After a great start to the month I haven’t really been doing too much. I took another fall in my one race start over here and since then things have been very slow going. The knee
is bugging me big time again…. so much so that I haven’t really skied since the
fall ,  that was about a week ago. We also have been
getting hit hard with snow, so getting out of Italy was a must if we wanted to
get any training before the Europa cup slaloms at the end of this trip (Friday
and Saturday). Its hard not to get cabin fever a little bit over here, when
training isn’t an option. Ski racing is a waiting game sometimes, and trying to
stay focused is a must in slow times like these.

It’s been really hard not to get frustrated with the way things have been working out over here.
And I’m not going to lie…there are moments when this lingering injury can get
the most of me. That last only a few seconds, as I am starting to learn that
living or skiing in frustration is something that I just cannot do. Why worry,
stress or mope about the uncontrollable. I have let that take over before, and
am sure I will again (hey nobody is perfect) but life is just not as enjoyable
when that happens.

Yesterday was especially tough…we left Italy Saturday, because we found a great place to train
in Austria.  Even though I need the g.s. training. I knew my knee needed more days off. So I did the smart thing. I went on the hill the first few days there, but just to help out, watch
the guys ski, and coach a little. I was waiting to train slalom, so yesterday
was the day…. It was one of those mornings were you woke up and feel like
everything is a little better…the air feels a little fresher, the water tastes a
litter purer, and the snow looks like a little more fun. I did my normal warm up
routine that Adam and I have come up with. I was the first on the hill and the
first one on course. At about the tenth turn I could tell my knee still wasn’t
ready. I finished the run, went to the bottom and it was a perfect time for the
classic Will blow ups that most of you all know to well. But that never
happened…. instead I walked around the corner…took a few deep breaths and calmed
down. I was so frustrated I wanted to cry…and almost did. It took a few minutes,
but I realizing that this is one moment in the journey. The frustrations I felt
at the bottom of that run will only make the good days feel that much better.
The great ones can control their frustrations and ego. And that’s what I’m
striving for.

I put my shoes on and hiked the hill. I wanted to watch the guys ski…and I am glad I did. Over the days of watching my teammates I have learned a lot. I have also gotten to see
one of my best friends start to break through to another level in his skiing.
Paul has had a hard couple of years skiing because of injury. So much so that
for about a week this spring he called it quits. Wow, I’m glad he didn’t.
Watching him rip the slalom that day was a thing of beauty. So as I was hiking
down the hill, a bigger picture moment, as I like to call it, hit me. In times
past I would have let all the frustrations get to me. I would have moped around
stayed inside counting the days tell I got home. This time I could finish my
walk down the hill, high five my friend and be really happy. And that’s exactly
what I did!

Oh, and by the way…not pushing it the last week was a good thing. We race tomorrow. And my knee feels better then before the races in Loveland… I am sure glad I did not sit
around frustrated…until  next time. Keep it
smooth!

Will