A little down time, some tennis and follow up sessions with Dr. Obwaller has put Bode in a good place to push hard in training both on and off the snow for the final push of the season. We trained Wednesday Morning in Hinterreit both SL and GS. Bode has been testing a couple of new GS models that Rippler constructed. They are quite different from his current race ski which is stiff as oak 4×4 but has continued to prove faster than other alternatives. On this day the softer ski showed promise and he felt as though it was really solid under foot but still maneuverable. In SL We tested a ski with slightly more side cut and 2 others with material cut out of the tip to make the tip torsionally softer. Bode had a good training session with a lot of high quality runs on a decent snow surface. We will still need to due further testing but the new skis are moving in the right direction. Bode talks often of a ski with good balance between torsion and longitudinal flex. He wants a ski that can he can manipulate radius in relation to how he pressures it and a ski that can rail or steer if necessary. Lots of variables but ultimately the clock is the best indicator and it must be tested on different terrain, different course sets and different snow conditions.The following day we decided to mix it up a bit and train in Saalbach.

It has good breakovers and variable terrain. The snow was not quite as hard as we would have preferred but it was good training on a different venue.

Once again Bode tested his current race ski against 2 new models. The 21 and the 28. Both similar in construction but one has extra cross fibers in the build up. Both skis had sections where they were close to the “Drake” as he calls his race ski. He named the ski after the eldest son of his service man Robi so he would take good care of them. He looked more athletic on the softer skis and they appear to be faster when steered because of the softer tip and tail. The drake is an amazing ski when on a rail but pushes a lot of snow when steered so in sections where he has to steer the ski is slow.

After 4 full length runs we headed back to Hinterreit for a few more runs on different snow and Bode only took the 21. This in itself was encouraging because he so infrequently trains more than one run on a pair of skis. He pushed hard to see what he was capable of on the ski and thought it had potential. In the afternoon we had a fine sporting session of soccer and volleyball.

We had talked about going to Kranjska Gora after dryland and free ski on the race hill the next day but Bode felt it would be more beneficial to stay another night in Hinterreit and train in the morning.

Friday morning we trained sl with the Japanese boys and one Swiss young gun. Snow surface was not as good as the previous day but it was decent.

Bode broke almost all his good slalom skis in the prior session on Wednesday so Robi had to make a dash back to the factory and put the screws to the boys to fire up the presses again. He stayed up all night getting the new boards ready. Crunch time and everyone is pushing hard. Bode was impressed with the ski with more sidecut and talked about preferring a stiffer construction similar to his current race ski the K9. Bode thought about running a few runs of GS but the conditions did not warrant further volume so we pedaled our way over to Kranjska Gora.

Race day GS: Conditions are warm but they have done a good job prepping the hill. It appears as though it will hold up decently. Bode starts 12 and the +6 degrees Celsius has left a thin layer of peely snow on the surface of soft ice. Bode decides to race on the 21 as the course set is tight and turny. 52 gates and nothing set more than 26 meters. Bode hammers the top of the course, brings a little shape to the delay at the bottom of the pitch like we talked about and gets into a little soft snow.

The snow peels away and he is on his side. He bounces back up but loses a bunch of speed right before the flats. From here on he is pinning and puts some great sections together but also has some tactical errors so the run is full of recoveries. He ends up 21st. I was not sure it would hold in the top 30 but course conditions further deteriorated and the light got flat.

The second run bode is running 11th and they have opted to throw salt with the warm temperatures. The surface hold up better but it is tough conditions with the cross ruts from 1st run.

Bode rips the top again and skis the mini flat very fast. He did later tell me that in one of his contorted recoveries he tweaked his back. Into the middle of the course he ends up going extremely straight and shinning off a few gates…he keeps it rolling but not ideal. Through the bottom of the course he has a few mistakes but skis hard and puts down an overall solid run. He was 4th on the second run and it was enough to salvage an 11th out of the day. Benni was 4th and Cuche was 6th so neither pulled huge points on the day.

Ted Shred had a great day with a 3rd the first run and he scrapped and scrambled his way down the 2nd run with mad intensity which was enough to bring home his first GS victory of the season….Bravo. This result also puts Ted in the red bib leading the GS standings heading into the finals.

It was a great race to watch and there was some awesome skiing out a number of dudes.

Erik Schlopy had some really solid sections as well. I am sure he was a bit disappointed but he once again proved what a great technician he is. The challenge for him will be putting the pieces together for 2 complete runs.

We opted out of SL training because of Bode’s tweaked back. Instead he spent the afternoon with Doc getting the machine back to form.

On the morning of the SL, Bode is hurting and contemplating pulling the pin. His right side of his back is all stoved up but he comes up on the hill and gingerly warms up. After a bunch of core exercises, stretching and a few mellow turns he decides it is not worth the risk. I think it is the right choice as we have a HUGE week coming up and we need him to be in top form for Bormio. Bode gets treated one more time by the doc and opts to ride in the motor home back to St Johanne where he will see the doc again tonight. Tomorrow he will either ride with Chance or get driven in the Motor home where he can lay low and care for his back.

The rest of our crew will head for Bormio today. I need to get up on the race hill and start planning the SG set. The US team has been really cool and given me the SG set because they do not have athletes other than Ted racing in the Final SG.

I am looking forward to an extremely important week. I am confident Bode will be back to top form with some rest and further care from the Doc.

Thank you all for your positive thoughts and support. We will all be working hard to put our ducks in a row. Think Positively, Think Fast and stay tuned it will be exciting. Johno

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