Home   About Chandra   Schedule and Results   Photo Gallery   Sponsors   Articles   Videos  

December 2nd, 2010 - Bumps and Jumps in Ruka, Finland


Kikkan and I

The main difference between a moguls skier and nordic skier is the tightness of the pants, as seen here. Jenn has some solid x-c skills from skate skiing over to the chairlift after each run her whole life.

 

This week the Canadian sprint crew stayed in Ruka, Finland for a few days after the world cup races to train up for Dusseldorf. Unlike the Scandos and Central Europeans who make up the vast majority of the world cup racers, we North Americans can't go home to our mamas mid-week. The team becomes close-knit far from home. Passing the time training in Ruka was livened up considerably by the arrival of my B2teammates Jenn Heil, Alex Bilodeau and their coaches. Jenn and I have kept in touch since Torino 2006 and although we never cross paths as much as I'd like, joining her B2ten crew has made a big difference in my life and it was really great to hang out the past few days in this little resort village of Ruka where they have come to train up for the Dec 11th Freestyle World Cup here.

 

Jenn Heil

Demo-ing our shred-ready start positions in the stadium here before heading out for what a freestyle skier would call "cardio." So fun to ski together!

 

Apartment view

Our view from the apartment here in Ruka provided perfect viewing of the moguls training and cheering for crashes and watching for the speed and style of Jenn and Alex was really cool.

 

Alex Bilodeau

Alex Bilodeau ripping up the course

 

Backflip

and his famous history-making backflip...

 

Dasha the explorer

Your intrepid explorers of the world cup, Dasha Gaiazova and I, are en route to Dusseldorf today. Braving airline strikes and menacing weather in central Europe... we just have to make it in time for Saturday's sprint along the Rhine. Also starting will be Phil Widmer (Banff), Brent McMurtry (Calgary), Len Valjas (Toronto), and Stefan Kuhn (Canmore).

 

Thanks for checking in. No matter what you're doing, we can all take a lesson from the freestylers and Go Big or Go Home!

I hope to do both. Just two more weekends of racing and I'll be home for Christmas on Dec 13th.

Big ups,

Chandra