By Amarat Sandhu

Welcome to the start line... poles are planted firmly in snow, butterflies in stomach; you're in an intense position ready to bolt out in a matter of seconds. Then, bang your out, make sure you don't trip over your ski you got to look good in front of everyone plus you don't want to lose some valuable seconds. In you head go through what you wrote in your race plan about skiing and stick to what you wrote. Keep you game face on, you take it off and that could be it. The only thing that should be in your mind is you race plan and your common sense. If this race is for National Trials erase that from you mind think of this race as a time trial nothing to loose, nothing to gain, but no slacking off give this time trial 100%.

You finished you first loop and your coming into the range. Now focus on what you wrote about shooting; you get into position, hitting 3 out of 5 your out of the range, make sure you remember what you hit and how many penalties you have to do. If you see the guy or girl who always comes in first place already on there second loop, forget about them this race is about You. Remember no one is ever the best and no one is ever the worst. For example, Bjorndalen he probably understands that he is not the best because there are some days where he comes 1st and then there are others where he comes 11th(he probably didn't have his game face on, Hint, Hint). Anything can happen in a race.

You come into the range for your second shoot, this time 5 out of 5. This is you last loop give it all you got leave that penalty loop in the dust, but don't speed up to much. So that you have nothing left for the finish. A sprint to the finish is an essential place to pick up some seconds (Nicky Pacas-Camrose camp). Welcome to the finish you cross it you're done, finished. Take some time catch some air. Get a drink you need to stay hydrated put on some more clothes and then perhaps a cool down or something close to it.

Congratulate your teammates on a good race and how it went for them. Example: "good job, you were looking strong out there I saw you during my cool down ; )"

Thank you Coaches for Zero-ing and waxing. Now that your done you race its not about you anymore...its about the whole team.