RAMPING UP!!!!

First NORAM races of the year are tomorrow morning at Loveland, CO! Starting 76th on non-injected snow it should be a pretty exciting first run! The goal is to make the flip or close to it in the first run in order to be within striking distance to finish top 30 over all. That way I score NORAM points and don't have to start way back there again in Panorama come December!

 I trained Slalom today after 4 days at home for the holidays and am feeling really well prepaired and ready to go! Should be a good race!

SKIING!!!!!

I'm 10 days into training here in Colorado and it has been great!! The new trail at Copper Mt. is absolutely awesome and gives us a great opportunity for four event training. Today was full length DH in the morning followed by 55 second GS in the afternoon. I don't think there is training like this to be had anywhere else on earth! I am skiing really fast and can't wait for the first races of the year on the 18th of this month here at Copper!

Almost time!!

Physical testing is all over and I am now wrapping up this strength training block here in Park City. I learned two things this camp that should dramatically improve my results this season... They are: 1. a double backflip on a trampoline, and 2. a standing backflip from the ground. I can't wait to feel the gains when I get back on snow!! But seriously, it was a really successful camp and I feel really great going into these next 3 weeks in colorado!

 I looked out my window this morning and it was dumping snow so hard I couldn't help but have a smile on my face!  Can't wait for some real winter skiing in 4 days!!

Taking one for the team....

My first step towards hollywood came this week when Nolan Kasper and Steven Nyman made commercials for Fantasy Ski Racing, and I got to take a part. Of course, being the young punk in the group, I got to be a stunt dummy and a light switch manager(very important work mind you.) It was so much fun!! I didn't stop laughing all day and really gained respect for the patience of actors in the film industry... Here is the link to one of the clips and you can check out the others on youtube or at www.fantasyskiracer.com !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7xgnol-24 

Park City

After my Grand Canyon adventures I had one week to spend at home before heading down to Park City, Utah for physical training at the USST Center of Excellence. None of the other D-Team boys were there, so it was just me and a coach training together each day. Its amazing how fast things get done when there are only two of you! I'm feeling really strong right now and can't wait for testing day on the 25th!

Chile

No hablo espanol? I arrived in Chile the 16th of September super excited and honestly a little bit nervous. I skied well my last camp in Mt. Hood in August, but I never know how much I will retain in the months off snow. That said, my fears turned out to be groundless.

The training in La Parva is some of the best you can find anywhere. We get 4 event training with great snow conditions and tons of options as far as venues and terrain for the coaches to play with. The mountain turns training into a workout as well! It consists predominantly of Pomas instead of chairlifts, so the legs never get a break! (Talk about a good way to get back into skiing shape!) The snow was about as good as it gets for training, but started to thin out a bit towards the end of the camp. Thankfully, my skis didn’t suffer nearly as bad as some of my buddies’ did.

The great conditions allowed for the perfect time to work on things. I felt like myself on my skis again for the first time in a year and couldn’t stop smiling! I went back to skiing the deep line and was flowing really well in GS. (Something I struggled with a lot last year.) Downhill and Super G went very well too. I made huge improvements solidifying my jumping technique and aerodynamics and am looking forward to seeing some results when I get to Colorado next month! J It was a great two weeks and I am really excited moving into three weeks of lifting in Park City at the Center of Excellence followed by on snow training again in November!  

Here is a pic of the guys at the top of the course in La Parva. Great group!

Home?

I flew home from my two week camp in Chile on the 1st of October and am now on the second day of a backpacking trip with my brother through the Grand Canyon!! Quite a change from ski racing in Chile I'll tell ya! I didn't have any internet while in La Parva, and I wont for the next few days here, but I will make up for it when I get back to civilization. Should have some awesome pics for my next post!!