Igls Europa Cup "Race" 1

Today was utter chaos. It started out crazy - here's a little backstory:

• The World Cup in (Cortina I think?) was canceled
  
• The Konigsee Germany Europa Cup, in January, was canceled so that the World Cup can replace the Cortina race
• The Konigsee Europa Cup was moved to Igls, so we were to have 3 races here
• Today was scheduled for both the Konigsee race, and the first real Igls race
• The Konigsee race was to be a one-run race, followed by 2 runs for Igls

So, kinda crazy schedule to start with. Then, I woke to the sound of snowplows, and my heart sank - it didn't stop snowing. In fact, it was worse...makes me happy that yesterday, when the track slowed down 3 seconds between the first and second runs, I didn't call it a day and kept training.

Yesterday:


Today:


It was SO snowy that our car wouldn't make it up the road to the top of the track, so after trying and failing, and burning precious time, we had to park at the bottom and catch a truck up. Our hearts were pounding since the parc ferme was closing in 10 minutes, and we would be automatically disqualified if we didn't make it. With only ONE MINUTE to spare, we ran off the truck and into the parc. Phew!!!!

It just kept dumping.


Cassie and I played cards since we weren't in a hurry to go warm up outside.


Emma after her warm-up.


They swept to curve 1 between every sled.


But there were still drifts and piles of snow everywhere, and every time I had a good line out of a corner, I would clearly be the first to have done so since there were NO tracks in the snow and I'd be breaking trail (which is slow, by the way).

I got back up to the top after my first run, well, first race actually since the Konigsee race was a 1-heat race, and I was really angry. They had swept the whole track after the tenth sled, so the 11th sled off ended up in 1st or 2nd place just due to no snow. 4 sleds later, when I went, it had already snowed so much I couldn't see the tracks of the girl before me. Not a fair situation at all!

Then an announcement was made for all the coaches to meet at the start - 5 minutes later it was all over. Canceled. Both races. Tomorrow will be three runs, three races. A terrible set-up but better than sliding today! (Unless it's as dreary, then I don't know what would be best. Moving a race to second half?)

So, we found a good way to entertain ourselves...the snow was PERFECT for snowballs!






I was documenting, so I shouted out "If any of you want these pictures, I will NOT be hit by a snowball!!!"

And so Team USA decided to hit me. With. A snowball. In the right boob. In fact, somehow, I have a photo of the very snowball and the look on Daly's face.


Just afterward, I got hit by Luke, also Team USA. I handed off the camera for a moment so Team Canada could take a picture of the evidence.


Then proceeded to dart across the parking lot to tackle Daly, though he took me down too. I chased him down the road, until he collapsed in exhaustion.


That's my sprint workout for the day! In the meantime British Adam Pengilly tried to move my sled out of the line of harm; Cassie thought he was up to no good and got both him and my sled.


People took cover.


Team Canada's coach took one in the eye.


Factions formed. Team USA was split between the two armies.




Vehicles were unwitting targets, especially is someone was silly enough to have an open window.


Cassie got taken out a couple times.


These are my favorites - our particular Team USA really does get along, but you wouldn't know it from this...




A lone Canadian caused Team Italia to scatter.


The truck finally came back, and a lot of people jumped on to get to their cars that were stuck at the bottom due to snowy roads. Uh oh, captive and helpless targets.




Anyway, it was probably the most fun I've had this trip, certainly much better than racing in the stuff. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow. :)