John Dakin, VVF "Legend," Takes On the American Ski Classic

Call it what you will…taking one for the team, doing my fair share or simply finding a good excuse to play hookie from work for an afternoon…I made the decision to round out the Vail Valley Foundation team for the Conway Cup Community Team Race that officially kicked off the 2011 Korbel American Ski Classic on Wednesday.

Undaunted by the fact that the combined ages of my three teammates, Mac Garnsey, Patrick Senn and Lucy Baumrind, was just slightly greater than my own, we donned some pretty stylish retro one-piece ski outfits and set out to conquer the world or at least the ten or so gates of the Conway Cup course.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve attempted to bash some gates (without them bashing back), especially on a dual course, but I’m happy to say that I stood up for both runs, my knees still work and the anchor that I was dragging behind me didn’t leave too deep a rut in the course.

All it all, it was not only a great day, but a great decision to become the “legend” of the VVF team.  Dan Conway, who the race is named for, was a friend and we all miss him.  But on a bluebird spring day in Vail, there was a tremendous mix of fun and camaraderie, not only with my “younger” teammates, but also with all the participants, that I know made Dan smile.  After all, that’s what ski racing is all about.
-JD

Posted in: American Ski Classic,Conway Cup,Korbel,Vail Valley Foundation