I did some double poling intervals today up at the training venue above Valbruna. I had a lot of fun doing them because I got to pass people. I don't know if this makes me totally shallow and maybe I shouldn't admit that I derive pleasure from double poling past people skating, but I do. There were a couple factors making this a completely successful endeavor.

1) It's Saturday and there were lots of middle aged Italian men out skiing.
2) The racers out skiing were mostly just skiing easy.
3) The "hill" I was on was really gradual so I could go pretty fast.
4) I was almost at the high point on the trail and it's pretty much gradually uphill from the trailhead to where I was, so people were getting tired and ready for a downhill.
5) My intervals were only 60seconds.
6) It was sunny.
7) The mountains were gorgeous... I picked the most beautiful spot on the trail.

So I got to feel like a rock star passing people almost every interval and it kept the workout fun (and kept me from slowing down).