Wrapping Up The Year

Hello Tree Huggers! It's sad to say I will be ending this blog here. I have been writing for my Honors English class at school. It has been an amazing experience and really caused me to have to think about different interesting facts about ski racing. I really enjoy the mental aspect and this blog has changed my approach on my mindset going into skiing and racing. I have been able to grow throughout this school and ski season with the aid of blogging.

SKI YA LATER TINA Creds: Cam Chin

Change is inevitable in one way or another. I can't even express how much progress and positive change has occurred this year. In skiing, I have improved massively and it has final shown in results. As my coach Tina Nardi mentioned, "The last run at Snowbird was rad." This is the truth. I have never skied like that before. Sometimes it has happened in training, but she believed in me even when I didn't and this lead to my success. She stood by me every step of the way. Tina is moving on to her new company and, I need to bring her some chocolate cake sometime soon! She has helped me with a many things people wouldn't even understand. I can't express everything in words! This has changed me and everything challenging moment will eventually lead to success and change. Sometimes this is taking ten steps backwards then one forward. You cannot disregard even the slightest achievement. I have grown as a person and my outlook on the world and myself has changed greatly. It has been incredible.

Who doesn't love puppies...feat Sam Owen

Change has come mostly to me as a life style and mindset, but also in my improvement in writing and vocabulary. I always thought that the vocal assignments were crazy and learning all the root words, but it turns out some of those vocal words have helped me in other classes, but also in the skiing world! The roots have really helped in french this year! I have changed in so many ways and will always continue to! Nothing is set in stone as long as you are willing to put in the effort to change it.

This blog has been an amazing experience and I'm sure it may end up being used in the future but for now it's been incredible blogging. Good Bye!

BISOUS,
LYSS

The FIS Plan

Hello Tree Huggers! The time has come and I am now a FIS Women. Incredible how fast time flies. Tina has decided to focus all her time on her adventure company and no longer coaches. She will be missed dearly. I wish her the best of luck with her future and hope to see her around town. I haven't skied since Snow Cup, but wish I could head over to Snowbird for a couple of runs! Missing the snow already, but the hiking trails have come to great use while I can't do too much!

This summer, Dryland starts on June 1st, 5 days a week for two and a half hours. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the gym while spending Tuesday and Thursday in city park! Then I will be spending lots of time especially in June doing all the classes to be able to get all the credits needed. That will include a online or summer class of World Civ (1.0), Geography 1(.05), PE (0.5), Health (0.5), and English 10 (1.0). Geography is the first half of the class I completed during last summer. In July, I will go to Hood and then spend time with my family on trips around the country. Then back into school come the end of August. It's going to be a busy summer!

The five small incisions...the other one on the outside!

UPDATE: Surgery
Recovery is on it's way. No cast needed, mostly because of too much swelling, but also it could to get movement going soon! The stitches are out and there are five small incisions and one bigger one, but all healing well. PT is about to get started and here is the plan. Active movement for the first two weeks, Passive for the next four, and then strength. When completed, everything will be pretty good, but may never be able to do push-ups or anything in that position again, but range of motion looks like a full recovery. Exciting! Can't wait for all these injuries to be completely healed and I can do everything again!

UPDATE: Life
So, I got my permit! I could've gotten it a while ago, but skiing makes no room for some life items. In about seven months I'll be sixteen!! Some of my teammates are sixteen now (Charlotte and Sicily), Julia and Ava are next, and finally Kati then ME! Of course I am the youngest....on the entire team including the mens team. Other than that trying to keep up with all my school work, and online classes for my freshman year before I start the sophomore bunch online. School's winding down and finals coming up soon!

BISOUS,
LYSS

WRIST SURGERY

Photo Creds: the one and only mom.

Hello Tree Huggers, as some of you may know, I have been struggling with an injury to my wrist for a while now. Since, now I'm feeling slightly better I will give you an update. On last Friday, I went in to Park City Medical Center for wrist Surgery by Karen Heiden. I was in the OR for over two hours, but the result was good. Actually the best it possibly could've been. Which was good to hear, but she needed to repair some things that weren't expected. However, now I am on the road to recovery and ready to become stronger than ever!!

This is how it all went down. Last year, in Hawaii, I broke my scaphoid but there was other damage. Which we found out about a while ago, but skiing was more important and this wasn't urgent. In fact, we were trying to avoid surgery completely. That didn't work out so well so here I am having surgery and of course already trying to push it. Oops. I may need to be casted but not sure yet. If not, then a removable hard costume brace for a while. For rehab, I am waiting for the 6 week post op date to come to start strengthening. That is right when dryland starts so there may need to be some modification. 

FAREWELL 2014/2015 SEASON

I visited my team at ski testing the day after surgery, obviously drugged up and ready to go skiing even though I unfortunately can't. However, I went to get some coaches gifts together and take a look at the new skis. Cam, we won't be putting our pants down anytime soon! And farewell to Cam, Tina, and Colleen. Thank you to all my teammates for making this year amazing. Good luck next season to all the first years, and can't wait to spend another year with my 99 besties. That's a wrap and it's been rad winter! 

I AM A PARK CITY FIS WOMEN! OMG! I still remember those days looking up to them and thinking wow I would be lucky to ever get there. Well here I am, and even though I just had surgery I will be working with the team starting on June 1st for dryland. I will let you know my summer plan and plan for the upcoming years. I am lucky to be a freshie now so I will have 3 years still in school and skiing! Looking forward to see what the future brings but for now I'm going to live in the moment. 

BISOUS,

LYSS

Strong Season Finale!!

Hello Tree Huggers! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life has been crazy with my U16 time coming to an end with one last race series, Last Chance and Snow Cup. As you may know, Park City really has no snow, and therefore we haven't had training in almost two weeks. This has been the worst season yet, but hopefully with all the improvements to the resorts here snow will come. At least it ended with a bang!

April 14, 2015 Snow Cup GS! Creds: Cam Chin

Last Chance are the slalom races and Snow Cup is the GS and SG races at Snowbird. They are open races However, the SG was cancelled for tomorrow. The racing season has ended but the snow is coming. Predicted 40 inches at Snowbird, and dangerous conditions for speed racing. So, tomorrow is cancelled, that's a wrap. The races didn't go as planned, but finally got my shit together and the pieces all fell into place for a result (even though it was only for second run...)!

Snow Cup GS Start! A tribute to our departing coach Tina Nardi!

Today, was amazing, many goals were achieved and progress proven to myself. My mindset was set on racing for me, not anyone or anything else. It's kind of funny I listened to the same song all day without realizing it until someone else pointed it out after the race. The weather was overcast but not too bad. The visibility wasn't really a problem until I put the wrong lens in my goggles...oops. Well first run wasn't bad ending in 23rd. I made the flip and ran 8th for second run, and the times were stacked. Meaning the times were very close, and in this situation they were in 18th 70.00, 70.01, 70.02, 70.03, 70.04, and finally I had a 70.05. I knew the jump could be made, but was focused on how I needed to ski to get the result. In racing I have learned to stay in the exact time never in the past or the possible future. Here was my plan: release at the gate, on-on, generate speed, on-on, light through, release the ski. Closely executed and a fast run ending with a 76.76 and 146.81 combined, 11th overall. I was able to prove to myself something everyone has been telling me about. I'm still shocked.

Next time for surgery and the transition to FIS Women's team and Western Region. FIS is international rankings.

BISOUS,
LYSS

Red Course, Ready? Blue Course, Ready? Go!

Hello Tree Huggers! Unfortunately, today is my last day here in Winter Park. Today I am dualing it out! Exciting right? Well, the course is a whole 13 paneled slalom gates. Anyway it was a really fun time! We didn't race for points but just for fun. We missed the point on costumes, but had a great time anyway.

See you later WINTER PARK!

The red and blue course were supposably the same, but the blue course had a very large roll and more of a left fall away. The course was set 15 meters gate to gate. The blue course was faster for qualifying but the red was faster in the brackets. This is how it all worked. For qualifying everyone runs the course. Then they take the top 16 from the red course and top 16 from the blue house. For the brackets they put the top 32 into a paired bracket then those kids run the course again. When there is a tie the racers have to race again. The first two rounds are done by time. Then they run head to head by eliminating from 16 to 8, 8 to 4, 4 to 2, and then 2 to the winner!

Overall Winter Park was absolutely gorgeous with incredible and lucky weather. There was supposed to be rain, but that ended up becoming sunny! No we are back into training for Last Chance at Snowbird. Last Chance will have 2 Super-G's, 2 GS, and 2 Slaloms. That series will be over our spring break from the 7th to the 12th. Then we are off season for skiing but it's time for wrist surgery then moving into the off season conditioning!

BISOUS,
LYSS

Probably the Longest Slalom Ever!

Hello Tree Huggers! Again I am in Winter Park, Colorado for the SmartWool series! Today we raced slalom, and luckily the women's course was skiers left. The course had a major left fall away, or the direction a ball would go if dropped at the top, but was much flatter than the GS run yesterday. All the races are being held in the same place. Here is a picture with the GS in black, SL in purple, and the Dual in red. The Dual is being held tomorrow.

This is just the base and beginning of WinterPark Photo Creds

Today I started in about the middle of the field. Which is expected with my extremely high points. First run, the course was set very simply with no tricks. Therefore, I was focusing on releasing under the gate, my focus, and flexing into the outside boot. First run was okay in general. I ended up running 2nd for second run. The set was a little more offset than first run but alike. Second run was better for me and overall I am happy with the results so far this weekend. I did end up with a finish that will drop my points by 20. Points are individual to each event and the lower the better.

Pulling the carts trough the parking lot....

Yesterday we found out these little carts existed for carry kids equipment. I mean we are kids right? Anyway, we used the carts to carry all our gear: two pairs of slalom skis, slalom poles, boot bag, extra jackets (since it was warm and there wasn't room in our bags,) and PROBAR's. PROBAR is a new team sponsor. Let's just say my back and shoulders needed the break so we took advantage of these "kids" equipment carts. TOMORROW IS THE DUAL!

BISOUS,
LYSS

Racing in an Unknown Region

Hello Tree Huggers! So, not much has changed since yesterday. Some team drama and the seven boys all rooming together letting no one get any sleep, but otherwise everything is had been going well. The house we are staying at has a hot tub, but we are having a hard time keeping it a hot tub. I am rooming with three girls from jackson and Ava. Sicily is sleeping on an air mattress in the closet which is huge. Last night at our team meeting I got my bib. The ones in Winter Park are really cool, and different than ours at home.

Today, when I arrived at Winter Park Resort we had to walk about a mile to the lodge from the parking lot. It was ridiculous. Then once we arrived at the lodge we get dressed downstairs then took our bags upstairs. When we dropped our bags off everyone in the entire room looked our way. It was really awkward and it seemed as if we knew no one. I took the lift up and took some runs on Cramer to Village Way then finally down Larry Sale. The snow was really nice and firm, much different from our conditions.

First run, some mistakes were made and it wasn't that good, but I ended up moving into 21st. My outcome goal was to drop my bib, but that didn't exactly happen. I ran 10th second run because of the flip. That run was definitely not my best. I skied a conservative line and it was overall just not fast. I finished in 26th for that run. When the times were combined I ended up in 23rd and didn't score any points, but that is okay. I am excited for tomorrow and the dual slalom sunday!

Blue skies and pure relaxation at the start, it is absolutely gorgeous!

BISOUS,
LYSS

WINTERPARK TRAVELS

Hello Tree Huggers! As some of you have requested me to blog while I am away in Winter Park. Today was considered a travel day and as some of you might know they are pretty boring. Since the majority of the team is away at other races we rented a van and towed a trailer. There are only three girls going from Park City comparing to the usual ten. Overall the day went well and here is how it all went down.

Photo Creds to our coach Tina Nardi!

Trips always begin with equipment preparation and packing the night before. Sometimes we use travel wax to protect our skis during travel then re-wax for the race. Usually for trips over 10 hours. Packing includes all your ski gear, either packed into a boot or duffle bag, then your personal needs and tuning gear. It may not seem like much, but if you aren't careful you might as well bring another human along. Then you get a full night sleep and depending on the time of travel leave between 6 am and noon.

For Winter Park, we loaded the van and trailer at 8:40am departing at 9:00, but knowing our team we didn't leave until approximately 9:30. So, that was the coaches fault. Wait who's fault? Oh right the coach was actually the only one late...when does that ever happen! The trip lasted about 7 hours which is about average. This time we are staying in a house which is actually really nice and modern. Not a house you would expect as a nightly rental especially for a ski team. Find pictures and information on the house at Trulia.When we arrived, Jason made a team dinner of spaghetti and salad, we went to the grocery store for lunch and breakfast meals, and scraped GS skis for tomorrows race. I'm running 19!

BISOUS,
LYSS

Living Moment to Moment

Hey Tree Huggers! I never understood how something could go so wrong so fast, and not get better just as fast. As humans, we think and think about everything. When something goes wrong we think a lot about it. You may only take one step backwards but have to take four forward to get back to where you were. I have been learning more about confidence lately and how to bring yourself back. It turns out fear is caused by less self confidence. To avoid negative self talk you need to focus on the positive.

GoPro Training; Left to Right Alyssa, Liza, Gabby

Right before Bogus I fell jump training and ended up getting slightly injured but mostly terrified. I guess I was pretty scared before the jump training but it just pushed me over the edge. I was questioning even racing at Bogus before the race, in the start, during the race, and repeat. Once I finished I was so relieved and excited I finished. The time and place didn't even matter, but I do wish I did better. Coming back from that mental rockbottom I have been trying to go from point D-A all at once, but have learned it will come over time. Something that is on the right track currently, and with the amazing support of my teammates and coaches. I'm back in it and really excited for WinterPark!!

I have learned these exercises from Sports Phycology. One for focus and the other to stay positive and take pride in the daily successes from daily goals that are set.

FOCUS 5321: these all uses different aspects of focus.
Broad External for 5 minutes: close your eyes; focus on the sounds around you without letting you mind get distracted in thought.
Broad Internal for 3 minutes: close your eyes; focus on how you are feeling physically and what is happening inside your body without letting you mind wander.
Narrow External for 2 minutes: find a small object; focus on every single detail of that object without any distractions
Narrow Internal for 1 minute: close your eyes; focus on absolutely nothing just like when you space out and keep from thinking about anything else or any distractions. THINK ABOUT NOTHING

DAILY GOALS:
- What is my goal today?
- Did I achieve this goal? If so, how?
- What was good about today?
- Is there a new goal/approach for tomorrow?

These I have just recently started to try. I will let you know how it goes.

Yes, these are the mens bibs...so the guys looked like they were wearing baby bibs!
Left to Right: Julia, Char, Bridey, Kati, Liza, Shaye, Sicily, Alyssa, Ava

BISOUS,
LYSS

The Tetons: Snowking Qualifier

Hey Tree Huggers! I'm just headed home from Jackson Hole! It's been an interesting weekend with some good runs and sections, but nothing to be too excited about. It's time to focus on tactics...let's just say mine are SLOW. In racing the slower you are the worse you are. The past week I've been trying out some new boots which might end up working, but it's midseason equipment issues. Some people might not agree with that choice but it's been fine.

Pre UOP Jump Training; Photo Creds: Mom

The GS race was on Saturday and had a 9:30 Start. I ran bib 38 and ended up 34th which wasn't good at all for me. During races you can check the results in LIVE TIME online, it's really cool and how family can keep up with all the results! I was happy to finish but I didn't score any points except for JO points. So, JOs isn't going to happen because I just have made too many mistakes in races this year. I have had many other success points and huge improvements have been made. It is really exciting to think how far I've come! There isn't really words to describe it. Today I raced Slalom and skied with too much shape first run, but coming into second run I had a better idea but ended up hiking about 2/3 of the way down the course. Which I have done plenty of times this season.

It has been a mentally tough series for me and many of my competitors, but not all. Some of my teammates have had their position in JO's from the beginning and they're just having fun. Meanwhile, some of us are nervous, but I was excited to be there racing. There was a time when I wasn't sure about racing and if I wanted to continue, but now I have that back. My eyes were opened to what other people had been feeling as well. Alike how I was feeling and it was interesting for me to here their mindset. I learned I have come a long ways since rockbottom this season. That was right before bogus in a crash at the utah olympic park where I sustained a shin and head injury. I still have a ways to go, but looking forward to having a while before the next series.

BISOUS,
LYSS

BOGUS OH BOGUS

Hello Tree Huggers! This past weekend I spent racing in the beautiful Bogus Basin. It is about an hour away from Boise, Idaho (not really worth the trip.) Lets just say they don't get much snow, at least every year I've been there. I've always like the sign at the bottom near their snow pond that says "No lifeguard on duty, swim at your own risk." So that about sums up the sopping clothing and delaminating goggles (rain causes this.) Luckily, I happened to bring some of my rain resistance clothing. I guess the weather man is correct once in a while. Any way, last year Bogus somehow got two four day races...uggghhh but only one this year!!

So, this is Bogus's View on a Beautiful Day...

Last year, we met our Sun Valley besties at Bogus in that mile away lodge. We met them during the Super-G's and one GS race. The GS race was moved from Sun Valley because the lift burnt down. Anyway, Super-G was banned because of an injury for me last year. So, I only came for the tech events. If I remember correctly I fell in the GS, but skied okay in the rest. I might as well have gone swimming in the snow pond because I wouldn't have been any drier.

This year Sun Valley stayed with us at the Riverside Hotel; it's just down the street from a strip club...we thought it was a restaurant...oops. Maybe not one of our smarter moments. The Riverside hotel is one of the nicer ones we stay at. The trip began with a training run which was my very first time ever running that course and hill. Not to mention I was running practically last because of the injury penalty. So, I will give you a run down of the hill. A small flat section into rock shoot then the pitch. At the bottom of the pitch the first jump Waterfall followed by long flats and Bru 1. Then a small pitch into Bru 2 another jump and continue on the pitch. You then go up the compression jump Haystack and flat to the finish. Lets just say I went the wrong way off Waterfall and missed a gate completely. The rest of the series was rough with a couple of crashes. Super-G's just not my thing so we don't need to talk about that. I won't have to race it again until Last Chance in April!!!

BISOUS,

LYSS

Faster, Faster, Hold it Together, Faster, Faster!

Hello Tree Huggers! I have been quite busy lately keeping up with mid-season skiing and school. It has been a long rocky road in skiing but it is starting to come along. This season I have finished one of our 4 qualifiers so far....oops. That is not going to help my chances at making JO's. It has been frustrating, but I did have one of my best finishes ever. My points are still coming down (that's good, the lower the better.) This past weekend I just took an unfortunately too direct line straddling, look below. Yeah, so, that happened and it's not the first time, but oh well.

Upcoming we have the Bogus Basin Super-G's. It'll be really fun and challenging. I found this video of the course online last year before I injured my femur, but anyway it's pretty accurate. The video is from a while ago, but it is the same hills and jumps. I wasn't able to race Bogus last year, but watching was good for this year. I'm pretty fearless with the jumps and the speed, but hopefully I will be able to keep it together for one run. I mean it is only a one run race.

Photo Creds: Jonathan Mulford 

Injuries seem to always find their way back to me. Currently, I am waiting the season out before I have major wrist surgery in about a month or two. I completely tore the Scapho-Lunate ligament along with some others in that surrounding area. That is not holding me back coming into this next series and training blocks. When the time comes I will rehab back and become injury free. Lets hope to stay out of the netting and hospitals for the rest of the season. Get well soon to all my injured teammates.

This year, JO's are in Mt. Bachelor, OR and will be really fun! Since we have never raced there, or even really skied in their race arena it will be a new adventure, something I am always up for. Mt. Bachelor has training for racers in the summer, we spend some time their every summer. I don't remember the resort very clearly, but there is a lot of terrain. This upcoming summer, I am hoping on going to Mammoth and Chile for training. Maybe I will even be an athlete coach for some younger athletes for a week. That's something that would be a great experience to understand more about the sport.

Ski in Peace BA+RB

Hello Tree Huggers! So, I have been realizing that I haven't really explained the process of racing. It all begins with drills that are applied to free skiing and then free skiing to gate training. That's like the beginning of the season and then you have to look at racing as if it is another day of training. In training the focus stays simple but productive. It is all about making discoveries and learning from mistakes. We are ALWAYS GETTING FASTER! After progress is being made skiing, I start doing sports phycology and learn the mental aspect of racing.

RACE DAY! Races are rarely at home. Preparation could start weeks before to the night prior to racing. At away races we arrive at least the day before and usually train the venue. The night before races is all about the nutrition, hydration, ski preparation, and sleeping. The morning starts with a warm-up jog, breakfast, and loading the vans. Once at the resort we get our gear and head to warm-up again at the lift. Load and head to the top for free skiing and or training courses. Followed by one to two inspection runs, more free skiing, and then warm-up and ski preparation at the top. I tend to run within the top 30. Depending on the start interval you will run at different times. Start intervals are the amount of time between each racer. Usually between 30 and 60 seconds, but can be longer. It is now time to be IN THE ZONE. A time when you are thinking nothing, remembering nothing, and doing everything automatically. Then second run you start based on result from first run; top 30 flipped and then 31, 32, 33.... First you inspect, warm-up, prep your skis, and run again. In the zone again! Now the race is over. 

Points are complicated. You collect race points based upon the amount of time between you and first. These points are added to the USSA penalty. The USSA penalty is calculated by the top 10 point skiers in he beginning and in the final results. Usually the penalty is below 100 but not always. At open races better point profiles come to the race and get the penalties to about 50. The better you do compared to the winner the better your USSA points will end up. You want your points as low as possible, and there are penalties over the summer. The lowest two scores in each event average out to be your official USSA points at the end of each list period. The list periods usually last three weeks.  Any lower points scored in that period will change the next list period. That's about it for USSA points. 

Creds: United States Ski Team

Rest in Peace to Bryce and Ronnie who were killed in an avalanche this week. They were members of the US Ski Team and preparing for their first World Cup start the following day. Ronnie from New Hampshire and Bryce from Snowbird. Allow them to ski in peace. The ski racing world will miss them dearly. 

BISOUS,

LYSS

In the end, it's not the days that count in your year. It's the life in your years!

Hey Tree Hugger's! As the year is coming to an end we need to reflect on all those fun times in 2014 and dream about 2015. Tonight was my first night out in a while, and good to be around some of my best friends. Memories were made and will always be remembered. I've been making the best of everything and facing challenges as they reach me.

Uhhhh this was really fun! PC: Scott McCulloch

2014 went off with a bang of injuries last year. I was able to recover enough to win the first Super G race that I competed in last season, exciting! Then during the summer enjoying dryland training and ski camps, but also lots and lots of lacrosse. Then all those inside jokes...I just won't go there right now. You'd probably not really understand them; for example "Japanese flag" and going to the "orthodontist". 2014 ended with a bang as well; standing on a lake setting off fireworks and sparklers with friends at midnight. 

One of my favorite nights. 

Here I come 2015! Dreaming of all the fun times to come has been amazing, but to think that they will actually happen is incredible! I cannot wait to see what will happen with skiing this season. Bucket list items to be concurred! Heading to Mexico this summer for almost three weeks, training in Chile, and then hopefully going to Zermatt for next Christmas.  Lot's of traveling this year, and I'm due for another trip to live in Europe.

Zermatt! PC: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Update! So our next race is coming up on the 10th and 11th. It will be a Qualifier, you need to ski well to gather points so that you can get a spot on the regional team, at Snowbasin. I will race one day GS and the other SL. Hopefully be able to bring my new talent to the table, and ski well and fast. Break has been really fun! We had about 6 day off of training, and then luckily Payday opened and we have been able to train three hours every morning! We have upcoming training at the Utah Olympic Park as well, and of course cardio snowshoeing! Lots to look forward to in the new year! 

BISOUS,

LYSS