We enjoyed some gorgeous Indian summer weather in Lake Placid, but things look a little different back in Colorado.  It’s been snowing off and on for the past week in the high Rockies.  There is a little snow above Steamboat as well, and I bet that we’re XC skiing on Rabbit Ears Pass in two weeks!  Until then, we still have a few more “summer” jumping sessions and a lot more roller skiing to do.  It’s nice, however, to be back in Steamboat and have a bit of a rest week. 

While we were in Lake Placid, we did an intensity block with the Ski Team.  This is nothing new, as we’ve been doing this for the past few years when we go to LP.  With 6 intervals sessions, a race and some jumping in just 6 days, it was a tough week.  However, it’s great to get some different roads to roller ski on and have the benefits of the Olympic Training Center.  I used the contrast baths (icy cold and really hot, that is) for recovery after a couple workouts, and we all took full advantage of the all day cafeteria.   

We finished the week off with a competition.  I finished 5th in the Nordic Combined, behind 4 US Ski Team athletes; with both a good jump and fast race, it was definitely my best competition of the summer.  Now it’s time to look towards the winter season.  I’m excited at the way things are shaping up!  

Here's your chance to fund the next generation of olympians. Check it out and spread the word!

Despite USA's recent successes in Nordic Combined, there is still very little funding for athlete's below the US Ski Team, like myself. Until reaching the US Ski Team athletes at my level have to foot the vast majority of the bill for equipment, lodging, flights overseas and across the nation, rental vans, coaching, etc. 

The reality is that I can put in all the hours and do all my training right, but without the funding it can be really difficult to continue in this sport. Even for athletes on the US team, their financial future is still in jeopardy. 

That's why I'm asking for your support! Even small contributions start to add up. The best thing that you can do is contribute and then let more people know about the cause. It can be anyone, we're not picky! Don't forget that it's tax deductible.

As they say in Steamboat, "It takes a community to raise an Olympian."

http://ncgeneralfund.causevox.com/aloomis#

This is the helicopter, equipped with a DSLR, that Zak and Dan have been filming with for Aerial Vantage Productions. 
Check out the highlight video in HD on youtube.  It's very professional.  NBC's Olympic coverage producers should take note.  

Well it was fast and furious in Chicago. I'm already in the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid now, getting ready for the another week. It was a fun time competing in Norge though.

Saturday, as I said earlier, we had National Champs. Martin was less than pleased with our team's performance during our 2 open training jumps Friday (myself very much included). However, we all stepped it up for official training and the competition. My one Nordic Combined jump wasn't my best, but at 65m, still solid. My second competition jump - which only counted for jumping, was 3 meters farther, and gave me a 14th place finish for the jumping.

 In the NC race, I skied from 12th and finished 10th, 9th amongst Americans. In terms of race time I didn't have an awesome performance, but I skied the whole race alone and had a great last lap. Overall, it was a good day for me, definitely my best results at Nationals.  

A big thanks to Kris Edlund for taking hundreds of wonderful pictures all weekend!  Here's a few of them, but many, many more are up on www.stpaulskiclub.com

My teammate, Erik Lynch, finished the race 5th, beating out 3 of the US Ski Team's athletes. It's great for our team to have National results like that, showing the big guys at USSA that the next generation is knocking at the door.   

Sunday was just a regular jumping competition. I had a lot of fun and finished 11th.  Bryan Fletcher (US NC team) topped all the special jumpers for the win.  

After jumping we drove 40 miles away for a dinner with Ben Berend's grandparents. They have a gorgeous house in southern Wisconsin, complete with a swimming pool inside and a professional garden outside. Literally - his Grandma is a landscaper for a living and now that she's in her seventies and semi-retired, must spend hours gardening in her backyard. They had a lot of fun, and went a bit overboard, feeding and entertaining the team. When we got there we watched the Packer - Bronco game (which was a little more fun for me than all the Coloradans). His grandparents had M&M's out on all the table, appetizers galore, a solid 12 pounds of beans, a couple gallons of salad and enough burgers and brats to feed 4 of our team. We didn't starve. Hopefully they have another party next weekend! Of course, Grandma Berend sent us with a few gallon bags of cookies, M&M's and brownies. Fortunately we're starting an intensity week, so we'll burn it all off in a hurry.