Winter Start Round Up

Alright it's safe to say now that the season has really started.  Over Thanksgiving it half-started for a couple of my teammates and I, but we first got our feet back into NC comps this weekend in Steamboat Springs.

No ski jumps in West Yellowstone (or anywhere in Montana I'm sad to say) so we used this weekend to hop into two tough Super Tour cross country races and get our race legs back under us.  We weren't as fast as we'd like to be against the XC guys, but I focused on my body's feelings and left West with some confidence.

I had plenty to be thankful for in beautiful West Yellowstone.  Beautiful skiing, plenty of snow, some good racing and tough hills, bunking up in a hotel room with 4 other guys... just the usual Thanksgiving round-up.  

Brett and I were the only ones turkey dancing for Fasterskier's Thanksgiving shoutout video.  Unless you're really bored please don't watch it in entirety.  But if you want to laugh at us less than graceful athletes, we kick off the video. 

Back in action in Steamboat. Photo cred to Paul Loomis.

This weekend we competed in Steamboat Spring's winter start competition against the NTG and other aspiring US NC racers.  It's always a pleasure to be back in Steamboat and see that not much has changed in that happy little town.  

Calm winds and fresh snow. Happy jumping.

Nick, Wesley and I.

I took the win on Saturday's comp, and swapped podium places with Nick on Sunday.  Saturday I jumped into a position from where I had the lead to myself for most of the race and just got to ski my own pace.  On Sunday Nick and I dueled it out and his quick sprint left me in the dust in the finishing yards.

 It was great to be on top of the podium and to just enjoy competing.  But I'll admit that this was the easiest competition I'll have for the rest of the season.  No freebies from here on out!

Father and son.

My brother, Ben, on one of his many long jumps this weekend.

Another great part of the weekend was spending more time with my brother, my dad and the rest of the Midwest crew who made the trek out for the week.  Central has some talented jumpers AND nordic combiners coming up the pipeline and developing into hard working, mature young athletes.  I wish I could be around this crew more to train with the up and coming Nordic Combiners from back home.  

That's about all for now.  Thanks to Madshus racing for some new super fast Redline skis and SPORT 2000 Ski Jumping for helping me fly.   And thank you for reading!

And if somehow you're not bored of Nordic Combined (and yours truly), here's more!

“The level of commitment and mental and physical toughness that are required for this sport are attributes that will translate to anything you do in life,” Matt Gantick said. “This is such an incredibly unique experience, and very few people in the world have the opportunity.”  - Steamboat Pilot

Check out this great article starting Alec Gantick from the Steamboat Pilot.  Alec's on the National Training Group and does a great job of telling the real-ness of our lives.  Watch out for him this season.http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2013/dec/08/chasing-olympic-dream-requires-work-ethic-sacrific/

I made a blurb in the Steamboat Magazine here with an honest shoutout to my mother:
http://steamboatmagazine.com/2013/10/30/adam-loomis

And for a silly one.  Here's the latest NBC Olympic viral: