Jit’s Journal: The Gran Risa, crashes and honey tea

It’s not often when you are crashing that things feel like they are going in slow motion.
    Usually when I have crashed in the past things are going so fast that the next thing I know I’m halfway down the hill dazed and confused checking limbs to makes sure things are still there. On the second run of the Europa Cup race in St. Vigilio, Italy, I had such a fall and ended up breaking my thumb along with getting a bruise the size of a grapefruit on my lower back.
IT'S NOT OFTEN when you are crashing that things feel like they are going in slow motion.
    Usually when I have crashed in the past things are going so fast that the next thing I know I’m halfway down the hill dazed and confused checking limbs to makes sure things are still there. On the second run of the Europa Cup race in St. Vigilio, Italy, I had such a fall and ended up breaking my thumb along with getting a bruise the size of a grapefruit on my lower back. The thump on the ice was heard well down the hill, and when I finally got up and moving again I figured Alta Badia, in two days, might be out of the question for me.
    The beauty of a good crash, even though it can hurt, is that it can take your mind off of silly things when you go out and compete; and it can make you feel just plain happy to be skiing. That simple mindset can bring out great skiing. After some intense rehabbing to get myself mobile again I was deemed fit to race Alta Badia — the “Gran Risa” as it is known.
    This race last year was my first World Cup, and so this would be the first time that I would be skiing a World Cup that I had raced before. A veteran? Not really, but at least I had some idea what I was doing this time around. I skied really well, and unlike last year, I felt really comfortable on the hill. Besides hitting my broken thumb on the base of a gate midway down, things went well for me. I missed making the second run by four tenths, but I was pleased with the skiing I had done.
The show at Alta Badia continued with the thousands of fans, kids yelling for autographs, jets screaming through the valley (kind of like our Blue Angels), and skydivers landing in the finish. The whole event is amazing, and even if you don’t get a second run it is nice to return to the finish and take everything in. After all, the Dolomites provide an amazing backdrop to anything. It was especially fun watching Jim and Ted put down two great runs!
    However, I didn’t stick around the next day; in fact I left the next morning around 5 to drive south a couple hours to a resort called Pampeago for a slalom. Racing in Italy is a different experience than racing anywhere else. When I race in Italy I feel like I do when I am playing a pickup game of basketball or football. Everyone is there to go fast and be competitive, but they are also there to have a good time and you really get a family feel to it.
    I don’t know, maybe I’m saying this because I have had good success there in the past. One thing special about racing in Italy is that most races have this warm honey tea in the finish for the racers. This stuff tastes amazing when it’s cold. You could have had the worst run of your life but that stuff always makes you feel better. It’s like, ‘Hey I’m 2 seconds out, but this tea sure is good.” Either way, it did the trick for me and I ended up third on the day, a tenth out. I wanted the win, but when I was standing on the podium getting my basket full of meat, cheese and wine I figured I would get over it. Something about racing in Italy; They just do it right. I left Italy feeling good about skiing again and with the hope that some good things are on their way in the new year.

    — Jit

Thanks to:
Dynastar Skis
Lange Boots
Uvex Helmet and Goggles
Swix Poles

— Looking for a head sponsor, contact Ken Sowles by checking out kensowles.com.