Ski Cross Action on Eurosport

A great result today in Les Contamines, 3rd in the small finals, 7th overall!

For those who are in Australia, check out all the action from today's Ski Cross World Cup in Les Contamines, France, on Eurosport at 6:30pm (Monday 16 Jan)

http://tv.au.eurosport.com/consumers.shtml

2 spots from qualifying in St. Johann

After six days of GS training in and around the Schladming area of Austria, I was feeling ready to take on the hectic piste of St. Johann. I was also looking forward to a change in scene, and getting back into racing! Unfortunately the Australian contingent is now one member short, with Scotty Kneller returning home to Australia with a broken hand after a GS crash during training. Hopefully he’ll have a hasty recovery, and be back by the end of the season to compete in the last few World Cups.

This year (unlike the past two years), the ski cross track wasn’t the usual ice block it is renowned for. Fresh snow all week meant that snow conditions were soft and difficult, however probably more suitable for ski cross racing than double-injected ice. On the training day, I was confident and skiing well. The split times from training showed that I was laying down some fast times amongst the women; a positive sign coming into qualifications. On quali night, the women ran after the men at 7:30pm, so we had a bumpy track to contend with. It was, however, an incredible atmosphere competing under the lights.

For the top 16 women, the weather held off and the snow conditions were consistent. Unfortunately by bib 16, it started puking down with snow; heavy, wet snowflakes literally the size of golf balls. Each run was visibly getting slower and slower, and by the time I went down with bib 20, only one minute after bib 19, I couldn’t see any tracks in front of me. I felt that I skied the pitch really well, but as soon as I hit the flat it was all over. I couldn’t carry my speed on the fresh snow, and it was a desperate fight to the finish. I finished in 18th place, 0.2 of a second from qualifying. I big improvement from 28th and 22nd in San Candido, but still frustrating to be outside of the top 16.

I guess this is all apart of the sport. You can’t control the weather! Rather than remaining annoyed and frustrated with something that is out of my control, one positive I could take out of not qualifying was an epic powder day in Kitzbühel on the day of finals. If I wasn’t racing, I figured I may as well enjoy the freshies that had fallen the night before. These powder days are few and far between, and I made the most of it! True to form, finals was a great spectator event, with thousands of fans lining the course to watch the show.

(Deep freshies through the trees)

(Liam getting comfy in the snow)

After a long 10 hours in the car, we have made it to Alpe D’Huez for the next Ski Cross World Cup. Qualifications are on the 10th and finals on the 11th. Keep you posted!

 

Christmas the Sicilian way

Unfortunately the opening World Cup’s of the season in San Candido didn’t quite go to plan. I skied well in training, however didn’t manage to lay down extremely fast runs in qualifications. The level and depth of competition in the women’s has really stepped up this year, which is great to see. There were 42 girls in the start, and only the top 16 qualified for finals. I finished 28th on the first day, and 22nd on the second day.

(Jen, Sami and I on race day) 

(The Germans and the Aussies watching training from the side)

(What's not more Aussie than a kick of the footy in the backstreets of San Candido)

I have just spent five days in Palermo, Sicily, with my sister and Italian relatives. I have had a great time; a true to Italian-style Christmas. It was quite a “family” event, with plenty of great food and wine.

(La famiglia!)

(View of Palermo from a rooftop)

(My sister Giulia and I happy to be spending Christmas together)

(La Pandorra.... Italian Christmas cake. So good!)

Yesterday I met the team back in Austria, where we will spend the next week training for the St. Johann World Cup event, which is on the 6th and 7th of January. I’m looking forward to this event. It’s the biggest and most renowned on the circuit, and usually attracts thousands of fans to the ‘night’ race under lights. Will keep you updated with results!

Back to San Can for the season opener

After 3 weather days in Saas Fee, where the risk of avalanche meant the top lifts were closed, we finally managed to get a great day of training on the ski cross track with the Swedish and Swiss National Ski Cross Teams. Although the track was short, it was great to hit some jumps, and get back into some head-to-head competition.

(Anton and I at the base of the gondi in Saas Fee)

(The sun is finally shining after 3 days of snow and fog)

 (High winds at the peak)

On Saturday we had an early start (4am), and drove for 10 hours back to Stubai, and then to Leogang, Austria. A long day! We has a quick pit-stop at the Innsbruck Christmas markets, which is one of my all-time favourites in Europe. We spent the next two days training with the Aussie Development Ski Cross Team, pulling starts out of a brand new start gate.

 (The Australian Ski Cross Team in Zettersfeld, Austria)

(Showing off our new race uniform... yes, we look like zee Germans)

 (The ultimate afternoon training snack... peanut butter and banana on toast, and a Milo. Reminds me of home!)

 (A beautiful old building in Innsbruck old town)

(Anton rocking a pretty sweet mo)

Yesterday we arrived in San Candido, Italy, where the first Ski Cross World Cup of the season is held every season. After months and months of training, I'm excited to get back into racing again. Today we maximized our day off by checking out some prospective Sochi 2014 uniforms for Australia. I think we found a winner...

(How convenient! The All-In-One... jacket, hood, face mask AND goggles)

We also dropped by my all-time favourite pizzeria, Il Teatro, for a 'Buon Gustaio'. I've been hanging out for that delicious pizza since we were here last year!

Tomorrow we have qualifications, and then finals on Saturday. There's a big field of athletes here, with 42 girls and 75 boys. Should be a great race! Until next time...

Back in Europe and praying for snow

After loading up my ski bag with boxes and boxes of Carmen’s muesli bars, Milo, and some Cadbury hazelnut chocolate (the good stuff…), I am all set for the four-month winter season ahead.

Last Tuesday I left Melbourne at a sunny 35 degrees, and arrived in Munich where it was just below zero. A bit of a shock to the body at first, but it’s not particularly cold for Europe at this time of year. In fact there’s not much snow at all. It doesn’t look like it’s snowed once since we left Europe back in October.

(Something cute I saw in Austria during my travels...)

(Marcos and the van)

(It's times like these when I wish I did beach volleyball. All I'd need is a couple pairs of bathers instead of all of this!)

Luckily, there’s still snow sitting up on the glaciers above 3,200m. We went back to Stubai glacier for a few days of training, and now we’re in Saas Fee, Switzerland. I’ve skied a few glaciers over the past few years… Stubai, Hintertux, Molltaller, Blackcomb, just to name a few, but I’ve never experienced anything like Saas Fee. The sheer size of this glacier is spectacular. Blue ice walls that extend for hundreds of metres above sheer rock cliffs looks like something out of an Everest movie. It’s almost like a surreal lunar experience, being up on the glacier with hardly anyone around and an endless expanse of snow, rock shelves and ice.

(Sass Fee, Switzerland)

 (Check out the ice wall behind the t-bar station)

(Not a bad view when you're in the start gate)

(The clouds creeping up)

 

(Sami, Nick and Anton crammed into the electric car 'commuter' in Saas Fee)

We’re here training on a ski cross track with the Swiss and Swedish National Teams, in preparation for the first world cup of the season which is in just under two weeks away now.

Fingers crossed Europe gets some more snow before then, otherwise it could be an interesting race!

World Cup Schedule

So I'm off to Europe in about 2 hours. I am looking forward to this season a lot!

This is what the World Cup schedule is looking like for 2011/11...

17 & 18 December - San Candido, Italy

7 January - St. Johann, Austria

11 January - Alpes D'Huez, France

15 January - Les Contamines, France

28 January - Winter X Games

3 February - Blue Mountain, Canada

25 February - Bischofswiesen / Goetschen, Germany

3 March - Branas, Sweden

10 & 11 March - Grindelwald, Switzerland

Most World Cups should be shown on Eurosport or Eurosport 2. I'll keep you updated on when they'll be broadcasted throughout the season!

VIS Athlete and Career Education Award

Last night I was awarded the 2011 William Angliss Athlete and Career Education Award at the VIS Awards Night. It was one of five major awards presented last night, including the Award of Excellence which went to Cadel Evans for his outstanding Tour de France win.

I was also awarded the 2011 AIS Tertiary Education Award, which was presented a few weeks ago. This is the second consecutive year I have won this award.

After having completed my university degree this week (Bachelor of Environments, major in Architecture), I am very happy to have been able to juggle both skiing and university. I am planning on starting a Masters of Architecture in the next year, and will continue to train for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

I leave for Europe in three days, and have a great feeling about this season. Hopefully I reach the high goals I have set for myself. Will keep you posted! A big thank you again to everyone who reads this blog and has continued to support me over the years.