Counting Down!

I was very lucky to arrive in Anchorage earlier this week without any flight cancellations or delays. The Seattle airport was complete mayhem as I frantically ran through it to catch my flight to Anchorage. I was greeted with a fresh dusting of snow and nice, cold Alaska temperatures.

Racers at Kincaid Park

The next morning I was up bright and early, ready to go for a ski at 9am…except, it was still dark! I waited another hour and half for the sun to rise and finally strapped my skis on at 11am. I was off! I enjoyed a wonderful ski at Kincaid Park, the venue for the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Championships starting next week! Due to some trail maintenance and remodeling in the past year, I felt like I was in a new place and had never skied there before! With the help of a map, I figured out the race course for the sprints and the distance races. Within the first ten minutes of my ski, I ran into a moose chomping on a tree. That was when I really knew I was skiing in Alaska!

One of many moose I've run into on the ski trails

It snowed 8 inches on Christmas. The ski trails are in pristine shape and Kincaid Park is bustling with people as they prepare to host U.S. Nationals next week. The countdown is on…seven days till the first race! I will keep you posted on how things go. In the meantime, I’ll be trying to keep warm with temperatures getting as cold as 10 below zero!

Check out www.anchoragenordicski.com for a link to U.S. National info and results

Canadian NorAm Recap

It’s hard to believe we are half way through December and Christmas is fast approaching! After spending two solid weeks in Silver Star, I now have 7 races under my belt and the season is officially on.

View of Silver Star Ski Resort

The first weekend in Silver Star started with a skate sprint. I had a slow start but managed to squeak into the quarterfinals. My body felt flat and slow but I tried to push as hard as I could. The next day was a 10k skate. I didn’t feel great but kept a steady pace throughout the race. After getting passed by Milaine Theriault and Caitlin Compton within the first 2k, I felt a little discouraged but kept pushing. I finished the race disappointed with my effort but soon found out that I placed 14th. That was a lot better than I expected! Knowing that I didn’t feel my best but managed to get in the top 15 lifted my spirits.

After four days of rest, I found myself warming up again, this time for a 15k skate mass-start. This was the race I was most excited for! I went into the race mentally ready to push my body as hard as I could. The lead pack of girls stuck together well into 5k and then started to break up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hang with the lead group but I managed to stay with the second pack. Going into the second 7.5k loop, I was leading the pack. I had fast skis and had no problems keeping up and passing on the down hills. I worked the uphill and put a gap on the group of girls I was skiing with in the last 1k. It was a steady climb to the finish and I skied to the point of having blurry vision and wheezing in my lungs. It came down to a sprint at the finish and I gave it everything I had…just enough to nip my competitor at the finish line. I finished 11th and was pleased with my effort.

The coaches hard at work!

Only seventeen hours later, I was back at the venue warming-up for the classic sprint.Whew! I felt tired. My legs felt heavy and slow from the race the day before. Trying not to think about the way my body felt, I started the prelims and skied as hard as I could. I finished 23rd…good enough to qualify for the quarterfinals. But once again, I did not have the quickness and pop to advance to the semi-finals. Disappointed with my race, I finished a good cool-down to get the lactic acid out of my legs and tried to begin my recovery to prepare for the race the next day.

View of stadium during the classic sprint race...kinda nasty!

Rumors of a cold front moving through the area and temperatures getting down to -20 C raised the question as to whether or not the race was going to happen. One hour before the race started, (we raced at 5pm, in the dark) it was decided that the race was officially on. Alright, one more time! I began my warm-up in -16 C degrees and in the pitch dark. There were areas of the course where there were NO lights and of course it had to be on the sweeping down hill. After some slight confusion as to how to get to the start line, I got there with only a few seconds to spare. I was off! On the first lap of the 3 lap course, I felt like I was hammering. I didn’t now if I really was skiing fast or if it was just the sensation of racing at night, in the dark. I received splits that I was 7th overall. I kept a steady pace the next 2 laps and finished 9th , 4th American. Whew, I could feel the lungs burn and I could taste the lactic acid after the race. Despite the frigid temperatures, I skied a good cool-down and cheered the guys on. After getting numb fingers and a super cold nose, I tired to pack up as quickly as possible and head back to the house to warm-up.

Sunset coming down from the race venue

The next morning we began our 17 hour drive back to Sun Valley. It took us two days, but we made it. I am currently in Ketchum, getting ready to head to Alaska early next week. U.S. Nationals are just around the corner and I am feeling more and more ready as the time approaches. Stay tuned for updates on the races. Have a Merry Christmas!

A very tired Mikey Sinnott on the van ride home.

Finding the Sweet Spot

In athletics, whatever the sport may be, there is a certain point or position in which your body finds its “sweet spot”…the ability to perform a certain element of sport particularly well. In baseball or tennis, it might be hitting the ball with the bat or racquet in that optimal location that will send the ball flying the farthest. I have transferred this idea to skiing and have tried to come up with certain elements that put you in that “sweet spot.” In skiing however, there are combinations of several factors that contribute to finding that suitable condition…technique, feel of skis, mind, body, etc.

This is on my mind because I have yet to find that sweet spot in my racing this year. After two weekends of racing, it’s been a rough start and I am left asking myself why? Is it fatigue, is it the need to get back into racing mode, is it the fact that I’ve been skiing on snow for only two weeks, is it the inability to push my body, is it my technique, is it in my mind? All of these questions contribute to possible reasons for my disappointing performances, yet they leave me with guidance as to what I need to work on and how I might be able to find that sweet spot. I have felt that sweet spot before and I know that it exists. Knowing that I have found it in the past, encourages me to find it again.

It is difficult not to be too hard on yourself when you don’t get the results you want. I have to remember that it is a long season and these races are just the beginning. A lot can change in four months or even one month for that matter! U.S. Nationals are four weeks away and I am aiming for good results there…in my hometown of Anchorage, Alaska!

Our racing schedule until U.S. Nationals is up in the air. We are supposed to race in Whistler next weekend, but due to lack of snow, the races may be cancelled or moved. I will keep you updated as to where my travels take me!

SKIS, SKIS and MORE SKIS

The beginning of the season not only means its time to race, but it also means its time to “get to know your skis.” Warm skis, cold skis, fine snow skis, klister skis, stiff skis, soft skis, ZR1 grind, Q1 grind, 0+ grind, LJ03 grind and it goes on and on. Those of you familiar with skiing may understand all this jargon, but those of you not as familiar with skiing might wonder what all this means.

Every season I receive two new pairs of classic skis and two new pairs of skate skis. I currently have 16 pairs of skis (I think I counted right). You ask “why so many skis?” Each ski has a different flex and grind, and is better in certain conditions. Generally speaking, colder skis have a finer grind and warmer skis have a courser grind. The fine grind is more suitable for dry, cold snow because the snow crystals are smaller. The course grind allows moisture and water to stream down the grooves of the ski, preventing the skis from having a “sucking” feeling.

With the addition of four pairs of skis, it is important to ski them in a few times during training to get the feel of them and determine what conditions they work best in and how they compare to skis you “know” from previous years. It is best to “test” them against other skis in your fleet to see how much faster or slower they run. The first race in West Yellowstone is usually a great place to do this. Unfortunately, the usual ski trails do not have snow on them and the plateau is not ideal for ski testing, so we are unable to ski on our new skis and test them. Hopefully we will get some good snow in the next few days, not only so we can race, but so we can also “get to know our skis.”

The Sun Valley Ski Team getting ready to hit the trails.

Are You Ready?

It’s that time of year again…several people around the country have witnessed their first snow fall of the season and others have strapped their skis on for the first time…that was me yesterday morning. Snow was in the forecast but I dismissed the possibility of there actually being snow on the ground until I stumbled out of bed and glanced out the window. Sure enough, there was 2 inches of snow blanketing the ground! I was immediately wide awake and excited with the possibility of going for my first ski of the season! Since yesterday, I have enjoyed two great 2 ½ hour skis up near Galena.

First glance out the window

Set tracks

A snowy ski!

Ski number 2

The first snow fall is always a sure sign, and a good reminder, that racing is just around the corner…West Yellowstone races are less than 4 weeks away! Every day I ask myself “what can I do today to better prepare myself for racing in 4 weeks?” I think back to previous years and contemplate what I have done before to prepare for some of my best performances…and this is what I come up with:

1) Train smart- what exactly does this mean? For me, it means to complete each workout as it is meant to be completed…train level 1 when I am supposed to and train level 3 or 4 when I am supposed to. It is also important to go into each workout mentally prepared. Be ready to give your best effort in a hard interval workout, be ready to challenge yourself in a spenst/plyo workout, try your hardest to lift that 50 pound dumbbell during your strength routine.

2) Stay healthy- As the season changes and the air temperature gets colder and colder, wear the appropriate clothing during training. Also remember to bring an extra change of clothes for after the workout. Along with staying warm, it is important to be cautious of how your body is feeling and doing what it takes to escape from getting any kind of bug going around. Remember to wash your hands after going to the gym, take that extra emergen-C, and get that extra hour of sleep.

3) Get appropriate nutrients- this is a big one for me. I don’t know about you, but I always feel much better when I watch what I eat and make a conscious effort to eat a well balanced diet. As an athlete with asthma and a past history of low iron, I limit my intake of dairy, eat more red meat and green leafy vegetables and watch my consumption of teas and coffee during the racing season.

You may or may not be able to relate to these few points, but I have learned from past experience, that these simple tasks make a big difference. Take the extra effort to hone in on one, two or all three aspects as you prepare for this next season. I guarantee you, you’ll notice a difference!

A Sweep for the Cutthroats

This fall I've had the opportunity to help with the Community School Cross-Country Running Team. This past weekend proved to be very exciting as both the boys and girls teams ran their hearts out at the district meet, the qualifying race for the state meet next weekend. Both teams went into the meet not knowing exactly how they would match up against some of their competition. I encouraged each racer to run as hard as they had run in the previous races and assured them that they would not have a problem qualifying. The girls team smoked their competition. They finished with 38 points...the next team had 52! Way to go girls!

The girls team...all smiles before the race.

Bronwen and Morgan leading the pack.

The boys race proved to be a little tighter than the girls race...they were neck and neck with their competitors. We encouraged each racer to either make up ground on the runner in front of them or try to keep the position they were in. After some quick math half way through the race, they were 2 points ahead.

And the boys are off!

The Cutthroats number 1 runner, Sam, on the final stretch.

After some impressive sprint finishes, we were pretty confident that the boys team had secured their qualifying position for state. After waiting 30 minutes for the final results, rumors were circulating that there was a tie between the first and second place teams! The final result was dependent upon the sixth runner. We lucked out because for the first time all season, we actually had a sixth runner...not to mention that it was his first running race ever! Thanks Tanner for running so fast! The boys won by one point!

For the first time in school history, the Cutthroats swept the District meet and qualified a full boys and girls squad to the State Championships! Congratulations Cutthroats and best of luck to you next weekend! Way to go!

The #1 team in the District!

Roadblocks

What makes you strong? Is it the hours of training you put in day after day, the number of squats and push-ups you can do, how hard you can push yourself in an interval, the roadblocks and tough times you encounter throughout your athletic career…?

All of them! If you ask any athlete what makes them strong, I’m sure they would agree that all of those things build you up as an athlete and as an individual. I have learned, through my own personal experience, the impact and importance of experiencing tough times during ones athletic career.

When asked to reflect upon my own roadblock, I was immediately reminded of my senior year at UAA in 2006. After coming off a stellar year of racing and ending my 2005 season with a 2^nd place finish at NCAA’s, I entered the 2006 racing season with results in the 90’s at U.S. Nationals, the worst I had ever finished by far! “What is wrong with me?” That was the first question that came to my mind. “Am I physically out of shape, mentally out of racing, did I do the wrong training?” All these questions swarmed my mind as I struggled to figure out why I was performing so badly. I decided that I had to put my mental thoughts to the test. I went into the next race 110 percent, ready to push my body to its limit. After racing as hard as I could, I finished the race with my worst placing ever in a colligate race; I ended up 23^rd, even after putting in my best effort. I was absolutely distraught and frustrated! Here I was in my senior year, captain of the ski team, feeling the high expectations from myself, coaches and peers to perform as well as I did the year before and I was dead last on the team. I had no excuse or answer as to why I was performing the way I was.

As soon as I got back home, blood tests were performed and soon after, I found out that my iron levels were very low. I was clinically diagnosed as anemic. I had a sense of relief after discovering that there actually was a physiological reason behind my sub-par performances, but I immediately wondered what it was going to take to get me back to where I was racing before. I was informed that there is no "quick-fix" for anemia. It takes three full months for iron stores to return to their full carrying capacity. I figured that if I could at least double the iron level I was currently at by the time NCAA’s rolled around, then I would feel twice as good. Right?

I spent the next couple months taking a substantial amount of iron supplements and was very conscientious of my food intake. The results from the races leading up to NCAA’s were nothing great, but I kept a good, positive head on my shoulders and kept striving for my goal…to get top 10 at NCAA’s.

When NCAA’s finally arrived in March in Steamboat Colorado, I was ready to go! This was it! My classic result wasn’t anything to brag about but I was happy with my performance. I finished just shy of top-10 in the skate race, but I was satisfied because I knew that I had pushed myself as hard as I could.

Whoa! I was filled with relief after the last race of the season. It was finally over! Despite my results, I finished the year knowing that I had tried my best and strangely enough, stronger. I learned the importance of patience, humility and keeping a positive attitude. I don’t ever wish to be in that situation again, but I must admit that I don’t regret what it taught me. I grew as an athlete and as an individual during that time and I did not let it stop be from pursuing my long-term goal of training for the 2010 Olympics…that is where I am today. Since then, each year has been a steady improvement. I remind myself of where I started from and how far I have come. Whenever I encounter a rough spot in my training or in my ski career, I am reminded of the importance of patience and the importance of keeping a positive attitude. With these two qualities, any athlete will only grow stronger and stronger.

Kid's of All Ages!

It’s great! I get to work with kids of all ages…not just 6-10 year olds but 30-50 year olds as well! This past weekend, I had the opportunity to help with a roller-ski clinic for the Idaho Nordic Masters Ski Program. When I was informed that only a hand full of the athletes had been on roller skis this summer, I have to admit, I was a little frightened. Roller skiing is not the easiest task to pick up right away...the balance and coordination takes some getting used too.

I was pleasantly surprised by the effort and skill of these athletes on roller skis for the first time this summer! Wow, they looked better than me the first time I go out for the season. It was fun working with people who have such an eagerness to learn and improve upon their ski technique. At this particular clinic, we focused on poling, both for double-pole classic technique and V2 skate technique. More specifically we focused on getting our hands and hips up at the same time, “tucking our tails,” keeping our arms closer to our body and crunching with our stomachs. Once we practiced our upper body technique, we progressed to mastering our lower body skate technique. We worked on getting a forward lean, pushing off our feet to the side (rather than back), and pushing to each side evenly. So much to think about! While all these tid-bits seemed over-whelming to think about at once, we saw a lot of progress within the 2 hour ski session.

I really enjoy working with the Idaho Nordic Team! They are a fun group of skiers who share the same enthusiasm for skiing as I do. They are a very supportive group of people who are always interested to hear how our summer training is going and eager to hear what our ski results are.

Thank you Idaho Nordic for all your support! Keep up the good, hard work!

Joe Jensen laying it out there at the 2008 World Master Championships

Mixing it up...

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a rafting trip with some of my fellow teammates down the Salmon River. Now, when you think of a rafting trip, you most likely think of sitting in a raft all day floating down a river, throwing in a few paddles here and there. While this was somewhat true, we managed to find several great running trails along the river to keep us on track with our training. A recovery week enabled us to enjoy a week with less volume but it in no way allowed us to sit in the raft all week...especially when our coach was on the trip with us!

After a 4 hour drive, which turned into 7 hours, we finally arrived at the put-in at the North Fork of the Salmon River. Much to my surprise, we managed to fit the gear of 13 paddlers into 3 gear boats!!! I was convinced that there was no way we were going to fit everything, but such was not the case. I learned that you can bring whatever luxuries you desire on a rafting trip...there is always a way to fit more. Who would go rafting without, bochi, horse shoes, a folding lawn chair, or 4 coolers full of gourmet food? These become necessities on a rafting trip!

Yep, all that gear fit in 3 boats!

The first couple days we enjoyed warm sunshine and the freedom to sleep outside without a tent. By day 3 the clouds had caught up to us and we got stuck in a thunderstorm, which lasted all night! The clouds, wind, and cold stuck around for 2 days and we were forced to sleep in our tents and bundle up in the all the clothes we brought with us.

A beautiful, sunny day on the river!

Danielle and I bundled up, the AK way, with our full-body rain suites!

Rain or shine, Mikey, Colin and I always found a way to accomplish our training for the day. There was a great trail along the river that we ran on most days. While it was a pretty well-traveled trail, we had to be very careful of poison ivy! I quickly learned what it looked like and made a cautious effort to dodge and jump over anything that resembled the plant! Luckily, we all came away from the trip unscathed! In addition to running 2-3 hours each day, we managed to do a couple strength workouts on the beach. We got creative and came up with some great exercises that I must admit, made me a little sore.

Running through the woods

We had a great trip, and I would definitely suggest doing rafting trip on your next recovery week. It is a great way to mix up the monotony of training while maintaining good fitness and experiencing a new activity.

Paddles up!

Back to School

It's hard to believe, but its that time of year again! With new school shoes, new notebooks, and new pencils, the Wood River students hit the books at the beginning of the week. They are no longer attending camps, such as the YMCA summer camp that I helped with, rather they are busy with their school work.

I have to admit that the summer flew by. I had a great time helping with the YMCA summer camp and was saddened that it came to an end so fast. I got to know the kids very well, and even got pampered by the end of camp. A few of the girls decided that, as a counselor, I deserved a back message. I had no problems with that!

Getting a back message from Cambria

I won't see the kids on a regular basis, but I hope they come visit me in the Kid's Gym at the YMCA throughout the year. I had a great summer and enjoyed going on field trips, climbing on the rock wall, playing games, and swimming with the kids. I'm already looking forward to next year!

The kids and I in our ITA shirts!

A Solid Week of Training

Last week, the Sun Valley Olympic Development Ski Team enjoyed the training company of the Continental Cup U.S. Ski Team. With the addition of these 7 athletes, the intensity and caliber of the workouts were increased ten-fold. It was a great opportunity for my team and I to train with different people and have a solid week of training. I put in a 23-hour week, packed with two over-distance workouts, two intensity workouts, one time-trial and four easy distance workouts focusing on technique. Oh, and I can't forget the intense wiffle-ball tournament we had against the U.S. Ski Team...we crushed them:)

Here are some pictures of our 4-hour run in the Sawtooth Valley yesterday. We hit up 9 lakes on a 20-mile loop. Great run!

The girls making their way up the pass

A brief stop for a picture

A refreshing dip in the lake at the end of the run!

Woo Hoo

Last month, Kate Whitcomb and I had the privilege to spend an afternoon with my YMCA kids. We introduced them to cross-country skiing by showing them a video that demonstrated the different ski techniques and showed what we do for summer training. We were bombarded with tons of great questions. We proceeded to take them outside and play games and have them do a mini strength circuit routine. Here is a brief clip of the ski video I showed then and a clip of all the excitement we had together!

Only in Alaska...

I was in Alaska earlier this month and I was reminded how unique, or some might say crazy, Alaska really is. Here are just a few situations I ran into while I was in there.

ONLY IN ALASKA...

-do you have to wait for a bull moose to get out of your path

-do you go for a run at 10:00pm because it feels like 6:00pm

-do you see “DANGER: BEAR SIGHTED” signs everywhere!

-does a mama moose and her calves run across the street in front of you while you are roller skiing

-do you see huge, white capped mountain in the middle of July

-do you hear the neighbor’s lawn mower roaring at 11:00pm

-are people crazy enough to race up rocky and cliffy croppings

- do people wear shorts and t-shirts when it’s a balmy 50 degrees

I am currently back in Sun Valley, Idaho training with my team and helping at the YMCA summer camp every day. I am having a lot of fun with the kids! Each week is packed with fun "themed" activities. This week's theme is "Campers to the Rescue." In light of that, a couple forest rangers took us on a hike today. Here is a picture of a few kids and I eager to start our hike.

4th of July Tradition

The 4th of July just wouldn't be complete without racing in Seward's Mt. Marathon Race...at least that's what I decided two weeks before the race. As a result, I flew up to Alaska the beginning of the week, enjoyed some time with friends and family and drove down to Seward to race the infamous Mt. Marathon on Friday. Now, for those of you who have no idea what Mt. Marathon is, let me summarize it by saying "its the super bowl of mountain racing." Hundreds of people race up and down this 3,022 foot mountain with an average grade of 45 degrees. The race starts on main street and takes you a half mile to the base of the mountain. From there you climb up a rock face, hang on to tree roots and branches for dear life and continue to scramble up scree. Once you make it to the top, only half the battle is complete...the other half is racing down the mountain and making it to the bottom in one piece. This year there was a 400 foot snow field at the top of the mountain, which made for some restful glissading. Here is a video of the race and some pictures to give you an idea of what the excitement is all about!

RESULTS:

Women:
1. Cedar Bourgeios 52:11
2. Holly Brooks 55:29
3. Nicole De Yong 58:40
4. Aubrey Smith 58:57
5. Denali Foldager 1:01

Men:
1. Trond Flagstad 44:03
2. Sam Hill 45:49
3. Matias Saari 46:42
4. Brad Precosky 46:49
5. Jens Beck 47:04

A racer beginning his trek up the mountain

Headed up the rock face

Watch your step!

Me, rounding the flagpole at the top of the mountain

Trond, making his way down the final stretch to take 1st!!!

Big congratulations to Trond Flagstad, my former UAA ski coach, for winning his first Mt. Marathon title after placing 2nd for the past three years! He recorded the third fasted time in the 81 years of Mt. Marathon history. Way to go!!!! Here is a link to a video:
http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/vmix/player.php?ID=1981081&GENRES=00000182&GID=118

Bend Recap

The Sun Valley ski team enjoyed a great on-snow ski camp the beginning of June in Bend, Oregon. This video and blog is long past due, but I wanted to post in anyway. I hope you enjoy!

Doing What I Love Most!

After 2 months of minimal running due to an achilles injury, I am back to doing what I love most...running in the mountains! This past week, I accomplished four runs without any pain, one of which was 3 1/2 hours! I'm excited to be back on my feet, especially during this summer season of training. I am surrounded by several great trails in the Sun Valley area and after living here for two years, I still don't know half of them.

Here is a clip of my Over-distance run yesterday, up Champion Creek in the Sawtooth Valley with Colin Rodgers. The video doesn't do the scenery I witnessed justice, but I thought I'd post it anyway. You will notice that most of the run, is through burnt trees. There was a forest fire 3 summers ago in the area. Forest fires are fairly common in the late summer and as we experienced last summer, they make training really difficult when they are in your area.

Enjoy!

Field Trip to the Ice Caves!

Last week was the first week of summer camp at the YMCA! Just to give you an idea of the amount of fun we had on our field trip, check out the video. We traveled an hour and a half, by bus, with 20 ten-year-old kids, to visit the Planetarium. On our way back to Sun Valley, we stopped at the infamous ice caves. Check it out! We had a great time!

VIDEOS!

I promised a video update a month ago when I first received the flip camera and haven't gotten it to work until tonight! I am psyched! I have to warn you that this is my first movie-making attempt so there is quite a bit of improvement to be had. I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I enjoyed making them.

WHISTLER CAMP 2008:
We stopped at the Pike's Place Market in route to Vancouver. I enjoyed checking out all the fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh cut flowers! The skiing was great in Whistler...check it out for yourself.



ALASKA SPRING SKIING!
Here is a glimpse of the wonderful spring skiing in Alaska. I am skiing with my sister, Kristy and my friend, Laura. We tend to get a little goofy when we're skiing in the sun, so here is a peak at how goofy we get:)

My Travels Continue...

As I write this, I am sitting in the Salt Lake City Airport…in transit from Alaska to Sun Valley. Since my last post, my travels brought me to Whistler, B.C., the site for the 2010 Olympics, for an on-snow ski camp and then up to Alaska for a friends wedding.

The training in Whistler was great! As we expected, there was still about 3 feet of snow at the race venue in Callaghan Valley. We were blessed with great weather and enjoyed many hours of skiing, even in the sun! The first day I skied, I got goose-bumps all over my body just thinking how the trails I was skiing on at that moment are the trails I will hopefully be racing on in the 2010 Olympics. I arrived at the race venue with a different perspective. I was not there to race, I had no need to get the race jitters, I was solely there to get in quality ski training and familiarize myself with the trails. After a week of training, I was already becoming more comfortable with the lay-out of the trails and I was able to visualize the courses and know where each uphill, down-hill, cut-off and turn was.

Mali (left) and Kate (right, In the Arena athlete) ski on the perfectly groomed trail

Not only was the skiing great, but we had some great team bonding time. Without the added stress of worrying about racing, everyone on the team was able to relax and enjoy each others company. We were also able to get to know our new coach for the Sun Valley Olympic Development Team, Travis Jones. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed playing silly games such as elefun!

Unfortunately my fun with the team ended early and I flew up to Alaska a few days before the Whistler camp was over. I was bummed to miss the opportunity to see a Mariners game in Seattle with the team, but I was fortunate enough to be able to fly up to Alaska for my friend, Kikkan Randall’s wedding! When I arrived, the mountains were still covered with ample snow. I decided that skiing didn’t have to be over for the season yet! The next morning I drove up the mountains with my sister and a friend and we enjoyed the best crust skiing ever! It was a beautiful sunny day and the snow was hard enough to ski anywhere! It is days like that, that I am reminded how amazing and beautiful Alaska is!

The bridesmaids and groomsmen at Kikkan and Jeff's wedding. Yep those are hot pink dresses!

Despite great snow in the mountains, I was not able to make it back up there to ski later in the week. Temperatures were not getting below freezing; therefore a crust was not forming to ski on. Instead, I got the roller skis out and began my summer season of roller ski training. I have been doing quite a bit of roller skiing instead of running, due to a foot injury. Hopefully it will heal fast and I will be back to my full capabilities.

Out on a crust ski in Alaska with my friend Laura (left)

The week was filled with lots of wedding festivities and ended with a beautiful ceremony in Talkeetna, Alaska. Once again, we were blessed with beautiful weather and enjoyed a crystal clear view of Mt. McKinley, (not a common thing).

An amazing view of Mt. McKinley!!!!

I am currently headed to Sun Valley and excited to continue my training. At the same time, I will be helping with the after-school program at the YMCA and before long, school will be out! I am even more excited to help with the Summer Day Camps at the YMCA, which will start the beginning of June.

The next destination is Bend, Oregon for an on-snow ski camp in June. They still have a ton of snow so the skiing should be great!

Life is Good

In the past three weeks I've enjoyed some much needed time off. In previous years, I have found that the best remedy for the after-season blues is to travel some where warm and sunny. This year, I found myself in the surf town of Malpais, located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica with fellow ITA member, Zack Simons and some other friends. Now, I'm not much of a surfer but I gave it a good try until a shark was spotted on the third day! That was enough to scare me from going out in the waves. Instead, I enjoyed lounging on the beach and watching surfers from the sidelines.

Crystal and I soaking up the sun

My daily routine went a little like this: wake up, go for a little run on the beach, sip some coffee, head to the beach, seek shade by early afternoon, sip on a smoothie, head back to the beach, surf a little, enjoy the sunset, eat dinner, bed time! woa! It's surprising how a day of doing pretty much nothing can make you so tired!

A beautiful sunset!

A few mornings we were awakened to the sound of Howler Monkeys

The last few days of our trip, was spent in the central highlands of Costa Rica. When we arrived to the town of Monteverde, we were greeted with a much different climate, cold and rain. Luckly, I packed a pair of capri's and a raincoat! We enjoyed walking through the Monteverde Cloud Forest and saw several species of animals: monkeys, tarantulas, millipedes, tucans, the almost extinct quetzal, and a few other birds.

To end our trip, we went on a thrill clenching, nerve racking, extreme zipping, canopy tour. Now, there were several canopy tour companies to choose from but we picked the one with the most extreme sounding name, hence the name Extremeo Canopy Tours. This company had 14 zip lines, 1 rappel, and 1 Tarzan swing that took you through and over the canopy! The longest zip line was over 700 meters long and 500 meters high!!! I was a little scared at first, but then I decided not to think about what I was doing and just enjoy the view. To end out tour, they dropped us off a 10 meter high plank with a Tarzan rope attached and sent us flying on the rope. whew! I think that might have taken 10 years off my life.

Ready to go!

This isn't even the long one!

I am back in Sun Valley. It still feels like winter here, but I can tell that spring is just around the corner. With cooler temperatures and even some snowfall, I have been able to get out and ski, both cross-country and back-country. I took my nice, new, flip camera out for a try the other day with ITA member, Kate Whitcomb while we went back-country skiing. It was pretty fun!

Other than enjoying the outdoors, I've had a chance to help in the kids gym at the YMCA. I can't say that I work much... its more correct to say that I play in the kids gym. Kids never cease to get tired of guitar hero, the wii, or dance dance revolution. I have to say that my skills need a lot of improvement! Amongst the video games, we stay busy coloring, playing with play dough, playing board games, and climbing. There never seems to be a dull day at the kids gym. Its fun to be back and be involved with the kids at the YMCA.

For some reason, I am having troubles downloading my videos. Bummer! I will post another blog shortly with my videos.

Stay tuned!