Second Place!!! Las Lenas Argentina!!!

I woke up this morning pretty nervous about competing! I knew my line, but only skiing two day before a comp had my nerves a title higher than normal. There was not a lot to my line, besides a technical straitline about halfway down that had an ice bulge in the middle. I was excited to ski it, I knew it would get my blood pumping! There is not a lot of snow in Lenas so there were not a lot of opportunities for air.
I was happy with the line I chose and felt really strong the entire way down the venue. Because of the lack of snow we were only going to have a one run competition, which is really tough especially when there was not a lot on this venue to separate ourselves from anyone else. I skied and then watched the rest of the girls also ski very strong, there were only 12 women competing, but it was a pretty stacked field. I ended up second by .20 behind friend and competitor Angel Collinson, I could not believe how close we were. Overall I was very happy with my results and am glad to have the comp behind me. Las Lenas did a wonderful job with awards and had a great band for us to follow. It was a lot of fun to see all my competition friends after not seeing them for about 4 months, it is like a second family and it was fun to watch all the guys ski super strong. Now I am headed to Portillo, Chile to shoot photos with my friend Johnathan Selkowitz!

Las Lenas comp one run tomorrow!!!!

So the comp was postponed until tomorrow, which was good and bad, a part of me was ready to compete today so we could have a full comp, but another part of me needed a little more time to ski to feel more physically and mentally prepared. I am excited about the venue because it is steep and long. There are not a lot of airs because Las Lenas does not have a lot of snow and the takeoffs are receded. I am just hoping the line I have chosen is strong enough. I do not really have a lot of features just some technical skiing. It is hard when it is only a one run comp because it is anyones game! I went and skied a long run that involved a 20 minute hike which was really fun and it was good to know that my body still remembers how to ski. I feel pretty strong thanks to Rob and Mountain Athlete! Hopefully the sun will shine for us tomorrow and the comp will be a great success! This is the first time that any of us have competed in Las Lenas! Also the first time there has been a comp since 1994! The terrain here looks endless when they have snow. I hope to be able to come back and ski. I am posting a photo of the venue and the surrounding areas. We have to walk down on dirt to get to the entrance, pretty crazy. Mt Eduardo here we come manana!!!

South America!!! Finally after crazy summer!

I have finally arrived in Mendoza Argentina after flying for about 24 hours. I am waiting to catch a 2 am bus to Las Lenas and then will be competing on Thursday. I know I am pushing it a bit, but I was not able to get out of work any earlier and I really wanted to do my annual girls pack trip!! Cramming everything in at the last minute, but I am not regretting doing any of it. I arrived in Mendoza today around 100 pm. I am staying at a really hip hostel downtown called Damajuana. So far I love Argentina and the food. Mendoza is a great running city and I went for run around a large park. I probably saw about 100 runners in my 30 minute run. It is definitely a night area! All the bars are just starting to open and it is 9 pm, I am trying to go to sleep so I can wake up and catch a bus to Lenas at 2 am and ski all day tomorrow. I am really excited, I have never been here and I am already enjoying the culture and the food!! Here are a few photos of Mendoza, I will keep you updated with the competition, because it will be live webcasted.