Stage 1 - Check

So after a few small hick-ups I managed to put in an order for the roller ski. First problem was the eh... weight limit on roller skis ?

Yes, it's true apparently there is a weight limit on those roller thingies. Here how it went:

1st attempt:
Me: "Hey, I am Bjorn. What models do you have available for a 230 lb/105 kg skier ?"
Ski selling man: "We don't, they all have a limit of 200 lbs"
Me: "Oh, really what options do I have?"
Ski selling man: "Well, you can forego the warranty or loose some weight, fatty" (he didn't really say that, but I read his mind).

2nd attempt:
Me: "Hey, I am Bjorn. What models do you have available for a 230 lb/105 kg skier ?"
Another ski selling man: "Hmmmmm....."
Me: "(inside voice) Hey man do you really have to think that long !"

Long story short I ended up with real roller skis (made for skating), a pair of boots (made for summer) and some poles. So now I am all set, apart from that I have to wait until the boots arrive (mid May). I have normal feet which means my size sells like hot cakes (or iPads) hence there is no stock, just pre-ordering available,

What ! Skiing in Houston ?

This is probably one of my most crazy ideas I have come up with for a while, here we go:

I thought participating in the American Birkebeiner ("The Birkie") sounds like fun. There is only one problem... how do I prepare when living in Houston, TX. There lies the crazy part of the idea, preparing in sunny, snowless Houston for an activity up in snow, cold but beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Now, I am not in bad shape as I do equally crazy/fun stuff like biking fro Cleveland to Cincinnati Ohio (324 miles) during the summer part of the year. The situation is somewhat different though, one can bike in Texas.

Anyways here is the plan:

1. Get some roller skis
2. Train like hell
3. Get real skis and other winter stuff
4. Sneak a vinter vacation in a snowy place
5. Go Birkie !

Easy !