Merry Christmas from The Ski Traveler

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us”
- A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

As I look back on year 2009, I'll remember a year that wasn't kind to me. The loss of a father, the end of a 37 year marriage, a loss of a job and now, facing the future alone is not something I look forward to. The prospect is daunting, the heartbreak is real and the missed opportunities are many. At the same time, I know I will remember many more of the good things that happened to me then the bad and take what is good and hold on to it. Two wonderful sons, their wives, a new baby grand-daughter, a caring brother, my health and all my good friends and acquaintances who are most thoughtful, kind and compassionate. Without their kindness and encouragement, I wouldn't be looking forward to 2010 as I am today. I thank them all, for it is their Christmas Spirit that has helped me and sustain me. I owe them all so much.

Merry Christmas to each and everyone.

P.S. - I do have a "Bucket List" of sorts. It started out to be just things in skiing that I wanted to write about but it now is a goal to not only to write about it but just do it.

Here is my 2010 News Years list:

1. The Lauberhorn Wengen, Switzerland (just to ski the course, not race)

2. The Hahnenkamm Kitzbuehl, Austria - (The place to be In Austria. The experience of being there)

3. L’Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix France - The legendary skiing area.

4. Sela Ronde, Italy - (This is fun and a challenge too)

5. Cortina D' Ampezzo (Every time I see the "Pink Panther", I enjoy watching David Niven skiing the beautiful Dolomite's.

6. HIgh Rustler Alta, Utah ( I'll check it out)

7. Inferno Race Murren, Switzerland The oldest ski race in the world. I could enter this

8. Palisades Squaw Valley, CA -- Huck a cliff with the "Kick Ass- Blasters"

9. Corbet’s Couloir Jackson Hole, Wyoming -Ski an elevator shaft? I don't know about this.

10.The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt - This is a challenge and a dream

Andrew Weibrecht from Lake Placid, NY places 11th in Beaver Creek

December 5- The "War Horse" was on the hunt again today on the ' "Birds of Prey" downhill course in Beaver Creek, CO. Andrew Weibrecht, racing against the worlds best, placed 11th on the fabled downhill course. His run was rock solid from start to finish and showed confidence in every turn. He is a fan favorite at Vail and every time he steps into the starting gate everyone watches knowing that he can be a spoiler. Even the press stuck around this time.

He was the only American yesterday to survive the combined race (downhill and slalom) placing 19th overall. He had a 5th in the downhill portion. Ted Ligety straddled a gate and Bode Miller fell. Only Andrew survived the day.

Last weekend in Lake Louise, Andrew started 62nd and roared to a 12th place finish. His run was spectacular on an icy and rutted course gaining the respect and applause of Switzerland's Didier Cuche, the eventual winner in the first downhill event of the 2009-2010 World Cup ski season and admiration from the Lake Louise ski race fans. Reporters had all ready filed their stories thinking that all the best racers had tested the course. They missed one of the best downhill runs of the day. The icy course was rutted and frequent snow squalls made visibility poor for all racers. Many of the top racers had great difficulty with the downhill course including Andrew's friend and fellow racer TJ Lanning who was severely injured and had to be evacuated by helicopter from the slope. Starting late in 62nd position is a daunting prospect for any racer. Andrew had even bested Cuche's time in one interval but finished at more than a second off Cuche's pace. Didier recognized the superb run of Andrew Weibrecht with enthusiastic applause. Andrew also scored a 12th the following day in Lake Louise in the Super G. A pretty good weekend for the 23 year-old from Lake Placid, NY.

This is not the first time Andrew has electrified the spectators and the ski racing world. His run 2 years ago on the "Birds of Prey" downhill in Beaver Creek, CO (See video) got Franz Klammer's attention. Yes, the great Klammer compared Andrews' run with one of his own spectacular downhill races.

There are many difficult races to come before the official Olympic ski team selection in January including the famed Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland and the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel, Austria. His coaches and teammates are enthusiatic about Weibrecht's steady improvement over the last few years. He definitely has the "right stuff" and is one to watch. He's fighting for one of 4 spots for the Olympic downhill team and so far, he has had an exceptional season. But, he has some stiff competition from Bode Miller, Marco Sullivan, Steven Nyman, Scott McCartney and Erik Fisher.

Late last March at Whiteface Mountain, Andrew Weibrecht and friends were soaking up the sun at the mid-station lodge. What better way to relax after traveling the world skiing on some of the world's most celebrated and dangerous downhill courses. His love of the sport is evident with sharing skiing, sun and friends on a fantastic spring skiing day in the Adirondacks. Here is where Andrew grew up and started his racing career at Whiteface Mountain under the coaching of the NYSEF staff (NY State Ski Education Foundation). His family owns and operates the prestigious Mirror Lake Inn in the heart of Lake Placid.
Keep an eye on Andrew Weibrecht from Lake Placid, NY. He has the "right stuff"

Today's downhill race results from Beaver Creek, CO
1.) Carlo Janka (SUI)
2). Didier Cuche (SUI)
3.) Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR)
4.) Bode Miller (USA)

Bio: Making Team USA: Meet Andrew Wiebercht