<< News Home

euro vaca
Thursday, January 25, 2007

Watching the U.S. college squad race at World Uni’s was a bunch of fun, but it was disappointing to see a good buddy, Charles Christianson, blow out his knee in the last four gates of the slalom. Adam Cole was 3rd in the GS and the SG so there were some good moments for the Americans, but all and all poor conditions and fast Euros -that aren’t actually in college- ruled the series.

The last two days were a wash. The snow here at Pagenalle isn’t very good so we’ve decided to take a little European vacation to Florence. We’re waiting for a cargo van to show up and pick up our skis before we embark on our euro vaca. Then, we’ll be in San Candido, Italy for two days of training and two slalom races before we fly home on the 31st.

As for my shin, it’s getting better. Although, I still haven’t skied on it yet, it should be fine in another day or two.

Hope all is well. The cargo just arrived. Road trip here we come, w

posted by Warner at 1/25/2007 04:47:00 PM (permanent link to this post) 0 comments


On the road in Europe
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Hello all. We're in Trentino, Italy at the ski team's new apartments. A few months ago the ski team finalized a deal with the region of Trentino for exclusive training rights on a trail at the Paganella resort. It's a really good set up, but somewhat out of the way from most of the racing venues. How could I not mention the best part: wireless internet. Wireless is a hot commodity in the mountain towns we visit. This is the first place we've seen it on this trip so it's a nice change.

The last 10 days I've done a few races (2 SG's and 2 SL's), but haven't put together any results. The Europa Cup Group as a whole is in the same boat- we all have speed, but just haven't put together two runs in Europe. In a slalom in Donnersbackwald, Austria, I was in 24th after the first run (started 36th) and was putting together one of my best slalom performances in the second run before I hit some soft snow, booted out, went onto my side, and missed the next gate just before the finish.

However, the real story over here is limited snow. Europe, like the east coast, is feeling the throes of warm weather and little to no snow fall. The temperatures are in the 40s and 50s during the day and at night it only freezes on the highest mountains. Since we arrived 10 days ago we've only seen warm weather and rain. The FIS schedule (which show all the FIS races scheduled for the year) is littered with cancellations and changes.
It's just not a good year for skiing. \n\n \nTo explain how ridiculous it is the FIS (the governing body of World Cup skiing) organizers are planning to use 50 trucks and 4 helicopters to transport over 4,000 cubic meters of snow from higher mountains elevations in Austria to \nKitzbühel hoping to salvage the Hannenkahm race series at the end of the month. \n \nThe last couple days were nice as we had a chance to cool down and settle into the apartments.\n We were even able to play some flag football for dryland this afternoon; unfortunately, Ted (Ligety), my mark up, rolled his ankle trying to stay in bounds after a big catch. \nIt looks like he'll be fine in a week or so. Anyway, a few of us leave tomorrow for two confirmed Europe Cup GS races in La Plange\n, France.\n \n \nThat's it from the road. Hope all is well back home, w\n\n",0]
);
//-->
It's just not a good year for skiing.

To explain how ridiculous it is the FIS (the governing body of World Cup skiing) organizers are planning to use 50 trucks and 4 helicopters to transport over 4,000 cubic meters of snow from higher mountains elevations in Austria to Kitzbühel hoping to salvage the Hannenkahm race series at the end of the month.

The last couple days were nice as we had a chance to cool down and settle into the apartments. We were even able to play some flag football for dryland this afternoon; unfortunately, Ted (Ligety), my mark up, rolled his ankle trying to stay in bounds after a big catch. It looks like he'll be fine in a week or so. Anyway, a few of us leave tomorrow for two confirmed Europe Cup GS races in La Plange , France.


That's it from the road. Hope all is well back home, w

posted by Warner at 1/16/2007 04:41:00 PM (permanent link to this post) 0 comments


A day to remember.
Friday, January 05, 2007

This morning felt a lot more like April than January as we rolled into Sunday River watching water pour off the roof of the lodge and the snow literally evaporate. The thermometer read 46 degrees at 7 AM, which is never a good sign for a ski race.

However, the snow held up exceptionally well- better than yesterday- after the race crew spread chemicals (salt) down the course. My first run was solid without any mistakes, but I just didn't charge quite hard enough. I was in fifth, but luckily I was only three tenths off the lead. Second run- set by Mike Kenney- was a tight, quick course without too much distance across the hill. I kicked out of the gate and charged down the first pitch finding early pressure and linked together some really good turns. The bottom of the course had a bit more swing and I, like many of the competitors, just hardly kept it together to stay in the course and make it to the finish. When I came across the line I thought… well that was good; finally I didn't make any big mistakes. I was in the finish corral just hoping nobody would torch it and nobody did.

I ended up winning the race by a tenth over Cody Marshall and Tim Kelley (tied for second). A podium finish for Cody meant he was invited to Europe with us for the next trip. It will be a treat to be back on the road with Codywa.

We leave for Europe tomorrow with some more confidence, but let's keep praying for snow in the east or at least cold weather.

A Nor-Am victory- what a day!!! It was a nice ending to an American sweep at the Sunday River series. American's took home 10 of the possible 12 podiums!!!! Good work Wilbur, Jit, TK, Cody, and the Warbird.

I'm off to have some beers with the bro. Take care, w

P.S. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Steve for coming up and cheering me on.

posted by Warner at 1/05/2007 08:02:00 PM (permanent link to this post) 0 comments


Sunday River
Thursday, January 04, 2007

It’s faster to go full pin and have a few mistakes than hold back so that’s what I’ve been doing in Sunday River the past few days.

We’ve been racing in a four day Nor-Ams series up in Maine. In the day of first GS (Tuesday) I skied well and really picked up the slack on the second run finishing on the podium in third place and scored a small FIS point race (which is always a good thing). Yesterday, another GS, I had a solid first run and had a really big mistake four gates from the finish on the second run which moved me all the way back to 7th. It was a tough break, but at least I still scored some coveted Nor-Am points, but clearly not enough (the top two finishers at the end of the season, in each discipline, earns an automatic world cup spot for the following season).

Today we had our first slalom which turned out to be just like the last few days fast with mistakes. I was in third after the first run. On the second run, I came over a roll without enough direction and nearly come to a stop, struggling to stay in the course. I made it and miraculously only lost one position, finishing in fourth on the day.

All and all, the series so far has been successful, but we’re looking for more. Tomorrow is the last day of competition; it’s time to dig deep and throw down. I bib drew 3, my best starting spot of this series, so it’s on.

Happy New Year to all, w

posted by Warner at 1/04/2007 07:48:00 PM (permanent link to this post) 0 comments