Topolino Time!

Hi everyone. It's been a while since my last blog so I figured it's time to catch up.

I did a lot of training over the holidays as I was getting ready for the Topolino time trials. I guess it's actually called the Skofja Loka time trials this year because that's where the winners are going. It's in Slovenia and I don't know much about it except all of us wanted to win the event so we could go there to race.

The trials were held in Vail on New Years weekend and it was super cold. There were 18 boys from the Rocky and Central Divisions that qualified to race and we spent the first two days training and getting to know everyone. The first race day we had three runs of GS and everyone counted only their best one. I was in fourth place after the first day and knew I had to really go for it in the Slalom to have a chance. Only the winner goes to Slovenia, so there's no point in holding back. I skied my hardest the first two runs, but crashed both times and broke my helmet on the second one. I borrowed a helmet from a girl who wasn't racing and this time I held back a little and finished. It wasn't my best run and I lost one place and ended up fifth overall. I was pretty happy with the way I skied and our club [Aspen Valley Ski Club] did really well. We took 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th place and my buddy Colby Lane won and gets to go to Slovenia and represent the United States.

This weekend we have the Super G portion of our JO qualifier. It's going to be held on our home hill so I'm looking forward to it and hoping to get a good seed for JO's.

Have fun everyone and ski hard.

.)) Andrew Hancock

Barounos' Blog

This season has turned out far better than I could have ever hoped. I have already done several races this season, and I placed on the podium 3 times for J2's. I also managed within three GS to lower my points down to 68!! I am very excited, and I don't know if it's because I am using all this great SRD equipment this season or if I am actually skiing better this year.

Along with really good results, there was really cold weather. I received a severe case of frostbite in Crested Bute, and once again training in Steamboat. During the holidays it was great to be able to focus on training and I feel I accomplished a lot. I trained so hard I managed to break my fore arm guards in half.

Now I'm back in school and I already miss my vacation. However, at least my teachers are helpful with getting us back on our feet and geared up for school and skiing. Hopefully I will be able to perform all season. Maybe even to Sugarloaf Maine, where J2 Nationals are held. Thanks for all the support this season, I really appreciate it.

P.S. Above is a picture from my trip to Austria. I went to the Solden World Cup live! It was spectacular, and a great experience.

.)) Alex Barounos

Bonjour from France!

I hope you have all spent some great family time during these past holidays I know I did but it was short. The 26th of December I left to go to France for some racing in training. Wasting no time I started training right away in Meribel which is very close to Courchevel and started racing. We had a full week of racing scheduled including 2 GS races in Morzine, 2 SL races in Châtel and 2 SG races that were originally suppose to be in Les Gets but because there wasn't enough snow they got moved to Tignes.

The First day I went out in the GS and the second day I finished with one of my best results this season but I'm not satisfied. I went out both days in SL but I used the opportunity to train and watch my team mate miss the podium by 1 place, 2 days in a row. Then it was off to Tignes and I decided not to race and train. Thankfully because I got food poisoning that night so I don't think I would have been able to train anyways.

Today I got back on my feet and did a little SL training and tomorrow we are off to the north of France for a week of training. Have fun and good Luck in all your races.

.)) Céline Guilmineau