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