north of the border
I arrived in Calgary, Canada, to some bone chilling weather. I came up here after racing in Colorado to compete in NorAm Cup speed races. There were two downhill races, two super G races and a super combined (one run of super G and a run of slalom). My first races were two downhills held at Lake Louise, Alberta. Before we arrived, Lake Louise had played host to both men’s and women’s World Cup speed races.
Because of the World Cup races before ours, the trial was prepared immaculately. It also meant that the course was going to be really fast, bumpy and have some big air on the jumps. It seems that every time a speed race is scheduled, there are two options for weather. It either dumps snow or is brutally cold. When I arrived, it was the latter and I figured that would hold for the training and races. Unlike the other disciplines, downhill has mandatory training runs on the course leading up the races. The training runs are held exactly like races, but do not count as a race. Their purpose is to familiarize racers with the course and the terrain.
As luck would have it, the weather warmed up from a cold 20 degrees below Fahrenheit to around 20 above the day before the training runs, but with this came snowfall. Three days of training were scheduled with a run each day before two days of racing. By the morning of the first training run, over a foot of snow had accumulated. When I arrived at the lodge, they had already canceled the day’s training run. All there was to do was inspect the course and clear snow from the trail.
The snow did not stop that night, either, and I woke up to another six inches of snow. After another inspection of the course, numerous slip runs to clear snow and many volunteers helping, training was able to get under way. The new snow forced organizers to move the start down 500 yards. Their reasoning was that the snow made the upper flat too slow, so we ended up starting below it.
The first training run was rather uneventful. I had not been on my downhill skis since this summer, so I took it easy trying to get a feel for the course and adjust to the speed. Once I got the first run under my belt, I felt more comfortable and was ready to ski more aggressively for the second training run the next day. During the second training run, I was familiar with the course and was able to let my skis run. During the run, I also managed to clock the second fastest speed through the speed trap at the bottom of the pitch - reaching a speed of 80 miles per hour. That reassured me that my skis were running fast.
The downhill course starts off with a short, steep pitch before making a sharp dogleg left onto a flat that lasts about twenty seconds. That flat then swings back right, then off a jump. Upon landing, there is quick left turn into a sweeping right turn. Here the racers make the turn just two yards away from the fencing on the outside of the turn. Following this turn is a large, left turn breaking onto a steep pitch. This turn and the one before are where the race is won. It is critical to make a clean turn to carry speed onto the flats leading into the finish. The steep pitch consisted of two large turns before a compression into the final flat. This flat twisted and turned before spitting the racers out onto a straight run that went into the finish with one last jump.
In my last training run, I had finished 15th with some sections where I was in the top 10 based off the split times. I was ready to go come race day. The snow had subsided and the cold weather had returned for the first race day. The start was baked in sun, but coming off the pitch I went into a fog that cleared on the flat before the finish. This made seeing the terrain difficult. I charged out of the gate skating as hard as I could before getting into my tuck down the pitch and into the flat. I carried a lot more speed than in the training runs into the first jump and flew about 50 yards before landing. On the one critical section of the course, I was not able to ski the way I had planned. I scrubbed speed coming onto the pitch and was not able to gain it back. Knowing this during the run is difficult because you almost immediately know that your chances of doing well are ruined. It then becomes an effort to salvage the run and keep things moving. I started with bib 20 and ended up finishing 20th. I was not disappointed because I knew I had another start the next day. The finish also moved my world ranking in downhill from 200 into the top 170.
The second race brought more frigid weather, but with crystal clear skies. That morning, I spent more time than usual during inspection in the area where I struggled the days before. The top section that day ran the same as in previous days. As I came to the technical section, I just attacked as best as I could, but got pulled low in the line coming over the pitch. With the cold weather, the snow where I ended up was so abrasive in comparison to the ice in the line that it just grabs your skis and slows you right down. I knew that it would not be my day. I was rather disappointed that I had not skied the way I was capable of. I took it pretty hard and had to be reminded that it was my first NorAm downhill and only my 5th downhill in the last six years. The guys I was competing against have been racing World Cup and spend a lot of time training downhill. With some more experience, I can be right there at the top.
Apr 07, 2008 - A long stretch
I have just finished up quite a long stretch of racing. I have been on the road for the last month, putting over 2,000 miles on my car. I have been to Ontario, Lake Placid, Sugarloaf, and Vermont for races during this time. The end of the trip included 10 races in an 11-day period. I cannot begin to explain how tired I was by the last day... Mar 13, 2008 - March Madness
Spring is here and my racing is in full swing. The spring races are some of the best opportunities all season for racers in my position. From here on out, I will be racing against national team athletes trying to score points that will help my world ranking. Yesterday wrapped up a five-day block where I had five NorAm Cup races. The races began in Collingwood, Ontario. For anyone unfamiliar with Canada and Ontario in particular, Collingwood is in the middle of nowhere. It is about two hours northwest of Toronto on the shores of Lake Huron. It was an eight-hour drive there from Lake Placid where I was training last week... Mar 03, 2008 - Rollercoaster ride
Ski racing can be one of the more frustrating sports around. It boggles my mind how quickly things can change. Emotionally, it can be a rollercoaster ride from great highs to disappointing lows in a mere matter of days - then back to those wonderful highs. Avoiding any lows would be ideal, but throughout the season there are bound to be some. Each athlete’s hope is to make the highs last longer and shorten the low points as much as possible... Feb 14, 2008 - A long trip
My recent trip to Whistler Blackcomb sure seemed like the longest eight-day trip that I have ever been on. When I decided to go there to compete in the Canadian National and Junior National Championships, I envisioned good races being held under decent conditions. I could not have been more off in my assumption. I would guess that I saw the sun for a total of three hours the whole time I was there. I must say, though, when the sun was out it was a breathtaking place - perhaps one of the more beautiful places in the world I have been to. Feb 07, 2008 - A different perspective
While at home recovering from the crash that cut my Europe trip short, I had the chance to see a couple ski races as a spectator. In the week that I was home, I caught a Windham Ashland Jewett Central School Ski Team race and a J-V and J-IV (13 years and younger). It was great to see these races because I had come up through the same races. I started my racing in the weekend program at Windham and continued through high school. In 7th grade, I began skiing for the high school team, as well. Jan 28, 2008 - Feeling pretty beat up
The skiing world in Europe is far different from anywhere else in the world, especially North America. Here, skiing and mountain life are a part of the culture. Skiing is a social activity... Jan 19, 2008 - Another world
A lot has happened since my last entry. To begin with, I spent three days at Sugarloaf waiting to race downhill. The always-reliable January thaw was far from merciful during our races there. In the three days, I only skied three runs - all of which were during the first morning... Jan 08, 2008 - A good start to the new year
I just finished the first half of an eight day racing block. The first four days were NorAm Cup slalom and giant slalom races. They were held at Sunday River right after New Year’s... Dec 26, 2007 - Home for the holidays
After a whirlwind trip across North America that included 13 races in Colorado, Canada, and Maine and spanned just about a month, I can say without a doubt that it is good to be home. As exciting as it is to travel great distances and see beautiful places while skiing, sometimes there is nothing better than relaxing at home and sleeping in your own bed... Dec 14, 2007 - A great day
Ski racing can be a funny sport sometimes. In a matter of days, things can totally turn around. I was kind of disappointed that I had not skied better than I did during the downhill races at Lake Louise. I knew that I just had to put that performance behind me and move on to the next race. That could be the most important lesson that I have learned in this sport. There is almost always another race right around the corner. At this level, when you have 60 races in one season, there are plenty of opportunities to succeed. Dec 10, 2007 - North of the Border
I arrived in Calgary, Canada, to some bone chilling weather. I came up here after racing in Colorado to compete in NorAm Cup speed races. There were two downhill races, two super G races and a super combined (one run of super G and a run of slalom). My first races were two downhills held at Lake Louise, Alberta. Before we arrived, Lake Louise had played host to both men’s and women’s World Cup speed races Dec 02, 2007 - The season is underway
I just finished up my first North American Cup races (NorAms) to kick off the competition season here in North America. The races proved to be quite competitive, as there were many World Cup teams gearing up for the upcoming races at Beaver Creek. Nov 23, 2007 - A little down time
I am finally home and getting some much needed rest. The journey home was a long one, totaling over 6,000 miles and 28 hours of traveling. I got home a few days ago and am just getting over the jet lag. I am now able to stay awake past 9 pm and can sleep past 6 am. Nov 07, 2007 - Surrounded by the Best
AUSTRIA -- Paul Epstein, my teammate for the year, and I made our way back to Soelden for the weekend to watch the World Cup races. We were excited to get out of Hintertux after a difficult week of training because of the snow and weather conditions. I was particularly excited about watching the Men’s race, but the women’s race provided quite a bit of excitement with Julia Mancuso’s spectacular second run moving her into second place overall.
Oct 30, 2007 - About Chris Frank
Chris Frank grew up here in Windham, the son of the resort’s general manager at the time, Dan Frank. At the age of 7, Chris joined the junior race program at Windham and was a part of it until graduating high school... Oct 30, 2007 - Thrown Into Winter
Thrown into winter - October 23, 2007 - It has been 10 days since I stepped off the plane in Munich, Germany. After getting my bags in the airport, I hopped into a van for a 3-1/2 hour drive south that brought me to Soelden, Austria...
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