Its GO TIME!

In precisely two weeks I will be competing in the first Noram races of the season, in Vernon, BC. We completed an on snow training camp in Lake Louise less then an week ago, so I feel like I had a solid adaptation to skiing on real snow. Now I’m cutting the hours down and pounding in a few more intensities to get my body ready to race.

I feel really good. Because of the fact that I started out sick last year, and things just went downhill from there; I am just relieved to know that this year I can go out, have fun and actually feel like I can race. This is a good mental state to be in, because I am not too nervous that it may inhibit my performance, but excited enough to make me ski fast and have fun, which I think is an optimal performance state for me. It’s also nice to know that I can only go up, and that there are no expectations from the last season that I need to uphold.

After the Norams in Vernon we head out to Whistler, BC for another set of races and then back home for Christmas.

But there will be very little partying and celebrating for me this holiday season, as the biggest trial races of the year start on January 2nd hear in Canmore. These races will determine who qualifies for World Cups, European tours and the U23 World Championships. If everything goes well I will be racing a few World Cups here in Canada then off to Europe to compete with the best in the world.

Wish Me Luck!

Great skiing conditions for our training camp in Lake Lousie Alberta, probably the best in the country at that time.

What a Treat!

Secret Valley

I found the snow!

Over the past few days some members of the World Cup Academy team along with a few other guests had the opportunity to stay up at the Golden Alpine Holidays Sentry Lodge out in the back country to get some early on snow skiing in. It was quite short notice but within a few days Gord Jewitt (a member of the team) along with the rest of the crowd managed to get food and logistics organized in time so that we were able to take off in a helicopter on Sunday afternoon just outside of Golden BC... We flew into Paradise!

The pictures describe it best, but the first night we were there, the tempertures cooled down quite a bit to harden the bottom baselayer of snow. With a small sprinkle of fresh powder on the second day, we were able to crust ski for miles around what is known as the Secret Valley.

Enjoy the photos!
Comfortable accommodation in the fancy Sentry Lodge

First shine of light as the sun peaks over the mountains

Rhonda enjoys the training that doesn't feel like training


Heidi completeing some nice turns down a slope



Jess Cockney getting a little air

A little technique work with no poles

Heidi and I skiing on the track