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