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Sunday, 29 Jul 07
IT WAS A QUICK summer for the women alpine racers on the U.S. Ski Team.
On Friday, a large group of them headed south to New Zealand to begin team training in preparation for the 2007-2008 World Cup season.
Though they are excited to get back on the snow, the girls have relished their time off. Thailand and Hawaii were popular break spots, but only a couple of weeks were spent vacationing. Summertime for the racers is a balancing act between relaxing from competing on snow and training hard without it. It is up to each athlete to get fit, said 21-year-old Resi Stiegler, over breakfast in her hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
"It's difficult but it's really cool to be by yourself and push yourself,” she said. “In the end, you're the only one on the hill, and mentally that's really difficult and I think when you train by yourself and have to get up in the morning — and say you partied the night before or you're not having the best day — you're in charge of getting yourself to the gym. ... It teaches you that it’s my life and if I want to make it, I have to do it.”
Since May, the women have preferred to spend time living and training in hot climates like Hawaii, California and Rocky Mountain towns. Their summer challenge, said Julia Mancuso who lives part time in Maui, is to figure out how to train hard without snow.
"For ski racers, we're constantly trying other sports and challenging ourselves,” the 23-year-old said. "If you think about it, you can't emulate ski racing without being on snow.”
Hence her summer sport of choice: stand-up paddle boarding.
"Paddle boarding, oh my gosh, that is the new favorite best thing to do ever!” said Stiegler who dabbled in it while visiting Mancuso in June. Stiegler said she is definitely bringing it to Jackson, and could possibly take a wild ride down the Snake River next summer. As for Mancuso, she usually paddles 4 to 5 miles twice a week, and this summer she decided to compete in the 10-mile Hennessey’s International Paddleboard Championships in Maui and placed sixth in the women’s division.
"I think it makes you strong,” Mancuso said about being on the board, “but for the most part it keeps you present and helps you react. You have to think ahead [like in ski racing]... and it also helps me mentally relax. In that sense, it challenges your nervous system."
READ more on SkiRacing.com ...
Summertime for alpiners means heading south ... for snow
Comment on this Post U.S. Ski Teamers Julia Mancuso, Resi Stiegler, Lauren Ross, and Caitlin Ciccone are tight, best buddies even. They are turning the institutional sport of ski racing from stodgy to spectacular. They love — LOVE — to race, and are pee-you-pants funny. Recently Vanessa Pierce caught up with them for a online feature on SkiRacing.com. They chat about summer fun, training, and their goals for the winter season that starts this month in New Zealand.
IT WAS A QUICK summer for the women alpine racers on the U.S. Ski Team.
On Friday, a large group of them headed south to New Zealand to begin team training in preparation for the 2007-2008 World Cup season.
Though they are excited to get back on the snow, the girls have relished their time off. Thailand and Hawaii were popular break spots, but only a couple of weeks were spent vacationing. Summertime for the racers is a balancing act between relaxing from competing on snow and training hard without it. It is up to each athlete to get fit, said 21-year-old Resi Stiegler, over breakfast in her hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
"It's difficult but it's really cool to be by yourself and push yourself,” she said. “In the end, you're the only one on the hill, and mentally that's really difficult and I think when you train by yourself and have to get up in the morning — and say you partied the night before or you're not having the best day — you're in charge of getting yourself to the gym. ... It teaches you that it’s my life and if I want to make it, I have to do it.”
Since May, the women have preferred to spend time living and training in hot climates like Hawaii, California and Rocky Mountain towns. Their summer challenge, said Julia Mancuso who lives part time in Maui, is to figure out how to train hard without snow.
"For ski racers, we're constantly trying other sports and challenging ourselves,” the 23-year-old said. "If you think about it, you can't emulate ski racing without being on snow.”
Hence her summer sport of choice: stand-up paddle boarding.
"Paddle boarding, oh my gosh, that is the new favorite best thing to do ever!” said Stiegler who dabbled in it while visiting Mancuso in June. Stiegler said she is definitely bringing it to Jackson, and could possibly take a wild ride down the Snake River next summer. As for Mancuso, she usually paddles 4 to 5 miles twice a week, and this summer she decided to compete in the 10-mile Hennessey’s International Paddleboard Championships in Maui and placed sixth in the women’s division.
"I think it makes you strong,” Mancuso said about being on the board, “but for the most part it keeps you present and helps you react. You have to think ahead [like in ski racing]... and it also helps me mentally relax. In that sense, it challenges your nervous system."
READ more on SkiRacing.com ...
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