Solden Austria

Chile was a great camp and we really lucked out on the weather. Almost all sunny skies and great winter snow.

After Chile I had a 3 week break at home which was amazing. Calgary had a beautiful fall and I was able to spend time outside and ride my bike around town, (when I wasn't at the gym.) It was just the right amount of time to get in some quality training and get psyched to get back on snow.

Solden is really nice, Europe is having a very warm fall although it snowed here last week before I arrived. Soon the technical team will be doing time trials to see which girls get to race here in Solden at the Season opening GS in a few weeks time. I will not be part of the time trials because my events are Downhill and Super-G but it is exciting that the racing season is almost here. My first race will be at Lake Louise on December 5th

Time for Chile

New Zealand was a great camp. We had exellent training on winter snow. And the best part is, when you were off the mountain we got to enjoy a mostly green New Zealand winter. When you have to leave Canada just when summer finally hits it's nice when it's not -20. We have been home for a little over a week and I am already getting packed for Chile. I fly on Friday and we'll be in Portillo for 2 weeks of speed training. The mens team just arrived home from Portillo and they said there is tons of snow. At one point they were snowed in and it took them a few days to get the roca jacks (crazy Chilean 5 man poma) to work.

En Route to New Zealand

After an extremely stressful spring dealing with Alpine Canada I am excited to say that the summer dryland training went well and I am on my way to Queenstown New Zealand for the first camp of the summer. I can't wait to get back on snow although it will be interesting to see how the relationship with my coaches and team mates has changed. This is a tech camp focusing on GS and Slalom. The technical events are my weakness so I look forward to focusing on the fndamentals of my skiing.

Good News

Unfortunately skiing didn't work out for too long because my knees started to get sore. So on the advice of the medical staff I came home to give them rest. After 2 weeks at home I got an MRI and the results were really positive! The bone bruises are much better and there isn't any cartilage damage in the spots they were worried about. There is some slight wear behind the patella but that can be remedied with strengthening. I'm really excited to have good news. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I am happy to be moving forward!

Back on Snow

I'm sitting in the day lodge at Graigleith ski club in Colling wood Ontario. I started skiing in Whistler during the World Cup and I have been free skiing and forerunning this last week. This isn't the best way to return to snow but I don't have any other options available to me at the moment and I am happy to be back skiing. I have never missed a season due to injury before and it seams strange that a whole season has passed me bye. Next Friday marks three months since my injury. They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I hope that this experience has a positive impact on my career and not a negative one. I don't know that I will be ready to race this season but I look forward to being confident and comfortable on my skis to take on the world next season.

3 to 4 more weeks

I had a bone scan last week and it showed that my bone bruise is still very active. Unfortunately that means that I have to stay off snow for another 3 to 4 weeks. Hopefully I can start skiing again before the World Cup in Whistler. I was home for my birthday this year which was very strange. I can't remember the last time I was home for it. Dave took me to dinner and a Martini Lounge. It was really nice but I hope to be back skiing sooner than later.

Still in Cow Town

Well we were able to rule out a fracture when I arrived home but I am still waiting for the bone bruise to heal. Dr. Irving and I are going to re-assess at the end of the week and hopefully I will be on my way to Europe by the 19th if not earlier. The plan right now would be to try to be ready for St. Moritz. Thanks for checking my blog and happy New Year!