October 01, 2010 (Park City, UT) – With the first snow touching the ground in Banff last week, my off-season training is nearing the end. Rollerskiing, biking, and trail running will soon be replaced my swift gliding on snowy trails. Instead of getting ready for another Time Trial, in just five more short weeks I will be stepping up to the start line of a World Cup race. Exciting and eagerly anticipated? Yes. Scary and at times overwhelming? You bet.

My training over the summer had a few ups and downs, but was solid overall. I know exactly where I am in terms of my fitness and speed, which gives me lots of confidence in the type of training I need to be doing next.

My boyfriend Harmen and I did some bike touring this summer. I always try new modes of training in order to have an edge and to keep it fun. And as an annual tradition, The Boundary Bay Brewery girls won the Ski-to-Sea race in Bellingham, Washington. This year marked 11th straight win for our team.

For the next couple of weeks I am training with my National Ski Teammates in Park City, Utah. The goal of this high-altitude training camp is to teach the body to adapt to the relative lack of oxygen, which in theory would make us more efficient later on when we will return to lower altitudes to compete.

Every day, as I train to compete, I am grateful of having this opportunity to hone my skill at ski racing and to be able to do something I am so passionate about. Bring on the snow!