2007 Skeleton Team Trials - Park City

Part 1: Race 3

We've been training in Park City for the last 2 weeks, which has been fun, except for the difficulty with scratched runners the last couple days pieces of metal in the track, exposed concrete, etc.).

Today was race #1, and wouldn't you know, our camera battery was dead on arrival, oops! There will be a couple pictures from some friends that I'll get up here sooner or later (Blackwell in the pink starry suit is something I'll never forget!), and one below that the team manager sent to me this afternoon.

Quick summary: my first run was AMAZing. Somehow got in the groove, relaxed, was on time with my steers, had a fast push (for me at least) and was even thinking funny things all down the track. (Exit of 6 where the speed trap was, thought "That was fast and smooth, wonder how fast it was! Um, it was a speed of 79.2, in case you wondered.)

The run felt awesome, and I was so stoked. Set a new PR at the finish, by 0.02 seconds, with a finish time of 51.88. YAY!!! In fact, that surprisingly put me in 5th place after the first run, crazy!

Of course it couldn't last - my second run fell apart. It's what's known as a "train wreck....."

Starting off with an identical push and clean upper track, I went into turn 6 (the big one in Park City) with a lot of speed and....was off on my steers. Pow! Hit out of 6 for the first time this season, and that's one that'll rock your teeth. Sadly, it broke my concentration and I went super high in 7 and almost rolled, then was just off the rest of the run. I'll admit I was scared and stiff as a board and just struggling to get back in control - hit out of 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14. Oops!

Still finished in 8th with a time of 52.88 (yes, exactly one second slower), so it's not as bad as it could be, but I was shaken. I think I was more shaken than falling all the way off the sled in Placid 'cause it just kept going and going and hitting and hitting. My bad - more experience and I won't let my concentration break like that, or so they say, and I should be able to recover and not hit everywhere. Right? Right?

Are you seeing a trend? When I start going faster and having clean upper tracks, I go into the lower loops with more speed than I'm used to and fall apart. That's why I crashed in Placid, that's probably why I had this train wreck run. Sigh. I know I just need more time on the ice, but I want to be perfect and consistent NOW!!! ;)

Sore now, taking so many hits, but with some ibuprofen and some mental destressing this afternoon, I'm all ready to go for Race #4 tomorrow!

Anyhoo, this is the pic Steve sent to me today, it's awesome! Nice camera, and good aim. Makes me almost look like I know what I'm doing, eh? Grin.