The day was amazing.  Mount Olympus is one of the most picturesque venues I have ever competed on.  The day couldn’t have been more perfect.  A heli shuttled us to the top of the venue, a knife edge peak.  The venue was stunning and the feeling at the top of the mountain was powerful.  It was one of those moments when I felt incredibly lucky to be a professional skier.  I skied my line exactly how I had planned and came flyin into third place.

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Riding my high from the day, I returned to my hotel room to receive a text message on my iphone: Jess can you be in Telluride on sunday.  Sorry for the short notice, but it is the only time Regan Smith and his team have time this month.  It was thursday.  My plan was to drive the 15 hours back to Jackson, recharge my batteries, and fly to Chamonix on the following thursday.  It felt like a quick turn around without a trip to Telluride, but it’s not every day you get an opportunity to ride in Regan’s Furniture Row Race Car.  So, yes of course, I can squeeze a quick trip to Telluride before I fly to Chamonix.

I can’t begin to describe the feeling of sitting in a race car.  The feel of the engine is powerful.  As soon as Regan started his engine, my heart rate jumped to 170 and that was before we went 200mph.  I have never thought of myself as a motor head.  And I never thought I would watch a Nascar Race.  Never say never.  After spending two days with Regan and his team I found myself watching Nascar on my flight over to Chamonix.  And I can’t wait to go to my first Race.

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It started to snow as soon as we arrived in Chamonix for the second stop of the Freeride World Tour.  My timing couldn’t have been better.  It snowed so hard the first night I arrived that the mountain didn’t open the next day.  Luckily, the competition was postponed because as soon as I arrived in Chamonix I came down with the stomach flu.  I was my first time catching the stomach flu and I never ever want to have the stomoach flu again.  Thirty hours of sleep later, I emerged from hotel room feeling like I had been hit by a truck and “ready” to compete.

Chamonix Competition Venue 2012

I have to admit, I wasn’t feeling my best, but I rallied to the top for my competition run.  I chose a winning line, but it wasn’t my day.  I choked when I arrived at my biggest feature.  Why did I choke?  I wish I knew.  What I do know is that I don’t like fourth place.  It’s time to head back to Jackson, recharge, and get ready to kick some ass!

Competition Venue for Chamonix 2012

The venue should look great with a meter of fresh snow on it.  Today will be the first time we are able to inspect the venue.  I was lucky enough to draw the very last bib and will be the last competitor on the venue.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will compete on monday.  Wish me luck!

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Stoked in Revelstoke!

It has been a 15 months since I have crossed the finish line in a Freeskiing Competition.  In the last 15 months, I have worked hard to recover from my injury.  I have also had time to reflect on life.  It has been a long road, but one thing remains constant.  I absolutely love skiing.

I have been competing for 7 years.  In the world of Freeskiing that is a long time.  I have had many people ask me why I am still competing.  I have had so many people ask me why that I started to ask myself the same question.  As my stomach was rumbling with the nerves the morning of the competition, I couldn’t help but ask myself,  ”Why am I still doing this.”  Truth be told, as I stood in the starting gate, I wasn’t sure.  It became clear to me half way down my competition run.  I had just landed a descent size air and was flying down a super fun straight line when all of the sudden I started to laugh.  I was having an absolute blast!  So the answer to everyone’s question, “Why am I still competing?”  Because I love it!

After day 1, I am sitting in fourth place.  It is exactly where I like to be.  It is hard to handle the pressure of being in the lead Day 1.  It always feels like you have everything to loose.  I like to enter into Day 2 a little hungry and fired up.  I will need that fire for the Day 2 venue.

Mac Daddy Face - Day 2 Venue

Mac Daddy Face is a big step up from the North Bowl Venue of Day 1.  It’s time to put my game face on.  Definitely not a face to be giggling down.  The face is beautiful and at the same time intimidating.  I have not been able to see the face in person because the clouds have covered the peaks of Revelstoke for the last three days.

The competition is officially postponed.  We are hoping to compete on Monday, but the weather forecast looks like monday will also be socked in.  If the weather forecast is correct, the first clear day will be tuesday.  So in the mean time, I will staring at the photo of the venue envisioning myself ripping down the face.  Reguardless what happens next, I know why I am still competing.  Because I love it!

“Like Theres’s No Tomorrow,” Warren Miller’s new film will premiere in Salt Lake City at the Abravanel Hall at 8:00.  Before the show swing by the sponsor village from 6-8:00 for poster signings.  I will be at the Spyder Truck or the Volkl tent.  After the show, come rock out at the Official After Party hosted by the Hotel Club.  There are still tickets available at www.warrenmiller.com.

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The last week has been more than amazing in Jackson Hole.  I am finally recovered and feeling good.  It’s so nice to have my body feeling good and confidence back!  More snow is on the way!  Yahoo!

Once the snow settled in the surrounding mountain ranges: the Tetons and the Snake River Range my mornings were earlier and the days were longer.  My favorite ski this spring was on Ferry Peak south of Jackson.  I began my assent in the dark.  As the sun started to show itself, I could see it dancing across the Snake River down below.  When I stopped to enjoy the view, a group of 12 mountain goats decided to join me.  It was incredible to see the athleticism of the goats as the jumped from tiny ledge to ledge.  The goats followed me up the ridge for twos hours.  It was an experience I will never forget.

I skied the North East Face of the Peak.  The terrain felt like Alaska with spines, pillows, and 50 degree slopes.  The snow couldn’t have been better.  There was a foot of fluffy powder on top that eventually turned into perfect corn.  It was a great ski!

As the snow started to melt, the rivers started to rise and it was time to get in my kayak.  The Gros Ventre River, a class IV river, is a local favorite.  I am lucky enough to live a few miles from the take out.  The GV peaked at it’s highest recorded level ever.  It was one of the best GV seasons ever.  So good that it was hard to decide to jump and in the car and drive anywhere.  No need when its good right out your front door.

The rivers eventually dropped out, but the mountain biking turned on.  It took awhile for the snow to melt, but when it did, the trails couldn’t have been better.  With a 260 percent snow pack this year, the wildflowers look more like trees.  The single track trails have been over the head in flowers.

There is still a lot of snow in the high peaks in the Tetons, so I haven’t been able to tick many of the peaks off my list yet.  I climbed the Middle Teton to get a look around and it still looks a lot like winter up there.  Luckily, the peaks aren’t going anywhere and there will be plenty of time to climb when I get back from New Zealand.

Summer always feel a little short, but I’m always excited to see the snow fly.  I more fired up then ever to compete on the Freeride World Tour, www.freerideworldtour.com.  With stops in the US, Europe, and Russia it should be a good season.