All I can say is, it is soooooo nice to be back in California. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, and Mother Nature is giving us beautiful spring in this part of the world. After a season of the insane world that the World Cup is, there is no better place to go home to than Mammoth! After returning from Nationals, I made a surprise appearance at a race for 9-12 year-olds to see all the up-and-comers, and cheer on my home squad of Mammoth Ski Team who brought a huge posse of little rippers. It was really cool to see the enthusiasm they brought as well as some good skiing! Then a few days later, I participated in the Celebrity Ski and Wine Fest for the 49ers Foundation. This was the second year I participated in this event in Squaw Valley, California, and there will be many more visits in the years to come. I had so much fun skiing with some of the supporters of this great charity, and having a ‘Celebrity Dual Race’ in which my team was definitely the best looking and close to being the fastest. Just a little more training and I think we will win next year! There was one 10-year-old girl I worked with who had the fastest improvement curve of anyone I had ever seen. She went from snowplowing in the morning to taking on black diamonds and trails in the trees by the afternoon. Most of my life is spent being coached, so to have the chance to coach someone else and see that kind of improvement was really satisfying and rewarding.

And now the best part. After taking part in the 49er Foundation’s event, I headed back down to Mammoth to take part in some season ending races. The races were in every event, and to keep a long story short, I won two of the races and one was a slalom. I know, I know, you think I am kidding (for those who don’t know alpine skiing that well, it would be like a long-distance runner winning a sprint) but I actually did win, and there were 120 people and some nationally ranked slalom skiers in the race. Granted, I did have a home hill advantage, but I don’t ever remember winning a slalom race in the past, and I will keep that one in the memory bank. I was just out skiing to have a good time and go fast with no pressure, and it seemed to work. I will try to remember that approach for next year.

Hope you are enjoying the spring as much as I am, and I am still hoping for one more good snowfall to have a powder day. That would be the ultimate end to the year!

STACEY COOK is an elite member of the U.S. Ski Team’s alpine skiing program. She competed in the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy and was a member of the 2007 World Championships Team... {more»}