APU Pre-Race Attitude

A little morning pre-race peek into APU-

Mannix

Smythski

Fitz

H Brooks

GA

Ronski

West Yellowstone Racing

We just finished our first series of racing in West Yellowstone, Montana this past week. APU threw down an amazing team performance as well as many amazing individual races. There wasn't a single race that APU didn't have a team member standing on the podium. It has been so fun to race as part of this group throughout the week!

As far as my week of racing went I came away very happy with the first series of racing. I got my first SuperTour podium in the Sprint races on the first day of racing. It was an interesting set up, as we had two prelims separated by only an hour. With temperatures down in the single digits, and little rest- it made for a very tough day. Regardless, it was fun to throw down and get the first couple of races under my belt. APU has had a few time trials already back home this month, and with so many competitive girls on the team, for once I wasn't stepping into these races with cold feet. 

My little cousins after the race- great little cheerers!

Friday and Saturday's distance skate and classic races had their high's and low's. I was pleased with the consistency over the week. One of the highlights was Saturday's classic race when APU took top five americans in the woman's race. It has been so nice to ski with a team with such depth- and then show up at the races and feel like any one of the girls on the team can pop an exceptional race and be standing on the top. A great example of this was Friday's distance skate race when Kate Fitzgerald won, finishing a second in front of Holly Brooks. Congrats to Fitz!

Fitz as the Distance Leader and excited coach Flora

Thanks to the coaches and wax tech's for all the work over the week. It is incredible, on this team the tech's know all 18 skiers fleets of skis and manage to pick the best ski for every skier. THANKS

Team after Racing- Cheering on the boys

We are now off to Silver Star, Canada for a week of training before we hit another serious of races next week.

Results from the week are posted here:

http://summittiming.com/races/race_results.php

WEST YELLOWSTONE- YEAH!

APU Group after hammering out some L3 (minus Katie and Holly)

Today was our first ski in West Yellowstone. The skiing is exception! There are tons and tons of skiers on the trails as always- SO FUN! Races begin Wednesday, so lots of race preparation and ski testing already beginning. Sounds like it may cool down a bit, but we got in a nice "western" sunny day today before the chill moves in. Lucky, LUCKY!

See you on the trails!!

TIME TO SKI!

IT'S TIME TO SKI!!

The past two days APU has been making the 1 hr drive up to Hatchers Pass for some amazing skiing! Tracks have been great, the temperatures low, and spirits high. Both skate and classic tracks are exceptional considering the couple of inches of snow pack on the road. Surprisingly enough, no rocks or pavement are showing (with exception to one corner). 

Perfect tracks!

Dark and cold- Gretta Anderson is still pumped to get started!

Lots of car and people traffic on the trails- have to watch out :)

Our first day up there, all the town teams were out there, so I got to ski some laps with my brother who is now skiing for University of Alaska- fun, fun!!

 

Nothing like early season skiing in Alaska. Hopefully the snow hits town soon so we can be skiing here.!

Morgan and I high on Alaskan Life

Gretta Anderson and I at the start of the cold morning

Yesterday was Halloween, so a couple of us got dressed up for our OD... FUN FUN!

2.5 hr. Halloween Ski- ladies working hard but still having fun!

Below: Morgan, Holly, me, Kikkan and Katie getting after it :)