Day 10 - Thank you Zeus

Today was by far the nicest weather day yet. Due to our late start today (6:30am), I was able to watch the sunrise over the coastal mountains. What a sight. Today was to be the womens Super Combined event. This a repeat of the downhill from the day before, followed by a slalom race.

I arrived at venue a bit late today, but since there was no men`s race and our section was in good shape, everything was fine. I had to catch up with my gang at our site (men`s slalom start) by slipping down Expressway and down the Sewer. Today was even more bullet proof than yesterday. When I arrived, Fernando called me on my cell from the bottom explaining that he was going to get his skiis sharpened and would probably not return for the day. It`s definatly a skill that takes time to learn, side slipping down sheer ice. You really have to just let èm go. If you try to fight it, you are going to bite it for sure. (side note, today I felt as though I finally have some form of `mountain legs` going. I felt really good on my skiis. After days of burning thighs, I think I`ve turned to corner)

Our group was partered up with another group lead by Randy Tarchuck. Jan Hayduk`s mom is on this team. We all shared some laughs while we showed their team around our site, including some nice snow cat picture sessions. The men were running what is know locally as the `rodeo` or `gong show``. In preparation for tomorrows Super G race, this involes all teams and coaches taking to the hill for a check out of the hill at very high speeds. The althetes are separated by 5 or 10 seconds as they screem down the hill at `downhill like` speeds. This only lasts an hour. Some additional B nets were added around key turns, but the work was light. The womens downhill portion of the race started at 9:30. This time a bunch of us trucked down the hill to just above the Hot Air jump. This was a great place to be with a full view of the jump and the finish below. I`ve got some great videos from this site which I will try to get sorted out soon.

Though the morning was a bit chilly, once the sun managed to come up over the east side of the mountain, we were treated to what can only be termed `sun pit` type weather. Since there were only 35 racers in the event, we were told to meet at the soup tent at mid station at 11:30. I was pretty sure we would be dismissed at this point because our track needed no additional prep. Lange informed me that there was more work to do, and since I really wanted to watch the slalom event, I was okay with not going skiing (yet). I spent the next 2 hours doing contouring work on Muirs Hop, since one the FIS guys said it looked a bit sloopy. These guys are absolute perfectionist. From this vantage, you can see about 65% of the race. Being close to the crowd, you could also hear the announcer at the bottom, so it wasn`t a problem keeping track of what was going on.

Today we said good bye to two team members: Conner and Cory. It was sad to see these two `key` memebers of our team have to go home, though I`m quite certain that our paths will cross again in the future.

From there, Greg and I proceeded to the Roundhouse for a nice Stella and a sun bake, while gazing at the Peak from the patio. Skiing down from there, I reconfirmed that my legs were almost ready for some good mountain skiing. We hit some nice soft bumps behind the Roundhouse, followed by a wide open cruiser back to the mid. I was flying on my Atomics (with poles) for this. I can`t wait for Saturday when Wommie, Matthew (his son) and I hit the hill on my first day off. Wommie has been here for something like 20 years so he knows his way around the hill and Zeus promises us that the weather will be good. I think Ferd arrives in BC that day too.

At the Weasel house tonight the crowd was treated to an inspiration speach by none other than Nancy Green her self. Each night in the tent, someone gets up at gives a speach in an effort to keep our spirits high. Back breaking work all day long on the hill can be tough and sometimes its hard to keep the spirits up. But, listening to someone like Nancy speak, can easily make you forget all the pain. Oh, and the beer helps too! Another suprise a the tent was running into Terry Sutton from Skyloft. Her and I traded stories for a bit. She happens to be staying in Pemberton too.

Though each day for me may seem very routine, there is a new adventure around every corner.

Go Canada Go