Back At It
It's good to be back on skis. Snowbird Ski Resort opened about 3 weeks ago and I've been up there to train as often as I can; finals week is here and it has been hard to get away from the college campus. After skiing opening weekend, I had made arrangements with the Fischer Factory to collect the new skis I needed for the upcoming season. Classes finished Tuesday for Thanksgiving break, so I packed up, grabbed my dad, and away we went.
Much like the previous year, where I went with my friend Scott to the factory, my dad and I flew into Munich. After picking up the car, we headed to Ried im Innkreis to get the skis. As you can see, I'm quite happy with the new sticks! Fischer have been a great help over the years; it's a pleasure to continue the relationship for the coming seasons. Also, they're quite fast.
Being only Wednesday, my dad and I had some time to kill before returning stateside. Vienna is only a 3 hour drive from the factory, so we decided to head there and experience the Austrian capital.
Many cities try to replicate the traditional European Christmas Market, but they never come close to the ones in Austria. Fresh pastries, small crafts, a softer version of German, and the general atmosphere around the town square give it a truly authentic feel. It also made me quite excited for Christmas, my favorite time of year. Staring at chocolate croissants and pastries sparked our appetite, and you can't come to Austria without having Wiener Schnitzel. It became my favorite dish after living and training here for 2 years prior to the Games. We headed to the nearest traditional house to find some, along with a pint of Stiegl.
Prague was another city I hadn't had the pleasure of visiting, and it was only another 3 and a half hour drive north from Vienna. The drive was fascinating. Passing through several small towns and wide open plains, my nerdy historical side couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like in the WWII days. Prague was something in itself. The red roofs, endless chapels and castles, and small lively squares showed the incredible culture of the Czech Republic. We saw the presidential palace, old town square, and the oldest astronomical clock in the world. I need to plan a return trip, as a few hours here does not do it justice.
Dad was flying out of Munich the following morning back to the States, so we had another 3 hour drive from Prague to a hotel just outside of the airport. In total, we drove about 1100km in the 2 days, which isn't bad at all considering how much we were able to see. Instead of heading back with him, I decided to head to Ireland for the weekend. I wasn't sure if I would be able to visit Ireland for Christmas, like my family and I have done for the last 3 years straight, so it made sense to pop in for a few days. I was able to catch up with some old friends, and just take comfort in the fact that I was home, if only for a little while.
Yet another amazing Dublin sunset. A short 5 day trip overall, but I was able to get the skis I needed and see a lot along the way. There will be a few more weeks of training here in Salt Lake City before the races begin, so I better get back to it.
/CL