Rose Bowl and Skiing

Hi All,

As I sit in the Adaptive Sports Center, I am absolutely exhausted from skiing three days in a row. After a very crowded Saturday, the mountain emptied out a bit on Sunday and even more on Monday. The skiing this weekend wasn't that bad, either and I think I am constantly improving and skiing the best that I have ever skied.

The mountain was freezing on Saturday, but the race team braved the elements (with a few new members - snowboarders Zach and Taylor) to take advantage of the great conditions! The mountain was too crowded to do any race drills, so we free skied and got a lot of mileage. It was a great day!

On Sunday, the mountain was much less crowded so we worked on edging. We found parts of the mountain a bit icy, but a diamond in the rough on Lower Wiseacres - it was pure powder! I also tackled my first double black diamond trail of the season on Upper Wolverine, but fell twice. I need more practice on steeper terrain!

On Monday, I skied with my father in the morning and took a lesson with Eric in the afternoon. I was so worn out by the end of the afternoon! We did five runs off of A-Lift in under an hour and a half! The snow was very icy and slick, but any day you get out on the mountain is a good day!

Now, let me backtrack for a few seconds to talk about the Rose Bowl. Despite a disappointing Penn State loss, it was an amazing experience all around! I enjoyed feeling like a part of something big - the Penn State family. When I got onto the airplane in JFK, there were Penn State fans! When I arrived in LAX, there were even more Penn State fans! Our hotel should have been called the Penn Stater because it was filled with Penn State fans!

I loved the Rose Parade because the floats were so beautiful and smelled so nice, but my favorite part was the game. I was sitting in the Penn State section, so it was an amazing feeling to be cheering for the same team when everybody else in the stadium was cheering for USC! It was a great experience!

That is about it, so lets all pray for snow (because the mountain can definately use it)!

- Tracker
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"We are...Penn State!"

Happy New Year!

Hi All,

I hope you all had a great holiday!

The race team braved the conditions this weekend to take on Windham Mountain and tackle all that Mother Nature could give us! It wasn't exactly the prettiest weekend, but we need to learn how to ski different types of terrain.

I skied a half day Friday, all day Saturday, and a half day Sunday and saw the mountain melt away before my eyes. While it was very sad to witness this, I realize that the snowmaking staff of Windham Mountain has committed to make snow on Monday night and a big storm is expected Friday night. I am extremely optimistic!

The snow actually was not too bad either! I got a lot of mileage this weekend and feel extremely confident in my skiing! I think this is the best I have ever skied!

Now that I am back home, my eyes are set on Pasadena and the Rose Bowl. I am heading out to California on New Years Eve and am looking forward to attending the big game! I really hope Penn State beats USC and puts on a great show while doing so!

Have a great New Years and LET IT SNOW, please!

- Tracker

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""I wonder if people realize the restraints that I am freed from when I ski? There is no other time that I can move with such speed and agility than when I am skiing." - Kirsty Digger

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi All,

I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so happy to be back in New York after spending almost a full semester at Penn State.

My break started with a bang as Penn State clinched its first Rose Bowl birth since 1994! What a game! We beat Michigan State 49 - 18 and looked extremely good. The weather during the game was freezing, though. The temperature was in the 20's with a wind chill in the teens. It seemed much worse than it actually was because we were not moving - just standing and watching the game. It was worth it, though, because the crowd was very into the game and it was rewarding to celebrate with the crowd after our 42nd point (it sealed the win for us)! I was very happy that my father, brother, and uncle experienced such an amazing game the first time they were at a game in Happy Valley!


After we scored our 42nd point, our mascot, the Nittany Lion, started walking around with a bouquet of roses (pictured left) to symbolize our birth into the Rose Bowl (the most famous of all the college bowl games). I actually sat next to ASF's own Kim Seevers who took this picture! Both of us celebrated together with numerous high fives and utter disbelief as Penn State sealed the deal!

Now I have the task ahead of me of planning my trip out to Pasedena, California to see the Rose Bowl on New Years Day. I can't wait to see our Blue Band turn the corner at the Rose Parade while playing our Alma Mater!

I am going skiing on Friday and Saturday (I hear the snow is phenomenal)! Windham advertised over six inches of powder over the past week! I can't wait to get my first tracks in of the season and hit the snow before I head back to Happy Valley for two weeks of classes and another few days of finals. If I can get through the next two and a half weeks I have two weeks of skiing to look forward to as well as a trip out to Pasedena to see Penn State in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day!

Have a safe and filling Thanksgiving!

Let it snow,
Tracker


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"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." H.U. Westermayer

It's Snowing in Happy Valley!!!

Hi All,

It is really coming down here in Happy Valley! The snow is so beautiful and makes me want to pop into my bindings and ski to class. We got about an inch already and are expected to get up to two more!

I was down in town today and had to walk back up to my dorm. It was during this time that it hit me that ski season is almost upon us. As I was walking up the hill with snow blowing in my face, I felt like I was on a chairlift that stopped right below a snow gun! I walked into my dorm and the front of my body was completely white from being pelted with snow. When my suitemate asked me if I was okay, I responded with a big "I love it!". All of my friends now think I'm crazy for saying that!

Tomorrow is a big day here in Happy Valley. If our football team wins, we are going to the Rose Bowl - the most famous bowl game in college football! Fans are already lining the streets, cheerleaders handed out stickers that said "Subpar-tans" (we play the Michigan State Spartans tomorrow), and the HUB, our student center for activities, was having a huge party. There was free popcorn and prize raffles, ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd is broadcasting "The Herd" from our food court. and signs lined the tables with words like "BELIEVE" and "Lets add one more..." with an arrow pointing to all the years we won the Big Ten Championship. I can't wait for tomorrow!

We have a pep rally tonight called "Rally in the Valley" to get us all riled up for the game and we are expecting our beloved coach, Joe Pa, to give a speech as well! Before the rally, our #1 ranked women's volleyball team is hosting the first round of the NCAA tournament, so I will go to that as well!

The thing I can't wait for the most is to see my family. I am looking forward to taking them to the football game and showing them what Penn State is all about.






I will leave you with this picture of a statue of Joe Paterno that was taken earlier today by our local paper.


Lets hope it keeps snowing!

- Tracker

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"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event." - Anonymous