Stop by the Lumi Experiences booth at the Birkie Expo to say hi to founder Garrott Kuzzy. Lumi will be right next to the Worldloppet booth and Garrott will be happy to help answer any questions you have about trips and travel or just to catch up about life. See you there!

Speaking of the Birkie… here are a few last-minute tips to help prepare for your next big event.

I skied France’s Transjurassienne Worldloppet last weekend. It was the first time I have pulled on a race bib in several years. Some things never change. There were a few details that helped make the Transju’ a lot of fun for me.

Race bag - rather than stuff all your gear into a plastic bag, put it into a backpack. Many events will transfer your backpack (and not use plastic bags). If the race does provide or require plastic bags, put your backpack into the bag so you can keep your things organized.

Food and hydration - when I finished the Transju’ 50 km, my forehead was coated with salt. One of my favorite post-race meals is poutine, the French Canadian dish of french fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Yum! That’s a great meal for replenishing the salt you lose, but remember to start your day with salt or magnesium in your drink. This also helps prevent cramping later in the race.

Arrive early - there’s enough stress during the race. Arrive early to the start so you can relax before the gun goes off.

Be prepared - did you know that in a FIS ski race, the starter can fire the start gun anytime after they announce one minute before the start? A good starter will almost always start the race earlier than racers expect, which helps prevent a false start. That’s exactly what happened in the Transju. I was first off the line while the skiers around me were still putting on their pole straps.

Pace yourself - I am definitely not in shape to ski a 50 km race as fast as those starting around me. Even though I got off the line quickly, I realized that if I tried to keep my pace from the first km, I would be finished after 10 km. Instead, I swallowed my pride and let the lead pack ski away from me early. Not surprisingly, I caught many of them later.

Practice Balance - the Transju’ course was hard and fast, with a tail wind. I noticed that many of the skiers around me did not have the balance to ride a ski. I was likely doing half the work as many other skiers who were not able to glide on one ski. Balance is an especially important skill to practice as we get older. One especially good drill is to stand on one foot and jump to the outside. This will help you get comfortable when your center of gravity is not between your two feet.

Aid stations - During Covid, aid stations are a little different than they were pre-Covid. You may want to carry a water bottle and food with you on the trail, so you’re not sharing germs with 10,000 of your friends on the trail. This is a personal preference, but something to consider.

Dry clothes - I love putting on a dry shirt, socks and shoes after a long race. This makes life much more comfortable and helps keep you healthy.

Celebrate with friends - One of my favorite aspects of Lumi ski trips is getting to meet so many great people. At the finish line, we always celebrate with the friends we have spent skiing with the past week. Raising a glass with friends is a great way to share the accomplishment of skiing a big event. Santé!

Do you want to have support skiing your next big event? Lumi Experiences offers trips to 8 different Worldloppet events. Local trip leaders share their insights to the skiing and culture in their country during the week. They also wax your skis for the big event and are there to celebrate your accomplishment at the finish. We would love to have you on a trip next winter!

Sign up now and save $300 when you book your trip before March 31. Stop by the Lumi booth at the Birke to say hi. I’d love to help answer your questions and share some insights too.

See you in Hayward!
Garrott