National Champion!

It's been a massive few weeks of travel and competition with some great results that I am really proud of!

On Thursday August 8, I flew home to Sydney for one night, before driving to Thredbo the next day for the Suzuki Australian National Championships. Before flying home, it had already been decided that, due to lack of snow cover, the races in Thredbo would consist of 4 Slalom events - 1 National Junior and 1 National Championship, and 2 Australia/New Zealand Continental Cup races.

However, before these competitions kicked off, I competed in the Thredbo Senior Interclub race on Saturday August 10, representing my ski club, The Ski Club of Australia. In a very tight contest, we were narrowly defeated by our long-term rivals Southern Alps Ski Club. It was a really fun day, and I was delighted to win the individual female race, ahead of Jenny Owens and Toni Hodkinson.

AUS team members at Thredbo Senior Interclub (L to R) Tom Lewis, Toni Hodkinson, Scott Kneller, Sami Kennedy-Sim, Lavinia Chrystal and Jenny Owens

The Suzuki Australian National Championships were scheduled to start on Monday August 12, but due to heavy rainfall, Monday's racing was postponed. Monday night saw temps drop and the rain turn to snow, so Tuesday was all go for the Australian National Junior Slalom Championships. Unfortunately, it was not my day, and I straddled a gate early in the first run. However, there's always a silver lining, and this meant I could dash across to the other side of the mountain to compete in the Ski Club of Australia club championships - something which holds a very special place in my heart.

At the bottom of The Ski Club of Australia club championships

Wednesday's FIS race was postponed due to unfavourable weather, but Thursday August 15 saw Thredbo pull off 2 races in one day! First, we competed in the first race of the Australia/New Zealand Continental Cup. I drew bib 11 and had a fairly ordinary first run. After sitting in 6th place after the first run, I had a stormer of a 2nd run and moved up to 4th position. I was really happy with this run as it was the 2nd fastest time on the second run. This gave me a lot of confidence going into the second race of the day, which was the Suzuki Australian National Championship. This time I had bib 15, and again wasn't especially pleased with my first run. Sitting in 5th place overall (and 3rd of the Aussies), I had another brilliant 2nd run and ended up winning the race outright, and also the national title. The victory was extra special because my parents and many of my friends and supporters from The Ski Club of Australia were there cheering me on.

Thanks to my parents and SCA supporters!

Congratulations to Poland's Katazyna Wasek and Denmark's Charlotte Lemgart who were 2nd and 3rd, and also to Jess Haslau (pictured below) from Australia who was runner-up in the national title.

Congratulations must also go to Mike Rishworth (pictured with me below) for winning the men's national title.

Although this is my 3rd open national slalom title, I would have to say that this one means the most to me. I couldn't have imagined a better return to racing after 18 months off with a serious knee injury. To my parents, loved ones, friends, sponsors and supporters - this one is for you! Click here to read the media release from Ski and Snowboard Australia and click here for a youtube video wrap-up of the National Champs and an interview with me at 1:55mins!

Australian National Slalom Champion 2013

Friday August 16 saw the final day of the series in Thredbo, with the last day of the Australia/New Zealand Continental Cup. I drew bib 1 and had a great first run to be placed 3rd. My second run wasn't so flash, but I was pleased to finish in 4th place, feeling confident I would soon start to put 2 good runs together.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Kosciuszko Thredbo, Thredbo Ski Racing Club and the Race Organising Committee for their hard work and dedication in ensuring these races went ahead.

After Thredbo, I had one night at home before flying back to New Zealand on Sunday August 18 for the next races.

On Tuesday August 20, I competed at Coronet Peak in the Giant Slalom event of the Audi Quattro Winter Games/Australia-New Zealand Continental Cup. It was a very competitive field of World Cup and European Cup teams from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Japan, Norway, United States, Canada and Great Britain to name just a few.

Having fun with friends from the German, Austrian and Japanese Ski Teams at the Audi Quattro Winter Games in Coronet Peak, New Zealand

The temperatures in New Zealand have been warm, which made for soft and bumpy conditions. We even got down to grass on a few gates! Starting from bib 53 was a challenge (especially when my Aussie teammates had bibs 1 and 3), but I had an amazing first run and skied into 17th place. I finally managed to put together 2 good runs, and finished the day in 18th place, scoring a career personal best result in Giant Slalom of 33 FIS points! I was also the top placed Australian/New Zealand competitor, which now places me in the lead for the Aussie/Kiwis of the Australia/New Zealand Continental Cup Giant Slalom standings.

View from the GS start looking over Queenstown, New Zealand

The following day we raced the Slalom race of the Audi Quattro Winter Games/Australia-New Zealand Continental Cup. Given my great results in the ANC slaloms in Thredbo, I was able to start with number 5 in this race. It was another great day at the office, scoring a career personal best in Slalom of 29 FIS points. Again, I finished as the top placed Australian/New Zealand competitor.

Competing in the Slalom at the 2013 Audi Quattro Winter Games/Australia-New Zealand Continental Cup

I'm so proud of these results, and know that I have more work to do, but it's a great indication not only to myself, but also to the Olympic selectors, that I am back at the top of my game!

After these races, I had a few days rest, before getting back into training which consisted of Super G at Cardrona with the Swiss and German European Cup women's teams.

Sunrise at Cardrona for Super G training :)

I'm now in Queenstown for a few days to compete in the New Zealand National Championships. It's one Giant Slalom and one Slalom race and the fields are going to be world class again, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can produce! After that, we will compete in two Slalom races at Treble Cone, before having one last training block ahead of the Australia/New Zealand Continental Cup finals in Mt Hutt in mid September.

It's a busy program over here, but I hope to update again soon.

All my love,

Lav xoxo

New Zealand and back to racing!

I've been over in New Zealand now for about 5 weeks and it has been really great so far. The best start to the season I have seen in years! Just a shame that the resorts back home are struggling..really praying they get some good snowfalls soon.

I spent the first 2 weeks of my season skiing with my regular coach at Cardrona resort in New Zealand's South Island. With perfect early season conditions we were able to get straight into gates, skiing long days of often 2 ski sessions and then a gym session in the late afternoon. Tiring, but after such a long injury I need the mileage! 

Cardrona Alpine Resort, Wanaka, NZ - my training hill for the next few months

It's never easy living in a foreign country, but I have been so lucky to stay with some wonderful families. Thank you to the Andrews family for having mum and I to stay for a few nights at their beautiful resort, Tin Tub Luxury Lodge, in Wanaka. Check out their website here. It is absolutely stunning and Trish is a killer cook!

When mum left, I went to stay with Richard and Di Somerville. They are old friends of my parents, and their son, Will, went to school with my brother when they lived in Sydney. I can't thank them enough for their love and support. They've taken such good care of me and really made me feel like a member of the family. Really going to miss them! They are also die-hard sports fans, so as you can imagine it's been a match made in heaven! They're even sponsoring the 100% pure New Zealand Winter Games through their vineyard Two Degrees

The Somerville's beautiful home on lake Wanaka

View from the Somerville's home looking over the lake across to Treble Cone Resort

After my first training block in Cardrona, I moved over to Queenstown for a 12 day National Team camp at Coronet Peak. It was the first real time we have all trained together as a national team, so it was really great to get to know my fellow team mates. There were 10 of us in total (3 women and 7 men), along with our national team director, and the probable Olympic coach. It was an intense camp - double ski sessions, followed by a gym session every afternoon and only 2 days off - but I made some great improvements in my skiing. All in all, it was a great camp and I look forward to the second camp in late September/October. 

National Team camp in Coronet Peak, Queenstown, NZ - thanks to Anne Barwood for the great photo!

View from the gym in Queenstown - not bad!

Some GS and SL training footage from the team camp in Queenstown.

A massive thanks to Coco Plaskitt for having mum and I to stay with her during the camp in Queenstown. You're a star! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends (especially those from my SCA family). Coco is busy starting up her own new business - a ski and travel site. Check it out here.  

View over Queenstown from the Plaskitt's beautiful holiday home

After the camp in Queenstown, we were initially scheduled to return to Aus to compete at Mt Hotham in the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) series. However, these were unfortunately cancelled this year due to the poor snow conditions at home. This meant that most of our team stayed in New Zealand to compete in the Wanaka Ski Club FIS series. This was actually quite a blessing for me, as it meant I was able to compete in my first comps in 18 months on my home training hill at Cardrona.

Cardrona held 2 GS races and Treble Cone held 2 SL races. The SL races at Treble Cone were first and it was a very tough hill to make my return from injury. The conditions were very steep and icy, and to top things off I had bib number 1! That was pretty nerve-racking! Spending 18 months off is a long time, but I am really happy with how it went. I ended up in 6th place with a score of 52 FIS points on the first day, and unfortunately did not finish on the 2nd day of SL. Then I competed in the 2 days of GS races at Cardrona. Both days of racing I had great first runs but struggled with nerves on the second runs. This aside, I still had some great results, scoring my second best ever FIS points result in GS (35 FIS points). Even though I was disappointed that I dropped from 3rd place to 6th place on the 2nd day, I am happy that there is some good, fast skiing in me and I know I am going to put 2 fast runs together soon! For detailed race results, check out my FIS biography here.

The National Team men had some great results, with a 3rd place to Dominic Demschar on Day 2 of the GS at Cardrona. Awesome Dom! Congrats also to great friends of mine in the women's field - Alex Tilley (1st & 3rd place, GBR), Charley Guest (3rd & 2nd place, GBR), Mandy Dirkzwager (2nd place, NED) and Piera Hudson (2 FIS points PB's, NZL). Super stoked for you guys.

AUS National Team-mate Dom Demschar 3rd place GS Cardrona!

GS race at Cardrona

Happy to be back racing after 18 months out from injury! Thanks to ACE for the great shots!

I'm currently enjoying a much needed 2 days off, before starting a 4 day block of training tomorrow. On thursday I am flying back home for 10 days to compete in the Australian National Championships in Thredbo. Really looking forward to racing in my home mountain of Thredbo again. It's been a while...

I'll be sure to update again after the next race series.

Much love,

Lav xoxo