Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Swiss Recap
In the first of two races over there I took a spill during my first run of time trials and couldn't get it together for my second run. It was completely a mental block and I learned a lot from the experience. So for the first set of heat races I was a spectator, which did allow me to get a great perspective to help me out with the next race and let my lingering aches and pains heal up a little bit.
The second day of qualifying came a few days later and after a couple of training runs my riding had come back to where it was and I finished the day qualifying in the 14th position. This is a great considering the big cross wind that was sporadically blowing along the length of the track. The heat racing was a great battle as is always the case as World Cups. In the first round I had a top to bottom battle with Paulo De Le Rue, an olympic medalist from France. We had a photo finish for first place crossing the line, even though the top 3 were advancing from each heat it was better not to take any chances. Quaterfinals came and I was lined up in the gate next to fellow American, Nate Holland. Nate had finished 2nd in the first race and so he had been riding the course very fast. We both had great starts and dominated most of the top section together, until a German rider, Konsti Schad, snuck in front Nate. Konsti and I were back to back battling going over a hip in the top section and when we landed we locked edges and I caught the raw end of that deal. I went down and watched everyone buzz by. So in a few seconds I went from first to sixth and ran out of real estate before I could make up the distance. My riding has been great thus far in the season and I'm looking forward to X Games at the end of this week. Thanks all.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Veysonnaz, Switzerland WC # 2 and 3
Greetings!
So I found out that the language automatically changes on here depending on where I am. So I'm trying to navigate the sight in German so bear with me. I've been in Veysonnaz freeriding for a few days and we are finally getting down to business. Training day tomorrow and the first qualification day will be the day following that. We will be running two races over here to make up for the cancellation in Austria. I'll check back in soon.
So I found out that the language automatically changes on here depending on where I am. So I'm trying to navigate the sight in German so bear with me. I've been in Veysonnaz freeriding for a few days and we are finally getting down to business. Training day tomorrow and the first qualification day will be the day following that. We will be running two races over here to make up for the cancellation in Austria. I'll check back in soon.
Monday, December 19, 2011
World Cup #1- Telluride, CO
I just returned from Telluride, Colorado where the first world cup race of the season is held for the past few years. There is always a training camp a week prior to the event where a small course is provided to us to get everything dialed in before the big day finally comes. The training camp went well for me and it seemed that my riding was up to par and I got to practice some new techniques during the week.
When the real practice day came around I felt as though I was only riding mediocre, so I paid really close attention studying lines and things that I could improve on during video review the night before the time trial. I did a lot of visualizing and spent a lot of time stretching to make sure that my body was as good as it could when the day finally came. The weather on qualifying was nothing short of erratic and time certainly reflected it. There would be large spurts of heavy snow and uphill winds from time to time. I was lucky enough to have both of those in full effect during my first run. I felt as though the fun was good but I was sitting in 27th after the first run. The weather began to clear shortly after I went and the times started to speed up considerably. I had a great run and qualified in 10th place, this was my second best result in qualifying at a WC. Good way to start things off.
We were given a much appreciated rest day in between qualifying and heat racing. I took the time to go to the gym and get on the stationary bike to work some of the acid out of my legs from the day before. The board was waxed and we headed up the next morning. It's always a little weird racing in the first few heats of the year, ya have to kind of remember how everything works. It definitely showed in the first heat, I ended up crossing the line in third which was the last transfer spot to the next round when the 6-man format is being used. After that my head started to click back into it, and it showed in the second round where I crossed the line in first advancing to the semi-finals. In this round, I ended up having some trouble and was unable to advance to the big final and so I was in the small finals racing for 7-12 place. This was a great heat with two fellow Americans, Seth Wescott and Jon Cheever. I had some contact in both the top and the bottom of the course and would have to settle for 4th in the round and 10th overall. Seth and Cheev would 7th and 8th overall. It was a great day of racing and helped get some more WC starts over in Europe in a few weeks. Thanks to everyone who helps and supports me! :)
When the real practice day came around I felt as though I was only riding mediocre, so I paid really close attention studying lines and things that I could improve on during video review the night before the time trial. I did a lot of visualizing and spent a lot of time stretching to make sure that my body was as good as it could when the day finally came. The weather on qualifying was nothing short of erratic and time certainly reflected it. There would be large spurts of heavy snow and uphill winds from time to time. I was lucky enough to have both of those in full effect during my first run. I felt as though the fun was good but I was sitting in 27th after the first run. The weather began to clear shortly after I went and the times started to speed up considerably. I had a great run and qualified in 10th place, this was my second best result in qualifying at a WC. Good way to start things off.
We were given a much appreciated rest day in between qualifying and heat racing. I took the time to go to the gym and get on the stationary bike to work some of the acid out of my legs from the day before. The board was waxed and we headed up the next morning. It's always a little weird racing in the first few heats of the year, ya have to kind of remember how everything works. It definitely showed in the first heat, I ended up crossing the line in third which was the last transfer spot to the next round when the 6-man format is being used. After that my head started to click back into it, and it showed in the second round where I crossed the line in first advancing to the semi-finals. In this round, I ended up having some trouble and was unable to advance to the big final and so I was in the small finals racing for 7-12 place. This was a great heat with two fellow Americans, Seth Wescott and Jon Cheever. I had some contact in both the top and the bottom of the course and would have to settle for 4th in the round and 10th overall. Seth and Cheev would 7th and 8th overall. It was a great day of racing and helped get some more WC starts over in Europe in a few weeks. Thanks to everyone who helps and supports me! :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Training In Park City
I've been out here in Park City, Utah for the past couple weeks training at USSA's training headquarters called the Center of Excellence. This has been an awesome training opportunity to get into one of the most advanced gyms that I have ever set foot and is outfitted to provide winter athletes with the best environment to train. Last weekend I went down to the Moab Desert with the rest of the US Team for a mt biking trip. It was an experience unlike any other and should be on everyone's bucket list in my opinion. I have a week left here in Utah before I head home to Maine to get some early season riding in at Sugarloaf. I'll check back in soon.
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