USASJ Story Project- Dec 20 ANDERSON

In Lahti in 1993 from left to right:  Tom Ricchio, Gary Rasmussen, Rick Anderson, Dave Edlund, Doug Maki and Mark Miles.

STORY No. 61

RICK ANDERSON

Age 58

Cohasset, MN

Itasca Ski & Outing Club (Coleraine, MN)

In 1993, a group of Masters skiers from around the U.S. traveled to Kuopio, Finland to compete in the International Masters Championships.  Several Central Masters were in attendance and we had a great time both on and off the hill.  One of the Central skiers in attendance was our good friend Dave Edlund, and one of my favorite memories of Dave on this trip occurred while we were on top of the K90 waiting for the final competition of the week to get underway.  Dave was the first skier in the field, it had snowed the night before and was still snowing lightly, the track had not been cleaned out very well, it was windy and there were no forerunners on hand.  Well, Dave, not being one to hold back, let the starter know that he was not happy about all of the above.  The starter probably did not know the English language very well, but I think he heard a few words that are universally understood.  Dave was sitting on the bar still voicing his concerns when the green light went on, and a few second later started to flash.  The starter said go, and having no other choice, Dave reluctantly started down the inrun.  We could hear him halfway down the jump.  His trial jump did not go very good but he was back in form for his two competition jumps and scored well in the event.

Another memory of this trip occurred on our bus trip back to Helsinki on a Sunday morning.  Our route took us right by Lahti where the World Cup was being held that week.  We somehow convinced the non-English speaking bus driver to drop some of us off in Lahti to watch the K120 event.  We had a great day in Lahti and managed to catch the train to Helsinki in time to catch our flight home the next day.

Practicing diplomacy with members of the Russian Masters team
are Dave Edlund, Gary Rasmussen and Mark Miles.
They traded jackets and "jet fuel."