The Value of Flexibility and Inspirational Football Films

In ski racing, plans change. Schedules are made last minute according to snow conditions and training space. Athletes are injured and their whole year changes in an instant.  Entire weeks of racing are cancelled because of bad weather.

This is why it's so important to be flexible. I've been reminded of this lately because I was really expecting to qualify for the Canadian World Junior Team but - I didn't. I'm disappointed but at the same time I don't have any regrets about my approach this season. From my first day on snow 6 months ago until now, it's been a progression. I've gently pushed my limits and done what's felt right for me, given my history with injuries.

The most recent example of this was my emotional return to the infamous "Apex Downhill" this month.  It was where I had my first knee injury in 2007 as a gung-ho fifteen year old with no qualms about pointing my skis straight down the hill. Three knee injuries later I found myself this year as a tentative 20 year old wondering, "are we really starting from all the way up here?" I'm happy to say by the time I was finished with the Osisko Speed Camp (where I often started lower than the 15 year olds), the two Downhills, and the Super G race, I had re-claimed my love for speed and the Apex track.

Going off the jump at the Apex Downhill NorAM

A beautiful day for racing in Apex, BC

The BC Womens' Team and the AMAZING volunteers. My dad volunteered throughout the week (thanks Dad) and has since said many times "I still can't believe how hard those guys work." Followed by "most of them don't even have KIDS in the race!"

Last week I had fun at a Van Houtte Cup in Nakiska, Alberta. It was an easier level race so it was a good opportunity to practice different mental approaches and get on the podium. I came home with two silver medals and one gold.

Coach Aaron (Speedy) Speden who aced the wax on our skis, the girls with some serious hardware, and head coach Gregor Druzina.

 

My teammates Sarah Freeman and Charley Field won the other days and the rest of our team had super successful finishes as well! The team spirit was high and our coaches were excited. It probably had to do with the fact that we watched "Remember the Titans" earlier in the week.

 

And finally, here are some photos from a great free-ski day with my family at Big White!

Mom, Katri, Dad and Me skiing the Gem Chair.

Auntie Ruth, Uncle Donovan and all-star athlete cousins Dylan and Rachel!

Rachel and Uncle Donovan at the top of the Bullet.

Skiing without a speed suit is amazing!

More photos from European Adeventures

There were amazing mountain views in Pfelders, Italy

Vicky and Sarah on our day off in Innsbruck

Devon, Me, Julia, Sarah, and Vicky - the 5 girls that made up our team in Europe

Vicky and some backpacks in the start area of our Super G Race in Pfelders, Italy.

They had these igloos all over Pfelders. They made them with the snow-cats. Inside there were some Germans celebrating after their staff race. Complete with a DJ table, speakers, and hot wine!

Vicky, Julia and Devon admiring the sunrise

Powder skiing on GS skis in Sella Nevea, Italy. Unfortunately our whole week of downhill races were cancelled due to too much snow

JUMP photos on our last day in Pfelders

Speed Racing in Europe

Hello everybody!

We arrived in Italy last night, and after a dinner that included pasta as a pre courser to meat and potatoes I was feeling very full and very excited about racing Downhill in the morning (and slightly concerned about weight gain). My excitement this morning was short lived however because we awoke to a wintery blizzard scene outside our bedroom window.  We're now waiting to hear if we will get to ski at all today.

Not ideal visibility for Downhill

 Up until this point of our Europe trip we've been racing Super G in Austria and Germany. The highlight for me so far was placing 4th in a race that included many of the top girls from North America. Also, I got a sweet trophy.

My teammate Julia from the Ontario Team and I both had good days. That's her in second place!

Our Hotel and the Church in the town of Spital,  Austria

Waiting for the train to go up the mountain. No chairlifts!

Garmisch, Germany for more Super G races. I loved the town!

Vicky and Sarah

Bye Garmisch! (We were there for two days)

Coach Donn Lyon on the chair

In the time it's taken me to write this post amidst the internet cutting in and out, we have heard back that this entire week of races has been cancelled due to too much snow! We're heading out to ski 40cm of powder while the coaches re-adjust our plan. Gotta go!!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah

Speed and Snow

Sunrise at Nakiska

I couldn't even tell you how long we've been on the road for. We left sometime in November and since then have had ten days of training in Nakiska, one long travel day to Colorado, a couple days of training in Copper Mountain, and finally - two race days! 

I raced in two NorAm (North American) Super-G races this weekend. My first time racing in 11 months. My plan was to ski solid and to enjoy the experience. I placed 15th both days and was pretty satisfied with the way I skied.

At the bottom of our first run of downhill this year. There's not quite the same reaction at the bottom of a slalom course. We like speed!

Our coach Gregor took this picture from the start gate.

Multi-cultural training with the Canadian, German, French, and Moroccan National teams.

Nakiska got 60 cm of snow in two days! Unfortunately, we saved our energy and our bodies and took a day off instead of powder skiing. (The irony of being a ski racer)

Powder!

 

A Dryland Stint and Some Colorado Skiing

The past few weeks have been a short but intense dryland block at home in the Okanagan. But first, Sarah and I had a brief dryland camp in Vancouver. When we weren't in the gym we got up to lot's of fun activities like fishing in Surrey (who knew?), seeing an improv comedy show on Granville island, and an intense Bikram Yoga class.

Taking photos in Kelowna's City Park

 

 

  Fishing in Surrey. Didn't catch anything, but we stuck it out in the rain because I've always wanted to try fishing. Thanks Alecia!

 

Hanging out in Granville Island

In the gym, the focus was power, speed, and more sport specific exercises. Our hardest workout of the week was strength endurance. It consisted of battle ropes, speed squats, speed lunges, and tucking (followed by crawling off) a bosu ball.

We are now in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Literally, right now. I'm blogging while we wait for some of the girls to get boot work done. We're all pretty tired (see photo below) after a long but awesome day of slalom training. I'm looking forward to getting more mileage in slalom and GS gates and hopefully some Super G and maybe Downhill free skiing!

Lessons Learned in Chile

• Wear Catracks

• Bring multiple sets of earplugs
  

• Do not ski with new iPhone. It will be embarrassing when it is found on the hill by a US Team coach.
  

• Bring more shampoo 

• The game 'Mafia' will not get boring, no matter how many rounds are played
  

• Do not boot ski above your abilities. May result in a very hurt shoulder and a bruised ego. 
  

• Buy a foam roller
  

• Stepping into Super G skis is like slipping on a favourite pair of blue jeans 

• "Re-center, move forward, and balance." Key points in skiing and life.
  

• Ping pong is best played with as many people as possible.
  

• I love ski racing!!

Lunch at the top of the ski hill at Portillo Bob's

BC Boys Brodie, Pat and Roger

Charley, Steffi, Silken and Sarah enjoying the hot tub

Silken, Charley and Emma on a foggy training day

Jumping pics on the other side of the lake.

Sarah and Me - happy girls!

Kayaking on our day off!

Fernie Dryland Camp

Big thanks to BC Alpine, Mike Delich, Fernie Lodging Company, the Sombrowski, MacLachlan, Freeman, Young, and Rytz families for helping to provide an awesome week of dryland and fun times.