ONE WEEK.
One week until we’re back on ice (weather permitting, of course…keep those fingers crossed!). Can you believe it?!
Apple picking at Rulf’s Orchard in Peru, NY
I have a lot ahead of me this week but before we dive into that, here’s a little recap of my weekend!
On Thursday- yes, technically not the weekend yet but I had a fun day!- I went to a local apple orchard with some teammates to go apple picking! We had a great time roaming the orchard and naturally, stuffing our faces full of apple cider donuts. Let’s be real here, everybody knows you go apple picking for the apple cider donuts.
I got my workout in on Friday morning and put my sled together before heading out to babysit for a local family. I spent the night with the two little girls so their parents could enjoy their 10th wedding anniversary. They were up bright and early the next morning despite my best efforts to tire them out the night before! I definitely stopped by Starbucks for a very larrrrge coffee on the way back to the OTC.
Riding up the ski lift to watch the ski jumpers compete!
After a quick lunch I attempted to get some homework done but unfortunately the network was down! So instead I went with some teammates to the Flaming Leaves Festival at the Ski Jumping Complex. We got to watch the ski jumpers compete up close and personal, and it was nuts. Yes, I know that’s a little “pot calling the kettle black” here considering the sport I compete in, but puh-lease. That whole flying through the air thing is not for me.
I left the festival and immediately met up with Nelson and Danielle Longenecker, and their friends Pete and Marian Dimmig at the OTC and immediately left for the Lake Placid Bobsled Track. Nelson happens to work at Four Seasons Produce Inc, who is my major sponsor. Nelson and I connected after I spoke at a Team Meeting last summer and he said he had friends in the Lake Placid area and would occasionally visit. I got a message from him a few days prior and was able to set up a time to meet with them!
Little did they know I had arranged for them to take a summer bobsled ride! After the ride I took them up into the track so they could see what I do up close and personal and so they could see the ice! Afterward we headed back to the OTC so I could give them a tour of the facility and check out what a real skeleton sled looks like.
Nelson, Myself and his wife Danielle in front of the OTC! Pardon my squinty eyes…I think I was laughing in this photo!
Nelson & Dani were staying with Pete & Marian at their home, and they graciously invited myself and another teammate to their home for dinner that evening, so after the tour I grabbed my car keys and we made our way to Saranac Lake! We had an awesome time chatting, getting to know each other and retelling our most interesting and crazy skeleton stories! They fed us a delicious home-cooked meal and it was a great escape from the training center. When everything can seem to be so structured and intense at times, this evening with them was so relaxing and light-hearted and felt like I was at home among friends. So THANK YOU Pete, Marian, Nelson and Dani for your hospitality, and I look forward to the next time we can get together again!
After such a busy weekend, all I wanted to do was have a lazy Sunday. Unfortunately, I’m in grad school and my class is nearing its end, so I spent the day writing a 15-page paper. Total buzzkill. But, considering I had a pretty exciting couple of days prior, I can’t be too upset about it.
Now it’s time to get down to more homework and to finish prepping my sled for our opening day on ice! The busy streak continues! Thanks for reading, the next time you hear from me we’ll be on ice!
push from the top 