Sport through the lens

This skiing season is really crazy due Olympic games, and not even one single World cup race in February 2010. Therefore, most of FIS Alpine skiing World cup races are concentrated on few weeks between middle of December and end of January.

Tenth after first run Nastasia Noens of France skiing in first run of Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau

This also means, we are on road for most of time. My schedule for December and January looks pretty crazy. And that’s how it goes.

17.12.09 – Pokljuka, Slovenia – IBU biathlon World cup
18.-20.12.09 – Rogla, Slovenia – FIS cross country skiing World cup
27.-29.12.09 – Lienz, Austria – FIS women alpine skiing World cup
2.-3.1.10 – Zagreb, Croatia – FIS women alpine skiing World cup
5.-6.1.10 – Zagreb, Croatia – FIS men alpine skiing World cup
8.-10.1.10 – Haus im Ennstal, Austria – FIS women alpine skiing World cup
12.1.10 – Flachau, Austria – FIS women alpine skiing World cup
15.-17.1.10 – Maribor, Slovenia – FIS women alpine skiing World cup
26.1.10 – Schladming, Austria – FIS men alpine skiing World cup
29.-31.1.10 – Kranjska Gora, Slovenia – FIS men alpine skiing World cup

Winner Marlies Schild of Austria celebrates her medal won in Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau, Austria.

Normally this means, next to freezing for hours on hill, also lot of kilometers in car in every condition you can imagine… from perfect almost summer weather, to snow storms, and bunch of people on road, who forget everything about driving, once something white appears next to the road.

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland skiing in second run of Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau

That things would be even nicer, a whole lot of traveling is done in middle of the night. With night races (Zagreb, Flachau and Schladming), you are done around 11pm and then you pack your stuff, sit in car and drive back home (or to next location) in middle of the night, after pretty busy day. So sleep is something I would currently kill for.

Sarah Schleper of USA skiing in first run of Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau

Especially since in day’s I’m home, I’m trying to catch some fun playing ice hockey. And normally our hockey times are around 10pm and then you add at least 2 hours, and you get time I get to bed :)

Ninth after first run Therese Borssen of Sweden skiing in first run of Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau

But at least next week I’m on holidays, skiing somewhere in Austria, so I hope I can get a bit more sleep :) And a lot more of skiing, then I normally do, when I’m covering skiing races. Yes, you wouldn’t believe, but normally I spend quite some time on skis, but that’s not really skiing. But more about this later, when there will be more time :)

Sixth after first run Tanja Poutiainen of Finland on start in first run of Women slalom race of Audi FIS alpine skiing World Cup in Flachau

Until then, keep checking our on-line archive, where you can see latest photos.