This does not suck.

It turns out that the U.S. Women’s Olympic Ski Team is here. Training on our mountain. They love this place. Next week, the women leave and the men’s team arrives. Funny – I wonder why they are separated 😉

We’ve already met some really cool people, and there are lot’s of gringos here. All hardcore skiers & boarders. We miss this crowd – it’s been too long. I can even hear myself talking more like a dude each day.

Bode first got on skis when he was 3, and by age 4 he could ride down from the top of Alpine Meadows and we cruised all over Kirkwood. He was one of those little shredders that would piss you off when they went flying past you. After a 2-year break, he’s got some catching up to do. Aside from growing bigger and his muscles and balance changing, he now has to replace some of that fearlessness with actual technique.

He wanted to take a group class, but ended up with his own instructor – Lea, from Austria (Princess Lea) – and they took off. Bode talked a good game, but I’m not sure he completely backed it up on the hill. Still, he rocked it. We spotted him from the lift a few times and it’s pretty amazing to see him so far off and on his own – in the Andes!

We’re really proud of him, but also a little sad to feel like he’s growing up so quickly. It won’t be long before he takes off and is gone all day. I’m no authority, but I think that’s one of the paradox’s of parenting: you’re succeeding when they don’t need you anymore.

Lea was really cool and had nice things to say when they were finished.  And, we made a pseudo-date to ride with her in Innsbruck. We met lots of other cool folks and even the U.S. ski team doctor, from Taos. After each person met Bode, they told us that Bode Miller‘s old coach is here too. We didn’t ask if he was willing to take another one.

If we weren’t so late in the season, maybe we could figure out a way to linger and be ski bums. There’s always next year.