The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 28

9lF furltntun Preposterous? Possible? Skier Aims For Marathon Cross Country Mark Bishop 1 g' 'm if 1 By MICHAEL JAMES Prt Sports Writer It was Christmas night and Dan Quintan lay quietly in bed, holding a one-man forum before his half-dreams gave way to sleep. An idea was. hatched in those silent hours when dreams take hold. It war far-fetched, intriguing. It reached out, grabbed him by the heart and would not let go.

Preposterous? Possible? Would it be worth the pain? Worth the effort? Could he do it even if he knew he wanted to? Dan Quinlan was trapped. He would try to carry out this absorbing semi-fantasy on his own, without fanfare. But it wouldn't be long before others would line up to help him break down the barriers of normal human endurance. Quintan's idea that night was to try to set a world record on cross country skis, to log more mites in a 24-hour period than anyone ever had. This would be no simple lark.

It would be a serious grind that would require a considerable support group and rigorous training on his part. If the weather cooperates, he will begin his trek today at about 4:30 p.m. on a six-kilometer track he has fashioned at the Catamount Family Ski Center in Williston. He hopes to raise money in the effort as welt to benefit the BHS ski team and Vermont Special Olympics. The goal? In 1977, Ahti Nevada covered 174.5 miles (280.7 kilometers) during a one-day stretch in Finland, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

If Dan Quinlan sticks to his schedule, he'll cover 302 kilometers, something like skiing from Burlington to Montreal. And back. "I'm really eager to get going," Quinlan said this week, relaxing in the final days before the attempt. "I have no idea what lies ahead, but I do know it's going to be a battle of the brain. My mind is going to keep saying "You're too damn tired, you can't do Obviously, I'm going into this believing that I can." Quinlan, a coach with the Burlington High School cross country team, was the Vermont schoolboy cross country champion while a senior at Mount Anthony in Bennington in 1979.

He hadn't skied competitively much since, then in November began training for Saturday's Great American Ski Chase, a 60-kilometer run. He worked 20 to 40 kilometers a day. Now he's looking at a dis- hypothermia (serious loss of temperature). If Quinlan becomes, seriously dehydrated, he could face kidney problems. "Water will be vitally important," Murray said.

"We're not really certain that he can get enough. The satisfaction of thirst wont be enough to satisfy his need." There will be stations set at 2 Vi-kilometer stretches on the course where Quinlan may get water or diluted fruit juices to replenish the liquids he loses. For the final week prior to the challenge, Quinlan spent less time pounding out miles on his skis and more time stuffing his 142-pound body with pasta, potatoes and other foods heavy in carbohydrates. The technique is one of several varieties of "carbo-loading," an endurance-building method that calls for the athlete to expunge carbohydrates from his body in a strenuous burst, then build them back up. Quinlan ran a SO-kilometer blowout early this week and has done only a leisurley 10-Ks or so a day since.

"I'm building up my glycogen stores, which will carry me through the first 70 kilometers or so," he said. "Then I'll be using the fat in my body, then go to protein. For the last couple of hours, I really have no idea what will get me through. Pure drive, I guess." The weather must cooperate. The ideal track is hard and icy; the temperature cool; wind calm; sky clear to allow plenty of moonlight.

"All the conditions must be super," Murray said. "There just won't be any point in his trying to bang his way through powder snow." Moral support may be nearly as critical. "I expect to feel pretty bad," Quinlan said. "Getting support from people will be right up there with having my skis on. I'll probably spend about IS hours in, the dark, and it's sjoinc to be lonely.

Without anyone out there, I don't think it would take me 15 minutes to pack it in once I started hurting." Murray, along with several other people at Catamount and members of the ski team, have become Quintan backers. "I don't know how long he'll go," Murray said. "If he hasn't had enough training, hell just hit the wall and not make it. But a young, strong guy like Dan can probably pull it off. He's gutsy.

"He'll learn a lot about himself out there. And if he can't make it, I'd wager he sure as hell that he'll try again." A Vote Against Gun Control Few subjects have attracted the attention of Americans in recent years as the control of handguns. It is a battle of constitutional validity between the right of Americans to own and bear arms and those who claim guns, handguns in particular, are the major causes of crime and want them controlled or prohibited. The latest episode occured in Morton Grove, last year when an ordinance was passed prohibiting the use and possession of handguns in the Chicago suburb of 24,000. There was a big cry concerning the ordinance and a federal judge ruled it constitutional because it did not prevent absolute possession.

In other words, rifles and shotguns are allowed. It was aimed only at handguns. The result of that ruling remains to be seen. However, when the ordinance went into effect Feb. 1, at last count only four handguns had been turned in and police admitted they had no plans to go after them.

I am happy to see this resistance in such a passive manner. At least the lawbreakers won't be the only ones to still have guns. As a result of such anti-gun actions, vigilance must be maintained to guard against any attempts to leave loopholes through which anti-gun laws could be slipped. That is the primary reason why a proposed ordinance in the latest plan for merger of Essex Town and Essex Village came to my attention. The proposed ordinance under section 106, part (c), reads: "To adopt and enforce ordinances regulating and prohibiting the use, discharge and possession of devices having a capacity to inflict personal injury and the parking, operation and speed of motor vehicles upon town and state aid streets and highways, to the extent it is consistent with state law." I fully appreciate any ordinance that 'prevents the use of firearms of any nature within heavily populated areas.

That makes sense. But when the word "possession" hit me in this ordinance, it caused concern. It may sound like unnecessary bickering, but I happen to be one against the restriction, control or registration of firearms. I fully believe in the saying that "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." There's much truth to that. I went to William Butler, chairman of the merger committee, and asjced him about the proposed ordinance.

I explained my problem. Butler had a good explanation, one which I admit makes the proposed merger proposal rather hollow as far as possession of guns is concerned. "We've certainly heard that concern a number of times and we've spent considerable time trying to alleviate that concern," Butler said. 'There are some important points to bring out. First, the end of that ordinance reads 'to the extent it is consistent with state "The state law prohibits any community from passing legislation that restricts the possession of FrM PrtM Photo by RIK JESSE Don Quinlan, a former state champion, is aiming for a world record.

tance five times that of the ski chase, albeit at a slower pace. "Some people think it's impossible, and some days I think the whole thing is stupid. Other days I feel great. Hopefully, the day I go, I'll be thinking, 'God, I know I can do his endurance and diet training and will be on hand today to administer medical examinations during the 15-minute breaks the skier will take every four hours. "We'll have to be very careful with him," Murray said.

"I've worked with guys doing 50Ks, and they can lose eight to 10 pounds in just a few hours. Believe me, to take on 300 Ks is a huge undertaking. He's fighting big odds." And possible risks. Murray will keep an eye out for hypoglycemia (loss of blood sugar) and Dr. John Murray has worked with the United States Nordic team since 1972 and was a member of the 1980 support group for the U.S.

Olympians. He has helped Quinlan with Tournament Time Arrives ISIIIISI eeaaai I Racket Scratch 629 Top Score In Burlington Men's Play saaasis' 71 Sports asaaaar Twin Oaks Tourney Set 0001 Bowling annual championships March 6-7 at the Essex Bowling Center. Competition will be in four divisions Pee Wee Bantams (8 years and under), Bantam (9-11), Junior (12-14) and Senior (15-21). Play is limited to AJBC-sanctioned league bowlers in the Greater Burlington Association. Entries close Feb.

20. The 17th annual Vermont State Junior Bowling Association Championships will take place May 23 at Ethan Allen Lanes, matching Northern and Southern Regional winners. The Northern Regional will be held at the St. Albans Bowling Center April 17-18 and 24-25 with competition in three divisions. It is for boys and girls, according to averages.

Entries close April! 10. Lawnmower No. 1 at 3,155 and Cham-plain Cable at 3,154. firearms. In addition, the Vermont Constitution says that citizens have the right to bear arms for defense of themselves and the state.

"Finally," Butler said, "it is, in turn, backed up by a precedent ruling of the Vermont Supreme Court back in the early 1900s. Back then, the Town of Rutland passed an ordinance which, in effect, prohibited the possession of pistols. It went to the Supreme Court and that body voided the ordinance on state constitutional grounds." Butler explained the main purpose of the ordinance was aimed at "devices having the capacity to inflict personal injury. 'That would help us with problems concerning youngsters such as those who go into the Fair (Champlain Valley Exposition) with brass knuckles and those who carry around other similar devices," he said. Butler said all this was confirmed by their attorney through legal research.

"There is no intent whatsoever along the line of possession or control of guns," he said. The merger goes before the voters March 2 and, if successful, must be approved by the Legislature. Trout Unlimited The Winooski-Central Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited will meet Wednesday night at 7 at the Sheraton. It will be a special meeting on minimum stream flow legislation currently in the House Natural Resources Committee. Rep.

Henry Carse (R-Hinesburg), chairman of that committee, will be at the meeting as will Brendan Whittaker, secretary of the Agency of Environmental Conservation; probably John Mullin of Central Vermont Public Service and Martin Johnson, former state Environmental Agency secretary and currently president of his own consulting firm. It will be a panel discussion with Bill Jacobus of Trout Unlimited as the moderator. All legislators from. Chittenden County have been invited. Federation to Meet The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs will meet next Sunday at the Neshobe Sportsmen's Club In Forest Dale.

The feature speakers during the afternoon session will be Robert N. Pemberton, field represent ative of the National Rifle Association, and Creighton Audette of Springfield, a member of the NRA's Board of Directors. During the morning session which begins at 10 a.m., Edward Kehoe, state Fish and Game commissioner, and Rep. Ernest "Stub" Earle (R-Eden), 'chairman of the House Fish and Game Committee, are scheduled to speak. IN.CASE YOU REALLY CARE: The quills of porcupine when born are soft and lie back so as not to allow obstruction during birth.

But within an hour after birth, the quills are every bit as dangerous as th mother's. On Thursday there will be an early bird round robin from 6-8 a.m. for intermediate tennis players at the Twin Oaks Tennis Center. Coffee and danish will be served. Also from Feb.

26-28 there will be a men's 'B' singles tourney. Those interested in playing should contact the club to register. A Valentine's Day special on Sunday will offer free paddle tennis all day at Twin Oaks and on Washington's Birthday, there will be no guest fees for open court time. A host of players from the Racquet's Edge in Essex Junction placed In the recent state singles racquetball championships. Players included Paul Lazure, Mike Gamache, Peter Libby, Rick Cusson, Steve Tidd, Dave Singer, Deni Amidon, Clem Looby, Sherri Daniels, Barb Gannon, Cathy Brown, Terry Stone, Lynette Donahue, Joyce Edwards, Ginny Savarese, Melissa Carter, Becky Barber and Nancy Williams.

On Saturday, the Racquet's Erlaa urill hnlrl a Valantina anolal Charles Benway is the leader in singles and all-events in both handicap and scratch competition after two weekends of the 25th annual Burlington Bowling Association Championships being held at Ethan Allen Lanes. In scratch singles, Benway is tied with Gerald Papariello for first place, each with scores of 629. Arthur Emmons is third at 603, Wally Guenther fourth at 601 and Roger Rock fifth at 594. In scratch all-events, Benway leads with 1,714, followed by Ted Cushing at 1,699, Dominic Aloi at 1,692 and Emmons at 1,677. In scratch doubles, Steve Robtoy and David Haggerty are in first place with a 1,214 score.

Albert Williams and Ted Cushing are next at 1,206, followed by Brian Alderman and Richard Dodge at 1,192, Philip O'Brien and Eugene LeBeau at 1,189 and Harvey Cross and Raymond Lanoue at 1,142. Team leaders In scratch bowling are the BBABB at 2,786, Floyd's Lawnmower No. 2 at 2,743, Rene's Discount Beverage at 2,742 and Redi-Bilt Construction at 2,715. Benway's score of 720 leads handicap sngles with Papariello at 698, Arthur Trayah III at 695, Gerald De-vine 688, and Edwin Arey and Guenther tied at 688. In all-events, Benway has 1,987, followed by Larry DeGrechie at 1,977, Jerry Devine at 1,971, William Brunelle at 1,988 and Edward Nichols at 1,947.

Handicap doubles are lad by Rob' toy and Haggerty at 1,483, Alderman and Dodge at 1,424, and O'Brien and LeBeau at 1,371. Erwin Beam and Roland Alderman are tied with Roland La Bounty and Michael North at 1,386. Team handicap leaders are Floyd's Lawnmower No. 2 at 3,193, Rene's at 3,190, the BBABB at 3,173, Floyd's In the Tri-City Women's Association Championships under way at the Essex Bowling Center, Joanne Holcomb leads in singles handicap and scratch after the first weekend. In handicap, she has a 671 score with Sally Lowther at 638, Sharron Chicoine and Kathy Dube tied at 637, and Nancy Sprague at 614.

In scratch, Holcomb has 551, followed by Lowther at 539, Madeline Lavallee at 536, Kay Moulton at 812 and Sprague at 802. Econo Lodge is the team leader in scratch with a 2,540 score and in handicap at 2,969. Buihey's Mobil Is second "in handicap with 2,917 and Gero Brothers is third at 2,908. In doubles handicap, Kathy Dube and Judy Martin are first at 1,331 with Peggy Adams and Lisa Bushey tied with Carole Rice and Pat Brown at 1,229, Mary Mitchell and Phyllis For-sey at 1,200 and Patty and Joanne Holcomb at 1,199. Rice and Brown are the scratch doubles leaders at 1,037, followed by Dube.

and Martin at 1,031, Sandy Shepard and Bev Conger at 1,028, and Shepard and Pam Bascom at 1,004. Other tournaments for area' bowlers to mark on their calendars: 18th annual Champlain International at Champlain Lanes March 8 to May 23. Entries close March 4. 8th annual Recreational Sales Open at Twin State Bowl in Lebanon, N.H., currently under way and running to Feb. 14.

Entries close 18 minutes prior to the last squad scheduled Feb. 14. Northeastern Men's Open Tournament at Yankee Lanes In Keene, N.H. Feb. 6-28.

Entries close at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28. These three tournaments are five-man team, doubles, singles and all-events. 18th annual Canada Dry Men's Handicap Tournament at Wllbraham 10 Pin Canter at Wllbraham, Mass.

Feb. 13 to April 18. Entries close at 2:48 p.m. April 18. This Is a four-man team, doubles, singles and all-events tourney.

for anyone Interested in playing mixed doubles, competitively or for fun. Members and non-members are welcome. February, the Racquet's Edge is offering clinics for beginners, intermediates and advanced players. Ron Burdo, certified APRO Instructor, will hold the clinics. Vermont's only ball machine and video taping ram Is also available.

The Greater Burlington Junior Bowling Association will hold Its 13th.