Big Air Chronicles IV - Coming Back Home to PC

By Emily Cook

Photo by Don Cook

After all of the excitement of my first podium of the season in Lake Placid, NY, heading to Mont Gabriel, Quebec was a bit of a let down. Temperatures were well below zero and the site wasn't my favorite, but that is something that we have to deal with sometimes and I was determined to get over it and still compete my best. Unfortunately, I had some trouble getting used to the new jumps and by comp day was still a bit off, and found it difficult to get up to speed on my new trick. I touched a hand down on the landing of my first jump and missed landing well on my second jump, finishing in a disappointing 11th place. Thankfully, though not psyched, I rebounded quickly. There were many injuries in Mont Gabriel. A surprising five women were scratched from competition with concussions, broken ribs and injured knees, and in the men's competition a friend and fellow competitor crashed hard and had to be back boarded off the course.

At the end of the day, all of the athletes will heal, but I feel especially thankful to walk away healthy with the chance to get ready for my favorite event of the season in Park City, Utah next week, the Visa Freestyle International. We compete on Friday at Deer Valley and I love more than anything to have the hometown crowd there to cheer my teammates and me on! Hope to see you there.

Aerial Day Schedule:

January 30, 2009: Aerial Competition, Deer Valley Resort

1:00-1:50 Ladies Aerial Qualification
3:45-4:45 Men's Aerial Qualification

6:10pm Aerial Finalist Showcase

6:30pm Ladies' Aerial Finals (top 12)
7:00pm Men's Aerial Finals (top 12)

7:45pm Awards immediately following competition
8:00pm Fireworks

See www.deervalley.com for more information on the event.

Olympian, World Cup winner and U.S. Champion, Emily Cook was born in Massachusetts where she first started skiing and became hooked on freestyle aerials. She has been on the U.S. Ski Team for 12 years and has lived in Park City, UT since 1999. Cook is often found training at the Utah Olympic Park.

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