relinquish defeat to preserve a fantasy. To do so in a manner that was a 100% effort, would show the seriousness of the undertaking. To not do your best in such an important race would be an insult. That is what John taught, and Damian learned.
11:01:50 a.m.: Time stopped. “You did a 45:50 Damian, good job.” Carol stated as she entered the result into her ledger. “It sure is a great day out here, I cannot believe people are missing out on this skiing. I wish more had come” Damian stated exhausted. Carol just looked over her glasses. Damian changed and then headed back out to see his father in. He skied back out to the meadow near the summer camp buildings and along came John skiing in down the last hill, emulating Bode on a perfect run, sweat drenched and happy it was almost over. “Great job Pops kick it in to the finish”
11:16:55 a.m.: It was done. “75:55 John. Second Place !” exclaimed Carol looking at her watch.
After we went in to have the awards ceremony. John asked how Damian’s foot felt, and noted where Damian had put his face through the packed snow on one of the corners. He did most of the talking. Damian only responded exchanging past memories and reflecting on the race that day. John told him his plan, and wondered why it took Damian so long to catch him up the hill.
They had awards and the usual talk with Rolf about how to get more people to the race, and an interesting conversation with a local bee keeper. John went out to continue enjoying the day and Damian left still wondering if he had done the right thing.
As they parted ways Damian realized the only demons he captured were his own. The ones he had raced for over the years. The unattainable thing he could not have. He had never beaten his father at anything until this day, and his reward was the realization that if he had sooner he would not have chased the dream as he had for so long. John saved and protected that until this day, until Damian could realize the magnitude of it and how it had determined so much of what he has done. Damian earned it back respectfully under clear skies at Hazen’s Notch, at the Ted Means Memorial Citizens Race, February 25, 2007 at 10:35:20. It could not have happened in a better way, quietly, peacefully, witnessed by nature in the middle of nowhere. The only shame would be to forget the lessons and let the dream die out within him.