In the morning everything was still icy. The best way to go fast was to stay upright, and if you wanted to pass someone, you waited for them to crash while trying not to crash yourself. This, of course, took supreme focus. If you could stay on the hardpack you could go far and fast. Otherwise, game over.
As time went on the ice turned soft. Corners could be taken faster. Grip was perfect. The challenge then was dealing with lapped riders. To pass you went off the line and became a fishtailing snow plow.
By the end it was warm and the crusty snow became twice-baked mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. Lap times went up again as perfect grip gave way to slop.
At the finish I was rewarded with fifth place in my category, a season best at season's end.
