Hello! This is Hannah Rudd, checking in from Toblach, Italy as we wrap up our OPA Pre-Camp! After finishing the American Birkebeiner last weekend, we jumped on a plane and flew over to Europe, where we met up with a handful of other athletes coming from World Juniors and World Cup competitions.
After a long 13-hour sleep, we arose from the dead and went out skiing on the Nordic trails right across the street from our hotel. The trail system here is quite amazing and is also home to the Toblach World Cup.
On our third day in Italy, we were able to do a point-to-point ski, starting in Cortina (the site of the next winter Olympics) and ending in Toblach. This 30-kilometer ski was filled with endless scenic overviews, tunnels through the Dolomites, cappuccino/strudel cabins, and so much sunshine. This ski was definitely one of my highlights of the trip so far.
Other highlights from the trip have included exploring the town during our afternoon jogs, getting to know the team better during our long, multiple course Italian meals, doing intervals on the World Cup course, soaking up the sun on our hotel balconies, exploring beautiful churches and castles, and of course, all the amazing baked goods.
Next up, we will by driving to Sappada Italy, where the OPA Finals races will be held this weekend. The women will be competing in a 10k skate mass start and a 10k classic individual start. The men will be doing a 15k skate and a 15k classic. The group is excited for the races to get underway and will have another update shortly!
Chao,
Hannah
Thanks for the update Hannah. Best of luck to all of you this weekend!