Sat, Feb 08, 2014

It appears as if the text in my previous posts is not showing up on my blog, which is unfortunate because I have been updating on my life experiences, which have been plentiful over the last few days. Alas! I am on it now.

Today in our training run we had a time trial for downhill race spots here in Sochi. It was a bit nerve racking to think that I was racing for a spot in the Olympic downhill...and although I skied a bit passively on the upper section of the course, I let it go and was pretty speedy on the bottom. I was fifth in the training run today, with two girls in front of me who missed gates (one being Jackie, my fellow Oregonian). To earn a spot, we had to be top 7, so it feels good to say....
I'M RACING IN THE OLYMPIC DOWNHILL!!!! YAY!
Last year at World Champs I missed out on the downhill spot, so it feels like I have earned my spot back. I am getting more and more comfortable on my skis, and I feel really good about the course and conditions here in Sochi. The snow is a bit harder, icier than we're used to on the World Cup circuit, which I think plays nicely to my style of skiing. I'm really psyched to race, to get out there and see what I can pull off on race day...

Tomorrow is the men's downhill, and I plan on going up to be a spectator. I'm trying to embrace every part of this experience that I possibly can because, who knows, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.My family landed I'm Sochi today, so I look forward to having them here for support and love, and to bring a part of home into my Olympic journey. Fun :-)

The opening ceremonies last night were incredible. With all of the production that went into it: acting, choreography, costumes, music, lights, fire, smoke, dancing, fireworks and props--it turned out to be everything they had hoped, perhaps more. I'll post a few pictures below.

Anyhow, tomorrow is a rest day, so I'm going to get to bed soon and get some more sleep. I lost a little last night with the opening ceremonies going so late and our training run starting so early. SO worth it! peace and love.