Day 7:  A day to explore the trails!

Today was the first training and exploring day for most of the team on the trails of Yllas! We woke up and first thing headed out to the cross country race trails at the Yllas downhill ski resort. After looking around a bit and flying down a pretty speedy and long downhill, Nick reasoned that our race was most likely in the other direction (the course wasn’t marked), and that the killer downhill was in fact an almost 3k uphill. We got pretty pumped! After finishing what we thought would most likely be the course, which had some sweet and not too technical downhills as well as the the major uphill, we headed out on the trails to meet up with Erica, Jenny, and my mom Sue, at a nice little trailside café. We enjoyed some Finnish pancakes and hot cocoa at the fire pit outside. It was a busy place, where some professionals had set up some benches and were reapplying kick wax to those who please, for pay. We decided we would think of setting one of those café’s and waxing benches up at the bottom of white bear. After a nice break, we headed back to the apartment via the ski trails, which brought us right back home. The trails were very busy the entire time, but not too overcrowded. It was really exciting to see the great combination of younger and older people alike enjoying the amazing trails and great weather! Everyone here seems to naturally know how to ski!             

After a longer afternoon break, which some of us used as homework time, we went out for a short afternoon ski, starting fright off from our apartment. It was snowing and less crowded, making for a pleasant ski! As we puttered along, Neill found a connection with his spirit animal, the Reindeer, and went prancing through the woods near the trail in a perfect imitation. We had the luck to catch this rare Neill Reindeer on camera! It was pretty much the highlight of the ski. Since we were all pretty tired, we headed back relatively soon. But it was a nice ski nonetheless.

Instead of skiing with us, Mikayla and Erica decided to hit the Finnish slopes at the resort near the race trails from the morning. It was after long deliberation, but they chose to take advantage of the foreign ski experience. Because the rest of the group didn’t downhill ski, nick treated us to some sparking! (It was a sort of bribe, which Mikayla didn’t fall for). Sparking, is just using a fin sled, which is like a dog sled, to kick and glide along with or without a passenger. Since it is very popular here in Europe, and it was difficult to find two to rent, which were available at the adults hotel. We got to ride them to dinner from our apartment! It was really exciting! Down the icy driveway, Claire and I picked up speed, and went side- ways into the snow bank more than once. It was very worth the risk! After arriving at the pizza place for dinner, where we all got different European pizzas (which are very different than American pizza, but very delicious), Mikayla and Erica met up with us. We were all very stuffed after, and took advantage of the sparking to work off the dinner, while making sure not to over exert ourselves and risk it all coming back up! Then, when playtime was done, we settled down after a long day with some yoga thanks to Erica. It was a peaceful way to end an exciting and busy day! Now off to bed to rest up for another exciting day tomorrow!

-Eliza

Quote of the day: “Nick, talk in an American accent.”  …   “Howdy Partner!”