With a high of 65 and a low of about 45 it makes for some rough ice conditions. Sliding was cancelled today because of that. The track has been really bumpy due to the warm weather and the rain that puddles up and freezes on the track. We should be back and going again tomorrow for more training bright and early.
We are still on schedule for the races on Monday and Tuesday. There will be a way to view them online I will keep you posted as that time nears this weekend.
This is Noelle at the start before a training run with her new helmet this year.
You can't tell me this isn't an amazing view from the top of the track!
These are the same trains from last year. We have some older and wiser conductors this year and they are still having a ball doing there job. The Peters have been amazing hosts taking care of us and making room for us in there home.
This view belongs to the Peters. It is about 100 yards out their back door and is pretty darn amazing. Cameras never can capture how awesome the colors really are.
Igls or Eagles? We say it the same. Noelle has always done well here on this track. It was her 2nd Gold medal back in the 2004/2005 World Cup season and now with her newly found push we were pulling for a good finish. She did very well and we were really pleased with her Silver Medal finish!
Triple Trophy
The FIBT initiated the Triple Trophy, starting this year, with a prize of $100k in Euros to the slider/sliders that win Gold in 3 tracks: Konigssee, Igls and Sochi. Although money has never been the reason Noelle has competed, it somehow seemed to subconsciously add a little pressure. $100k would have been nice, but with that pressure now gone, she will be able to compete in the next 2 races without the unnecessary pressure of having to win.
I will keep the blog up to date this week. If you sign up for "Follow by email" on the blog you will be notified as soon as I update the blog with the changes and other important info.
Here is the update for the next 1-1/2 weeks for World Championships in St. Moritz.
World Championships Women's Skeleton
Thursday, January 31st and Friday, February 1st
I will update the blog with further info toward the end of this week with times and links.
Here are some pics of our week in Igls, Austria:
Noelle Pikus Pace doing a little celebration slide down the hill with her trophy!
The kids on World Cup race day at the track.
Lacee was making snow angels just about anywhere there was snow; from parking lots to hillsides and here at the bottom of the track.
Noelle after her first run. She finished run 1 in 2nd place behind russia.
Noelle and the 2 Russians who placed 1st and 3rd.
Here is our little slider. She loves putting on mommies suit and gear and racing down the hill. She took first here as we were cheering her on! :)
Noelle Pikus Pace holding her 2nd place trophy at the awards ceremony which took place about 4 hours after the race. They didn't give any medals here only the trophy.
Here we are after awards. The kids love playing in the snow. It is extremely nice when it is cold enough for them to play in the snow without it melting all over them. This is the 1st race where it has been cold enough for the snow not to melt everywhere.
Noelle and the kids getting ready to take their victory slide down the hill at the awards ceremony.
Once again, our little champion all suited up ready to compete!
We're still alive!! Sorry for the long delay in updating the blog, I will make sure to keep you all informed more frequently. There was a slight change to our plans for the La Plagne race. We were told that another athlete would be coming out to race to try and earn points for a 3rd spot in World Championships at the end of January. It was definitely difficult for Noelle to go there and forerun knowing she would not be racing. She was sliding very well there, but she at least got some experience there for the World Cup race next year. I learned that there are some of you who woke up earlier in the morning to watch the race and did not know that Noelle had been replaced. I am sorry for that, I didn't realize that there were more than a few "Die Hard Fans". That was her first time down that track. It was very bumpy and painful on the neck and head.
Enjoy the pics below of our journey from Winterberg, Germany through La Plagne, France.
We found a Burger King along our drive just before leaving Germany.
We were able to stop in Bern, Switzerland and stop outside the temple. It was really pretty with all of the snow. It was a 30 min detour to stop by on our 10 hour drive to France. Because of the long drive we were unable to find a church, so it worked out perfect that we were at least able to find the Temple. (FYI, Switzerland charges about $50 just to drive your car in their country, it is good for 1 year though).
Bern, Switzerland Temple.
This was the amazing view from our room in La Plagne.
The kids found something to do. They don't stop! Traycen is on a mission to destroy everything. He'll just walk around pulling things down and making sure he leaves his trail.
This is Noelle at the start of the La Plagne track, with her coach Tuffy filming her push.
The kids found this little ramp right next to the track that kept them busy sliding, throwing snowballs and making mini snowmen.
There are many hotels in La Plagne, probably one of the most insane villages I have seen. It is all crowded up in the top of the alps, how they built everything up there, amazes me. We had all of our meals covered in the hotel restaurant. The kids definitely were dined on the best they will ever get. This is a pic of a fancy desert after lunch.
Another picture of us at dinner with some of the team in the background. Lacee and Traycen entertained everyone. Traycen would only eat the inside of the bread out. The outside was a little tough so he hollowed about 15 pieces each meal.
For some reason Lacee likes playing "jail and dungeons". They were locked up temporarily.
We stopped into a neat old town "Moutiers" which was about 30 minutes away.
It is really late or really early right now (1 a.m.). We had the 2nd ICC race tonight where Noelle had the 2 fastest runs and WON it!!! Wahoo!! A good way to end our 2 week stay here in Whistler, Canada. We will hit the road tomorrow morning for Winterberg, Germany where Noelle will compete in her 2nd World Cup race next week. Stay tuned to the blog and I will keep it updated with her schedule and race times. Just a heads up though, these races in Europe will most likely be at the weee hours of the morning. I know there might be a few die hards out there, so if you're one of them, the races might be broadcast live on youtube or the ipad app.
Thanks for all the prayers, thoughts and support we couldn't do this without you all! Here are some highlights from the last couple of days.
Noelle made a top 25 list we just heard about today:
He was a handful, so I had to stuff him in the stroller!
Us in front of the Whistler start house.
You can't ever run out of toys- just find a pillow bag and walah!
Tired, plus really cold, plus really wet, plus a delay on the track, plus really hungry =, this.
Noelle pushing on her 2nd run on the 2nd ICC race.
Awards on the first night where Noelle placed 2nd.
Day 2, rain stopped and snow started! Lacee found a natural elephant to ride.
We made a mini snowman, and yes he has an apple for a mouth and a banana peel for a hat.
Race 2, Noelle placed 1st and claimed the Gold in style!
Team USA on ICC in Whistler.
Either the kids found the podium or Noelle and I shrunk!
Can you see 4 people in the picture? Once you find the 4th, go watch "The Nightmare Before Christmas and tell me who it is. (Not planned, somehow Traycen uncovered the beast!)
For those interested in watching Noelle's first World Cup race this year in Whistler, BC you can tune into Universal Sports channel or on the IPAD App. Her race will be this Friday, Nov. 23 at 10:00 & 11:30 a.m.
402 for DISH Network
625 Direct TV
Live+ App for IPAD & IPOD only (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/live+/id472736696?mt=8)
If you do not have one of these options you can try www.universalsports.com and search for skelton, or
You can watch the times populate live on www.FIBT.com (no video coverage, times only)
Thank you all for your support. This will be an exciting week to see how Noelle will compete against the best in the World.
