She’s gunning for a top-30 finish in the GS.
“I feel I can hang with just about anybody,’’ she said. “I’m going to go for it, get some confidence, and take it from there.’’
US Women’s coach Jim Tracy told Ski Racing magazine Smith was second in a time trial last week.
“She’s worked really hard. We’ve talked a lot about how she could correct some of the technical issues she was having when she started skiing again. She’s been training well. The key will be to maintain that work ethic and philosophy when it counts,’’ he said.
After Aspen, Smith has her sights set on Lake Louise, where she can showcase her speed.
“I worked hard on this knee,’’ she said. “I want to show people what I can do.’’
Then there’s going after a slot for the Vancouver Olympics.
“I feel pretty good about it,’’ she said. “I just have to perform, execute my plans, and plug away every day.’’
Rising again
The landscape at the base of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is earmarked for change. The fifth reincarnation of the Glen House hotel, first completed in 1852, is scheduled to open with cross-country ski in/ski out access in June 2011 along the Great Glen Trails ski touring network in Pinkham Notch. Original plans called for placing the 80-room hotel on the hill north of the existing Auto Road Lodge. No more. Construction is now slated across Route 16 for the site of the original Great Glen Trails Lodge consumed by fire in March 2001.
“This change will greatly improve our ski in/ski out and bike in/bike out access for the hotel and allows us to better mesh the new hotel with our existing programs,’’ said spokesman Ryan Triffitt.
Designer helmets
While Lindsey Vonn competes in this weekend’s World Cup fans can imagine what it would be like to see their artwork on the world champ’s helmet during the upcoming Olympics.
Through Dec. 21, aspiring graphic designers and artists at least 13 years old can enter their original creations through NBCOlympics.com in the “Design Lindsey’s Helmet’’ contest.
