Road Trip!

January for American ski racers means heading to Europe, and just because I haven't filled out any FIS Intent to Compete forms lately doesn't mean that I will be denied my annual pilgrimage over to Euroland. This time, however, I'll be heading over with my older brother, Nicholas. He's never seen a European ski race in-person. I simply can't stay away.

While the trip will be short on days, only 4, we plan to go in with an assassin's mentality: go in, execute, get out. After landing Thursday morning, and shaking off jet lag, the night will be spent watching the baby bro, Kieffer, compete in the the biggest and best prepared FIS race in the world, the Westendorf Nacht Slalom. Located right next to Kitzbuhel, and scheduled the night before the World Cup SG, thousands of fans flock to this tiny little hill to get their ski racing fix early. The details for Friday are hazy, but Saturday has a strict schedule of watching the vaunted Hahnenkamm, taking an afternoon nap, frequenting the Londoner Pub to watch the day's athletes tend bar, and making it to the 11:40am flight out of MUC the following morning. That last part should be a lot of fun.

In true European-ski-trip fashion, no housing plans have been finalized, as the perfect solution has yet to show itself. This is making Nicholas rather concerned, which he is slowly realizing is already an experience he'll take away from the trip. Any other groups heading over, let me know!

Finally, super big shout out to Robby Kelley and Dave Chodounsky for both having career days this weekend at the World Cup GS and SL in Adelboden. The skiing was only slightly more impressive than the double fist pumps both showed in the finish area after their respective runs, Ray Lewis would have appreciated the intensity. Nice work boys!