Racing of a Different Kind

So, last week we had a ski race at our local mountain, Tussey Mountain. It wasn't the first this year but it was the first that I did. Tussey is different than a lot of other courses. When we do get enough snow to have a race, it is usually short in distance because our mountain isn't very big and doesn't have a high vertical drop. But we make up the shorter time when we set the course. For as long as anyone can remember, our coaches set some of the tightest, weirdest slalom courses in the area. Combine this with Tussey's steep start and serious ice, and you'll get a course that's length is close to the times at bigger mountains. Last year, I ejected out of my ski bindings every race, because of the vibrations from ruts in the course and the fact that my bindings were junior bindings. But this year I was able to pick up some adult bindings, and although my skis were chattering the whole way down the first steep pitch, I didn't "walk out" of my bindings. Walking out of bindings is something that happens a lot in races with a lot of ruts. It appears as the skier just steps out of the ski. I had a good race. The next day was the same, but I felt even better.



This past weekend was the first race of the PA Cup series, which are the qualifying races for racers ages 14-18, along with masters racers. It was held at Seven Springs. The course the first day was difficult, but it was different than what I was used to. The turns weren't as tight as what I thought they'd be, but the snow was icy the whole way down. I do better when it's icy, and it's hard to explain, but I find it's better when the snow is variable - icy in some spots, perfect snow in others, and deep and bumpy ruts in others. I like it when the snow is bad in any way it could be, but not horrible in any one way. Again, this race was a slalom, and I felt I did well. After the race, I was waiting around for my friend to finish his run, so that we could go get our twintips and go freeskiing. I heard the speaker announce Cameron Dodge's name. I was suprized, although I knew that he raced. I got to talk with him a bit after he finished. It took us a while to find it, but Seven Spring's terrain park was very nice. It's premier park wasn't open yet, but this was the next biggest thing. It was the first time I was able to take my twintips into an actual park, with jumps and rails. I was able to learn 2 new tricks, and was able to do different kinds of rails. All the rails I knew were within my ability, I just never had a chance to hit rails that were shaped like a rainbow, and also rails that were flat, and then went down like a stair rail. It was also nice to take the skis off some groomed jumps and see what they were built to do. That night we went out to dinner with the team and watched the X-Games big air competition. I was happy that Jon Olsson and Simon Dumont made it into the finals. The next morning, our coach set the course, so we all knew it was going to be a good day. The snow was variable, just how I liked it. The way my first run went, it would be safe to say that it was the best run I have ever had. The second run did not dissapoint and I ended up doing well overall. The first day, I was 30th overall, which is great for me. The second day, I think I did better, but they hadn't posted the results in order of time, so I do not know how I did. It was a fun weekend, and there are still a few more of these to come.