SC # 3

The hill we’ve been racing on does not get any sun and they had not groomed so the track was slicker than it had been. When you run a course multiple days (without grooming) the track tends to get harder, slicker, and faster as you go. Although we weren’t running the same course, it was still very similar and this is exactly what happened to the track. I knew that it was going to be tough and I’d have to be ahead of it to have a decent run. Regrettably, that didn’t happen. On the first pitch I got behind and it stacked up on me so a few gates later I had to put on the brakes to try to make a gate but couldn’t do it and slid right by with speed. When I finally did stop I was too far down hill to make the gate. My day was over. I was bummed, but there were several others that ended up crashing or in the fence from similar mistakes, so I felt fortunate to have such a benign mistake.

On to France for some tech races!

Super Combined (SC) #2

The snow did not soften at all over night, which wasn’t a shock at all, so the snow was still “bullet proof.” The set was better than yesterday and I had hopes that I had worked out my problems on my ‘not so fast or fun’ run yesterday. Unfortunately, I apparently did not have the kinks worked out and my run was better but only by a little. I needed it to be exponential better. My confidence took another hit.

Once again I took some free runs before the SL and my SL run was A LOT better. It wasn’t perfect or anything but I I actually skied fast and it felt so good. I think I took 6th or 7th in the SL run. I didn’t ski fast enough to make up for my horrible SG run but at the end of the day, I ended up 10th. Only one more SC race to go then it’s off to France!

My first Super Combined (SC)

If I never have to talk about my skiing today, ever again, that would be alright. I think today was one of the worst races I’ve ever completed. I don’t know what is going on with me at the moment but I’m skiing in some weird mind warp place. I get in the start and I’m okay then the second I’m out of the gate I feel like I go into a different world. A world in which I don’t seem to know how to ski race anymore, it’s very bizarre.

The Super G this morning was very daunting even during inspection. The snow was “bullet proof” and people were sliding all over the place. The set was good and I thought I might be able to make something happen despite the more than firm snow. I was WRONG. I basically slid my way down the course, I did not ski it and I surely wouldn’t have called that a race run. I felt embarrassed to have skied like that.

Afterward I went back around and took a couple free runs before the SL and got some of my confidence back. It worked and I think I figured out what I need to do to ski better on this kind of snow. My SL run was A LOT better. Still not fabulous but it was what I needed; a good, solid run to feel like I could ski again. It’s amazing what a bad run can do to the psyche. At the end of the day, I ended up 10th. I feel much better going into tomorrow, another SC. The consolation is that a couple of my teammates had really good runs and got on the podium.

Riesen Slalom aka Giant Slalom (in English)

Have I ever mentioned that ski racing can be very unforgiving and grueling? Today was a perfect example of both. It was a tough day, but not in the same way as yesterday. The weather was a lot better; we had a clear blue sky and the sun actually came out. BUT clear skies in mountains mean cold snow. So all that wet rain we’ve seen the past couple of days actually froze. Therefore, instead of soft, mushy, sugary snow we had hard frozen slush. I mean really frozen, like clear patches in the course. Both the condition of the hill and difficult course sets made for an exigent day of racing. I didn’t ski poorly but let’s just say that the combination of hard snow and challenging courses brought out the weaknesses in my skiing. My first run I skied pretty well okay but my second run I struggled to make through, in the end I hung on and placed 9th. My time was far from good, which is disappointing but I’m not dwelling on it, because I can’t change it. My consolation is that a lot of other racers found today very trying as well. I’m hoping that the SC goes better tomorrow. The Super G should be better as there will be less turning and SL is good on firm snow (at least in theory) I guess we’ll see!

Slalom

We woke up this morning to rain and fog----yuck! I was trying to remain optimistic for a good day of racing but it didn’t really work out that way. The snow was SUPER soft and the course turned into a mine field. Over half the field didn’t finish (DNF) or were disqualified (DSQ.) Fortunately, I was not part of the DNF or DSQ groups but I did stop, fall over and hiked to make a gate. I have got to be the slowest person at hiking and I’m not exactly sure why I bothered because after I finished my run I was over 20 seconds out- which is ridiculous. Whatever, I guess I wanted to ski a second run. Despite the not so fun first run, the rain and fog we tried to gather our composure and went back up and went out for second run. My second run was loads better but still not super great. I skied okay but still didn’t exactly find the fast track. I keep thinking it’ll all come together one of these days. I’m hoping I figure it out soon.

The schedule has changed and we’ll be running GS tomorrow instead of SL. Then they hope to get 3 Super Combined (SC) races instead of 2. We’ll see, the hill is in pretty bad shape.

Austria Again

We’re in Abtenau, Austria for the start of the IPC World Cup. After many hours of traveling yesterday we made here at about 2 in the afternoon. We start racing tomorrow so we skied a few hours today in the rain and called it good. The weather is really warm and the snow is soft and slushy. The last time I was here it snowed 3 feet and races were cancelled, I’m not sure which is worse. We’ll start racing with SL. I’m happy and excited to be here, hopefully that shows in my skiing.

Park City, Utah

Happy New Year!

I was a little bummed about having to race on New Year’s Day and not being able to celebrate last night, but that feeling soon passed. The morning was very brisk and cool as we arrived to the mountain. The race hill had been groomed and the sun was beginning to shine-it was going to be a good day.

I think sometimes your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Today my mindset was good and it paid off. The first run set was challenging to say the least. I watched 2 forerunners nearly blow out of the course before the 9th gate. I knew my line was going to be important and that’s all I thought about, turning early. I skied the line I wanted but didn’t let the skis run, I was sitting 4th. The second run set was a little less difficult and I tried to be more aggressive. The terrain was bumpy and tough, I made a few mistakes but I made it through. At the end of the day I had a Bronze medal around my neck! My first podium of the season and literally of this year! 2008 started off just fine for me. Yeah!