16th Landgraaf, Netherlands FIS World Cup Opener

I finished sixteenth in the slalom indoor World Cup opener on Friday in Landgraaf, Netherlands. I was stoked to be in the final and ride solid. Of course I wanted to win, but after breaking my tibia just eight weeks ago in a training crash at Mt. Hood, I’m happy to be back. I got knocked out in the first round of the final by eventual winner Sigi Grabner from Austria. I’m fired up for next weekend’s World Cup PGS race in Soelden, Austria, one of my favorite venues on the World Cup. I lived in the Otztal valley early in my career for six months and trained daily at the Rettenbach glacier, so it feels somewhat familiar. I’m looking forward to a great race. It’s warm and dry here now and not much snow. I’m enjoying a day off in sunny Soelden. Soelden is determined with the Ski World Cup right behind us the following weekend, to pull off our race. Supposedly they’ve decided to move it to the top of the mountain where there is more snow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate or it could be brutal white-out conditions above treeline. I’m training all week here, getting ready to charge on the 22nd. I return home to Aspen on the 23rd. Thanks for checking in. Enjoy your weekend. Go Broncos!

CK