Testing out in the great Northwest....

Hey guys! This past Sunday was the USSA Physical Assessment, and we all know how much we love that. There are multiple areas of strength that are tested. One of the tests is the "Pacer" which is running between two given points, increasing speed after each level. You run until you die. The other tests include a very unfair (in my opinion) abdominal strength test, vertical jump, and the horrifying Box Jump. In the Box Jump, you start on top of a roughly 20in high box and jump off the box to the left, landing on the ground. You then jump back onto the box and jump off to the right. You repeat this action for 60 seconds and try to get as many hits on top of the box as you can. This test results in death as well. Well, now that I've explained everything, here were my results!

Ab Strength- Level 4 (There are seven levels, my disproportionate body is at a disadvantage with this test)

Pacer- Level 13

Vertical Jump- 28.5in

Box Jump- 73 (Despite tripping over the box in the beginning of the test!)

I was pretty satisfied with my results and I seem to improve every year. How did you racers do? Goodbye for now!

.)) Stephan Splitstoser

First SRD shirt in Panama?

Hey everyone! Hope you all have had an amazing summer! The subject of this blog may not be on the same page as skiing, or not even the same book, but it was still awesome!

My family and I traveled to Panama for about two weeks to visit a few of my aunts (Mom's side, born in Guatemala) and cousins. We stayed just outside of skyscraper-filled Panama City in a very nice home. While down there we went to a baptism for my new cousin (only three months old), went snorkeling in the Caribbean, visited the Panama Canal, bought some cheap Nike products at an insanely large mall, and messed around in the rain forest.

The definite highlight of the trip was when we stayed at Playa Blanca on the Pacific. It's an all-inclusive resort with huge pools, food and drinks on demand, pool-bars, and awesome music. Not only does this resort border the largest ocean in the world, it also has the largest pool in all of Latin America as well.

The best part was swimming on top of the huge waves in the ocean with my dad. Well that's my trip for ya! Now back to the prison of boredom known as "school" which begins on the 8th for me. See ya later!

.)) Stephan