Happy New Year!

I hope you enjoyed a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday. I’ve been relaxing at home in Aspen and freeriding a lot the past week. I’m recharged and ready to rule it in January. It has been a fun holiday here in Aspen. I’ve really enjoyed hanging with my fam and friends and getting out on the mountain together. These two weeks are classic in our town, no shortage of characters and classic scenes here this week.

I joined the local Town Series race clinic yesterday at Highlands Mtn. The snow is all-time for railing big, fast turns right now – hard and grippy. I’m looking forward to beginning training tomorrow afternoon. I’m planning to race slalom and PGS continental cup races at Steamboat Jan. 5th and 6th. The slalom on Jan. 5th will be a night slalom. Check it out if you’re in the area, should be exciting racing. The training conditions are so good now in Colorado I will return home to Aspen to train here at Highlands Jan. 7-10 after the Steamboat races. There’s still not much snow in Europe, so no sense leaving ideal training here. I head to Arosa, Switzerland after training here next week for World Championships. It’s the biggest event of the year and I want to be on the podium there. I have been named to the US World Champ team for both slalom and parallel giant slalom. Steamboat will be a great warm-up for Worlds in Arosa. Let’s bring in ‘07 with some podiums!

2006 was an interesting year. I learned a lot and enjoyed the ride. The highlight was getting married in Oregon in September. Not racing in Torino was a big disappointment, but it helped me mature as an athlete and as a person. Every winter and every race is a new journey. It was indeed a different adventure than ’98 and ’02. It was different than I envisioned, but I don’t regret any of it. I learned a lot from 2006 that wil help me grow into 2007. I’ve made some resolutions for 2007. I want to work hard at being a better listener, to read more and to always be positive and do my very best in all that I do.

Best wishes for a fun night and a great 2007 ahead. I’m heading out on the town to celebrate. I wish you fresh tracks and all the happiness in 2007! I ended 2006 with a few fun pow turns with my buddy Andrew. Check out the day’s riding below. Happy New Year! Enjoy the journey in ’07!

CK

Enjoying final pow turns of 2006 on Aspen Mtn. today. Photo Andrew Wilz, Frontline Image Group

Heelside blower! Photo Andrew Wilz, Frontline Image Group

Happy New Year! Enjoy 2007! Photo Andrew Wilz, Frontline Image Group