2009 Western Regionals

Phew, Regionals are over! I've enjoyed the season, especially the sliding this week now that my sled is fixed, but I'm really looking forward to the summer with no skeleton!

SLED PROBLEMS
Oh, did I not write about my sled? After training on Sunday, I mentioned to Brad that it kinda flexed funny and felt a little weird....then I had to confess it had felt that way all through the ICC in Europe! He just shook his head, looked disgusted, and said "Honey, that's something you should have mentioned sooner...."

I sighed and told him "Well, it's 'cause I only slid in Park City once over Christmas break...and that was on YOUR sled which feels different....then I got sick... so when I finally got back on my sled in Europe, I just thought to myself 'it's not the sled...it just feels funny compared to Brad's sled...I'm just sucking...' so I didn't say anything."

We immediately took it to our sled-builder, he wiggled it once, and said "Yep, that's seized up. Let me guess, it really only turns in one direction?"

OMG, I almost cried! Was my sled really seized the whole time??? Within 10 minutes, 10 MINUTES!, it was fixed, and I shook it and saw the difference. I'm such a dumba$$! Our sled-builder told me "next time say something! I know you don't want to be the athlete that always blames the equipment for problems, but you don't want to be the athlete that lets real equipment problems hold them back." Ouch. But true.

REGIONALS TRAINING
So, I got back on my sled on Tuesday, and holy cow! It felt amazing. 75% different, like a new sled again. A bit faster, but I still wasn't used to the added flex, and sliding with my ribs all taped up (still coughing, still torn back/rib muscles from the coughing) made for poor steering and I couldn't feel as well.

After a huge internal debate (grades & school vs. possibly losing Regionals and not making the 2009-2010 Team Trials), I skipped class on Wednesday to get more comfortable on my sled.

By training on Thursday, I was used to the rib tape and the sled flex, and felt so much better, more relaxed and comfortable, and felt pretty confident and hopeful going into the races.

REGIONALS RACES
Friday night and Saturday night were the races. By 5pm Friday, I had the little nervous butterflies in my stomach that makes it all fun. They weren't the nauseating butterflies, but the little happy nervous ones that I love. I started grinning - I LOVE racing. By the time we loaded up, I was giggling and bubbly (poor Brad!!!).

I had drawn number 3 for both races, which is my favorite start number, so I was happy. Brad was first off for race 1 and second off for race 2.

Brad went off first; he had a solid push and then...his visor fogged up! He finished third the first run, and was able to move up to second place in the race on his second run. Phew.

Brad:




Brad's second run:








Chase borrowed my pink suit again...


Our coach:


My first run came up, and I was super excited and trying to relax (in fact, my theme song is Mika, "Relax" followed by some Beethoven and Mozart). The ice was amazing, the run felt smooth, and I crossed the line well in first place.

Second run, waiting for Cassie to go. Isn't my sled lovely? (My helmet is under my jacket to stay warm and un-fogged, that's why I look, um, funny.)




My push:




I again had a stellar run, feeling super relaxed and jiggly, and finished in first. Phew! One down and one to go.

Matt Griff and I won the "championship belt" a fun gag that gets passed around to whoever the current champs are. (Thanks Chad and Abby for getting them!) We have a little Captain in us...


Day 2: I don't have pics of us sliding, just of the general atmosphere.

Tracy prepping:


The start house:


Bobby "spongebob":


Chad "sugar daddy":


Cassie:


Visitors enjoying Cassie's mom's cooking - she usually brings up food & desserts for us at Regionals.


Day 2 went even better. Brad finished in first place after the first run, and it was super close racing! He was only 18 hundreths in front of Griff. Griff beat Brad by only 2 hundredths on the second run, so Brad won Race 2.




My first run was actually a personal best on the FIBT runner material (my other PRs were on the "illegal" metals that we practice on and that are usually faster)! I was in first, and then had a second solid run for the win. Yay!


Coaches Brian and Pat at the awards:


Since Brad and Griff both had a first place and a second place, they had to break the tie using speed points. For the overall, Griff took first after speed points. Brad, Griff, and Nick:


Me hugging Tracey:


Getting my first overall:


The ladies: Cassie (2nd), Tracey (3rd), and I.


Top 3 men and top 3 women:


They actually played the anthem for us - it was awesome. I know, the US anthem would have played no matter who won since this was a USA race, but still....it was somewhat for me!



Griff and I on the first place podium listening to the anthem...kinda a funny shot:


So, I'm automatically in for Team Trials 2009-2010, since they take the top 1 man and top 1 woman. Brad's on the cusp since he technically tied for first, so we'll have to see what happens with that.

Phew!