Next season is a pivotal year for my ski-racing career. As a ski racer I have to put myself on the line to be fast. Over the next year I must make big steps toward a full time World Cup schedule and a top-30 world rank. I will be given the opportunity to race for a spot in the early season World Cup races in Lake Louise and Beaver Creek. From there I will be looking to dominate the Nor-am circuit here in North America and go to Europe to embarrass the Euros in the Europa Cup tour.
This summer my main focus is dryland training. It has been a struggle to maintain and gain strength since my knee injury two years ago due to lingering tendonitis and knee pain. This summer my knees feel great and my training is not limited by pain. I have been getting after it in the weight room this spring and summer and I am back to pre-injury strength. I just returned from physical testing in Park City and I reached my personal best in many of the jumping and power exercises. My goal is be 30% stronger by race season than I was before my injury. This strength will help me avoid injuries in the future as well as give me an edge over my competitors.
I will be going to Chile with the World Cup speed team for a month in September. My new equipment will be ready to go and I will be working on aerodynamics and gliding. I will focus on a balanced, strong position at the top of the turn in Chile.
My early season goals revolve around my World Cup opportunities in November. First I must finish ahead of my teammates in the last training run at Lake Louise to solidify a spot on the start list in the first World Cup Downhill. Then my goal is to finish in the top 30 on race day and score World Cup points.
One week later I must again race for a start in Beaver Creek and be top 30 again on race day. I am looking forward to going back to Beaver Creek. The race is on home soil and I am confident every time I strap on the DH skis at the Birds of Prey course.
In December I will join the Nor-am circuit and my goal is to win 5 Nor-ams and end the season with a World Cup spot in both Downhill and Super G from results in Nor-ams. To achieve this I must be top 2 in the final overall DH and SG standings.
In January I will travel to Europe and race Europa Cups. My goal in Europa cups is to score point results. I will be chipping away at my world rankings shooting to be within the top 50 ski racers in the World by the end of the season.
