Kimberly Downhill Races

Talk about shaving off the seconds!
Today was the first races of the week. There were only two runs but each run was its own race. Yesterday in our training I shaved off another 5 seconds. Which means I now ski a course thats over a mile long in a minute and 25 seconds. 54 mph! So today, I crossed the finish line again at 1:25:40 with my competitors at 1:20 and the other one at 1:25:88 which put me in second by 48 hundredths of a second, then behind by five. Both competitors are arm amputees and this is my first real downhill.
Coming from balling my eyes out in the start, to placing second in the first race was a huge accomplishment for me. It taught me a lot too, and that nothing is out of reach from my grasp. Although, my second race I was a second slower, so I took third. But no matter what place I come in, It's the experience that matters.
Tomorrow is the Super G race and I cant wait to rip it up. Just another step further in my journey!

Kimberly Canada Speed Event

Here in Canada, ey?
LOL. Well, so far after my first day of Downhill training, Kimberly has been great. The weather is absolutely amazing. Bright and sunny with perfect snow. I just arrived here yesterday, on my 16th birthday, and have been gearing up for Thursdays Downhill Race and Fridays Super G races. For Downhill, everyone trains on the same course for two days. Two runs each day. Then, on the third day, we race. Usually a Downhill and Super G race is only one run. But they are putting two races in one day. Still only two runs.
The course is fast! The last time I was on a Downhill course I had the worst crash of my life. So my first run today was terrifying!! No matter what the coaches told me... I was still struggling to hold my breakfast down... In the gate the tears started rolling and I started hyperventilating. So when the starter counted down...5...4...3..2.. there it went. My heart hit the tail of my ski and I was off. ( I really had no choice...) down I went- flying, still absolutely terrified. But within seconds I found myself in a most relaxed state. After 5 gates, I felt like I wasn't going fast enough! Ya, I totally lost all form and it looked like a crappy run to everyone else, but it felt amazing! To know that only 30 seconds ago I was facing one of my biggest fears, and now I'm gliding around gates. It felt amazing taking off over rollers and getting air, then speeding down pitches so steep that my ski doesn't hit the snow. My second run I shaved off 8 seconds.
Now tomorrow, oh I can't wait!

Waterville Valley, NH. US Nationals!

Well it had been an awesome week out in Waterville Valley,NH where the USA along with 6 other nations competed in four races. Two were the US National Championships is GS and SL, and the other two were NorAm races also in GS and SL. I missed a gate in the NorAm GS and fell out of the coarse and DNF'd ( did not finish ). Then, in the US Nationals GS race, I came behind in 3rd... In the SL NorAm I placed a silver. My main competitors are from Canada. The two girls that I have been trailing behind are arm amputees. Slalom became my strongest only a few years ago. However, I lost a lot of confidence falling behind these racers and I put myself in an emotional hole... With out the help of my coaches, family, and friends I probably would have stayed in that hole. But they kept telling me to take it one step at a time and keep my chin up. So I did. And because of their encouragement I came in first place and was titled US National Champion in Slalom.
Moral of the story,
" You can always count on your friends :) "