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

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