5 days before heading to Aspen for X Games I found out I was nominated in the "Best Line" category for the Powder Video Awards.  That was an honor itself to be in there with skiers Seth Morrison, Sean Pettit, Mike Tierney and Ian McIintosh.  Last April I nailed the best line I've skied in AK on a perfect day.  It had the fire power and lots of elements that excite me.  The snow was flowing over my shoulders and sloughing like you dream about.  With a quick stall on the top of the spine to line up my double pillow to air I fought hard to stay over my feet on a drop that kept dropping.  Thanks to MSP, Red Bull, Atomic, Spyder and Oakley for making it all possible.  A big shout out to Dustin Lindgren for pointing it out and thanks to Henrik Windstedt for loosing the RPC on the third round.  To score line of the year is one of my biggest accomplishments in skiing.  Thanks to all of you who voted!

 a pic click will take you to the story

One week from today this is what unfortunately went down at X Games.  


or click on pic

I lost control and wham...my day was over in the first round.  Bummer that I got got taken away in the meat wagon, but I was really upset I didn't get more runs on this track.  It was the best ski cross build I've been on.  Thanks to SPT or Snow Park Technologies.  On Thursday our first day of training I got in 5 runs.  I was having too much fun on this 1 min 30sec track.  In my first heat Napa and Willi had my Atomics rolling and in the side draft of Davey Barr I missed the timing of this first double in the six pack. I out flew the first double and landed smack into the face of the next  catching an edge.  That sent me out of control and banging off the top of the next 3 rollers.  On the ground face down I knew I had a dislocated hip..those don't feel good.  This was #4 and the last one being 2002.  So far 7 days of rehab,  1 pool session and 3 rounds of PRP injections into my hip.  Today is my first day taking steps without crutches.  It hurts only when I move and is coming around pretty quick.  The last recovery time for me in 2002 took 2 months to get back on snow.  I'm trying to recover from this in under 3 weeks for the Olympic Ski Cross Feb 21.  Thanks to Dr Orr, Dr Banner, Dr Phillipon, Orr's Assistant James, my physical therapist Ladd Williams, my sponsors, my family and friends for helping out in every way to get me back on skis.  Michelle is my number one helper and taking care of three kids now.  I'm optimistic that I'll be ready to go for Vancouver.  I will skip Opening Ceremonies to continue my recovery.

click on this pic to see the view from the chair here at X.

click here for some pov action on XGames Skier X practice

Aspen, CO Winter X Games 14.  I'm back for Skier X. Just cruised around last night to check out the quiet time before it kicks off today. 

Last time I saw Peter was at Mammoth Motocross.  He's here to help Red Bull Photofiles photog pro Christian Pondella.

Congrats to Jimmy Greenleaf (check his profile) on winning the Snow vs Dirt Best Wreck Contest and representing skiers across the country with his sick front flip, pre-yardsale pic.



For his efforts, Jimmy is now the proud owner of a Giro Remedy Helmet.

Thanks to everyone for uploading your photos - more to come soon!

- D

 
Nature Valley World Cup Ski Cross Jan 24^th, 2010 Lake Placid, NY. 

This was the first track I’ve seen on the world cup that really excited me.  Stacked with terrain it was more motocross style than a glorified alpine GS course with a few pro jumps.  The one who deserves credit is Rob from South Lake Tahoe, CA.  The USSA hired builder/owner of “On Course Events”  for his experience in the dirt and snow.  He’s built motocross, supercross and FMX tracks for the best riders in the biz.  One of them being Ricky Carmichael, The GOAT.  If RC had him build a track and he lives in the snow riding mountains in the winter then Rob has the skills to build a legit ski cross. That’s just what he produced.  A challenging, technical track with speed.  He had a roller into a kicker right out of the gate, 6 pump rollers to build speed into a double with a cranking bank to the right, drop off into a left bank turn with rolling terrain into an exit double. 

There was not a moment you weren’t moving over terrain or assessing what you’re about to do next .  50 secs of action. The straight section kept it rolling with a step down double to single roller to a step up and then 4 rollers into a dragons back feature.  It put us to the test.  There were multiple options skiing this section.  It took me 3 runs of casing and messing up to dial in a run that felt good and kept my speed up.  It reminds me of a pump track or skate park where you get speed from the terrain.  The more technical and difficult the better.  If you make the smallest mistake.  you loose speed.  If you nail it, you build speed and that provides opportunities for passing. If it’s easy then the race against 3 others head to head becomes a boring single file line. 

In typical fashion there was a bunch of criticism from the European teams.  They said it was too difficult and it was a course that would “take out their Olympians”.   Lots of crying.  So the FIS stepped in and had Rob change 5 features after qualifying before the competition day.  He felt his work in judging the speed and manicuring a pro level track for our excitement and a great show for TV and spectators was a waste.  He wanted to be in the meeting to listen to the concerns, give his reasons why he built terrain like that and how these changes would affect the rest of the flow and safety of the track.  FIS said “you can attend the meeting, but not say a word”  So in respect, but to raise a finger he showed up at the meeting with tape over his mouth.  Ha,ha,ha.  This sort of freaked out the euros.   Ha,ha,ha.  Who is this guy Hannibal Lechter?  They still complained and got their way.  Now the track had to be altered to suit the lowest level of ability.  Rob did a great job messing up his masterpiece as he called it.  He managed to make it easier, but kept the speed up and still fun. 

To the comp.  I had three great heats to the final.  The most exciting one was the semi where I put on a pass that took me from 3^rd to the lead.  Then in the final I blew the first kicker and was back in 4^th.  I worked it right up on the tails of the guy in 3^rd going into the first turn, but then got pinched out by the fence.  He rode me wide and the soft loose snow came off his skis and hit me in the shins like someone threw a rug  at me.  Instant speed loss when my outside ski  pushed away and I went to my hand.  From there it was game over.  I pulled up on 3^rd too late to take a run at him and then made one last mistake that could have put me on the podium.  The game of keeping my wits and executing the right tactics didn’t happen.  Easy to look back and think it through, but tougher at speed looking for that last chance.  We get one run and there’s not much time to set up a pass if you’re in the pack.  Patience and confidence is key.  So I aired it out too far off the hip roller and lost that last chance.  It was a fun day, but not like a win.  TV air date for this event is Saturday Jan 30^th on NBC and again on Versus 5pm on 2/14/10.

More action to see so check it out!

I'm very honored to be nominated for the "Best Line of the year" at the 10th Anniversary Powder Reader and Video Awards.  The PVA's will be in Aspen during XGames Saturday Jan 30th.  This was my run of the year in Haines, AK filming with MSP for their film "In Deep".  Take a look at my MSP In Deep re-edit.  Just click on my blog 2 down to see this run I'm nominated for from a POV perspective.  It was a perfect day.  Deep AK blower pow sloughing like mad and totally stable.  I lost sight a few seconds on this run and decided to name it White Out.
Take a look at all the nominated athletes and films by clicking on pic below.
Thanks for your support. Daron

This is what happens in Tahoe when we get 8 hrs of snow fall.  There wasn't much on the ground or in the trees to start the day.  So far 18 inches for the starter storm of the week has arrived.  Puking, dumping, pounding you can call it any of these.  I've shoveled the entry way a few times already this afternoon and loving every scoop.  Michelle and her mom went into town so they wouldn't get stuck on our road tonight to the hospital.  Our nanny or Michelle's sister Carol and Martine are expecting their baby boy.  Looks like ealry tomorrow morning Baby Skylar will arrive to a happy and loving family and lots of Tahoe pow.