DAVID BABIC: 06-07 Blog
Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada - January 6th, 2007
Welcome back to another year of hot freestyle action from yours truly! The season got off to a slow start with less than favorable conditions and lack of snow in Europe. With the first two events canceled in France I was looking forward to the next event held closer to home at Mont Gabriel.
As I prepared for my travel to the event on the night of my departure I came down with an awful case of the flu. I spent nearly 12 hours praying to the faithful porcelain god, purging my soul as well as my dinner. With only a couple days of training before the contest I was resolved to do only minimal training to keep my strength for the contest.
The day of the event was capped with foggy skies and a light drizzle to soften the snow conditions. Though I had only limited training on the course I felt confident and was very hopefully about the day. As the rain continued down I made my first start of the 2007 World Cup season.
I blasted through the slushy snow spraying water and heavy snow everywhere. In an attempt to keep my game plan simple from lack of training I settled with a huge backflip cross on the top jump, which cleared much of the landing area and sent me sailing smoothly into the middle section. The course was a variety of conditions from slick and firm bumps to other areas of large heavy piles of wet snow. I approached the bottom jump and lifted smoothly into an off-axis 720 spin. I spotted the landing cleanly and place my feet solidly underneath my body.
The trouble was that I had landed in nearly 14 inches of heavy wet snow that sucked my in. My feet stopped and the rest of my body continued down the hill. The next thing I knew I was tucking my head and rolling onto my back then back onto my feet, not exactly how I had planned the first event. I spun around a couple more times before crossing the finish trying to decipher what had just happened. It was an unfortunate folly that tripped me up this week but that is how it goes sometimes.
I look forward to our next event in Deer Valley, Utah with a renewed bit of health and optimism. Wishing you all the best,
-David
2005-2006 Season
Sugarbush, Vermont - April 13, 2006
Hello everyone, I just wanted to drop in to thank you all for your support this year. I was able to close out the season with a second place finish at the National Championships in the Dual Moguls event. It was a beautiful day and I was fortunate to have many family and friends attend the event.
After a long competition season I am looking forward to a small break, but spring skiing at Sugarbush Resort is a must. This past week I had the privilege of working with a few small groups of aspiring athletes who were hoping to take advantage of the great spring conditions. Coaching these athletes was a nice shift from the competition mindset, and we all enjoyed blasting through the wonderful corn-snow that the east coast is know for this time of the year. As the weather continues to warm, I will turn my focus to the Mogul Logic Ski Camps in British Columbia, Canada. This summer I will be working alongside Chuck Martin as the new Co-Director of the ski camp. I look forward to this learning experience and the opportunity to help others reach their skiing goals. For more information about the ski camp, check it out at: http://www.mogullogic.com/
Thanks again for all your support this year, It was a real pleasure sharing so many of my experiences from this season with you. I look forward to bringing you more great results in the future.
Take care,
-David
Killington, Vermont - March 25, 2006
Welcome to the US National Championships in beautiful Vermont! It was a wonderful homecoming ski in my home state, and it felt especially great to compete here with the best athletes in Freestyle Skiing from the United States.
The course was prepared well, but with so many young skiers, the course began to develop large speed control bumps right after the landing of the top jump. This became very difficult for athletes who wanted to perform large top jumps, and I witnessed many athletes explode into the faces of these moguls during the previous day's training, myself included. At the very end of training I made a tactical move to change lines because I noticed an opportunity to jump over one of the first turns and land on the backside of the bump. This would hopefully give me a clean landing zone and a smooth entrance back into the moguls.
During my first run the course was still slightly frozen from the night before and I used a more cautious approach to navigate the top section of moguls then blasted a huge back flip that spurred me into gear for the rest of my run. With a clean middle section and a solid bottom jump, I sat in 4th position as I entered the finals.
As the day progressed, the temperature continued to climb, softening the snow even more. In the finals I hoped to turn up the tempo just a bit but continue to focus on strong execution. I pumped out of the gate and felt the snow slosh beneath my feet. I knew that I could go hard and went for it. Blasting another huge back flip cross on the top jump, I landed and picked up the middle section of moguls as if I had never left the ground. Shredding through the middle section, I linked seamless turns into the bottom jump. Lifting a lofty D-Spin 720 on the bottom jump, I landed cleanly and made a mad dash for the finish. I quickly found myself in first place and would stay there for the remainder of the competition!
At the days end I was named the 2006 US National Champion! It was an amazing experience to share this moment with so many of my family, friends, coaches and the athletes who I have coached in the past few years. I read once, “Great places are found at the end of long arduous roads”. This must be true; it took me ten years to climb to the top of the US National Championships, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.
I want to thank all of you for your support and especially those of you who have been there for me since day one.
-David
Apex, Canada, BC - March 18, 2006Hello again from the World Cup Tour. Last week I was invited to participate in the World Cup Finals held in Apex, Canada. It was an invitation event for the top 20 skiers in the world and would be the culmination of the 2005-2006 World Cup Tour. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to compete here and was hoping for some great things. The course was prepared wonderfully, and with a bit of fresh snow it really allowed the athletes push their limits. In the World Cup Finals format the run order is based on your current world cup ranking and each of the athletes is allowed only one run to display their best performance. This makes for a very exciting gun-slinging shootout!
As I waited for my run the scores began to escalate and I knew that I was going to need a stellar performance to get up on the podium. I ripped out of the gate hoping to gain precious speed. I blasted my way through the top section of moguls and into the top jump performing a beautiful back flip with my skis crossed. Landing deep into the moguls I quickly picked up my rhythm and was gone. Halfway through the middle section I got a bit caught up with a few turns and my feet shot out to the side. I made a huge move to recover from the mistake and in the process spit out mouth guard! I got back in the line and finished the rest of my run but the damage had been done. The skiing error cost me precious points, but with the highest air scores on this day and a fast skiing pace I finished the day in 6th position. In addition, I also raised my overall World Cup Ranking to 6 at the end of the World Cup Season. Over the past four years I have been ranked 12th, 8th, 7th, and now 6th in the World in Freestyle Moguls. I look forward to more years climbing the ladder to #1! Thanks again for your continued support this season.
-David
Inawashiro, Japan- March 5, 2006
Hello from the Listel Resort in Inawashiro, Japan. With a sore back from a firm landing a few days ago in Korea, this was the perfect location to soak my bones before our next event. The many soaking pools, steam room, sauna, and waterfall showers helped to aid in my recovery.
The course at Inawashiro would be the polar opposite from last weeks flat venue. The course would test even the most seasoned competitor with its steep, treacherous moguls, challenging jump entrances and difficult land zones. Fortunately, on the day of the competition the forecast was for sun and temperatures reaching into the 50's. Though the softening snow conditions allowed for more aggressive skiing, this challenging course still raised havoc with many competitors. During my qualification run I elected to ski fairly conservatively, focusing on clean skiing and strong execution. I dropped into the first section of moguls, picking up my pace as I approached the top jump. Under control, I lifted a small back flip cross that carried me quickly down the hill. I gained control by spraying a wall of slush into the air. Navigating the middle section of bumps smoothly, I executed a seamless D-Spin 720 on the bottom jump and sat in third place after the qualification round.
At this point I was still skiing with limited training in an effort heal my sore back. I elected to skip the training session for the finals and the athlete showcase. This tactic seemed to work well as I was able to rest before the final while staying out of the scorching sun. By 2pm the course was quickly deteriorating and the snow was getting heavy and slow. During my finals run I tried to pick up the pace just a bit while keeping the same focus as my previous run. I attacked the course with authority and made my way to the top jump. I executed a clean back flip cross then pointed my skis straight past the first two bumps as I made my way back into the line. When I returned to my turning cadence I plowed through a huge pile of slush and bobbled for two bumps before regaining my composure. I then executed a huge D-Spin 720 on the bottom jump and raced my way to the finish line. At the days end I was awarded with my 2nd 4th place finish in a week. Hopefully at the WC finals I can climb my way onto the podium. After the competition I hung around the competition venue signing autographs and handing out Sugarbush Ski Resort Stickers for nearly 2 hours for the nearly 5,000 spectators. The World Cup finals will resume after a weeks break in Apex, Canada. Thanks again for all your support!
-David
Jisan Forest Resort, South Korea- March 4, 2006
After a brief hiatus during the Olympics, I’m back at it again on the World Cup tour. This week’s event took place at the Jisan Forest Resort in Korea. This was an exciting experience for me as I have never been to Korea before. The low land fields and steep rolling hills reminded me of Japan. My hotel room was quite unique with the dinner table only 18 inches off the floor and my bed even closer. With no chairs in the room, I enjoyed the scenery of the resort by looking out the huge bay windows while sitting on my bed.
The mogul course was built right at the bottom of the resort in perfect view for many spectators. Unfortunately, this venue also made for an extremely flat course and catching big air was going to have a price to pay. On my second day of training I was warming up by performing a huge back flip on the top jump. As I flew through the air I cleared the soft chopped landing and instead landed on an icy-flat section of moguls. The height of my jump caused an extreme jarring impact and I knew something wasn’t right. I finished the run with no difficulty, but I noticed a slight pinching in my back. As I spoke with my coach I noticed that my back muscles were beginning to cramp and spasm. The pain was so great that I was unable to bend down and unbuckle my boots. This ended my training and I was unsure if I could ski the next day. With the help of a good doctor and physical Therapist, I was able to slowly ski through some moguls on the morning of the competition. I used extreme caution not to aggravate the muscles. As I pushed out of the gate during my competition run I left all of my pain behind and performed and excellent back flip cross and a D-Spin 720 on my way to a 6th place qualifying position. I opted not to train for the final and missed the athlete showcase as I lay in my bed with a heating pad preparing for my finals run. In the finals I tried to ski a bit faster and go a little bigger on each jump. I pushed out of the gate and fired down the top section. I then lofted the biggest back flip cross of the whole week and landed in a great spot in between two moguls. I flew through the middle section with a couple of small breaks then performed another excellent D-Spin 720 on the bottom jump. I made my way to the finish line and finished the day in 4th position. I was pleased with my performance on this day, especially with such limited training. I was also pleased to see fellow American, David Digravio, finish in 3rd place. This was his first podium finish on the World Cup tour. We now head to Inawashiro, Japan for the next stop.
~David
Spindleruv, Czech Republic - February 4, 2006
Hello everyone, the World Cup updates continue this week from Spindleruv located in the Czech Republic. I came into this event with a renewed fire after last weeks disappointing result. I was determined to bring a strong finish and trained this week with an enriched vigor. The course was a pleasant mix of a variety of skiing conditions. The soft-top section of moguls led to a very difficult and technical middle section with small icy moguls and treacherous ruts. After landing the bottom jump, the athletes must anticipate the fast approaching bottom section of moguls to keep up their speed and form.
During my qualifying run I skied strong through the top section landing a seamless back flip right back in the line continuing to tear through the middle section of the course. As I approached the bottom jump I tried to gain a bit of control and slipped on a turn or two. I regained my composure and hit a great bottom jump performing an off-axis 720. Skiing cleanly across the finish line, I claimed a shot in the final with a 9th place qualifying position.
In the finals I chose to switch lines due to some changes in the course conditions, and I believed that the middle section would be easier to navigate. I only had one training run to test out the line but I was confident that the course would suit my skiing. I pushed out of the gate with a great effort looking past the gusty winds and blustery. I lofted a huge back flip with an iron cross and again linked my skiing back into the line flawlessly. I attacked the middle section and skied well into the bottom jump. I hoped onto the last turn to square up for the jump and when I hit the turn my momentum nearly stopped! I kept my vision up and continued into the jump and lifted in a nice off-axis 720. I pulled my feet through the landing just a bit and had to pause just a moment before regaining my balance. I quickly resumed my turns and finished the day in 5th position. I was pleased with my performance today and was glad to have such a strong result. It felt great to ski two solid runs and I look forward to brining you all more great results in the future. Thanks again for all your support,
~David
Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy - January 28, 2006
Well I’m back. In less than a week I’m off and running to the next stop on the World Cup tour. In all honesty, I don’t think that I’ve really processed the events of the past few weeks just yet. For the past year I have focused so much attention on the early season World Cups and the Olympics that traveling to Italy and the Czech Republic for the next events hadn’t really even crossed my mind. It was difficult to find motivation this week, but I dug deep and enjoyed the newly fallen 36 inches of snow over the past 3 days. The course was virtually buried here in Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy. The first two training days were like a field a day. I blasted through the soft snow and ramped into the jumps at astonishing speeds lifting huge back flips into giant piles of snow in the landing. Unfortunately, these conditions only lasted through the morning of our training on the competition day. I had been charging the course all week and needed a different approach for the packy-slick snow conditions. During my run I carried the same speed as practice into the top air. I launched a decent Off-axis 720 on the top jump, but a sticky rut caught my foot on take off and I drifted slightly to the right of my line. I attacked the middle section of moguls but the slippery middle section shot my feet away from me. I did my best to get my skis under control before the bottom jump and executed a back flip with a cross. I made a clean finish but the mistakes cost me spot in this week’s final, and I was left wondering what had just happened. As more and more athlete’s struggled to find their balance in the middle section, many coaches advised their athletes to ski more conservatively through the middle of the course. This tactic seemed to work, as the highest scoring run during qualifying was nearly 4 seconds slower than my wild ride. The changing snow conditions definitely played havoc with many athletes this week, and the athletes who chose more conservative runs seemed to fair much better.
After a whirlwind week of travel and competition, we are making our way to the Czech Republic for the next stop in Spindelruv. My fire for competition has returned with great resolve and I look forward to the next events. I look forward to brining you great news in the future. Thanks again for all your support,
~David
Lake Placid, NY - January 22, 2006
The weather continued to fluctuated over the course of our competition week here in Lake Placid, NY, and with warm weather and rain on the day before the contest, it was feared that the temperatures might drop enough to leave our course looking more like an ice skating rink. The evening before the competition the temperatures began to drop, so I tuned my Dynastar Skis sharp as a razor to deal with the icy snow conditions. Once my equipment was prepared I felt confident about the next day’s event. The next morning I devised a plan to execute my more difficult jump combination during my qualification run. I knew that I would be taking a chance with this risky move, but after watching the judges only reward high scores to the top-five qualifiers on the previous day I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to qualify in a high position. I also knew that many other athletes would shy away from their more difficult jump combinations because of the treacherous conditions and this would give me another advantage. This decision would deliver a fatal blow to my 2006 Olympic campaign, but I didn’t want to leave myself at the mercy of the judges. I knew that if I hit my runs I would have great potential to finish high, so I went for it. My skis held great through the icy top section and I lifted a beautiful Off-axis 720 on the top jump. I cut and slashed down through the slick middle section and approached the bottom jump. Squaring up to hit the bottom jump I placed my feet on the last bump, they stuck, and my body continued to move forward. I entered into the transition in a horrible position to execute my Off-axis 1080, but I blasted of the jump with full commitment to the trick. I began to spin as I climbed into the air but I knew I wasn’t in a position land the full 1080 degree-spin. I pulled the trick around at 540-degrees and landed on my side! Once I finished sliding down the course, I picked myself up, dusted off, and finished the run.
It is a tremendous disappointment to see your hopes come crashing down all around you, and while I surely was not alone on this day it is easy to feel that way. I commend all the athletes who struggled through this qualification period; I congradulate those who have succeeded, and for those who have felt this same disappointment, I offer a warm hug filled words of encouragement.
I present these gestures because this is exactly what I received from the many friends and family members that came to watch and support my efforts. From the Brother who stood by my side absorbing my pain, to the proud school teacher who struggled his way on crunches to watch me compete, or the loving girlfriend who’s eyes warm me from the inside out, and the relatives who baked fresh cookies for the whole US Team even when they couldn’t attend the event, or the jokes and laughter provided by the mob of excited friends that I’ve known since elementary school, or the unconditional love of my parents who have been their supporting my every dream, to the sister-in-law who has diligently supported my efforts in the frigid cold, or the cousin who once was my wrestling partner but today provides a hug, or my segregate parents who quietly offer their cheers of support, and all the fans and former athletes I have coached who made their way up the hill to see me bust out the Tuna Can, all of this love and support fills me with a joy that overwhelms any pain that I may be suffering. I also want to especially thank all of you who send your words of encouragement through, emails, telephone, letters, cards, and prayers. I know not everyone can be there in person, but I feel you all in spirit. Thank you. They say, “ faith, hope, and love are some good things God gave us, and the greatest is Love”. I would agree.
~David
Lake Placid, NY - January 20, 2006
The World Cup Tour arrived in Lake Placid, NY, for the final two qualifying World Cup events before the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. The US Freestyle Men’s Mogul Team has been allocated 4 Olympic spots and the team would be selected after the final competition in Lake Placid. The selection criteria would first choose the winner from the US Olympic Trials (Gold Cup), which was held on December 31. Jeremy Bloom was the winner of this event and secured the first Olympic spot. The following three positions would be based on the single best performance of each athlete on the World Cup. This would push each athlete to reach for his or her very best.
During the first day of competition the course went through a wide variety of condition changes with warm temperatures and rain followed by sub-zero freezing and snow. It was still below freezing at the start of the competition, but as the day progressed the day warmed up and the conditions improved. I skied a strong qualifying run and was surprised by the soft snow in the middle section of the course I stuck a clean back flip iron cross on the top jump and then nailed a smooth Off-axis 720 on the lower jump. I was sailing smoothing through the bottom section of moguls that was extremely long when a miss hit a walled-out frozen bump that jarred me right before the finish. The mistake was minor, but it was right in front of the judges and they hammered anyone who didn’t cross the line cleanly, I was no exception. I paid for it qualifying in 13th position.
In the finals I was determined to improve my prospects of getting on the podium by performing a more difficult air package. I darted out of the gate with strength and confidence and soared into the top jump performing an Off-axis 720. Landing cleanly with all but a small split in my legs I dashed through the middle section displaying some of my best turns of the week. I set up for the bottom and lifted high into the air with a strong take off and began to wrap into my Off-axis 1080 Spin. On this day I was right on the money, spotting the landing entering quickly back into the moguls. The light was very flat in the bottom section making the last turns hard to see. I remembered my previous run and gritted my teeth towards the finish. I worked my skis into each turn and four bumps from the finish I stuck my skis into one that didn’t move! The jolt shot my body forward and I had to lunge to gain my composure. The impact shot me slightly out of my intended line as I crossed the finish. As with the first run, the mistake was small, but it was right in front of the judges and they made me pay for it. I finished the day in a disappointing 15th place, and was left looking at the final day in Lake Placid for redemption.
~David
Deer Valley, Utah - January 13, 2006
Hello everyone, my latest journal entry comes from Deer Valley, UT, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic games. This week’s event was held on two separate days with the qualification runs held on Thursday January 12 and the finals taking place under the full moon and lights on Friday the 13th.
The course was immaculately prepared and at full regulation length, (over 285meters in length) the course would prove to challenge even the most fit athlete. The qualification round took place on a beautiful day with snowstorms in the forecast. During my qualification run I laid down a solid run with a cleanly executed a back flip with an iron cross and stuck a lofty Off-axis 720-spin off the bottom jump. A few small stumbles in the middle section of the course cost me a lower start placing in the finals.
The stage for the final was set under a beautiful full moon and the jamming tunes from the band Everclear, which played a great performance during the athletes' training session before the contest. As I warmed up I used the opportunity to ski one of the unlit trails on the way to the course with only the moonlight to guide my way! Skiing by this natural light reminded me of the many nights I spent sliding and skiing with my brothers on my family’s back hill when I was a child. As I rode the private ski lift high into the darkness, I felt very fortunate to be a World Cup competitor being provided with such an amazing opportunity.
In my finals run I opted to crank up my level of difficulty by performing an Off-axis 720 on the top jump and then trump this with an Off-axis 1080 on the bottom jump. Everyone was pushing his or her abilities and I attempted to take it to the next level. I executed the top jump beautifully and slashed through the middle section at a blistering pace and tried to gain my composure as I entered the bottom jump. I came into the jump with the right speed but missed a clean takeoff as I went into the 1080-spin. I executed the trick with some effort, but the poor take off made for a difficult landing and I didn’t see the ground until it was too late. I pulled my feet just past the optimal landing spot and I was forced to drag a hand to stay on my feet. I finished the run but the damage had been done. I finished in 10th position realizing how close I had come to an amazing run. My search would continue the next week in Lake Placid, NY.
~David
Mount Gabriel, Canada - January 11, 2006
This past weekend the World Cup tour picked back up after the holiday break. The event was moved at the last minute to Mount Gabriel after labor issues began a strike at Mount Tremblant. The organizers worked hard and pulled off a spectacular event under extreme circumstances. The course was a bit flatter than most on tour, but with large jumps and big landing zones the event was sure to thrill the spectators.
The competition day was a crisp, clear day with the sun shining, but it was the actions of nearly 100 mogul skiers that really heated up the day. During my qualification run I pumped out of the start gate trying to generate speed and tempo. I sped into the top jump and lofted out a huge back flip with my skis crossed. Landing cleanly, I flowed through the middle section trying to keep my speed in the bottom jump. Lifting high into the air I executed a smooth off-axis 720 then sped to the finish line. After the qualifying run I sat in 9th position.
Looking to improve my placing I decided to turn it up a notch in the finals. After launching another huge back flip on the top jump that scored perfect execution points, I slashed my way towards the bottom jump. I controlled my speed before the bottom jump then lifted into the much-anticipated off-axis 1080 (The Tuna Can). The trick spun effortlessly with plenty of amplitude. I landed the trick slightly on my heels but recovered quickly and finished the day in 6th position.
It felt great to lay down two solid runs and I feel ever more confident as the tour heads back to the Deer Valley, Utah this weekend. I’ll keep you all posted on the latest events. I hope you are all well, and thanks for all your support!
~David
Steamboat Springs, CO - December 30, 2005
Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. I enjoyed a short but refreshing time with my family and friends before heading out to compete at the US Gold Cup event this weekend. This special event would offer its winner a one-way ticket to Torino, Italy and a spot on the 2006 Winter Olympic team. Only US National team members where invited to this event, and with such high stakes it was sure to be a shootout! The tempo was immense right from the start. One-by-one each member of US Freestyle Team slashed through the moguls and executed their best jumps during the first runs of this winner take all showdown. During my first run I skied cleanly while performing a nice Off-axis 720 on the top jump and a large back flip iron cross on the bottom jump. The bottom jump was so large, in fact, that I had to save myself with a bit of an arm swing before landing. This slight form break during the jump cost me a few execution points and I sat in 6th position after the first run.
During the finals I decided to bump up the degree-of-difficulty on my jumps by performing my patented Off-axis 1080 Tuna Can and an Off-axis 720. I felt confident with this combination after nailing this run a number of times during training. I pushed out of the gate with fury and blasted towards the top air. I got a bit hung up on the last turn entering the top jump, which limited some of my amplitude as I began to wrap into my 1080-degree spin. I felt great as I spun into the air, but as I came around for the landing I ran out of ground clearance and clipped the tip of my ski. I began to look down the mogul line in anticipation for the line, but the contact with the snow dragged me down! I slid in safely on my stomach without much injury other than a sore shoulder. Within seconds I was back on my feet to finish my run. As I approached the bottom jump I wanted to put on a show on for the crowd so I launched off the jump and executed another Off-1080! As I landed the jump cleanly, the crowd erupted with cheers and ovation.
It was unfortunate that I was unable to execute my best performance today, but I will learn from this experience and believe that it will make me stronger in the weeks ahead. Jeremy Bloom won the men’s event and Hannah Kearney won for the women. They both skied great, and they will be the first athletes named to the 2006 Olympic Freestyle team. Our competitions now move on to Mt. Gabriel for the next World Cup event. With three weeks left for the Olympic qualification period, I look forward to bringing you all great news. Thanks again for all your support and wish you all the best in the New Year!
~David
Tignes, France - December 12, 2005
Hello from Tignes, France.
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Myself along with the rest of Team USA arrived a couple of days ago, after nearly 36 hours of total travel time. The trip was made a bit longer due to a Nor’easter storm hitting the east coast last weekend. Other than a few small delays, everyone got their bags when we arrived in Zurich, Switzerland. We then began an 8 hour bus trip through some of the most beautiful country Switzerland and France have to offer. It is opportunities like this that remind me how fortunate I am. The day after our arrival we did not ski because registration was not open during the day. Instead, many of us caught up on sleep, rested, or hiked around the beautiful scenic village of Tignes. Our first day of training was today. Being blessed by fresh snow in the past week, the machine-built course was a bit softer than expected. The temperatures were mild and the sun warmed the start of the 2005-06 World Cup Season. The Tignes World Cup will be the first stop on the 12-event tour that will culminate in Canada at the end of March. I am excited for this season to get underway and look forward to bringing exciting news from the road. Thanks again for all your support,
~David
Check out this photo (above) of the early morning mountains that tower above the village of Tignes, France (photo taken by Travis Cabral).
Steamboat Springs, Colorado - December 2, 2005
Hello again,
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Before I could just leave Colorado, I had to make a quick stop in Steamboat Springs to work on a film segment for next year’s Warren Miller Film. With more than 6 feet at the top of Steamboat and more falling, this year’s segment is sure to be epic! The past two days I’ve been slashing and blasting through 40 inches of fresh powder. A new pair of backcountry powder boards did arrive (thanks to my sponsors at Dynastar/Look/Lange), but I was stuck with my skinny bump skis for the first day of shooting. Truthfully, the cameraman loved it because I sank so deep in the snow that you could barely see my goggles! The past couple days have been amazing working with a fellow Vermonter, Tom Day, who was our cameraman. Tom was a former skier for many Warren Miller films and has since switched roles to get behind the camera. During this shoot I worked with a talented young telemark skier from Crested Butte, Max Mancini, and also a Volkl/Tecnica competition-services rep from Seattle, Arnie Backstrom. Both of these skiers showed tremendous skill and precision on the steeps and handled the powder with ease. It was a wonderful pleasure and opportunity to work with such a talented group of individuals!
If skiing has a soul, it is found in the depths of freshly fallen snow. I know this because I just went Soul Skiing!
Take Care,
~David
Winter Park, Colorado - November 30, 2005
Hey everybody,
It's about that time of the year again; the leaves have all but fallen and the snow is spitting all across much of North America. This year’s winter competition season is soon to begin and I wanted to get you all back up to date on my latest travels and preparation for the upcoming season.
I have just finished a two-week training camp with the US Ski Team that began in Breckenridge and has since moved on to Winter Park Ski Resort. Many locals are claiming that this year’s early season conditions are the best in over 15 years! It is definitely the best early snow conditions I have witnessed in the Rocky Mountains. With soft snow conditions, our team was able to quickly build a one jump mogul course that was more than 220 meters in length. This was a great test to see athletes’ cardiovascular shape since we were training at 10,500 ft! I was pleased with my training in Breckenridge as I continued with the same focuses that I used while training in Switzerland 3 weeks previous to this camp. We training straight through the Thanksgiving holiday, and I was one of the fortunate ones to be able to meet up with some of my family to enjoy some good company and great food for a few short hours. When training resumed we headed to Winter Park to ski a soft powdery course on the top of the mountain for three days and then concluding on the lower half of the mountain on a machine made course that was much firmer and more realistic to World Cup courses.
I worked diligently to get my training in while being careful to not to beat myself up by performing too many runs. At the conclusion of our training camp I felt great about my accomplishments and am prepared for the upcoming season. I look forward to the season and pleased that you will be there to join in on the excitement.
Take care,
~David
Zermatt, Switzerland - November 1, 2005
Hello again from Zermatt, Switzerland. I am currently concluding the last couple days of the 3rd Annual Babic Swiss Ski Camp. The weather has been exceptionally great for this time of the year, and I am very pleased with my training preparations. It has been a solo training camp this year, but I am confident that this time on snow will give me the footing that I will need to succeed during this tremendously competitive season.
Most of the crowds have cleared out and all that remain are a few small teams from Austria, Norway and the Czech Republic. A few feisty American region skiers are also training, hoping to earn a spot on the US Team by winning the US Selection events, held in early December. The winner of these events will have an opportunity to compete at the US World Cup events in Lake Placid and Deer Valley this winter.
As for myself, I’ll be heading to Albany NY to participate in the 2006 Snow Expo on Nov 5th. I will be the guest speaker, providing a bit of background on my career and answering questions from the crowd. It looks to be a pretty fun event. As a matter of fact, I just got off the payphone with the Saratogian Newspaper, which is planning to run an article about the event. I will also be calling in to the PYX106 and WEQX ratio stations after my training tomorrow to do an interview for the Snow Expo. This should be interesting; I just hope that I don't run out of Swiss Francs to drop into the telephone…
Zermatt, Switzerland - October 14, 2005
Ciao, from Switzerland! I arrived here in Zermatt a few days ago and have been treated to some truly wonderful training conditions. With powder-blue skies and dry, light snow, I have been trying to make the most of this training opportunity. I am currently training on my own for a few weeks here in Zermatt, but I am certainly not alone. With nearly 100 other mogul skiers currently training up on the glacier, I feel right at home. Teams from Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Japan, Greece and the Czech Republic are some of those currently training here. There are also a few other US National team members and a few regional programs trying to take advantage of the excellent training conditions here in October.
My training has been very productive thus far. I have been training on the flats refining my skiing technique, and then proceeding into the moguls. The course here is fairly technical with many changes in the terrain, forcing athletes to ski with their vision up. I am pleased with my training and am enjoying the opportunity to throw down a few Tuna Can 1080s (Off-axis 1080-degree spins) in the bumps.
DavidEl Colorado, Chile - September 3, 2005
Hello again from El Colorado, Chile! Well, the skies have finally parted, allowing the sun to shine and the lifts to begin running again. In order to get the T-bar running at our training venue, our whole team spent 6 hours digging a trench for the bars to run through. In an effort to help mountain operations and to gain access to this area of the mountain, our team dug a 6-foot wide trench, which was 75 feet long and 8 feet deep in places. It was a ton of work, but the powder skiing we gained access to the next day was amazing! Imagine: your own private T-bar with 20 of your friends, 3 feet of light powder had just fallen, it’s a crystal clear day, and a cameraman is there to capture the day in all its purity. I must say, this has to be some of the best skiing I've ever had in September!
Ciao! DavidEl Colorado, Chile - August 30, 2005
The past few weeks have been wonderful visiting with many family and friends back in Vermont. A few days back, I made my way down to South America (Chile) for a US team training camp. Neither of my ski bags made the flight down to the southern hemisphere, making for a lighter load on our two hour trek up into the mountains from Santiago. Fortunately, my bags arrived around 2pm the next day, and I was able to get in a few short runs before the lifts closed due to high winds and an approaching storm.
The storm turned out to be quite fierce, knocking out the power and closing all the facilities for nearly three full days. The storm's wake found us with nearly 3 feet of fresh snow, burying cars, lifts and all the work the coaches had done to prepare the training venue. On the third day the snow finally let up, and we were able build a practice jump down near the base lodge. It was a tremendous way to build moral after being trapped inside for so long. It was a simple jump, but such soft landing conditions made for an amazing spectacle. I saw women attempt their first flips and off-axis 720s, while many of the men attempted a wide variety of 720, 900 and 1080-degree spins, both on and off-axis. It was quite a show for all the spectators waiting for the lifts to open. It took mountain operations another full day just to open the base lifts. The next day’s training resumed back at the practice jump, where I continued to work on development of my Off-Axis 1080 spin (AKA The Tuna Can). This is a trick that I have been working on for nearly 4 years now. Last season I became the first athlete to perform this jump in a World Cup competition. I'm hoping to display this trick at more events this coming season, and I'm pleased with the progress. From Chile, Ciao! David
El Colorado, Chile - August 28, 2005
Well, I'm back! I know it has been awhile, and I sincerely apologize for my absence during the last few months. I've been locked up in a top secret training facility funded by the US Government in an effort to produce the finest caliber athletes in the world! They don't allow any communication with the outside world so that these athletes will not be contaminated by external distractions.
No, the truth is that the trial version I was using to edit my Web site expired, and so Davidbabic.com has not seen much love in a few months. Have no fear; I am working on a collaboration deal with my #1 sponsor, Sugarbush! They have agreed to help develop and maintain this web site through the 2005/06 World Cup season. The look and feel of the site is scheduled to change a bit over the next few months, but I assure you that I will continue to provide fresh images, stories, and hopefully videos from the road of the World Cup! We are also planning to add in weekly tips, as well as a location were viewers can ask questions about the world cup and life on tour. I think that this will be an exciting project providing another perspective about the life of a US World Class Skier. Thanks again for visiting the Web site, please stop back to check out our changes!
Make it happen, DavidSauze D Oulx, - Italy February 18, 2005
There was a lot of excitement on the tour this week competing at the site of next years Winter Olympic games. The course was specifically built for the games and a great effort has been made to prepare the site for the big event. The course has a steep top section but mellows out through the middle and finishes with a fast lower section. The jumps were built on small tables elevating the jumps above the landing. Though the jumps were small athletes could float big tricks with relative ease. The Olympic event will be a night competition and will be shown live during the day in USA. Our test event was also held at night and was lit up by more lights than Fenway Park. The lights were so bright it actually forcing athletes to wear dark lenses to protect their vision. The games will be held in Torino, Italy beginning around the second week in February 2006. Each team has a maximum of four spots in mens moguls. The Gold cup winner will fill the first spot. This event is held between only the athletes on the US Ski Team. This offers everyone on the team an equal opportunity to compete for an Olympic spot. The second and third spots will be selected based on next years world cup results from next season. The athlete with the best finishes will qualify. The final fourth spot will be picked by coaches discretion. It will be the sole decision of the US Ski Team staff to decide which athlete should compete. Like it or not this is the way it is. I would rather tell you about the process than describe my performance this past week. Sometimes in competition your timing can be off just by a fraction of a second causing everything to fall apart little by little. This was the case this week. I had good training and was prepared for the event, but by the second turn I was off just a bit and tried to catch up the whole run. Needless to say it never happened. I tried to justify my mistakes in the middle by jumping nearly all the bumps in the bottom section. I lofted a huge back flip but it only made things worse as the compression was so big I struggled to stay in the line. Sometimes you can fix a mistake by making adjustments, other times it just makes things worse. I hope to gain from this experience making me a stronger competitor in the future. Unexpected events will happen; it is not the event that shapes us, but instead how we react to those events that determine our character. I look forward to bringing you more great results in the future. This week the tour heads to Voss, Norway. Thanks for your support.
DavidNaeba, Japan - February 11, 2005
After nearly two weeks in Japan my body is adjusting to its daily diet of seafood and white rice. I have become quite proficient using chopsticks but I am anxious for the familiar feel of a knife and fork in my hand. It is wonderful to compete in JapanÊwith so manyÊfansÊthatÊlove freestyle skiing! Their enthusiasm and excitement was infectious raising the performance level this weekend. The Naeba mogul course is one of the flatter courses on tour, but its location to the base of the mountain is second to none. With fresh snow and huge jumps, todayÕs contest was warming up to be a spectacular show. With snow still flying from the previous nights storm I launched out of the gate during my qualifying run. I slipped through the top section of moguls and lined up a beautiful cork 720 with a cross off the top jump. Merging smoothing into the middle section of moguls I kept all of my speed as I approached the bottom jump. Lifting off the jump smoothly I preformed a massive back flip with my skis crossed raising cheers from the nearly 5,000 spectators! As I finished the course I earned a seventh place qualifying position in the much-anticipated final. For the past three years I have been working on a new jump that would raise the level of our sport, today I would introduce it to the world. The jump is an Off-axis spinning 1080 (AKA The Tuna Can). Essentially, it is performed in similar fashion to the cork 720 that I have been competing with this season, except that I have added and an additional 360 degrees of rotation. I have worked diligently the past few years to prepare this jump for its introduction to the World Cup tour. With a few successful attempts in training I was confident with the jump. Completely focused on the task at hand I pushed out of the gate in a semiconscious state. As I whirled through the top section IÊfocused in on the top jump. Blasting off the jump with a huge takeoff I soared into the air and began to spin. In order to perform a 1080 it requires that you spin fairly fast or go incredibly huge. Fortunately, I found a combination of the two making my jump feel effortless as lost sight of the ground for nearly 7/8th of the jump. Picking up the ground just before landing I squared up sticking the landing almost perfectly sending my body careening into the middle section. From there I became a bystander as my body took over. Approaching the bottom section I attempted to land on the backside of a mogul far down the bottom of the course, so I straight ran the last couple of bumps into the bottom air. I lofted another high back flip landing just short of my anticipated location. This slowed my momentum a bit but I carried myself nicely through the bottom and into first place. The skiers put down their best runs and at the days end I finished in 4th place. Qualifying in 7th position it was difficult to fend off the onslaught of tremendous runs, but I was pleased with my finish nonetheless. I was pleased to gain some experience with this new jump and look forward to using it even more successfully in the future. This week the tour heads to the site of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Thanks for all your support.
DavidInawashiro, Japan - January 5-6, 2005
After 26 hours of travel we arrived at Inawashiro Listel hotel with fresh snow and wonderful accommodations to rest our wary bodies. Thankfully the hotel has an amazing pool/spa with all the amenities for a restful stay. The hotel includes six Jacuzzis, a steam and sauna room, two waterfalls, and even a reflexology path to step your stresses away. It is a good thing too; the Inawashiro world cup course is by far the steepest and most challenging course on tour testing the will and commitment of every skier. The course beat competitors left and right, dangerously tossing athletes end over end, into the fences, and effectively crushing the confidence of many. Completing a week of training and two days of competition in one piece is a huge success in my book. Thankfully, I was able to achieve this as well as a couple strong results in the process. On the first day of competition I qualified in 7th position. With a rock solid run I was one of the only competitors to perform a cork 720 off the steep and difficult top jump. I preferred the difficult cork 720 jump as it kept my eyes off the daunting landing and middle section that ensued. Landing cleanly it became a flurry action and reaction all the way to the bottom. In the finals the snow squalls kept up adding to the challenges on the day, but I would not let the weather affect my performance in the finals. Skiing another strong run in finals awarded me with my first top 5 finish of the season! It has been awhile coming but I feel that my skiing is continuing to build with the competition season. On the second day of competition I qualified for the 16-person dual final with a rodeo ride run! About halfway through the menÕs qualification round the sun poked through the clouds warming the snow. The snow began to pack as skiers made their way down the hill. The course got tremendously slick reeking havoc on many skiers. They looked like they were slipping on banana peels the whole way down. I was no exception. When it was my turn I put in my quarters and did my best the ride the Rodeo Bull for 8 seconds! I made the next go-round qualifying in 7th position.Ê In my first dual I felt good as I navigated the top section in the best form all week hitting a great cork 720 on the top jump. Landing with my feet underneath me and in position I took on the first mogul. Hitting the bump my feet stuck to it like glue and I nearly flipped right over! AAAhhh, I had to thrust my body into another line to get back on balance. I quickly returned to skiing form but it was too late. I skied out the rest of the run but my competitor skied a cleaner run. So close, but that is duals. Anything can happen. I finished in 9th place overall. This week we are on to Naeba, Japan and I look forward to bringing you more successful news from the tour. Thanks again for all your support. Wishing you all the best.
Deer Valley, Utah - January 27, 29 2005
This week I returned to Deer Valley for the much anticipated world cup events. This is a wonderful event as it takes place during the Sundance film festival held in Park City. The area was alive with commotion and excitement. Many actors and actresses were on hand for the film festival, but it was the Freestyle World Cup that took center stage at Deer Valley ski resort this week. On Thursday the event was a single moguls competition follow by aerials on Friday and dual moguls completing the weekend on Saturday. On ThursdayÕs competition I skied one of my better runs thus far, qualifying for the finals in 4th position. Smooth turns, a great cork 720 and a huge back flip to encourage the judges and 2,000 fans started the day off right. In the finals I skied a powerful top section and hit a great cork on the top jump. In the middle section my timing was a bit off leading way for a couple small breaks that effected my over all score losing some ground on my final result. It was frustrating giving up a great opportunity but I am pleased with how my skiing is beginning to develop. On Saturday afternoon we skied qualification runs for the dual moguls competition by first skiing a singles run. Only the top 16 athletes would qualify for the dual moguls final that was held under the lights with special guest, Cheap Trick, to perform at the conclusion of the competition. With nearly 5,000 screaming fans it was a wonderful set up for great competition. During my qualification run I again stepped up and perform a solid skiing performance to give me a strong spot in the finals qualifying 7th. In my first dual I felt confident and powerful as I laced through the steep and treacherous top section. Approaching the jump with good speed I caught just a bit of air onto the face of the top jump and compressed into it. I essentially stuffed myself into the jump making it difficult to get up off the jump cleanly. Performing a cork 720 I did my best to work the trick around but caught one ski in the snow and twisted right out of my cranked bindings. With only one ski I had my work cut out to try to beat my opponent. Collecting my lost equipment I skied for the crowd and blasted a huge back flip with a cross and added a spread for fun. It was a tough loss, but I can see some great things happening with my skiing and look forward to next week in Inawashiro, Japan!
DavidFernie, Canada - January 22, 2005
Welcome to another update from the World Cup tour. Actually, the tour should probably be renamed the Water cup tour. The last two competitions have seen nearly nonstop rain, fog, and sloppy snow conditions. The volunteers, coaches and course workers did their best to make our first dual moguls competition of the season happen. With a great effort and a bit of luck the rain lightened up for few hours allowing for a high-flying dual mogul air show in Fernie, Canada. The dual moguls format allows each athlete to ski one qualifying run that is scored as a singles run. The top 16 athletes are then seeded into a tournament style bracket were competitors face off in dual runs skied side by side where each judge has five points to distribute between each athlete. The athlete with the highest score moves on to the next round. In my qualifying run I executed a solid back full (back flip with 360) a bit nervous from my previous experience in Mt. Tremblant a few weeks ago. Landing cleanly I worked my way through the short middle section of moguls blasted a beautiful cork 720 with my skis crossed off the bottom jump. Landing cleanly I finished the run smoothly earning a spot in the Dual moguls final. I skied against Tapio Lusuua from Finland in the first round. I felt pretty good performing a back flip cross on the top jump and a cork 720 on the bottom jump as my air package for duals. Blasting out of the gate I sped towards the top air at top speed. Accelerating all the way to the top air I launched a huge back flip setting myself up for a fast middle section. With a short section of moguls before the bottom jump I continued to accelerate trying to gain ground on my competitor. Approaching the bottom jump with a great amount of speed I had little room to slow down and tried to perform my cork 720 while blistering into the jump. Lofting off the jump I missed my take off just a bit and tried my best to slow my rotation before landing. As the jump came through to my heels I lost control on the landing and headed towards the fencing to visit with some spectators. After a short visit with a few spectators I made my way to the finish and shake my opponents hand. I was disappointed with the result, but I feel my skiing is on the right track and anticipate more great results in the future. Next week I travel Deer Valley, Utah for more freestyle action. Thanks again for your support.
DavidLake Placid, New York - January 15, 2004
I will keep this short and sweet for those of you who attended the World Cup events returning to Lake Placid this year. The rain let up, and freezing temperatures broke to allow the sun to shine for a few hours of wonderful mogul competition. The rain that poured down on the previous day was now frozen making the mogul course slick and arduous. Competitors from all over the world did their best to adjust to the different course conditions. During my qualification run I felt good on my feet and moved swiftly into the top air. Approaching the top jump I rushed my cork 720 take off pushing my feet unevenly against the jump face. The error caused my jump to drift a bit to the right forcing a drastic move to get back into the line. In an effort to make up for my mistake I picked up the pace in the middle section and hoped to make a strong impression with a huge back flip with my skis crossed. Carrying a high speed into the bottom jump I approached the jump angling just slightly to the right of the bottom section of moguls. My jumps amplitude magnified the alignment error. I did my best to work back into the line but the damage was done. I finished the run with a flurry of silky turns but it was not enough to convince the judges that I deserved to ski in the finals. It is a sobering experience sitting out of the final but watching athletes put there best stuff on the line provided a lot useful information about what it will take to succeed this season. I look forward to using these events to help my performance in future competitions. I look forward to more successful competitions in the future and will keep you posted. I want to send a special thank you to all of you who attended the events in Lake Placid last weekend. To have so much family, friend, fan, and sponsor support was an amazing feeling. I feel very fortunate to have so many supporters and I thank you all even if you could not attend the events. It is wonderful to share my hard work, dreams, and aspirations with all of you and I look forward to bringing even greater results in the future.
DavidMT. Tremblant, Canada - January 8, 2005
Welcome again to the world of freestyle skiing. Let me begin by stating that this is a subjectively judged event and at times things happen where athletes, coaches, judges and spectators disagree. That being said; recent rule changes this season has made our mogul event a bit of a guessing game trying to discern the right combination of jump difficulty, execution, skiing, and speed for a successful result. This weekend was one of those events.ÊThe new jumping rules state that an athlete must perform jumps from different categories in order to receive a score for each maneuver. At first this seems simple; two jumps in two separate categories, but looking closer it is not that black and white. Some of the jumps that fall into different categories are actually fairly similar forcing judges make a decision about the athletes intended jump selection. The result can have tremendous affect to an athletes score. One example of this would be an athlete performing a back flip and a loop (AKA side flip, picture a cartwheel in the air) in a single run. By the rules this is an acceptable combination, but the rule becomes vague about where the line is drawn between a back flip and a loop. A loop can be executed in good form when an athlete uses a slight back flip take off to allow for a more stability in the air. At a certain point the difference between a back flip an a loop diminishes, creating havoc on the judges stand and eventually spreads down to the coaches, athletes and spectators. In Mt. Tremblant I experienced this malarkey and was left out in the cold and out of the finals. During my qualifying run I performed a back full (back flip with a 360) and a D-spin 720 (Off-axis spinning 720). This was the same jump combination that I performed successfully in Tignes, France and hoped to duplicate the run in Canada. I performed each jump to the best of my ability to show off the distinguishing differences. The back full is executed with a straight bodyline with the feet traveling relatively straight over your head. The cork is executed with the legs bent and skis crossed through out the spin with the feet traveling around the side of the body. Apparently, the judges did not see it this way, both agreeing that I had performed two back fulls with a position. The result was a mogul run with only one jump being scored... In freestyle we do not use the assistance of instant replay, and there is not red flag a coach can throw to protest the call. In this case, our best hope is to use this experience for education in an effort to better understand the complexities of this dilemma. After later reviewing a slow motion video of the jumps disgusted earlier, some of the judges did admit that I had executed the jumps a prescribed. In fact, they confessed that I had performed the cork jump better than some of the other jumps that were score in the off axis category. Oh well... Better luck next time. Maybe we need to institute an instant replay rule when jumps are in question?
DavidTignes, France, - December 15, 2004
Welcome to another season of hot freestyle action on the World Cup tour with some of the most progressive talented athletes in sport of skiing. I am proud to represent the US and look forward to bringing you this adventure as it unfolds. While preparing for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy I am excited to share all that encompasses elite level competition. After a dedicated off season training in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Canada, Chile, and Switzerland I feel prepared to take on the best in the world! Now let the games begin. I arrived in Tignes, France a day late after my flight was cancelled due to weather issues. I wish it were that easyÉ Actually, I had to embark on a bit of an expedition traveling on planes, trains and automobiles to reach my destination. Flying out the next morning, with no contact from my coaches I decided I would need to get there on my own. When I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland I made my way to the train station were I could catch a train to Geneve, Switzerland and hopefully a train or bus to Tignes, France from there. Hurrying down the escalator with my computer, ski bag, and luggage bag all weighing my down I made my way to the tracks and hopped on the train the was departing when I arrived. With the conductor whistling to me to get on the train I threw my last bag on with haste. I later realized that I was sitting in the cushy first class seats and would have to relocate when the conductor found out I had purchased a second class ticket. Arriving in Geneve, I exited the train and headed to the bus station with hopes that IÕd be able to catch a bus to Tignes. As it turns out, there is a bus that goes to Tignes but it is at another bus station 5 blocks away. At first, I thought this would be no big deal but 5 blocks is nothing to laugh at when you must climb up and down stairs to cross train tracks and busy streets lugging two bags that each weighed over 70 lbs and a computer bag that dangled from my neck. I safely arrived at the station purchasing my ticket with sweat forming on my brow, and opted for a quick bite to eat at a nearby deli. With a delicious Italian style pizza now in my belly I dragged my bag up to the bus that would take me to Tignes.ÊAs I plopped down in the last row exhausted from my travels I quickly realized that I was the only one of the bus as we departed. A half hour into the trip I believed that this was not going to be a very full trip and spread out on a few of the seats in the last row and settled in for a little nap. About an hour later I was jolted awake by a barking French voice marching towards me! From what I could understand I guess he wanted me to pay for the extra seats that I was occupying and was very disgusted that I dare sleep on his empty bus. The rest of the trip I sat in the corner sleeping with one eye closed and the other glaring at the bus driver. I arrived five hours later and made it to my hotel for dinner that night. The training the next day did not fair much better. I had a solid few runs and just wanted to hit one more jump as training was coming to an end. Landing the top jump I twisted out of one of my bindings and I tried to maintain control. This was not a course to crash on as it was laced with solid masses of machine made moguls that did not move on impact. Never less, I was going down and proceeded to sit square on my tailbone on a protruding wall of ice! With such a strong blunt impact to my low back I lost my breath and began to spin flailing equipment everywhere. It felt like someone swung a heavy metal shovel that connected square against my low back and tailbone. Unsure if I could stand I moved slowly and took a minute to catch my breath. I gingerly located my goggles, gloves, skis, and poles from the immaculate yard sale and made my way to the doctorsÕ room for pain relievers and a big bag of ice! Thankfully, nothing was broken but I did sustain a substantial bone bruise to my tailbone. After a days rest I was able to work through the pain and perform two high octane runs in competition resulting in a tenth place finish at the first world cup event of the season. In both runs performed a back flip with a 360 (AKA back full) and an off-axis spinning 720 with a cross (AKA cork 720). In each of the runs I executed my jumps beautifully but made a couple small mistakes exiting my top jump. The back full is a new jump this season and I am still working out some of the bugs, but I believe it could be a successful combination in the future. Having only limited opportunity to train on the course I was not comfortable pushing my speed to the extremes and lost a few tenths with a bit slower time than some of my competitors.ÊAll in all it was a good start to the season, especially with the devastating crash that I sustained in training. I was pleased to head home in one piece looking heal and make an even stronger performance at Mt. Tremblant after the New year. I look forward to more success in the future and will keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again for all your support.
David
