Olympic Hopeful Announcement

 Sent out early Winter 

Hello my dear active and snow-loving friends.

Wishing there was more time in the day to play and visit with you all.  Even though it may have been months, or even a year or two, I think of each and all of you. May you have a joyous and reflective time as we near the end of 2024.

In 2025 I have some big goals and plans as far as ski mountaineering racing ''skimo'' goes. As hard as it is to write and say it out loud, for fear of the unknown, rejection and mostly: The 'I'm a 380yr-old-with-two-kids-husband-and full-time-job-imposter syndrome, here it goes:

           "I AM AIMING TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS.''  What does this mean?

Well, I have to attend at least two World Cups this next season 24-25. 

• Finish within 90% of the field in both races, which for better or worse, are in the SPRINT discipline. 3 1/2 min as fast as you can go through basically an obstacle course. No aesthetic ridges or steep couloirs. Made for TV, under lights or ski lifts.  Think Sport Climbing in the Summer Games. 
• Or finish 80% in one race
• Then, be the fastest and most consistent Australian female and be selected by the SnowAus Skimo Board - which I helped start but will abstain from voting on.
• PLUS, stay fit and healthy for the 2025 Winter Olympics in Italy, Feb.

So, as someone in Colorado once said "So, you're saying there's a chance?" - Lloyd, Dumb and Dumber. It's far out there, shooting for the moon-type-thing, but I ask, ''if not me, who?- That's actually what Tim says . I have been working at this sport for almost 20years. The Olympics did not include skimo till now. Better late (for me) than never.  If there is a 25-yr old teammate who is dedicated and young, and well prettier and faster, that's okay. I will feel like I have helped mentor them and we have pushed each other to this mutual goal. I will happily step aside, perhaps coach, and go ski BIG lines and tours for hours.

Overall I see my role in this current stage of the sport as an advocate and ambassador. I speak up for the smaller, developing ski-nations.  For the 'Snow-refugees,' the under-dogs.  I work for equal coverage for women and a place at the table. I am learning a lot!

Thank you for your belief in me, as an athlete and a person.  No matter what happens, I am enjoying the journey.  If I were more social-media inclined, I would say follow me on Instagram. (If anyone wants to offer that skill set, send me a note :).  Alas, I will likely stick to the email list for updates. If you are not wanting those, please let me know. No hard feelings. I get it, we get SO much email every day.  And you probably don't need to read any further.

On that note, I am shamelessly blasting you all with a flyer for new AT equipment. Think of it as a ''Get me and my family'' to Italy fund.   If you know of someone who would be interested, you can just forward on the PDF and the below sentence, vs sending along the more personal message from above.   Please.

PS. I am not putting the gear up on Social Media on purpose. I have a WONDERFUL relationship with Fischer skis. I ordered and paid for the wrong gear and they have permissed me to sell it discreetly vs paying to send it back. 

Thank you all; lots of love and think SNOW and SPEED

xoxo Love to you and yours

Kate