Going Over the Brink Twice

I'd heard about it, something like it's a "vertical ice skating rink." Well today I got to ski "the brink," twice and skiing is a misnomer. Even for someone as physically gutsy as I am with years on skis it was a definite challenge. It's more like a survival slide slip trying for all you're worth to keep your edges in so you don't slip, start the "slide for life" and take out the army of volunteers below. Crossing " The Brink" is how we exit the crew shed  area and start of the the most notorious section of the Birds of Prey World Cup Course at Beaver Creek. Once was enough for another lady assigned to our team. She requested a different assignment that didn't include skiing over "the brink" and down the course 2 or 3 times a day.  I have tell you there's not a lot of girls out working on the race course crew. There are constant reminders to "look up" because the danger of a piece of equipment or person coming loose from above us could pose.  Take a look at the stats and the contours lines of this course map: Birds of Prey Course Map

Today was my second day working to prep a race course that will later this week host the top ski racing men from around the world for Downhill, Super G and GS on the World Cup circuit.  In the past 2 weeks shelters have been built, miles of safety fencing and padding installed, race gates drilled in, tons of snow moved mechanically and by hand, and millions of gallons of water sprayed to turn the course into the icy slope the racers will expect.  I was in a crew today that was hauling, inflating and installing giant blow up crash pads at the bases of fixed objects like TV scaffolds in case a racer loses control.

We aren't allowed to "ski" the course, it would mess it up. Anytime we're moving through the 1 1/2 mile course we side slip or snow plow to help move the snow off and polish the course down a smooth slick surface. Yea, just the opposite of all that powder I wrote about enjoying last week.  Even though I  considered myself  a pretty hot shot NASTAR racer, earning a number a one national ranking in my age group not TOO many years back what I was racing on was child's play, maybe even nursery school compared to this World Cup stuff. Frankly I don't think I'd even want to point my skis down the fall line on this baby for long.

So I am part of "Talon Crew" for both this stop on the World Cup and the two week long 2015 World Championships coming here in February.  Pretty much everyone around this valley knows what Talon Crew is. Not just because we sport some pretty spiffy jackets but for the reputation of spending massive amounts of gritty volunteer hours in all kinds of weather up at 10,000-11,000  feet on vertical ice building a world class competition venue. I think there are a lot of  "former" Talon Crew members, on the other hand, there many that return from the around the country year after year.

There have already been injuries, including a dislocated shoulder by a very experienced leader who hit a winch cat cable. Given the danger of a winch cat cable, I'd say he got off easy.  I've watched others lose their edge on the skis and go sliding a good distance. What's the reward for the risk? Camaraderie that bonds through challenge and adversity. Making friends with great skiers from around the country.  Satisfaction of facing your fears and pushing the envelope a little further into the unknown. Being part of a cool "club." Today, it was skiing down (not on the icy race course) a deserted mountain with teammates watching the early evening alpenglow across the mountain tops and then heading into a tent just for us to check in to let them know we safely off the mountain and being handed enjoy a local brew to rehash the day.

I decided $32 for a super sharp race tune on my skis was going to be cheaper than my insurance deductible so I finished my beer and headed off to the local ski shop to drop my skis off so they'd be ready to hold an edge and go over the brink on Wednesday.

You can tune in on NBC:

Dec 5 Friday’s Downhill will air in Primetime, 10:30pm EST, NBCSN

Dec 6 Saturday’s Super G will air at 5pm EST, NBC

Dec 7 Sunday’s GS will air at 5pm EST, NBC


Westfall Road Crew for 12/1/2014. Westfall Rd. denotes a place on the course our crew is stationed during racing. We're just one of many crews.

At Golden Eagle Jump ( Course Map)  looking down into the stadium.



Lower section of the course looking into the finish stadium I sat in that stadium last year and watch local  Mikaela Shiffrin get her first World Cup GS podium.



Korea will host the 2018 Olympics so this Jay is a "spy" who will be spending the next 3 months here to learn how to build a world class ski race venue.
 

Looking up a steep section of the course. Don't remember what section this is.
 

Looking down a not so gnarly section of the course.

Easy top section of the course near the start. Notice we're snowplowing to push the snow off the course and polish it down smoother.
 



Last week I was helping outfit the Tough Shed.. This is a vinyl structure at 11,000 feet near the start area that acts as "race headquarters. It didn't have heat last week on a really cold day but it does now.



The Tough Shed after we got carpet down last week.



The tough shed at lunch time today. Where we might be lucky enough to go for lunch and some hot soup. Other days we will eat at our station on the race course.

A view outside the 11,000 ft elev. Tough Shed last week when the crews were thin, the weather was brutal and work was just starting.



 Outside the Tough Shed today with full crews prepping the course and Men's Downhill Training Runs starting tomorrow.



Morning briefing at a restaurant halfway up the mountain. Coffee, donuts, directions and safety reminders before we "saddle up."