Pippa Middleton (GBR) 90KM XC Ski race in 7 hours 13 min

It's a downhill point-to-point course. Not record-eligible.

It is quite impressive. Skiing takes tons of technique and full body fitness--and she's competing against those nordic women who skied before they walked. Though I have to say, nothing's more frustrating as a runner than losing to skiers who can't run a 18 5k because they have better form and more upper body strength.

I always assumed that picture was some sort of newspaper photoshop. It makes no sense otherwise.

Callher of BS wrote:

I've done the Canadian Birkie a few times - 55km classic technique with a 12lb pack. A few observations:

1. Conditions make a huge difference - I've been anywhere from 3:37 to 4:31 for the same course/distance in pretty much the same shape depending on the snow conditions and temperature

2. If it's a skating (free technique) race vs classic - skating is faster.

3. X-C skiing for that period of time is much closer to cycling than it is to running. It's tiring, but it beats up your body way less than running a fast marathon.

Still, 7:13 for 90 km sounds pretty impressive for if skiing is not your first sport

It's impressive to be a brit, nothing more. The conditions was perfect, its a almost completely flat course, and you mostly just need some upper body strengt + lower back/abs strenght. I know several only training 3 times a week, 40+ women who would have beat her.

What is impressive is that a brit does this, they usually suck hard at skiing.

The Canadian Birkie is much harder.

And secondly, why does anyone care? She does not look particularly good, and her ass is skinny and completely average. I've never understood it.

GodSaveTheQueens wrote:

She is an endurance monster, no matter which way you look at it.

Results:

http://results.vasaloppet.se/2012/index.php?content=detail&fpid=search&pid=search&id=9999991678885900000DE8C9&lang=EN&event=VL_000017167888590000000007&ageclass=

God save the Queen.

What, nobody cares that he brother was out there, too, and went half an hour faster?

Is the brother also "known for athleticism, amongst other things", as one newspaper put it?

The men's and women's winners skied the course in record times 3:38 and 4:08. They are world class marathoners.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/04/2052152/jorgen-brink-wins-vasaloppet-ski.html

However, as others have mentioned it's hard to compare a mid-pack time to the leaders in a race as massive as this because the course is so crowded it takes forever just to cross the start line. This is pretty cool to have a celeb like Middleton do a ski race, great for the sport.

I don't care if it's flat, 90 km is a long way, all double pole and almost all upper body and torso, like doing pull-downs and crunches for hours on end.

Conficious wrote:

And secondly, why does anyone care? She does not look particularly good, and her ass is skinny and completely average. I've never understood it.

Because she's related to royalty. It's sort of like speed goggles.

AK-54 wrote:

The men's and women's winners skied the course in record times 3:38 and 4:08. They are world class marathoners.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/04/2052152/jorgen-brink-wins-vasaloppet-ski.html

However, as others have mentioned it's hard to compare a mid-pack time to the leaders in a race as massive as this because the course is so crowded it takes forever just to cross the start line. This is pretty cool to have a celeb like Middleton do a ski race, great for the sport.

I don't care if it's flat, 90 km is a long way, all double pole and almost all upper body and torso, like doing pull-downs and crunches for hours on end.

It doesn't really change anything for the sport, she isn't the first celeb to do this.

We are talking about it and wouldn't be otherwise

She is not average looking by any means, maybe not as pretty as Kate, but pretty hot nonetheless.

The MonBRO Doctrine wrote:

Conficious wrote:

And secondly, why does anyone care? She does not look particularly good, and her ass is skinny and completely average. I've never understood it.

Because she's related to royalty. It's sort of like speed goggles.

AK-54 wrote:

The men's and women's winners skied the course in record times 3:38 and 4:08. They are world class marathoners.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/04/2052152/jorgen-brink-wins-vasaloppet-ski.html

However, as others have mentioned it's hard to compare a mid-pack time to the leaders in a race as massive as this because the course is so crowded it takes forever just to cross the start line. This is pretty cool to have a celeb like Middleton do a ski race, great for the sport.

I don't care if it's flat, 90 km is a long way, all double pole and almost all upper body and torso, like doing pull-downs and crunches for hours on end.

The translation here is that she took almost twice as long as the woman and twice that of the man. Simple calculations make this about the same as a 4-hour marathon -- good hobby-jogger stuff but not top-level athlete. This is a bit overly simplistic because technique matters a bunch but I suspect that an almost 60-year-old friend of mine with physical problems could do this in 5 hours is he worked at the duration side at all. He typically goes 30km in 90 minutes and in fast conditions does more. Skiing has more rest phases than running, making it easier for a trained athlete to go for longer.

Ninetonite wrote:

She is not average looking by any means, maybe not as pretty as Kate, but pretty hot nonetheless.

The MonBRO Doctrine wrote:

Because she's related to royalty. It's sort of like speed goggles.

Then that's just that much more for the royalty-goggles to work with.

It also depends on where she started. Starting in the back pack slows you down much more than it does in running because it is almost impossible to pass someone the first hour. BTW, do you know that Pippa means "f uck" in swedish?

Ummm never said that it was top-level athlete stuff. Yes, hobby jogger marathoner level about equal to 4 hr marathon.

Only said that it was "good for the sport" because it brings attention to an otherwise rather obscure sport. Attention brings interest, sponsorship, money, and maybe development of better events. That said, skiing is very big in much of Europe.

Do a little skiing myself sometimes. The "rest" depends on the difficulty of the course. A flat course is more like running because you don't get that rest. You do get rest with hilly courses but you're working harder to get up the hills than you ever do in running. Skiing burns more calories/has higher oxygen demands than running.

Maybe she needs some dental work done? Seems unfair that her sister is so much prettier, married to a future king, ...http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/gty_kate_pippa_middleton_jrs_110429_wg.jpg

Ninetonite wrote:

She is not average looking by any means, maybe not as pretty as Kate, but pretty hot nonetheless.

iowawrestlingrules wrote:

Maybe she needs some dental work done? Seems unfair that her sister is so much prettier, married to a future king, ...

http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/gty_kate_pippa_middleton_jrs_110429_wg.jpg

Oh please, she is MUCH prettier than katherine could ever hope to be.

iowawrestlingrules wrote:

Seems unfair that her sister is so much prettier,

Personally, I think she is prettier. Better complexion. That picture certainly doesn't reveal any major teeth issues. If you don't think she is good looking in that picture you are retarded (yes, I'm using the 'R' word).