December 9, 2006 –The last couple of weeks have been quite stressful for me, as I try finish my final papers and prepare for the last exams of my undergraduate degree while I travel around the continent racing. I have become quite used to combining school and skiing, but with each year the expectations at school become greater and this semester is really testing my limits in multitasking and time management! So when I was a ‘bebe lala’ (our word of the week, courtesy of our wax tech Genevieve, meaning ‘cry baby’) and asked my teammates to help me out with my update this week, they pulled together and came up with a series of rapid fire questions in the spirit of Sean Crooks’ recent Haywood Report. Unfortunately Mark is not here because he had to go home for Canada Winter Games trials in Ontario, but here are the results for the rest of us:

Mac or PC?
Tasha: “PC”, Jeff: “Mac”, Karla: “Mac”, Tara: “PC”, Rhonda: “Mac”, Gord: “If you’re going to ask a stupid question . . . (Mac)”

Coffee or tea?
Tasha: “Coffee”, Jeff: “Tea”, Karla: “Tea”, Tara: “Coffee”, Rhonda: “Tea”, Gord: “Coffee”

Skate or classic?
Tasha: “Classic”, Jeff: “Skate”, Karla: “Classic”, Tara: “Skate”, Rhonda: “Skate”, Gord: “Skate”

Smooth or crunchy?
Tasha: “Smooth”, Jeff: “Smooth”, Karla: “Crunchy”, Tara: “Crunchy”, Rhonda: “Smooth”, Gord: “Smooth”

Blonde or Brunette?
Tasha: “Brunette”, Jeff: “Blonde”, Karla: “Blonde”, Tara: “Brunette”, Rhonda: “Blonde”, Gord: “Blonde”

Spicy or mild?
Tasha: “Spicy”, Jeff: “Spicy”, Karla: “Spicy”, Tara: “Spicy”, Rhonda: “Mild”, Gord: “Mild”

Salty or sweet?
Tasha: “Salty”, Jeff: “Sweet”, Karla: “Sweet”, Tara: “Salty”, Rhonda: “Salty”, Gord: “Sweet”

The person who has most influenced your skiing (past or present)?
Tasha: “Dan”, Jeff: “Al Pilcher”, Karla: “Mom and Dad”, Tara: “Sean Kennedy”, Rhonda: “Gord”, Gord: “Myself (present), Dan Gilligan (past)”

Season’s goal?
Tasha: “World Champs”, Jeff: “Constant improvement”, Karla: “improve FIS points”, Tara: “Top 20 at World Championships”, Rhonda: “Top 10 at World University Games”, Gord: “Top 20 at World Championships”

Favourite post-race treat?
Tasha: “Popcorn”, Jeff: “Rye and coke”, Karla: “Chocolate chip cookie”, Tara: “Lunch from the CrazyWeed”, Rhonda: “Gummie bears”, Gord: “Brownie from Beamer’s”

Astrological sign?
Tasha: “Cancer”, Jeff: “Libra”, Karla: “Virgo”, Tara: “Cancer, same as Tasha (we have the same birthday)”, Rhonda: “Pisces”, Gord: “Capricorn”

Favourite ski venue?
Tasha: “Lappe”, Jeff: “Galena, Idaho (where we are right now) or Seville, Spain”, Karla: “Sleeping Giant”, Tara: “Blow-me-down ski club in Corner Brooke, Newfoundland”, Rhonda: “Kananaskis”, Gord: “Pontressina, Switzerland”

One thing you can’t travel without?
Tasha: “Lipstick :-)”, Jeff: “Music and picture books!”, Karla: “Earplugs”, Tara: “Eye mask”, Rhonda: “Eye mask and note book”, Gord: “book (but everyone looks in shock and says ‘not your computer?’)”

Wine or beer?
Tasha: “Wine”, Jeff: “Both!”, Karla: “Wine”, Tara: “Wine”, Rhonda: “Water? No, wait ˆ Ice Wine”, Gord: “Wine”

Early bird or night owl?
Tasha: “Early bird”, Jeff: “Early bird”, Karla: “Early bird, but not as early as Tasha!”, Tara: “Early bird”, Gord: “NIGHT OWL!!!”, Rhonda: “Night bird (both, depends on if Gord is around or not!)”

So now you know a little more about us! We are all very excited about how the team is doing so far this season. Tasha’s big win in the 10k classic in Canmore last Thursday was a huge boost for all of us, and we look forward to more podium opportunities this weekend in Sun Valley and next weekend in Soldier Hollow, Utah. Thanks again to all of our sponsors, team supporters and team builders!! Until next time…

INDi2010 results from the past week:
(NorAm classic, skate sprint and mass start skate in Canmore, and a SuperTour classic sprint in Idaho)
Tasha: 1st, 18th, 5th, DNS
Gord: 8th, 10th, 7th, DNS
Tara: 9th, 4th, 8th, 4th
Karla: 13th, 19th, 22nd, 10th
Rhonda: 14th, 10th, DNS, DNS
Jeff: 29th, 8th, 13th, 21st
Mark: DNS, 34th
Robin: 12th, DNS, 31st

www.indi2010.com/athletes.php?typid=5Founding Team Builders

www.indi2010.com/athletes.php?id=22Deborah dePass & Ian MacQueen

Deborah and Ian epitomize Canadian ski enthusiasts. Deborah is new to the sport and has been skiing for 5 years while Ian, with his irrepressible competitive drive, has been building the ski community for two decades helping to found the Fit Company ski club and build many of the trails at Hardwood Hills ski area in Ontario. Although they have varying levels of experience their mutual enthusiasm for the sport is contagious to everyone around them. The team had a chance to get to know Deborah and Ian in Silver Star this year and they are a valuable addition to the Exel Racing Team.

www.fischerskis.com

www.exelsports.net

www.freshairexp.com

www.brooksrunning.ca

www.bowviewhomes.com

www.alpinasports.com

www.digica.ca

www.podiumwear.com

www.sosheadwear.com

www.skitrax.com

www.startskiwax.com/main.php

www.woodgundy.com/wg/en/home.jsp


For more information on the INDi2010 Racing Team please visit
www.indi2010.comwww.indi2010.com.