Hoping for a Brighter Spring

2011 U.S. Nationals SL (Photo: Flickr - shiffs'11)

The season is over now according to the schedule, certainly not according to the recent 6 inch dump and continued cold and snow in the forecast in Colorado. If somebody could let me know some place where it’s warm and spring-like, that would be great!

Anyway, to continue from my last post (I know, a long time ago), the World Championships were an unbelievable experience and I am so happy I was able to be a part of it. That definitely made my season. Especially since I was coming into the season off the team and not really knowing what to expect. Pretty unreal. The actual event didn’t quite go as I would have liked. The snow was much different, softer and easier, from what I’ve experienced on the hill so my first run ended up too conservative. I tried to make it up with run two, but the snow was breaking down a bit too much from where I started and I crashed out of thecourse. Oh well.

I came back with another, 4th, qualifying run at the next World Cup in Bansko, which was great. I was pushing hard to get a good result the second run, but ended up crossing my tips and going out. I went out again in Kranjska Gora during the final World Cup slalom of the year for me. In all of them though, I felt like I had some good turns and good skiing happening so pluses there. The day after the World Cup, I finished the European season with a 5th place in the Kranjska Gora Europa Cup slalom and the fastest second run… a good way to head home.

Spring on the North American continent was a little rough. I went up to Whistler for Nor-Am finals and some races held in bottomless powder, both of which are great but not together. I had a great GS podium the first day and then crashed and tumbled hard on the second day of GS. I couldn’t put weight on my leg at all at first and a good bulge was coming out of my shin, so instantly I though broken tib/fib or something. Luckily, after a closer look and some X-rays, it was just a contusion and a small cut. Still, it was bad enough to keep me off of skis until Nationals came around 3 weeks later in the beginning of April. I was hoping for a little redemption there after a difficult spring. The snow again was terrible with a warm and then snowy front coming into Colorado, but it was looking good at first as I got off to a first run lead. Second run, the course completely deteriorated though and trying to ski aggressively did not work. I jetted out on my skis and a good few feet skyward and out. Sort of sums up the end of the spring season. The season as a whole was amazing, however, and a real break-through for me. Coming off of a rougher year last year and getting cut from the team to coming right back and qualifying off the bat, making second runs in four World Cups, and representing the US in the Alpine World Championships. Very cool!

I am feeling good and healed now though with my leg and time to reset for the spring and get ready for next season! It actually starts right back up with a training camp in Mt. Bachelor in about a week and a half. I’m hoping I’ll see at least couple days of sunshine and t-shirt weather before then.