December 2002
Hello All!
Since I last wrote, we had our first race of the regular
season in Solden, Austria. Our event followed the World Cup
ski opener which ensured great snow conditions! Unfortunately,
I ran into some bad luck on both days and had only a mediocre
14th finish. Of course I'm not dwelling on it, I feel like
I'm riding really well and excited to get going! The rest
of the women's team did well with Stacia leading the pack
with a 2nd place finish. It was her first World cup podium
in many years so hopefully it will help fuel her to stick
around for a few more years with the team!
We left Austria after only a week stint there and headed
home for 10 days. The break was nice but I was definitely
ready to roll. The team changed our regular fall training
venue from Colorado to Mammoth, California where we hammered
out double sessions for a week and a half or so. The camp
climaxed with a Continental Cup race that gave us an opportunity
to use our new skills. I finished 2nd in the slalom and 1st
in the PGS so I was definitely happy with the camp!
After the Continental Cup some of us participated in a new
style of event called a "Y-Slalom" which is basically
a made for TV event. It was put on by the Jeep King of the
Mountain tour organizers and had quite a bit of cash up for
grabs. The format was a PGS at the top for about 10 gates
then both courses come together and the riders go off a jump
together then they have to clear a set of doubles (2 humps
in a row that you have to jump) It was very fast and had a
fair amount of air time which I'm not used to but it was very
fun. The competitors had to compete in pairs of two, one male
skier or snowboarder and one female skier or snowboarder.
My boyfriend Jeff, and I made up a team and managed to do
well enough to take second place behind the Olympic Silver
medalist Karine Ruby and her partner Mathieu Bozzeto. The
event will be made into two, one hour TV show on CBS. (I don't
know when they will air)
In the middle of the Mammoth camp I flew out to New York
City for the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Ski Ball.
USSA gets the majority of their money to fund the teams through
fundraising and private donors and the ski balls are their
big fundraising events. It was a fun night with many of the
Ski and Snowboard team stars present including a few retired
athletes like Tommy Moe. The night ended after The Counting
Crows came and gave a private concert. A great night all in
all and despite the bad economy we still managed to raise
quite a bit of money.
So it's been an action packed fall and after having my first
Thanksgiving home (in Idaho) in 9 years I am rested and ready
to hit the competition circuit hard. I had some great pictures
that Jeff took in Austria to attach but when I cleaned my
hard drive I lost all of my photos. :( I'll send some with
the next letter.
I hope this email finds everyone healthy and relaxed after
the Thanksgiving holiday. I myself am very thankful for all
of YOU, my friends and family!
Think fast thoughts!
Lisa
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