Nordic Combined Canada

When I started this season, my primary goal was making the World Championships Qualification criteria (40 continental cup points or 1 world cup point). I knew that my best shot of making that criteria was through the continental cup circuit(and I was right, I had my worst event on my one world cup chance). From June the plan had been to do the racing in North America and Klingenthal and Harrachov which meant that I had 8 races in 4 stops to make the criteria. So from the beginning I had planned to get at least 5 points a race(26th), however after Park City I found myself a little short of my projections, and in need of a few extra points(5 to be exact). After my first race in Klingenthal I was down another 5 points, and feeling really down on the whole situation, not really sure what to think about it. Now though things are back on the rails and looking better with my 17th place finish in the Sunday race in Klingenthal. It wasn’t really until the last up hill that I made any significant gains either, being in 28th with roughly 1-1.5 Km left in the ski was not the best thing. I just rolled my eyes back into my head and gav’er the last time up, and that was it. Passing 8 skiers on one climb is something that I have never done before, as I past one and then another I just kept getting stronger and stronger. It was the most pain I have ever been in, but it was worth it. Then coming out of the downhill I was able to pass another skier and holdoff all of the skiers that I had worked so hard to pass until the end. It was my best result of the season, my best time rank and the most that I have ever skied up in a race. This was still two places shy of my best result ever though, kind of disappointed, such is life though.

So now I am in Harrachov, which is in the north part of the Czech Republic. We had a chance to jump today, and I am pretty excited to be skiing here. It is a smaller k90, which will mean that it is a little easier, so it will favour the faster skiers. It has a really low flying curve, and that is something that is quite a bit different from a lot of the hills that I have been jumping this year. That will make for a good opportunity to learn a few new things on the hill. Hopefully I can move forward with that. I think that after Klingenthal, my jumping is my biggest crux. (for now). As well we were able to throw down some pre-racing intervals, on some really fun cross country ski trails today. Perhaps some of the most fun that I have had while skiing this year. The intensity was great!!! I had really good feeling to go, my legs had lots to give, and I was feeling really strong. I am really pumped to head into this weekends racing, cause I am feeling fit.

It turned out to be a wicked week for the Ski Jumpers. In Sapporo, Japan Mackenzie was able to score some really valuable and tough to come by World Cup points. A feat that is very difficult in a sport that is so tight. Congrats, that is wicked. Yukon was also skiing in the Sapporo World Cup, and had a really good result. As well when Yukon and Eric where in Korea they were able to throw down some fantastic results there. Fantastic skiing all around. The Women’s Special Jumping team were in Baunlage, Germany scoring their first career points, good stuff. This whole time the Juniors were in Ischpaming, Michigan killing it at North American Junior Championships. Sebastian laid the hurt on during the Nordic Combined event, having the fastest time by over 90 seconds, and Chanon winning the Special Jumping events. Also notable was Dusty’s 2^nd place and Bobby’s 4^th place results.

Luv you too

Last weekends event was my lowest quality skiing that I have performed in competition and I am not sure whether I should be disappointed that it happened in a World Cup. It is in the past now and I need to take what I can from it and move forward to the next thing, the next event, the next challenge.  So here I am in Klingenthal Germany, and after a few really good days on the jump hill and good fitness I am ready to get after a good event. I feel as though I am really close to a good day!

It seems as though it will be team North America here, with the two teams working closely with each other, sharing what we have. It is a really positive energy and I think that every athelete here is really looking forward to a solid event.

This week is CANfund awareness week, and they have asked us to promote the CANfund. They are an organization that has supported hundreds of athletes, and have received their highest amount of applicants ever. 600 athletes have applied for this grant this go around and it is their goal to give it to as many as possible. For more information visit their website: http://canadianathletesnow.ca/

With official training tomorrow, and racing of Saturday and Sunday, this is going to be an exciting weekend!! I have heard that this will be a popular event, and I can’t wait for the intensity.

Carpe Diem

Life seems to have found a way to level out after the fairly heck-tick and relaxing break over the holidays (not too sure if that makes any sense !?!?).  It was really nice to have a chance to head home over Christmas, but I am really excited about being back in the saddle and priming for racing again. It seems like yesterday I was getting back from Park City and looking forward to the break, funny how that works. I say Situation: normal, but it seems as racing season is anything but “normal” there are always problems and situations that have to be dealt with, some larger then others. Take now for example, I am Jet lagged, it was -9 yesterday and now it’s pouring rain, and the internet is being problematic. I guess it wouldn’t be Europe or a racing season if these kinds of things weren’t happening. At the least I am not sick, I am motivated and all my bags showed up at the same airport I did. What else does a skier really need?

Right now I am in Schonach Germany, preparing for my first World Cup race of the season. I am really excited to be competing at the highest level possible, and am not nervous at all and do not feel the “need” to get results. I feel I am here for experience and a really good race, and maybe score a point or two if I ski fast enough. I am feeling relaxed and calm, ready to ski relaxed and strong, and if that can happen then I know that the results will come. Unfortunately though there is a team event here, and I am solo so it will only be one race for me, however I will get a chance to watch a World Cup live. That is something that I do not get the opportunity to do very often.

The hill in Schonach was rebuilt this summer and I was able to jump yesterday. I did not like the way the old hill skied at all, and I am very happy with the changes that were made. The old jump had a very short and sharp curve to the inrun which made it difficult to maintain a proper inrun position, and a very short take-off making it tough to nail the timing on the end of the jump. These two problems were fixed this summer as well as a re-profile of the landing hill, and I am very happy with the way that the new hill skis. I am excited to compete on the new hill, and I think that i have a good chance to do well in the jumping portion of the event. The race course this year is the same as it was last year, which means it will be a painful race. There is long climbs and fast twisty descents, which will make for a tough slog of a race. I cant wait.

It seems as though all of Canada is getting ready for competition. The Special Jumping team had Official Training in Sapporo Japan yesterday, with Mackenize Boyd-Clowes jumping into the top 10, and Eric Mitchell in the top 30. I am really pumped to see how they do tomorrow, they have been jumping so well over the past couple weeks, I hope that they will kill it. The Junior team is in Ischpaming Minnesota right now getting ready for North American Junior championships, and Sebastien was skiing really fast before we left. I am looking forward to seeing his results from that, they should be fast. As well Mini and Alex will have a chance to get in some really good racing and Dusty and Bobby will hopefully kill it on the special jumping end of things. This is going to be an exciting weekend for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined, keep your eyes out for some good Canadian results. I can feel it.

As I get ready for a wet a sloppy day, I am looking forward to the days to come. It should be fun to play in the Slush and perhaps maybe even enjoy a little of the liquid sunshine. It’s time for plan B: Giv’r (that may have been the plan the whole time though)

Wesley Savill