Here comes US Champs

Oh the past two weeks has been really nice for me. Coming off of sickness in Canmore, I was very excited to head to the Midwest to spend some time with Sarah's family for Christmas. But I won't get ahead of myself because before we left for the Midwest, Sarah and I got to hang out in Banff and Canmore for a couple extra days thanks to my great friend Chandra Crawford. She hooked us up with a place to stay in Canmore and in Banff, two places which I would highly recommend visiting someday. We stayed at her house in Canmore and then Chateau Lake Louise the next night.

Christmas time in Minnesota was great. Comfy, happy, and really just a great place to train and reset the body from the 1st period of World Cup racing.

I headed back to Colorado and then onto visit my mom and her her side of the family in Fort Collins. It is also so nice to be around my family this time of the year. My aunt from Montana comes and my world-traveling uncle sneaks in some good time to make it to Fort Collins every year. I love hanging out with them and my Nana makes some mean cranberry pudding. And hanging out with my mom is always a special time for me.

Then into the mountains where I didn't unpack and just kept the same duffle for my races here in Soldier's Hollow, Utah where our National Championships are being held this season. We have a great house and a great group of skiers who are ready to get down to business at these races.

I am excited as well for these races. I'm excited to see ow my sprinting will have turned out after much intensity and altitude training over the years. I am hoping to win at least me of the races here this year, but who knows how things will turn out.

I am also very hopeful on making the World Championships team come late February. Right now my points put me right on the edge of making it. Again, we'll see...

I hope my next post brings good news. Ill check in soon. Hopefully with some more pictures!

Best,
Sylvan

The Last World Cups

Hey all.

My last world cups of the first period were this weekend. To say the least, they were a learning experience. I got sick last week and tried to get healthy all week. I mostly did, and took a shot at the weekend races, skipping out on the 15km classic on Thursday. My movements were good, but my body was not.

I had to drop from the 30km classic after 2 laps. Only the second time I have ever done that. Hard, but I couldn't dig a hole any deeper.

I'm now on the road to recovery hoping to have some good races in Utah at US Nationals.

Hopefully get back into the classroom quite a bit in January and February too!

As a last note I really felt the hurt of the recent Newtown, CT shootings. After spending much time in an elementary school and having a mother-in-law that is also an elementary school teacher, I really affected me. All my weekend efforts went to those who lost their lives. It was the least I felt I could do.

S

The First World Cups

We have just finished the first two weeks of World Cup racing in Sweden and Finland. For most of the time we have been above the Arctic Circle, but it hasn't been as cold as you might think it could be. Both locations we have skied at in Gallivare, Sweden and Kuusamo, Finland haven't gotten below 0, but it has been close.

My results here I think are not very exemplary of my best skiing. Whether it is the pressure I have put on myself to ski well or whether my fitness truly isn't where I want it to be, I am not skiing as fast as I would like to. Not to mention I froze my toe today, so its as tender as a well-cooked pork loin. Starting to turn some colors = not good.

We now head to Quebec for some sprints next to parliament and then to Canmore for the last World Cups of Period 1. In order to get back to the World Cup I will have to race my way through the season gaining points on our national circuit. I am looking forward to racing again in the US. I have been feeling a little out of whack over here.

National Team members Andy Newell and Skylar Davis. I'm the meat of the sammy.

Turns out I made the cover of BNS Magazine. Cool.

Starting the first race of the season.

Andy, me, and Simi supporting Movember efforts.

Simi and I were prime media workers. The US ladies were a historic 3rd place in the team relay.

We got to go to a school in Muonio, Finland and talk with the local kids about being ski racers. It was a great experience and I got to sign some cards, hats, and foreheads...