12/29/08

World Cup Qwest - Back to the Slopes

Leaning inside will never get you very far when ski racing and, in my case, caused me to have a crash in the Lake Louise Super G on December 7, 2008. At first, I was disappointed to be going home with a broken wrist, but with the Internet, I was able to follow my friends and teammates on the tour. Web sites like Universal Sports and FIS’s official site make it as easy as a click of a button to look up results and watch races. As I was keeping tabs on the World Cup and Europa Cup racing scene overseas, I began to appreciate what a big step this is for fans everywhere, but especially in America. Most races, with a few exceptions, happen in Europe, so it is nice for Americans living in ski towns to be able to watch the best skiing in the world as it is happening. So, in my...

Posted at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

12/01/08

World Cup Weekend

The ski season is getting ready to start full swing and everyone is getting amped. As excitement increases, I try to remember why I am a professional ski racer traveling the world with the United States Ski Team. I have been skiing since I was 2 years old. Over the years, the love of the sport has become a part of me.

We followed the early season snow to Colorado and have been training here for the last couple of weeks. Although I had an excellent summer, doing lots of dryland and taking classes at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, as the temperature drops, the urge to compete slowly takes over. The slopes of Copper Mountain and Keystone resorts have been crowded with other ski enthusiasts trying to take advantage of the early season snow and the training slopes are...

Posted at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2

12/01/08

Mountain Bike Cowboy

I am very lucky to be a poor mountain biker. Maybe a bit of explanation is needed. I've plotted a winding loop through Round Valley's many trails and ride and run the loop on a regular basis. One day I was rolling along and very nearly missed hitting a large, steamy cow patty. Had I been a faster biker I would have plowed right through the mess! A few minutes later I spotted the depositor of said patty - actually there were a dozen or so cows ambling through the brush. My first thought was, "Why are there cows here? Isn't this supposed to be protected open space?" My second thought was, "Them there are breacher cows - gotta round 'em up" as my father-in-law up in Wyoming would put it. I have to say, the thought of wrangling up some cattle on my mountain bike was...

Posted at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments: 3