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.
With that in mind, I moved my focus to the three races I had left on my NorAm racing trip. Following the last day of downhill, we had the opportunity to sleep in a bit on our first day off and do some recovery workouts. That really helped to recharge my batteries. Even though we were only doing one training or race run each day, the long days with all the preparation really wore on me and I was exhausted at the end.
The drive from Lake Louise, Alberta, to Panorama, British Columbia, went through some of the most breath taking mountainous terrain I have ever seen. Doing so much traveling has allowed me to see some incredible places and this area was perhaps the most beautiful that I have seen. The fresh snow and cold weather helped to make the scenery look pure and unspoiled. Perhaps the reason for the pure look of the mountains is that they are in the middle of nowhere. For anyone familiar with Panorama, it is a four-hour drive from the closest airport. There is absolutely nothing in close proximity to the resort, but on a clear day it is gorgeous.
The races there began after two days off with a super G and a super combined. A super G is typically a really fast giant slalom. They are set much more open and longer skis are used - usually around 210 centimeters. Making good turns is much more important in super G than in downhill, but as with downhill a very soft touch is needed. Also like downhill, there is only one run and no training runs. This is what I like about super G. Each racer sees the course once, then races and that is it. There is no second run like giant slalom. For the second race, the super G run was combined with a run of slalom to make up a super combined. This is a relatively new event where they run a speed race, super G or downhill, then hold a run of slalom to make a new race. The super combined at Panorama was only my second one ever, but the event favors slalom skiers because more time can be made up in that run.
The race trail at Panorama is relatively flat, but what makes it difficult is that it twists and turns with rolls and bumps that make it tough to get into a rhythm. It is not a fast super G compared to others that I have run. What makes it difficult is that there is no place to make up time if there is a mistake. One little mistake like skidding a turn and all hopes of being fast are dashed.
On the first day, I started number 23 in the super G. Many of the faster skiers had already gone. After seeing the course during inspection, my game plan was simple. All I thought about was to attack and ski cleanly. I knew that I stood a good chance to do well because of my solid giant slalom abilities. As always, I pushed my hardest out of the gate and kept my focus down the course. The undulating terrain made it difficult to keep my skis on the snow and cut smoothly through each turn, but I did my best to try to absorb each roll. Unlike other super G races, I was not in my tuck very long because of the terrain and all of the turns. I thought that it would be a decent run, but when I crossed the finish and found out I was in third place I was ecstatic. I tried to not let my hopes of my first podium finish in a NorAm race get up because there were still good skiers to come. There was one in particular who had been fast in the downhill races. When that athlete failed to finish the course, I knew that my place on the podium was secure.
 | | Chris Frank (right) wins a spot on the podium. | | |
I have never been so excited about a race before. As soon as I got to the bottom of the mountain, I ripped my boots off to go grab a phone and give my parents a call. I could not wait to tell them. The best part about the finish was that I beat all but one of the US Ski Team members. If I am to open their eyes, that is the best way. It was difficult to remain focused; I still had the super combined to race in the afternoon. Even though I am a strong slalom skier who just had a great super G run, there were a bunch of other good slalom skiers right behind me, but any decent finish in the super combined would just be icing on the cake for that day.
The slalom course was on the lower portions of the super G course. The course set was tight and really had a quick tempo. The starting order for the slalom run is based off the results of the super G; they take the top 30 and reverse those athletes, then the rest run in order of finish. That meant that I started 28th. I think that subconsciously I was just looking for the finish line in the slalom. I had a great super G race and didn’t want to ruin anything in the super combined by not finishing. This showed in my skiing and the run was not fast. I moved back to 9th place in the super combined. I was initially very disappointed in my performance. I knew that I was better than what I had shown. It took a while to realize that it was still a great day: two top ten finishes, one of which was a 3rd place.
Things were the same the next day for the second super G. The conditions were the same and the course was a bit more open. I started 8th instead of 23rd. For the guys who ran in the top 15, there was some fog in the middle of the course that made seeing the terrain difficult. My thought was to stick with the same game plan as the day before. It had worked, so why not? I had a clean run with the exception of two turns on the top in the one section where you can make a lot of speed for the long bottom flat. In the end, this cost me another podium finish. When I came down, I knew it. My skiing was still fast enough to finish 16th, but I was going for the win. At the end, I was only a second away from second place. That happens, though, when you are charging hard and ski on the edge. Sometimes it works out and you have a great run and other times you either fall or have mistakes.
As I said at the beginning, the bad races just need to be put in the past. I am on a plane flying home for a few days before hitting the road again, but am already looking forward to my next shot. My next races are Eastern FIS races at Sugarloaf, Maine. I have now been on the podium this year and the next step is to be at the top of it.
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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