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

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