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| Ziel Curve |
Is it possible that a snow-cloud large enough to cover both:
Altenberg, Germany (World Cup) and Igls, Austria (Europa Cup) passed through
the weather system this weekend? Albeit, unlikely – I swear that was the case.
Altenberg, Germany (World Cup) and Igls, Austria (Europa Cup) passed through
the weather system this weekend? Albeit, unlikely – I swear that was the case.
* * *
My Europa Cup debut has been everything I had hoped it would be, and in true
cliché form – everything I couldn’t have possibly imagined.
Upon arriving at Igls (pronounced: ea-gles), Austria in our Mercedes Vito, the
sun was shining and I’m pretty certain I heard a few birds were tweeting (but
it may have been in German, so I didn’t quite catch what they were saying). In
taking our first few paid-training runs, and even during the first afternoon of
official training, the ice just kept getting quicker and quicker.
cliché form – everything I couldn’t have possibly imagined.
Upon arriving at Igls (pronounced: ea-gles), Austria in our Mercedes Vito, the
sun was shining and I’m pretty certain I heard a few birds were tweeting (but
it may have been in German, so I didn’t quite catch what they were saying). In
taking our first few paid-training runs, and even during the first afternoon of
official training, the ice just kept getting quicker and quicker.
Then came the snow. Then more. And then even more. Then, the jury was forced to cancel the final day of official training – and
all we could do was set up our sleds, prepare mentally and diligently watch the
skies.
all we could do was set up our sleds, prepare mentally and diligently watch the
skies.
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| 17 nations. 1 transport truck. |
Don’t get me wrong though; Calgary has me well prepared for snow-races.
I was even playing around with equipment and lines to adapt for slower ice –
but it’s never really quite the same when those monster flakes cover all the
fast entrances and speed-grabbing lines.
I was even playing around with equipment and lines to adapt for slower ice –
but it’s never really quite the same when those monster flakes cover all the
fast entrances and speed-grabbing lines.
A team captain’s meetings saw a change in race format the evening before the
first race. Every single slider (34 women/ 43 men) would be given the
opportunity to take both runs (when usually the second heat only includes the
top 20), and we would do both runs by race draw (rather than have the second heat
go reverse-order by first heat result). It was something I’d never heard of. I
was drawn 10th off. I
put that sticker on my sled and said a little sliding prayer.
first race. Every single slider (34 women/ 43 men) would be given the
opportunity to take both runs (when usually the second heat only includes the
top 20), and we would do both runs by race draw (rather than have the second heat
go reverse-order by first heat result). It was something I’d never heard of. I
was drawn 10th off. I
put that sticker on my sled and said a little sliding prayer.
Saturday, January 7th 3:00 PM –
The weather had been clear and gorgeous all morning. Perhaps
the winds had changed? Sadly, no. Instead, right before the final forerunner,
the snow returned.
A unison sigh was heard from the 79 athletes in the start house, but we
resolved to race hard.
The 9 girls ahead of me had some solid downtimes. The snow hadn’t quite been
aggressive enough to create any huge discrepancies – and in true Igls form, the
times were within tenths or less on one another. My coach put Phrixus down in
the groove and said some words of encouragement. I placed my hand in push-ready
position, but suddenly felt a sense of urgency. “It’s snowing pretty good now.
Don’t waste time setting up. Just GO!” I told myself. I rushed off the block
and didn’t get the ice contact I needed to attack the long-flat start Austria
challenges us with. I knew it when I loaded: I had just given time away.
Shoving those thoughts aside, I focused on the task-at-hand: make up for it!
the winds had changed? Sadly, no. Instead, right before the final forerunner,
the snow returned.
A unison sigh was heard from the 79 athletes in the start house, but we
resolved to race hard.
The 9 girls ahead of me had some solid downtimes. The snow hadn’t quite been
aggressive enough to create any huge discrepancies – and in true Igls form, the
times were within tenths or less on one another. My coach put Phrixus down in
the groove and said some words of encouragement. I placed my hand in push-ready
position, but suddenly felt a sense of urgency. “It’s snowing pretty good now.
Don’t waste time setting up. Just GO!” I told myself. I rushed off the block
and didn’t get the ice contact I needed to attack the long-flat start Austria
challenges us with. I knew it when I loaded: I had just given time away.
Shoving those thoughts aside, I focused on the task-at-hand: make up for it!
Despite my training-speed push start, I was achieving somenice lines. The sled was really moving with the corners well. As I felt a real
speed gain coming through Kreisel, I smiled. Crossing the finish line I saw the
“3” flash next to my time. It wasn’t the “1” I had hoped for – but I knew it
was exceedingly competitive, and that was my goal.
Run 2 didn’t come around for another couple of hours; the
snow persisted.
snow persisted.
10th off once again, I promised myself I would push hard and for a
greater distance. I did. The time reflected only a fraction of what I know I’m
capable of pushing, but it was better – and that counted for something. I
miss-steered in corner 2 and felt an extra oscillation. It pissed me off at the
time, but I didn’t want to panic and skid the sled. I kept my eyes forward and
my mind in tune. The rest of the run was clean, and I had fixed a couple of
smaller mistakes from run 1. The downtime was under 3 seconds slower but with
these conditions, this was par for the course. And while my speeds reached
close to the podium sliders’, the run would only be the 5th fastest.
The hardest part about getting to the bottom of the track
during this race was: not knowing how to feel.
Would the jury use both times combined as Race #5? Or would Race #6 be
cancelled and each run I just did each represent a one-run race? My mind was
blank.
We ate a late dinner, prepped our sleds to race and went to sleep.
It wasn’t snowing when I woke up this morning, and even though I had drawn #3
for run 1 today – the snow had already begun to fall. Scheiße! I pushed far,
and did my best to keep Phrixus on the fast line. The wet, heavy precipitation
had other plans. I knew I wouldn’t get everywhere I wanted to be – so I did as
little as possible – and crossed the line in ‘3’ once again… and I almost
started to convince myself we were really going through with the entire race
today and that meant I came in 3rd overall yesterday …. My hopes
were slightly dashed, once I returned to the top of the track.
The race jury sent 10 women’s sleds down the track and then promptly cancelled
the race. The only winner today would
be the snow.
Hawrysh: 3rd & 6th; Thompson: 5th & 11th; Greszczyszyn: 2nd & 5th;
Fraser: 3rd & 2nd
With new experiences comes self-reflection and important lessons to be learned.
I won’t get into any great detail (I’ve already gone on long enough) but the
fact of the matter is, this week confirmed what I believe in my heart to be
true: I belong here; I can challenge for the Gold here.
I won’t get into any great detail (I’ve already gone on long enough) but the
fact of the matter is, this week confirmed what I believe in my heart to be
true: I belong here; I can challenge for the Gold here.
The gem
cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials.
cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials.
We are off to Winterberg,
Germany (my 6th track to learn) in the morning.
Our next races are scheduled for Jan 14th and Jan 15th.
WOMEN’S RESULTS:
EC #5
EC #6
NEWS FLASH:
