Well Lake Louise has come and gone. It was a completely different experience this year compared to last season. I did not show up wide-eyed and nervous. I knew what to expect and came in with a game plan. The whole time in Lake Louise I wanted to remain focused on what I needed to do to succeed rather than everything else going on.

Last year the race organizers had pumped the hill full of water and it felt like an ice skating rink. This year they didn’t add any water to the track. Our first day there when we were supposed to have the first downhill training run we woke up to lots of snow; nearly a foot by morning. Before even leaving the hotel we got word that the training run had been cancelled. I used the day off to rest from all of the travelling I had been doing leading up to my arrival in Lake Louise, I was glad to have a day off and relax.

It snowed through the day and into the night. When we woke up on the second day the snow was letting up and the sun was trying to poke its head through the clouds. With somewhere between 18 and 24 inches of snow falling, I was not very optimistic of our chance for getting a training run off. After a two-hour delay in the schedule we were told that training would happen. The snow was surely soft, but the race crew did a great job getting the downhill track in good shape.

I did not have huge expectations for the downhill training runs. As always, I used them for additional speed training. It was the first time I have put downhill skis on in nearly two months, since Chile. It was good to feel the snow out and get used to high speed.

The day before the super g race I enjoyed a nice quiet day that consisted of some rest, a little aerobic workout, and some ski prep. If I have spent some time on the race trail I prefer to take the day before a race off and relax.

The morning of the sg race I woke up to some nasty weather. It was not very cold, but it was windy and snowing. The falling snow was the type that pelts you in the face. When you ski in it you feel like you were standing in front of a sandblaster. We were informed right away that they might move the race start down lower on the mountain to avoid some of the gusty wind. During inspection many people were very pessimistic about the likelihood of the race happening. It is difficult, but you have to prepare yourself as if the race will happen until it is actually cancelled.

In the end everything went off as scheduled. The start was lowered to get out of the worst of the wind, but the wind was still a factor in the first few gates. The snow was very soft from the warm temperatures and all of the freshly fallen snow over the week, so it was going to get bumpy. After seeing the soft snow and turny nature of the course I made a last minute decision and swapped out my race skis for an older softer pair that works great in those conditions.

When I got to the start for my run the wind was very gusty and it was constantly changing from one racer to the next. As I got into the starting gate they had what started out as a four minute TV break that turned into about 10 minutes for course repair. I was glad that they smoothed everything out and was ready to go, focused on my skiing and only that. About 20 seconds into my run I was flagged. In speed races they have flag zones where if someone is waving a yellow flag you are supposed to stop. It is for safety, if a racer has crashed or there is a problem it is possible to stop before getting into trouble.

I found out that right below where I stopped a course worker had fallen and was in the course. I was frustrated that after a long hold something like this had happened, but I did get a free snowmobile ride out of it. With the soft snow I wanted to get right back on the course as soon as possible. Three racers later I was back in the starting gate.

I was able to use running part of the course to my advantage and skied to top 20 seconds much more aggressively than I did the first time around. My run was not clean by any means, but it was aggressive and I executed what I had planned on. On a couple occasions I got bounced and rattled around. One time in particular on the flats that caused me to scrub speed. I crossed the finish line in 29th place. After 50 racers it was a solid showing. I just hoped that it would hold up for a top 30 finish.

Standing in the finish I waited. I was faster than the racers following me and thought that I might hang on. Then something changed. The wind at the start died down and the visibility continued to improve. Racers at end were coming down very fast, some even finishing in the top 15. By the end, I had been bumped back to 36th. It was a very close race; I was only three-tenths of a second behind 30th place and one second behind 9th place.

I had wanted to finish in the top 30 and that result would have earned me a start this week in Beaver Creek, but I cannot beat myself up over what I cannot control. I had stuck to my game plan and executed it so I am happy. Being able to show up at the next level and focus only on what I need to is a huge jump forward for me. Although I do not get to race in Beaver Creek the doors to another start for me are not closed. I am in Canmore, Alberta now; training for the upcoming NorAms races where with a win or two I can get another crack at the World Cup.

I have some good news and some bad news from yesterday’s Copper race.  The bad news: no Thanksgiving dinner at home this year.  The good news: I will instead be at Lake Louise.  I earned a start in the first World Cup sg of the season next weekend in Lake Louise, Canada.  To be honest I was a bit nervous going into the races, not because there was a World Cup start on the line, but because I had yet to race sg this season and had no idea how I stacked up.

The US Ski Team hosted two sg races on their new training venue.  Nearly $6 million has been invested on an impressive speed-training venue at Copper Mountain.  I only managed to get four runs of sg training in during my time here in Colorado.  They happened to be the day before the race, but in those runs I was able to get comfortable with the speed.  I think that is the most important part.  Once I am comfortable with the speed I can look for more speed and that is when I ski fast.

The races were like a mini World Cup with nearly the entire US Team racing. In addition, the Austrian’s showed up with most of their stars.  There were also some Canadians and Norwegians in the mix.  It made for quite an exciting race environment and would prove to be a good judge of how well everyone was skiing.  I was told going into the races that the person with the best FIS point result of the day who was not already qualified to race would get a start.  It was a pretty clear-cut qualification and that was nice to know.

I got the chance to take a few free runs on the race trail the day before the races and was glad I did.  It was good to get a feel for the trail and the snow.  My three free runs on the hill felt like I was cramming for a mid-tem exam.  I was trying to learn every twist and roll in the trail.

My game plan was simple: ski hard in the first race and then adjust from there.  I came through the finish feeling okay, but not knowing for sure how I did.  Like I said, it is difficult to judge in the first race.  As it turned out I finished 11^th in the first race and was 1.5 seconds off the lead-time.  It was solid skiing, but I had more to give.  In the first race I finished second in the qualification, just 0.3 seconds behind my competition. Because neither of us were that close to the leader I knew the door was wide open for the second race.

For the second race we had a different course and I had the privilege of running it second.  As long as it is not snowing I love running early.  The track is smooth and I can take more chances.  Many athletes like to hear course reports after a few racers have gone, but I don’t.  I trust my inspection and like to go before second guessing myself.

I charged out of the gate and skated hard on the flats before settling into my tuck.  I had nothing to lose and skied like it.  As soon as the turns began I was driving forward into the front of my boot.  I kept this going the whole was down the course.  It felt like I had a huge smile on my face when I came to a stop in the finish area.  That run was the most fun that I have had on skis in a while.  Before seeing my time or knowing how it compared I was in a euphoric state from having so much fun, yet another reason why I love the sport.

I crossed the finish line in second place, by 0.2 seocnds, but the first race’s winner ran fist so I knew it was a solid run.  My skiing was shortly put to the test when Bode Miller came down a couple racers later.  He crossed the line and took over the lead, but only 0.4 seconds ahead of me.  I knew I skied well and left everything I had on the course.  All I could do was wait and see how the others would do.

When the second race finished I ended up in 6^th place and Bode took home the win.  I was right in the middle of a group of guys in the top 30 in the World in super g.  I also beat out my competition for the Lake Louise start.  Later that day I was told to book my ticket.  I cannot say how great it feels to earn a start against a field like that.  It reinforces that I belong at the World Cup level and can succeed there.

My excitement has been replaced by focus and preparation for next weekend’s race.  This is only my first step, now I am looking to succeed at the World Cup level.  I am just looking to stay focused on my skiing like I did in Copper.

I am home for a brief three days before hopping back on a plane to head to Calgary then Lake Louise.  I will do the downhill training runs, which begin on Wednesday the 23^rd of November.  I have put up video from the race.  The first section is the first race and the second bit is from the second race.  Stay tuned for more.

The recent snowfall could not have made me more excited for skiing and the upcoming season.  I have spent more time on snow this off-season than any other before, but there is still something about when the first flakes fly at home that really excites me.

As I am making my way out to Vail, Colorado for my last prep camp and my first races of the season, I have already had 41 days on snow and will have over 50 before my first race.  It has been a great summer and fall preparing for the upcoming season.  The way I see things, the only way to get better is to ski and to ski more than those that I am trying to beat.  My training has taken me to Whistler in May, France in June, Mt. Hood in August, Chile in September and finally Colorado.

Chris Frank from Brandon Dyksterhouse on Vimeo.

Much of the summer’s training was going back to the basics while I tried to make everything more solid.  I worked hard to eliminate excess upper body movement and made sure my feet were doing the right things.  It took time, but I think that I made great progress and my skiing is stronger than ever.  My Chile camp was one of the best I have ever had.  We had an amazing time in Portillio where we skied downhill and super g for nearly two weeks.  Training like that rarely comes along.

Frank N Beans from Brandon Dyksterhouse on Vimeo.

I could not be happier with the training leading up to this point.  Knowing that I have had the same or better opportunities than my competitors has given me so much confidence.  All of the training has been pivotal as I have a tough road to climb this year.  Unlike the season before, World Cup starts are not guaranteed for this season.  In order to get starts in the first few I will have to win a spot.  This will be decided in the middle of November at some super g races held in Copper, Colorado.

My goal is to earn a start for the first two World Cup races then go from there.  If the early time trial races don’t pan out as planned, I will work my way through NorAms and European Cup races to try and get starts in other World Cups.

I look forward to the last block of training that I have coming up, but I have the itch to get into the starting gate and race unlike I have ever had before.  I take this as a sign that I am ready to go.  Stay tuned for more.

Getting ready for the winter season can be a truly daunting task. Even though I thought the purpose of autumn was to ease us into winter, with leavings falling slowly and the air growing chillier night by night, at the moment I think Mother Nature’s a little confused: One day its 60 degrees and sunny and the next its 30 degrees and snowing. I must say, without the proper and predictable development toward winter, I find myself utterly unprepared and worried that I won’t be ready when it does arrive.

In an effort to get myself ready for winter, I went in search of a “To Do List” (that’s right, type A personality right here) that would help me to prepare. While I’m sure there is an efficient one out there, I got stuck on this one from blippit.com. It isn’t necessarily the most productive list, but it did manage to prepare my fun-loving spirit, which I’m sure you’ll agree is absolutely necessary for properly enjoying the winter once it arrives. So, in honor of the 10 days left until Thanksgiving, I would like to share with you a preparation countdown for the coming skiing and riding season:

10. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour.

9. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.

8. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.

7. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car. Sporadically drop things.

6. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.

5. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.

4. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.

3. Drive slowly for five hours – anywhere – as long as it’s in a snowstorm and you’re following an 18-wheeler.

2. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.

1. Dress up in as many clothes as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.

***Wash, rinse and repeat daily until it’s time for the real thing!

Now that Halloween has past, the whirlwind that is the holiday season has officially begun. Evidence of the pressures of the season aren’t hard to find, with friends and family plagued by a never-ending to-do list and muttering thoughts of how commercialism is ruining the world. It wasn’t until this year that I find myself somewhat swayed by the “dark side”…

On October 31st you could walk into any given store and find basically the same thing: last-minute Halloween options barely visible next to the monstrosity that is the Christmas section. Now I feel the need to include a little disclaimer: I am no Scrooge. I love holidays and I have never been bothered by the commercialism of it all because frankly, I think its fun. Kids are able to enjoy holidays for what they are and I never hear them complaining that the spirit of the season has been lost. I choose to stay on that bandwagon instead of being like too much of an adult and turning them into days to dread.

I do, however, take issue with what I perceive to be the skipping of Thanksgiving. I love Halloween and the Christmas season, but didn’t there used to be a holiday in between the two?! Thanksgiving is traditionally loved by skiers and snowboarders because, especially in the Northeast, it represents the unofficial start of the ski season. Mother Nature isn’t always in tune with the hope and prayers of the snow-loving, but whether turkey day is white or not, we are well aware that the first snow day is near.

Even with dreams of powder-filled days aside, I would argue that Thanksgiving is a much needed “break” during the holidays. Think about it: Halloween and particularly the December holidays are pressure-filled and often prove to be downright stressful. Finding the right costumes, buying the right presents, trying to squeeze in visits to all of your family and friends on top of the day-to-day can be utterly draining.

Thanksgiving however, is so much simpler. This holiday revolves around a great meal, spending time with family and friends, and using turkey and wine as an excuse for an afternoon nap. A day to slow down and be thankful for all of the good in our lives. And this is the day that gets skipped?! If you feel yourself already getting sucked into the next holiday on the calendar, I encourage you to take a moment and really enjoy Thanksgiving. It only comes once a year.

Though I only grew up about 10 miles outside of Windham, there are times that I feel like the mountain top is another world. Many of its lifelong residents have managed to pass down knowledge through generations. They have managed to preserve tradition in a way that is unimaginable by today’s standards, especially when you consider that nothing is written down. In many cases, this seems to be the final resting place of all of the knowledge that was used more than 100 years ago on a daily basis.

My in-laws, born and bred on the mountain-top, lovingly (I’m sure) refer to me as a “flat-lander” or “valley-girl” based of were I grew up (at the base of the Catskill Mountains) and on the fact that I often have no idea what they are talking about most of the time. I consider myself an educated woman, but I have come to understand that my education up until this point has been incomplete. I’m sure that on more than one occasion, I have been given a less-than-truthful answer to my questions, just to see how long I will go on believing it (did I mention they are the fun loving type of family?), but I now feel that this new, or often times old, knowledge is something I must master to become some type of hybrid between valley and mountain girl.

For example, have you ever considered why barns are all painted red? I have wondered this for years and for a while the only answer I had heard is that red must have been a cheap color paint. But in asking this question to my family, they pointed out that red barns, and red doors on farm houses, are easily seen in the snow. Huh. That makes sense (and if it is wrong they are reading this a laughing like crazy at the flat-lander).

This fall, my education continued. Throughout the summer it was noted by my in-laws that many of the fruit trees that had been dormant for years were producing fruit. It was explained to me that this is traditionally a sign of a snowy, cold winter; the abundance of fruit is nature’s way of feeding the animals for an extended hibernation. I always looked forward to apple-picking season, but when the heavy rains of August washed away many of the farms in the area, I thought that would be out of the question.

Until one day when my mother-in-law called to let me know that we were going apple picking. I dressed in jeans, a sweater and a pair of cute flats and headed out into the orchard in the woods behind my house (I had no idea I had an orchard in my back yard). Though the deer had already picked through many of the trees, we found plenty of apples ripe for the picking. We filled several satchels, waded through the mud to get from tree to tree (you understand the shoe issue now) and climbing up to shake them to the ground. Apparently it takes a satchel of apples to make a gallon of cider with a hand press, which was the goal of the trip. It was okay to include the small green apples, because the made the best cider.

I didn’t get the opportunity to press the apples, but I was given some cider that resulted from our adventure. It was a little more tart than what I buy at the grocery store, but absolutely delicious. I learned a lot from the experience: Don’t wear flats to go apple picking in the woods, be prepared to pick them out of the mud, and even the little green ones make great cider. I wonder what else I will learn…

Columbus Day seems to serve as a mile marker for the beginning of the winter countdown. Basically, if you haven’t thinking about winter yet, you had better start now. Just a day past Columbus Day and everyone here is thinking about cold and snow: When will the first snow be? When will it be cold enough to make our own? Does all of my gear still fit from last season?

I’m sure many of you are having difficulty getting into this pro-winter mindset, especially since we have been blessed with a later-than-normal Indian summer and have been leaf-peaking in shorts and flip-flops all weekend. But every evening, as the cold settles in and I quickly close up the windows, I get the sense that the consistent cold we are anticipating is not far away. Every night now means extra blankets (because who wants to turn on the heat any sooner than they have to) and mornings mean a slick layer of frost on the ground.

Last week, just before the warm air moved into the Northeast, my daughter looked out the window at the first frost of the season. “Look mama, snow!” she exclaimed. I can understand why she thought that. We having been trying to give her an idea of what is coming: first the leaves turn colors, then they fall down, and the snow will come. With many of the trees in my yard beginning to look bare, the white glistening grass did seem like snow. She is ready for winter, and looking forward to it the same as the most avid skiers and boarders.

That is part of the wonder of living on the mountaintop. Snow and cold seem like such a nuisance everywhere but here. But on our mountains, the anticipation of the winter season to come is the most exciting time of the year.

Windham has made progress in leaps and bounds over the past three weeks. We encourage you to make plans to attend the 5^th Annual Autumn Affair and Homecoming Celebration to see just how far we have come.  Your family will have the opportunity to take in all of the progress that has been made at both Windham Mountain and the Village of Windham, and to experience the brilliant Catskill Mountain foliage. Held on Columbus Day weekend, this festival will have new meaning for the residents and business owners of Windham, as this will be the first time we will be able to take a step back and show everyone what we have accomplished. For many, this Homecoming Celebration will serve as a memorial of where we’ve been and where we are now.

The Autumn Affair will be on October 8-9, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Events will be held at four locations throughout the heart of Windham. Entertainment will include a classic car show, various musical acts and children’s activities. Windham Mountain’s Homecoming Celebration coincides with the Autumn Affair and will take place at the resort’s base lodge.  Events at the resort will include Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD’s Annual Ski Swap and the Windham Mountain Sport’s Tent Sale. Family activities include pumpkin painting, a gourd launching competition and the traditional “Ski Crow” Festival with additional activities to be announced.

We encourage everyone to continue to lend their support through any available avenue. If you would like to help donations can be made by calling Windham Chapter of the Catskill Mountain Foundation at (518) 734-9636; by mailing a check or credit card donation to:  Windham Chapter, PO Box 600, Windham, NY 12496-0600; or, by going to our Windham Chapter website http://www.catskillmtn.org/initiatives/windham-chapter/donate.html .

Or, make your donation through the Windham Mountain website. Visit http://www.windham1store.com/eStore/ to make a donation to the Windham Area hurricane Relief Fund. 100% of the funds raised will be presented to the Windham Chapter of the Catskill Mountain Foundation.

Thank you for your support!

September 8, 2011

The sky is clearing, the sun is peaking out and despite additional rain over the beginning of the week, recovery efforts are resuming today. Thankfully, the remnants of Tropical Depression Lee missed us to the north and west, saving our community from unwanted set-backs. Upon careful inspection this morning, our outside crew verified that all of the repairs made and precautions taken to avoid any additional issues at the resort were successful, and the base lodge stayed dry. All of this allows us to resume reparations going into the weekend.

While Windham did dodge a bullet yesterday, we have to give credit to those who were ready to help should conditions have taken a turn for the worst yesterday. The Emergency Response Team used the Windham Mountain parking lot to have teams standing by to help respond to emergency conditions as necessary. As the threat passed, the team packed up and moved on as quickly as they came. The residents of the Village of Windham were undeniably in good hands, with everyone ready to jump in when needed.

Cleanup work continues and is being completed room by room in the base lodge, and some areas are finished and ready for business. All of the sheetrock has been saved, putting us ahead of our initial projected recovery time. Our temporary offices have allowed our staff to return to business as usual as they prepare for our Homecoming Celebration and Thanksgiving Day opening, weather permitting.

On the mountain, drainage was effective and repairs were successful in diverting water where we wanted it to go. The Batavia Kill River is running high, but it is quickly emptying itself far from Windham. Our pump house, which suffered damage from the initial storm, is a top priority and repairs and replacement of parts are well underway. We will be ready for another great season of snowmaking, skiing and riding at Windham!

Please continue to check back with us for additional updates.

-Beth

September 2, 2011

The Village of Windham and Windham Mountain continue in its cleanup efforts today, and everywhere you look progress is being made. With the help of the National Guard, professional contractors and volunteers, Windham is already beginning to look more like it did a week ago, before the wrath of Hurricane Irene.

In addition to our own recovery efforts, we are committed to offering support to our community. We have sent our employees and equipment to assist in the village’s efforts. A Red Cross Shelter is set up in our base lodge with 35 beds and more space is available if needed. The Winwood is waiving its fees in order to assist people who may not have the ability to pay for a room. And Rock’n Mexicana reopened its doors with a nightly buffet menu to feed all of the hard-working people who have contributed so much to the rebuilding of Windham.

At the resort, reconstruction is well underway. At the beginning of the week, our primary concern was to get to all of the culverts on the mountain cleaned and repaired as quickly as possible. We have also begun work on our pump house at the Mountain Top Adventure Park, which is the primary water supply for our snowmaking system, by pulling the pumps and sending them for repair. Our crew will be working over the weekend to keep the momentum going and bring the resort back as quickly as possible.

Inside the lodge, carpets were pulled up and floors were hosed down. Dehumidifiers are creating a buzz throughout the lodge as they suck the moisture out of the floors and walls. Temporary offices have been established on the second floor so that business-as-usual may be resumed next week in preparation of the coming season. Our overall focus is threefold: help the town in any way possible, bring the mountain back better than ever, and get ready for the 2011-2012 season.

We would like to remind everyone that Windham is in a State of Emergency, so unnecessary travel within the village is not permitted. We ask that anyone who is not a year-round resident please wait to visit Windham, as the traffic slows down the recovery process. Please note that second homeowners will not be allowed access to the mountain this Labor Day weekend, and that portions of Club Road will be closed for the day today. Finally, there is a dawn to dusk curfew currently imposed on the village, and we encourage everyone to adhere to these guidelines.

Thank you for your continued support. Check back with us for daily updates on the Hurricane Irene recovery.