Passo dello Stelvio

After a short two-weeks at home in Melbourne, I packed my ski bags once again  (which were basically still untouched from my return from New Zealand…) and flew to Europe for the next on-snow training camp.

This week we are training in Stelvio Glacier, northern Italy. Stelvio sits right on the border of Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Interestingly it is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps. For the cycling fans, the Giro d'Italia often passes through this road, and was also picked by Top Gear as "the greatest driving road in the world." Big call.... 

For me it is a brand new mountain to explore which is always fun!

48 hairpin turns make up the Stelvio Pass. Must attempt this one on a bike!

We are sleeping in a hotel up on the glacier at 3000m. At this altitude, the air is thin, and everyday activities feel just that little bit harder. Walking two flights of stairs to my room is a workout. Usually when we train on a mountain of this height, we return to a more reasonable altitude where your body has a chance to recover after a long day’s training. Here, however, your body is constantly working…. even when you’re sleeping! And you really do feel it. Fatigue sets in quicker, your breathing rate is higher, your heart rate is elevated and your muscles feel heavier. A lot of the dryland training I do in Melbourne is designed to cope with these physical loads. The hours spent cycling, running and in the gym are aimed at being able to sustain the five hours plus of on-snow training each day.

We have joined forces with the French, Italian and Swedish Ski Cross National Teams, and are all sharing resources to make this training camp as successful as possible. The course is situated in a remote part of the glacier where there is no access to the piste by chairlift or t-bar. So instead, after each run we are taken back up to the top of the course by a snow cat. Also a very new experience! 14 athletes hanging onto a t-bar line from the back of the cat, and another 10 or so in a cage in the front. Truly a make shift chairlift.

What this means however is that for this week, the mountain is our playground. We have a snow cat and two skidoos to work with, and basically we have free reign. We can build what we want, train when we want and do as many runs as we can until we can’t possibly do another. It’s perfect.

Our make-shift t-bar.

The beloved Wu-Tang... Olympic style!

Alizee and I go head-to-head in training.

Action.

Northern Italian lasagna. Almost as good as Nonna's! Almost...

A real local. He rarely moved from his favourite spot!

Good morning Stelvio!

Warming up as the sun rises over the mountains.

Our ski technician Marcos definitely has a sense of humour...

An upgrade from last year's van.....

Today we head to Stubai Glacier in Austria for another four days of training on a new ski cross course. Joining us will be the Austrian, German and Norwegian World Cup Ski Cross teams. Then back to Melbourne for some much needed home and family time, and hopefully some beautiful late Spring weather! It’s time for some sunshine, surf and warm temperatures…

Below is a short 1-minute video of Alizee Baron of France and I going head-to-head on the ski cross training course. The spectacular mountains in the background are hard to miss!

Katya Crema(AUS) & Alizee Baron(FRA) training in Stelvio, Italy

from Katya Crema on Vimeo.

Blissful Wanaka

I have just returned home from what was a fantastic five-week training camp in New Zealand. A long stint, but very effective. Definitely made up for the lack of snow in Australia this season!

We spent the last two weeks of the camp training on a professionally built ski cross course in Cardrona. Like last year, World Cup border cross builder Anders Forsell from Norway came out to NZ to work his magic. The course was definitely a challenge; a technical start section, large berms, fast sections, intimidating jumps.... the perfect training for Sochi one could say! 

Border Cross and Ski Cross National Teams from Switzerland, Germany, Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia all came together for the training camp.

Staying in the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka, there is always plenty to do...

Here's a snapshot...

Best thing to do on a sunny day - A leisurely game of Frolf (frisby-golf)

Best thing to do on a rainy day - A visit to Puzzling World

Feeling game? - Wakeboarding on the lake (water temp is currently around 8 degrees C)

Want an adrenaline rush? - Paintball

Best Cafe - Kai Whakapai & Benny Bright's cafe at the base of Cardrona

Best Steak - Trout

Best Pizza - Francesca's


As usual, pictures speak louder than words...

Start section.

Step-up.

Roller pack.

Racing head to head with Anton Grimus.

A snapshot on the course.

Lake Wanaka at sunset.

Frolf.

Getting ready for some paintball action: Team USA V the World.

Team recovery session in the lake.

Wakeboarding on Lake Wanaka.

Puzzling World.

Thanks for dinner Anton! Anton's catch of the day... a 3kg freshwater trout from Lake Hawea.

Lastly, here is the latest video edit... Spring Camp Adventures - Part 2. Enjoy!

Spring Camp Adventures - Part 2 - Katya Crema

from Katya Crema on Vimeo.

Skier V Snowboarder

Day 2 on the track in Cardrona and things start to get interesting!
Belle Brockhoff from the Australian National Snowboard Team and I race head-to-head to finally decide once and for all who is faster down the slopes... skiers or snowboarders...???

Check it out here....

Skier V Snowboarder

from Katya Crema on Vimeo.

Round Hill & Lake Tekapo

I have spent the last week training at Round Hill, a tiny ski resort above Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. 

This was a brand new ski destination for me. Put simply, Round Hill is an Alpine Mecca for ski teams all around the world, ranging from world cup down to ski clubs. It has to be one of the most popular training hills in the southern hemisphere. 

We decided to get our alpine technical skills up to scratch and train five day of GS & Super G. The weather was perfect right up until the last day which was great timing. Then in true New Zealand style came gale force winds and torrential rainfall, closing the resort temporarily. 

Lake Tekapo is a beautiful part of the world. Not much of a town (just one small cafe with great food and coffee thank god! Run 77 for anyone who is traveling through there soon...), but the lake was incredible. Water bluer than I have ever seen before. Apparently the turquoise blue colour is created by suspended "rock flour" floating in the water. The glaciers in the headwaters grind the rock into fine dust which makes it way into the water. A pretty stunning view from the top of the small mountain nearby...

We are now in Wanaka for a two-week training camp in Cardrona. An Olympic standard ski cross track is currently being built by a Norwegian course builder. Apparently it's going to be even bigger and better than last year, so I am pretty excited to get up there to ski it!

Hiking for a view! Photos by Shawn Fleming. 

Lake Tekapo

Anton's idea of "recovery" is a swim in Lake Tekapo... (the water is about 8 degrees C). He's crazy!

On the tourist trail: New Zealand's famous "Cookie Time" monster...

Training above Lake Tekapo.

Balance and coordination training.

Kick back, relax, and take in the views! Latest video edit....

Welcome to Winter Down South - NZ Spring Camp Part 1- Katya Crema

from Katya Crema on Vimeo.

Back to Basics

This week has definitely been a week of firsts and new experiences.

Five days of skiing, five different resorts in New Zealand.

The idea behind this weeks’ training was to experience skiing in a new way. We visited the Club Fields of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, all located within two hours drive of Christchurch.

The Club Fields are renowned for their incredible off-piste terrain and for their local skiing enthusiasts. You have to really love the sport of skiing to spend a day up here, and the level of difficulty involved in all aspects being on the mountain means that there is not one beginner in site. There is no grooming, no chairlifts, no cafes or bars. It’s like skiing back in the 60s. Mum always tells me about how she first learnt to ski at Mount Mawson in Tassie. “You have it so easy these days,” she says. “When I learnt to ski in Tassie we used a leather belt, a nutcracker and a pulley system to get up the mountain…” Mum would do run after run on the one ski slope using the rope toes. Maybe this is where I inherited my passion for skiing from?!  

Day 1: Mount Olympus

The pulley system was definitely more difficult than I anticipated. You’ve got a small window of opportunity to latch your nutcracker onto the rope whilst you’re still on the flat. After a few trial and errors, I slowly started to figure out how best to avoid having your arm wrenched from the socket as you get dragged up the hill. Best part of the day was hiking to the summit, taking in the view, and skiing the soft spring snow all the way to the bottom.

Made it to the summit after a solid hike.

My best friend for the next four days; the nutcracker.

Day 2: Broken River

The day started with a ride up a vintage self-operated tram carriage designed by New Zealand engineering students. A little sketchy but we managed to get up in one piece. We did a full day’s skiing followed by a long walk all the way to the bottom. The tram has limited opening hours (obviously everyone is obviously out skiing!)

Broken River tramway.

The scenic walk all the way to the bottom.

Day 3: Craigieburn

After two days of warm spring skiing, we were lucky enough to wake up to 27cm of fresh winter snow. My first powder day in a while! And it just so happened to be bluebird.... Craigieburn had some amazing terrain to offer; steep chutes and couloirs, large open bowls, and even a few small cliffs to jump. Deep snow, blue skies and a whole new mountain to explore… my idea of fun!

No friends on a powder day!

Anton and Jamie making some fresh turns through the chute.

Who sees the scary ghost man climbing through the mountains?

Day 4: Temple Basin

The toughest day of all! Before we even contemplated putting our skis on, the day started with a 50 minute strenuous hike from the car park to the day lodge. We climbed over 2000 vertical feet (approx 600m) over a 3km track. Trekking on a rocky path, with warm temperatures and arid vegetation, I felt like I was somewhere in the Himalayas. Once we finally arrived to the day lodge, we had another 20 minute hike with skis and boots before we reached the Temple Basin ski area. Once again, incredible terrain, amazing views, and a great adventure experience.

Another hike

Himalayas style hiking to the top.

Day 5: Mount Hutt

Groomers on fast, sharp race skis and a high-speed 6-seater chairlift at Mount Hutt felt like a piece of cake after the past four days roughing it on crud, icy moguls, steep uneven terrain and rope toes!

We are now training super G and GS at Mount Hutt for the next five days. I might even pull out the old alpine lycra race suit if I’m feeling game! Next stop on this New Zealand Spring training camp is Lake Tekapo, three hours south of where we currently are; Methven.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted with all of my adventures over the next three weeks.

Soon to come is a video blog from the past week of skiing...

Enjoy!

A succesful short competition season in Australia

I am happy to report that the past three weeks of racing have been extremely successful.

Kicking off the competition season was Thredbo’s famous “Top 2 Bottom” race; a Chinese downhill from, as the title suggests, the top of Thredbo to the bottom. The race starts with a head-to-head sprint for about 60m, skis and poles in hand. Once you reach the first gate, it’s skis on as fast as you possibly can, and a head-to-head downhill race to the bottom. Similar to ski cross but without the jumps! This event is about the only excuse we ex-Alpine now ski cross racers have to put a downhill suit back on! And it feels oh so good….

I finished the sprint in third, and managed to make two passes in the downhill part of the race and take out the win.

To witness what the hectic race was like from my perspective, take a look at the head cam footage….

 
Thredbo Top2Bottom 2013- Katya Crema from Katya Crema on Vimeo.

Sami and I racing Top 2 Bottom at Thredbo for the win...

To more recent news, the SSA Ski Cross National Championships were held this weekend at Mount Hotham. The plan was to hold two races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Unfortunately the weather didn’t quite go to plan…

On Saturday we raced two qualification races. I won both races, securing two qualification wins coming into finals. Today’s double race finals were unfortunately cancelled due to gale force winds, fog and fresh snow. The race was decided on qualification times which makes me National Ski Champion for 2013 which is great. Definitely not the way I would have liked to win; head-to-head competition is always more fun!  But I’ll take the win none the less.

Well done to teammate Sami Kennedy Sim who took third place is both races.

 Quatchi (the Vancouver mascot that now lives on my backpack) took a beating in the wintery Hotham weather!

Australian National Ski Cross Champion, 2013

On Sunday I will travel to New Zealand with the Australian Ski Cross Team for a four and a half week training camp. We will be based at Mt Hutt for the first two weeks, then Cardrona for the last two and a half weeks. Joining us on a ski cross track will be the Canadian Ski Cross team, as well as the Australian Border Cross team, and a bunch of other athletes.

I am very much looking forward to training on a full-length technical ski cross course. Hopefully it is ideal prep for Sochi!