Hi Everyone!
Training Camp in Zermatt, Switzerland
Over the past 6 weeks, I have been extremely busy with my training, school, and family time. During the majority of October, I was training in Zermatt, Switzerland, on a full mogul course, which was so fun. As this training camp went on, snow conditions improved as a result of a few big storms, which made for an extremely fun yet challenging course. In Zermatt, I was really able to put together two competition-ready runs that I am quite satisfied with.
I feel as though I am really putting everything together; Zermatt was my best camp yet! I look forward to making final improvements as I head to Tignes, France for the last preparation camp of the season before competitions begin.
THE MATTERHORN
Off-Snow Activities
The two times I have visited Zermatt, it has been my favorite training camp, both due to the skiing as well as the activities I have participated in off the hill. Although this was my first full trip with my regular school schedule this year, I was still able to incorporate other activities into my daily schedule. (On another side note, Stanford OHS is a fantastic program to be a part of, especially when I’m away from home, as I don’t have to miss class time simply because I am training in another country — instead, I am able to attend from anywhere in the world, as long as I have wifi, of course!)
MANY BEAUTIFUL HIKES IN ZERMATT!
Some of my favorite activities in Zermatt are hiking in the surrounding mountains, trying various foods in the local bakeries, exploring the quaint village, and my very favorite: eating in Italy atop the glacier! On the way down from the mogul course, the ski run that takes me down to the bottom also passes over the border between Switzerland and Italy. On the Italian side, one can stop for lunch at a quaint restaurant with the best pasta I have ever had. I absolutely love traveling to Zermatt, as well as experiencing everything that it has to offer!
No Snow? No Problem.
After the training camp concluded in Zermatt, I traveled back home to Park City and refocused; I have been able to get more training in at the Center of Excellence, with gym and trampoline workouts each day. I am so thankful to be able to use the amazing facilities that the COE offers. Because Park City is lacking snow at the moment, my coaches and I have had to get creative in finding other ways that will continue to keep me feeling refreshed and ready to train on snow at the scheduled times. With that said, over the past week, I have had the opportunity to use the new skiing simulator that the COE has to offer.
THE SKI SIMULATOR AT THE COE
The ski simulator is a machine that allows you to feel like you’re skiing, without actual snow underneath your feet. You wear ski boots, then click into a pair of bindings that are strapped to a conveyor belt of sorts, which moves with you, so that you get the feeling of a turn as you move side to side. This helps me continue to be adjusted to my ski boots so that I can transition back to snow with ease. CLICK HERE to watch a video of me on the ski simulatar at the COE.
US Freestyle Ski Team Uniform Day
Another event that occurred while I was home was Uniform Day. Last week, my teammates and I received our uniforms for the upcoming 2016-17 season, which I am super excited about! In addition to the US Ski Team jackets and snowpants, we also received a few under layers and sweaters to keep us warm, as well as some sturdy luggage to make our travels easier, courtesy of Columbia 1938 and High Sierra.
THE 2016-17 US SKI TEAM UNIFORM
I’m super excited to make use of this season’s uniform, and to finally have a full US Ski Team uniform of my own! It has been one of my big goals since I was a young skier to make the US Ski Team, and having the uniform itself has taken the experience of being on the team to a whole new level!
GO TIME!
Looking back at my three on-snow preparation training camps in Whistler, Canada; Perisher, Australia; and Zermatt, Switzerland; as well as my time in the gym and on water-ramp; I am quite excited to put all of my hard work and preparation into play during the first competition of the year in the opening World Cup in Ruka, Finland on December 10th. The time I have spent working hard, both on and off-snow has been quite efficient, resulting in the most improvement I have obtained in a preparation season thus far. As you are reading this, I am boarding a flight to Tignes, France, where I will have one more week of training before traveling to the World Cup competition venue in Ruka! Once I am in Ruka, I will have a few days of training on the course before the competition, then it’s GO TIME! 🙂 I am more than ecstatic to get back in the gate again and perform to the best of my abilities.
Thank you all for your support! You have helped to make this journey very possible for me; I cannot express how grateful I am to have a kind, generous, encouraging team behind me!
Best, Olivia 🙂
