Branaes, Sweden
When we arrived in Sweden we hadn’t seen the sun since we left the U.S. My back was killing me from the crash I had in Voss. I tore my intercostals in that crash and to this day I have a hard time breathing and it hurts to cough. I’m getting used to skiing with pain so I plan to race after a lot of ice and anti-inflammatories.
Branaes is a popular ski resort in what feels like the middle of nowhere. We’re about half way between Oslo and Stockholm and we’re surrounded by what seems like an endless forest. The mountain doesn’t have a lot of vertical – maybe 1,500 ft. – but it’s a great ski cross course.
After Pablo, our P.T. on the trip, taped up my back, I went up to do my qualifying run. The tape job worked pretty good but it made me ski a little stiff. I did the difficult part of the course on the top really well but I boned all of the bottom jumps. It was not my best run ever. I ended up 14th. Considering how I felt two days ago I’m surprised I can even race so I’ll take it.
Anything can happen tomorrow. If I get good starts and keep focused on course I think I have a chance at making the finals. I’m sure it will be another battle. Lars Lewen had the qualifying time today and he looks fired up for a victory on home turf. The Canadians weren’t as spectacular as they hoped to be. I saw some temper tantrums in the finish that weren’t pretty. Thomas Krauss and Andreas Matt had solid times and will certainly be tough tomorrow too. We’ll see how it goes.