So I am back in Vancouver and have had two days training on the course at Cypress. For a mountain with no snow…they have done a great job! The ski cross course at Cypress is… in a word… big!

Out of the start you have sharp steps cut into the snow followed by two large wu-tangs, when I say large, they are 15 feet! They also have steps cut out of them, making it even more difficult to clear, making the start super important. After these, the course really starts to get busy and fast!

You take a big jump into the first banked turn, and then you follow a long track of big jumps, double rollers, banked corners, step ups, step downs, a triple, a corner jump and finishing with the second last jump that kicks you high into the air, with a long flat section coming into the last jump built from scaffolding and wood, which is 4.5m high, throwing you half way down the landing ramp and into the finishing area. It is a long busy course; some describe it “like doing 60 squats with a heavy weight”.

The men’s event was spectacular today. Michael Schmid from Switzerland being unbeatable, clearing out on the competition, with Andreas Matt of Austria in second and Audun Grønvold of Norway snapping up the bronze after Chris Del Bosco, the Canadian favourite, was thrown high into the air on the second last jump and crashing down on his side. The whole event was just spectacular and truly intense to watch.

We have another day of training tomorrow before the ladies Ski Cross kicks off on the 23rd with qualification 10.30am Vancouver time and the finals starting 1pm. Training has been going really well for me so I hope it all comes together on the 23rd. I am super excited!