July 26, 2005 – Beckie Scott, Milaine Theriault and myself comfortably fit the definition of team veterans. We may not be able to feel storms approaching in our bones yet, but the Torino Olympics will be our third and this year’s World Championships in Obertsdorf, Germany was our fourth together. Chandra Crawford is no stranger to European racing success, having won a silver medals at the Under 23 World Championships but with just a few World Cup starts and one World Championships she is a hungry fish who has just swum into the biggest pond. We have a symbiotic relationship with our 2010 team, where their fresh approach feeds enthusiasm to our team and our experience (hopefully) provides them with interesting World Cup gossip.

What is a Rookie: by Sara

-A rookie will feel shafted when, entering the European Union, the border guard doesn’t stamp their passport.

-Young racers have one foot in the frying pan and the other planted on firm ground. The coaches ground rookies. Veterans are aspiring peace negotiators.

-A rookie brings a Nalgene water bottle to the table. I have a glass of wine.

-Their worst problems lie in the decision-making surrounding our fabulous array of opportunities.

-Rookies have snacks in their pockets. Milaine has pictures of her baby boy, I should have a picture of my husband and Beckie’s screen saver has both a husband and wunder-hund- Henna.

-They really want to beat us: in Scrabble and then, preferably, in a ski race. We don’t want them to beat us and that keeps us on our toes. Inevitability, it will happen and at first it will hurt but once the sting goes away, we can’t help but feel proud. Rookies are the future of our sport.

What is a veteran: by Chandra

-Veterans are coffee dependant. Once you get them going they’ll ski you right into the ground, but they need help from the little black bean.

-In addition to their responsibilities as role models, moms, wives and dedicated dog owners, they have to field all manner of questions from us rookies, and live up to their title of “moral thermometer.”

-Veterans rely on their intuition and instincts to make decisions; rookies rely on veterans.

-They pack lighter, and they leave a bag of race skis in Europe because they know they’ll be back.

-Veterans are awarded appearance fees for showing up at races; rookies would give anything to even get to appear.

-Veterans talk to the World Cup athletes that we talk about.

-Veterans know where all the Laundromats and coffee shops are in every town that is that is a new and confusing bundle of barns and cheese shops to me.

-Veterans can remain calm when they have a brutal race, whereas rookies think that our careers are probably over and we’d better pack it up and go home.

-What would we do without them? The trail has been blazed; a floodlight has been shone into the illusive world of making it to the top. Their greatest gift is one of HOPE for all of us!