So far north...

So, we (Sammy and myself) arrived in Finland a couple of days ago. It was hard to front up to yet another 24 hour plus flight for the third time in a month, but it paid off, as I am now a 1k member with United - so I can now travel in style for the rest of the season.

We're currently in northern Finland at a small resort called Ruka. So far North we are, that the closest thing we have to sunlight and warmth is the 30 minutes we spend in the sauna each day.

The snow and the course here is great, and the training so far has been good. After the first three days on snow, we were both so sore that we were walking around like a pair of geriatrics, complaining about hips and backs. However all is good this morning after a day off, and with a bit more coffee I should be ready to start training again this morning.

(Mogul course to the right)

(Our condo)

( Training from the first days - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qja3jOuJiFQ )

Write again soon,

Ramone

Home From Zermatt

Finally, I'm home. Settling back nicely into my couch mold and big TV screen. It has been a busy past few weeks, and I'm now home for only two weeks before I fly back over and do it all again.


We (Myself, Sammy Hall, Dale) left for Zermatt, Switzerland at the beginning of October for 3 weeks ski training on the Klein Matterhorn.

(The last of three gondolas up to the glacier)

I was rooming with Sammy, in a small studio apartment. We were living at the Casa Vanessa, just 100m from the best Calzone Pizzas known to man and the base gondola. 

(Our Room)

(Outside our apartment)

The course was as good as it has been in years and most of the World Cup was in Zermatt enjoying super good training conditions. However, we were unlucky with the wind and weather and had to spend a lot of days down in the village while the glacier was closed. We managed to keep ourselves busy and went for a few hikes through the mountains.

(Mogul course from a distance)

(The Matterhorn - the view from our hike)

Training went well for me, and my body managed to stay relativity injury free, so I was able to ski consecutive days and make good progress. The camp was focussed on mainly fine tuning skills rather than full top to bottom runs, so the 3 800m altitude didn't effect me too bad.

(Training Footage - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4avWuecmP0I )

After returning home from Switzerland last week, I headed straight down to Melbourne for training on the water ramps. The ramps out at Lillydale, were the same as always (slow, and with filthy water), but the training was productive and the weather was nice.

So, two more weeks of semi-summer, training in the gym and playing golf until I head back over to Finland. I wish I could stay and enjoy summer a little more, but I am excited to go over and get the season started.

Update you soon,

Ramone