Methow Skiers

Hello Methow skiers,

Please spread the word about the Cascade Challenge Ski camp. Sadie and I will be hosting the camp on December 23rd. All skiers who want to attend must sign up and due to insurance policies we can only have 50 kids, that means there are only a few spots left. Don't get left out, sign up today!

Click on this
or use this link;
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ao0bySIfp2UldHhwWDZJWVNsYTBscjRXNHBqVmRkQ3c#gid=0

Ups and Downs

Racing on the World Cup is different; last week was my introduction to this whole new level of racing and I must say it is AWESOME!! My debut to this level of racing was a sprint in the center of Quebec City. We raced in front of the parliament building and it felt like what I imagine NFL players feel like, well maybe not exactly, but close. 

Sprint-Québec-2012 from Dizi Films inc. on Vimeo.

The whole racecourse was just packed with screaming spectators and there were tons of American flags out there. I did not end up having the best luck, which was extremely upsetting and disappointing at the moment. I was having what felt like one of the best sprint qualifiers of my career when I fell less then a hundred meters from the finish. The conditions were extremely tricky with deep sugary snow. It was important to be light on the feet and keep the tempo up. In the past, I have struggled with going out too easy and racing conservatively. This time I was not holding anything back, I went out hard and everything was going great until I caught my tip and fell. It is important for me to move past these races as there are several more opportunities coming up. I am just glad I am in good form and hope I can build on it through the season. This year has a lot of exciting races on the schedule and I can't wait!

Ian Harvey Photo

Flyingpointroad Photo

Now I am in Canmore getting ready for the next set of World Cups. I will be racing a 15 kilometer mass start on Thursday, a sprint on Saturday and a 30km mass start duathalon on Sunday. Getting Pumped!

The view from my hotel in Canmore

World Cup

Wow, what an exciting series of racing!! We had three Super Tour races in the last four days. A skate sprint on Thursday, a classic sprint on Saturday, and a classic 15km on Sunday. Oh and I had a final exam on Friday, which may have been the hardest. Luckily they all went extremely well. I never got the win that I wanted so badly, but I came pretty close. I got a 2nd, 3rd, and 6th. 

Coming up a little short in the skate sprint. Fasterskier photo 

Leading one of the Quaterfinal heats. Erin Phillips Photo

We had a mass start on Sunday. Fasterskier Photo

I'm on a plane on my way to Quebec City and I'm not going there to be a spectator. Yup, that does mean I'm racing the World Cups in Canada. I'm so excited and I'm still a little bit in shock that in three days I will be racing against all those hot shots that have been my heroes and idles since I started getting serious about skiing. I guess its time to change my state of mind; no longer are these guys super stars to me, now these guys are my competition and on friday I want to beat some of them. 

BRING IT ON PETTER NORTHUG

So, how did I get this opportunity to race the World Cup? It has been a goal of mine since May when I heard that there where going to be World Cup races in North America. In order to represent the U.S. I knew that I would need to be one of the top skiers on the Super Tour circuit(U.S. circuit) in order to qualify. I accomplished my goal-  last night when I checked my computer I had an email from the U.S. Ski Team coach saying I was invited to compete for the U.S. in both Quebec and Canmore. I'm also the Super Tour leader which means I get World Cup start rights for three other World Cup weekends in Europe. I'm so happy that I had a successful series of races, because it has opened up the opportunity to race at the next level, the very top level. Maybe in five or ten years I will be writing to you guys and telling you how I'm the World Cup leader…it's possible.

After Canmore I will be headed back to the Methow Valley. I'm super excited to go home and celebrate the holidays with my family. I will also be hosting a kids camp for any younger skiers in town, It's free and its going to be a jolly good time. Check out my flyer and if your interested go to the link and sign up. Remember to sign up right away though, because there are only 50 spots this time, due to insurance policies.

Click here or use the link below;
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ao0bySIfp2UldHhwWDZJWVNsYTBscjRXNHBqVmRkQ3c#gid=0