Amazing ski tour with Nicolas, Severine, and Bruce in Switzerland!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic day and are getting out and adventuring about.

On Tuesday (21st) I picked up my new New Zealand support crew member, Bruce Hasler, and We drove from Munich to Crans-Montana, Italy- proceeding to get lost about three times. It was exciting though because Switzerland is so beautiful. Since then we have been exploring in the mountains and enjoying life. We are staying with two fantastic people- Nicolas and Severine. Severine is the World Champion in ski mountaineering so it is a pretty extreme household! We have been ski touring and cross-country sking, running and eating raclette- it is perfect.

2 more races gone

Bled, Slovenia has been as beautiful as ever. The castle on the cliff and the church on the island on the lake always takes my breath away. It is gorgeous.

We arrived safely to our rented apartment on Monday and went for a great ski on blue sky day on the hard tracks. It was really great. Tuesday was unofficial training and Wednesday was official training. I was feeling really good, but still not sleeping full nights, possibly from jetlag. On Thursday we had the 15km Individual race. It was a killer! I felt really tired and had a tough time with the skiing. The shooting started off great with no misses in the first two bouts. That is when the fatigue set in and I started thinking a bit too much and getting shaky legs on the standing. I missed 2 prone and 3 standing on my last two shootings- 15/20 (room for improvement) and a tough ski set me in 88th spot. It was not ideal, but the first 15km of the season is usually not a walk in the park!

Friday was an easy training day- a nice classic in the woods at Pokljuka stadium, a much needed relaxing session. The next day, Saturday, December 18th, was the 7.5km sprint. My ski testing was a bit frustrating as none of my skis felt good and all the other women testing were flying past me on the test hill. Hmm... I had a good zero though, and went to the start with bib 59. The first loop was good, but I was getting passed on the downhills. I came in for my shooting telling myself "Just don't think about it! Just shoot the silly things!" and I hit all 5! Yahoo. Out on course and I could definitely feel it! But having Richard on the big up hill yelling at me to go for it was a great help.

I came in for second and last shooting, and once again told myself "Just like training. No dwaddling. Just do what you know" And hit 4. I was pretty pleased. One penalty loop and then off onto the course for my last loop. Oh man, my legs were hating me at this point. I ended up 78th in this race, but am sure my ski speed could have been much faster with a better pair of skis. Now, to be clear I am not blaming it strictly on skis, but it may have helped to have had a faster pair ;)

I am now all finished for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Years! Off to Switzerland tomorrow for a nice break! Yahoo!

Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lots of love,

Sarah

Awesome new sponsor Icebreaker! This'll get me going!

So much Snow in Austria!

No Snow to WOW, Snow!!

My last week in Canada was fantastic. The weather warmed up from -39 to -5 and the sun came out. Training was great and everyone skiing at the Nordic Centre had huge smiles plastered on their faces. It was great.

My sister was offered a job as a nurse on Princess cruise lines so on Friday the 3^rd, my mother, father and I dropped her off at the airport- She is gone for 4 months and currently in Mazatlan! The next day, we once again packed the car up and my parents drove me to the airport-They are now empty nesters for 4 months!

Upon our arrival at the Calgary airport- about an hour and a half drive from Canmore- I immediately dropped my head into my hands. “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” “What? What? What?” My parents said in unison. I had forgotten my rifle in Canmore. My rifle!! You can replace skis, boots, clothing, most things easily, but not your rifle! And my flight was closing in 45 minutes for check-in. We got on the phone and called every single person in Canmore- and finally we reached the Vukadinovics ie. My Saviors, Tatiana Vukadinovic and I have been friends for a long time, and we were teammates since we were 13. Her parents immediately got into their car, grabbed my rifle from my house, and floored it to Calgary.

I had the nicest check in lady from Lufthansa- and without her I would not have been able to race in the first World Cups. She is the first nice airline person I have met and I will never forget her. My bags absolutely had to be there at 1:00pm, as boarding was at 1:05 and the plane took off 1:30. At 1:10 my mother, father and I were all lined up outside on the sidewalk. Colleen and Dan pulled up, we grabbed the rifle,  and all the of us ran through the airport like a crazy family to get the tags put on and get it through the x-ray. At 1:25 I went through security and I made it to my flight! What an exciting way to start the season!!!! I almost died of an anxiety attack!

I could not believe it but upon my arrival in Munich, ALL my bags arrived-.

Well done, Lufthansa, well done!

Driving into Hochfilzen was a bit disheartening. There was not very much snow in the village, but fortunately there was enough on the racecourse, and training the next day was great. Richard Boruta arrived on Tuesday and we had 2 good training days before the 7.5km sprint race. This was my first race of the season, and considering jetlag and sleeping patterns all changed, I was feeling really good. The day before the race, the heavens opened up and down came Schnee! It has not stopped snowing since Thursday and our van is completely buried now. It is slightly ridiculous. So, the races have been extremely exciting and interesting with visibility.

I was starter 48, and Ukraine once again out did themselves- my skis were amazing. My first loop I felt like a Superstar, and my first shooting, which was prone, I hit 5/5!, despite barely being able to see the target Yahoo! The course was pretty tough and the track was covered so quickly after someone skied on it from the heavy snowfall. I came in for my 2^nd shooting, which was standing, and I was shaking like crazy! I was very nervous and had pushed hard in skiing. I hit, missed, hit missed, hit. So 3/5 and 2 penalty loops to ski. My last loop hurt, but in the end I was happy with my race.  I ended up 78^th, so no pursuit for me, but my coach bought me some dark chocolate, so that was a nice substitute! I also made my 15% qualification so I am off to the three world cups after Christmas! Woo!

I cannot thank Richard enough. He is helped so much, and it has only been 4 days. We are off to Pokljuka, Slovenia on Monday!

Take care, have fun and smile!!!

Sarah