Chile X 2
Our summer on-snow training program consisted of two camps in Chile. The first camp, which took place in August, marked my first time skiing in over four months. The primary emphasis of this camp was to reinforce fundamental skills, establish positive habits, and refine skiing techniques to serve as a strong foundation for the rest of the year.
This camp was held at two ski resorts, El Colorado and La Parva, located approximately one hour northeast and 2000 meters above Santiago, the densely populated capital of Chile. Our accommodations were at an elevation of 2800 meters. The training and acclimatization process at these altitudes presented unique challenges, making every aspect of our training, from warm-up to dryland activities and recovery, more demanding.
It was a particularly bad start to the Chilean winter and there wasn't much snow. The limited training venues and scattered rocks created challenges and required extra diligence for our equipment. Nevertheless, we maximized our efforts during the 11-day camp. Initially, we focused on free skiing and skill development, gradually transitioning to gate training, increasing the intensity of our sessions. This camp provided a solid training block, allowing me to regain my balance and feeling on skis while making valuable technical improvements.
Four days before the camp's scheduled end, a significant storm as forecasted to persist for a week. Our coaches adjusted our plans, leading to an earlier return home. Preparations were made for our equipment to remain in Chile, a welcome convenience that spared us from the burden of transporting our gear across the globe.
Between the two camps, I returned to my dryland training program, spending a couple of weeks in Ontario and enjoying a Labor Day weekend at a family friend's cottage. I then travelled to Calgary for a day of physical testing and media engagements at the Alpine Canada office. Afterward, I flew home and drove down to Vermont to reconnect with old college friends and teammates. During this visit, I participated in a charity bike race organized by a Middlebury ski team alumnus. Following a couple of days in Vermont, I continued my journey to Boston, where I spent a few days with my girlfriend.
Shortly before three weeks had passed, I was back on a plane down to Chile for our second camp. A last-minute change led us to commence the camp at El Colorado again. This time we were fortunate to experience excellent conditions and a great five-day training block on hard snow. Following this, we had a six-hour drive to Chillan, a resort situated on a volcano with hot springs and the smell of sulfur permeating the air. During our stay, the resort was closed to the public. We were joined by the Canadian Men's speed team and the women's team. This collaborative environment provided a unique opportunity to train with fellow Canadian athletes. The focus during this camp predominantly revolved around Giant Slalom training, with a day dedicated to Super G and a couple of days for Slalom. It was a great camp with demanding courses. One day we even trained a 75-second GS course, one of the longest courses I've trained. It was now time for a short two-week break before getting back on snow in Austria.
