The past ten days have been a blur. What started as a grueling four days on the NorAm circuit got extended into a little over a week of racing, or a race atmosphere, as I was able to forerun the World Cup races in Beaver Creek.
NorAms
Throughout the 4-day NorAm series (2GS, 2SL) I really tried to keep my focus on establishing a solid position over the skis and skiing within my ability. In the past I have felt like only a perfect run would do in these races, making me press and take unnecessary risks. This is because these NorAms are not only the first ones of the year but also include more World Cup racers than I will face the entire year. The GSs in Aspen had 13 of the top 30 skiers in the world, and the slaloms in Loveland had nearly as many. Most of my North American competition started in the top seed from last year’s NorAm points, something I missed out on due to injury. Coupled with the WC stack of skiers, I started bib of 37 in slalom and 45 in GS.
I made it down both runs all four days with results that I am proud of and put myself in a great position for the next NorAm tech series in Panorama, Canada. There I should be the top North American in GS and the second in SL.
The highlight run of the series had to be finishing 6th on the second run of the first GS in Aspen. With the field of competition so high it was hugely motivating to know that I could match up with the best in the world when I get on a clean course (I ran 1st after finishing 30th first run). GS has taken a back seat to slalom lately, but as UVM coach Johnny Davidson put it I am a “born again” GS skier! Here is a link to a video from that run was sent to me from the Dodge boot guys.http://sharing.theflip.com/session/2d7d13d7f1c633fb0a8e03fed02be450/video/34708231
Beaver Creek
I knew that it would be possible to forerun the Beaver Creek World Cup GS, but I was wholly unprepared when Forest Carey, the men’s Europa Cup head coach, asked me if I wanted to forerun the super g. I have only trained one day of SG since getting to Colorado and the Birds of Prey SG is no walk in the park. I though it over for a few minutes and weighed whether this was an opportunity to make every race for the rest of the season feel slower or a risk to finishing the season in one piece. I had already made it further into the season than last year without breaking something, and didn’t want to push my luck. What the hell, I said yes and immediately snuck onto the race hill for a little early inspection. I figured that getting two inspections on the course and getting used to the 45-degree start pitch far outweighed any trouble I would get in. What could they do, disqualify me?
The race turned out to be a lot of fun. I haven’t skied a course that well prepared since the Westendorf night slalom last year, and certainly have never experienced anything like that in a speed race. Being a part of the World Cup atmosphere, from inspection with my peers to having Baby Huey pump me up in the start, was definitely motivating to make me want to make it to The Show even more.
The GS was also a lot of fun. Again, the track was so hard and grippy it was hard not to feel good. Whenever I got late I would try and get my feet out from me even more and step on it, and the snow always held. Ted Ligety showed the world exactly how this was done in one of the best GS runs I have ever seen in my life second run, talk about taking the turn deep. Also, it was great to see Warner Nickerson score his first World Cup points of his career by placing 24th. Nice job W!
“You have me in your fantasy?”
During the first run inspection of the GS today I exchanged a few words with Marcel Hirscher, Austrian wunderkind. He was at all of the NorAms and I had spoken to him a bit before, so I didn’t think much of telling him to have a good race and that I had him getting third today in fantasy ski racing.
“You have me in your fantasy?” he asked, no doubt beginning to question our seemingly casual conversations over the last week. Oh no. I tried to explain that fantasy ski racing was just like fantasy football, but that didn’t make any sense to him either. Right. I then tried to explain about how fantasy sports work but it sounds really lame to someone who has never experience the thrill of victory in this realm (Jim you got owned this season, The Dynasty is over) and I’m not sure it got through. I gave him the name of a website to make his own fantasy team, but this might have gotten lost in translation as well. Although he's a really nice guy I’m sure he’ll be avoiding me next time we cross paths.
Throughout the 4-day NorAm series (2GS, 2SL) I really tried to keep my focus on establishing a solid position over the skis and skiing within my ability. In the past I have felt like only a perfect run would do in these races, making me press and take unnecessary risks. This is because these NorAms are not only the first ones of the year but also include more World Cup racers than I will face the entire year. The GSs in Aspen had 13 of the top 30 skiers in the world, and the slaloms in Loveland had nearly as many. Most of my North American competition started in the top seed from last year’s NorAm points, something I missed out on due to injury. Coupled with the WC stack of skiers, I started bib of 37 in slalom and 45 in GS.
I knew that it would be possible to forerun the Beaver Creek World Cup GS, but I was wholly unprepared when Forest Carey, the men’s Europa Cup head coach, asked me if I wanted to forerun the super g. I have only trained one day of SG since getting to Colorado and the Birds of Prey SG is no walk in the park. I though it over for a few minutes and weighed whether this was an opportunity to make every race for the rest of the season feel slower or a risk to finishing the season in one piece. I had already made it further into the season than last year without breaking something, and didn’t want to push my luck. What the hell, I said yes and immediately snuck onto the race hill for a little early inspection. I figured that getting two inspections on the course and getting used to the 45-degree start pitch far outweighed any trouble I would get in. What could they do, disqualify me?
During the first run inspection of the GS today I exchanged a few words with Marcel Hirscher, Austrian wunderkind. He was at all of the NorAms and I had spoken to him a bit before, so I didn’t think much of telling him to have a good race and that I had him getting third today in fantasy ski racing.
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