McKennis Blog: An adventure outside skiing – Malaga, Spain!

Garmisch was not a great weekend for me, two DNF’s were not what I had in mind, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I was charging more than have been in awhile so that is a definite step forward, just didn’t work out that time. After the races my teammate Stacey and I took a much needed rest from the       -25C weather and flew to Malaga, Spain where it was +18C for a couple days off to enjoy the warmth and a change of pace. It was incredible! One of the coolest places I have gone for just a short visit.

We did a lot of touring around the historical part of the city visiting ruins, castles, churches, and Picasso’s birthplace and also spent some quality time in the sun either on the beach or at one of the many cafes in the city.

We ate a lot local Spanish cuisine trying the many different varieties of Tapas.  About 98% of the meals we had we were delicious. Just one thing really freaked me out when we decided to try ordering something random off a Spanish menu, turned out to be some kind of sausage. Waiter told it us it was from a pig, just not what part. I’m thinking it was the stomach or possibly the brain. Either way I’m glad we were “sampling” some Spanish wine to wash it down. Even when we are not skiing we are still living on the edge…

We finished our trip by going to a Turkish bath. It was an interesting experience…but enjoyable all the same. Getting massages was the perfect way to end our trip

We are now in Solden for a few days of training before heading to Sochi, Russia next week. I am really looking forward to getting on a new course and checking out what Russia has to offer, from what I hear it all sounds pretty good and interesting…

Alice McKennis is a member of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team from Glenwood Springs, Colo. She was named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team and, at 21, has become a regular on the World Cup Tour with five top-15 finishes to her name. McKennis was also the 2009 NorAm Cup downhill and super G overall champion.