29th March flew from Reno to Denver to race in the US Nationals at Winter Park. Really enjoyed the opening ceremony with its exciting atmosphere and the village so close to the ski field.  The Winter Park area had more than two feet of new snow in the last four days, including three inches the first morning of the races. Tommy Ford won the giant slalom and said of the soft conditions  “It’s hard to have a clean run in those conditions” (Ted Ligety placed third)

GS – I skied well in the first run but hooked my hand in a gate on the second run.  Day two rest day.  Day three – Super G.  The sun was high, 10 C (50 F) for the men’s start; another soft day and a little more turny set.  Slalom – snow fell steadily most of the day as the four-day event came to a close after three previous days of sunshine. Four inches of fresh snow had accumulated on the hill by the time the men’s second run began.  I didn’t finish my first run along with 45 other athletes. Tough conditions.

On to Breckenridge for the  end of the Surefoot Finals – a couple of GS, then flew from Denver to Spokane to catch up with the rest of the team for the Western Region Spring Series at Mission Ridge.  For the Super G races, we had snow mobiles to get us to the start as there was no lift to the top.  Six days of racing finished 13th April and we then headed home on the long road trip back to Truckee.  Although I improved a lot during this season it was a pretty frustrating set of races to finish on.