We started the week by acclimating, which included ski dates. It's a Midwest tradition to get dressed up and have a ski date every year, and it's always a blast!
J1s rocking the sassy ski date outfits!
We also got to spend an afternoon exploring Tahoe.
One of my favorite things about skiing is getting to meet new people. I was so happy to get to see friends from other parts of the country, especially Nina!!
Keely Jackson, Nina Armstrong, and I. None of us live in the same state!
I also met a bunch of the other Mid-A people, and took some selfies!
Photo: Ryan Young
Midwest is Best
We stayed on Donner Lake... so this is what we looked at during morning runs.
And during lunch.
And when we got bored before dinner.
Or when we were really bored and climbed up the mountain behind it.
Photo: Mack Fitzpatrick
So you're probably wondering if I even raced....
Midwest Crew at the opening ceremonies
Photo: Julia Curry
Here we are! Photo: Keely Jackson
We had the largest team.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
And the best coaches (Such as Piotr, or DJ P)
Photo: Sarah Bezdicek
And Julia! She had the best van music!
And of course I had amazing fans
Race 1: 1.something K sprint
Sprinting at altitude is not sprinting.
I had a rough start, and nearly ate it.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
But I came back pretty well.
Photo: Jackie Schnieder
I qualified 15th so made it to the quarter finals.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
I got 4th in my quarter final, so didn't move on.
Photo: Jackie Schnieder
However, I had a really fast quarter so finished in 13th overall.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
Race 2: 5K skate individual
It was super slow conditions, and snowing. The boys 15K in the morning was faster than the 10K girls times!
Photo: Brad Kautzer
My mom couldn't come to the races, so we sent this to her because she is one of my biggest supporters and it was weird for her not to be there.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
I was very happy when this race was over.
Photo: MacBeth Graphics
My race didn't feel that great, but I finished in 15th place, which was much better than I expected to do as a first year J1. I mean U18.
Race 3: 10K classic mass start
The mass start is a crazy race. I crashed really, really, really hard on the first downhill. I still have a puncture wound on my knee and two bruises on my legs, and it was about a month ago. Luckily I didn't notice it during the race, and having snow from head to toe (literally, I had snow stuck in my ear for over a kilometer) really helped keep me from over heating. I had asked the coaches to throw water on me because it was 60 degrees or more, but I didn't need it thanks to the snow bath.
The chevron! Get ready to drop or be dropped!
Photo: Brad Kautzer
I was able to race with people I knew the entire way. This lap I skied with my roommate Alissa Niggeman and teammate Claire Benton.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
How many ski races can you wear a sports bra for and still over heat!
We were very happy to be done with that race and looking forward to the relays!
After my crash, I was in about 60th. I fought my way forward and finished in 34th, after another crash on the last technical corner. I was with two other girls and took it a little too fast. I had practiced the corner a lot, but not after racing 9.6K, so my legs were really wobbly and I fell again, but jumped back up and sprinted into the finish!
Race 4: 3x3K classic relay
I raced with the U20 girls, which was a ton of fun! Both the U20 relay teams got medals, and the A relay won! My teammates were Alison Ternes and Sarah Bezdicek, and I couldn't have asked for anyone better! I trained with them all summer, and once we put on our matching glitter we were good to go kick some snow!
Here's Alison's tag to me. She had a killer leg and got us into 6th place.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
I felt amazing during my leg. It was probably my best race of the week. I tagged off to Sarah in a close race for 3rd place.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
After I finished I ran over to cheer Sarah and the other MW team in.
As you can tell I was very excited!!!
Sarah had an amazing leg and brought us home in 4th place! She's so strong and crushed it!!!
After the race: the U20s, and me.
Photo: Brad Kautzer
We might not be the fastest, but we definitely have the most swag!
Photo: Sarah Bezdicek
We cheered for the other races after too! I love cheering!
Photo: Sarah Bezdicek
The U20s, and me, at the closing ceremonies right before we got our medals.
Photo: Jackie Schnieder
Here's a shoutout to the best roommate: Alissa Niggeman!
She might have a funny Wisconsin accent but it made the week even better!
(And Anna French for being awesome)
I'm not the only one who has a blog.
Follow Ryan Young (a pretty cool Mid-Atlantic skier) at:
All in all, Truckee JN's were a huge success. As a team, we got closer to beating New England for the Alaska Cup than ever before. As flat landers, no one expected us to do well, but we all pushed through the thin air and had some amazing races at 7,200 feet with snow conditions most of us have never seen before.
The Loppet Ladies (LNR) took home the Club team title, and the overall combined men's and women's title. Not bad for the 3rd year as a club.
When I got home, I got the opportunity to go meet the Gregg's at the airport. Although I had had enough of airports for a few months, I was glad to go and pumped to see our training partner/coach and WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALIST!!!! Congrats Team Gregg!!!
Now looking forward to spring and 2016.
There's no off season; next season started last week, so we are getting pumped and are training!!!
I can't wait for what the 2015-2016 season has in store for me! Anchorage, AK? West Yelly, MT? Jericho, VT? Cheile Grădiştei, Romania? Grand Rapids, MN? Cable, WI?
High School Graduation!!! College! As Piotr would say, GET PSYCHED!!!
