Spring is right around the corner, and that means less clothes, tan skin, road trips and bike rides. It also means that it is a good time to reflect.

This was my first year with XC Oregon, and I basically had the opportunity to re-learn everything that I have known about training, racing and playing. I started my racing life as a cyclist, and started to use skiing as a training tool, and quickly found that ski racing was just as much or more fun as bike racing, and that eventually led me to where I am right now. It also led me to this point of total exhaustion that I am experiencing right now…. But its kind of a good exhaustion.

Racing this year went completely different than it has for me in any other of my 3 years of racing. I increased my flat land power infinitely, but that lead to an infinite decrease in my climbing, I changed my technique to hopefully alleviate some overuse injuries and increase my total output, but lost my trademark high turnover, highly aerobic dependant style of skiing. I trained harder and faster than I ever have, and when it worked I was skiing FAST, winning the skate leg of the Methow Pursuit was the highlight, and when I skied slow, well… it was REALLY slow, with a mental crushing 25th at the Boulder Mountain Tour. So overall, I had a pretty balanced year, unfortunately, it wasn’t that “break out” year I was hoping for, and felt I was due for. Maybe next year….

XCO has been an amazing experience, I now count the Crew as some of my closest friends in Bend, and cannot wait till next season to start, and try to ge that break out year. Till then, I have some other goals: ZVi and I are gonna try to tag team some Crits the summer, Ev and I are gonna bust out some curry and rock some MTB races, Marshall and I might finally get to have a boxing match (bad idea! but also could be really entertaining, we’re gonna use 10lb gloves!) and the all the others will get together and do some OD’s and BBQ’s.

Thanks to all the sponsors, TAI, Center, Sporthil, Aeromech and the local shops, and thanks to Fisher and Alpina, the best skis and boots(personal sponsor)