First time to Italy and First Europa Cup!!

Today was an awesome day!
We arrived in Italy after a couple hours of driving from austria and trained some more slalom. We even got to train beside the race hill on a more steep, bullet proof injected surface which was awesome training. I feel myself improving every run and it feels great to be with the National Team! I'm here racing my first europa cups with Anna Goodman, Eve Routhier, Erin, Maddy Irwin, Maddy Mcclesh, Britt Phalen and Eli. It is always good to split off from the original team for a while and get to know some people that are racing in World Cups and living the dream that I am reaching for everyday. I'm starting to realize the importance of having a strong team that surports one another. Observing the National tech team women has been an awesome experience yet again. Coming to europe is always very different and challenging but getting to race amongst 20 world cup girls is definitley the craziest thing I've done yet. Even though I started 97 today out of 102 girls and the course was pretty rough, I skied with confidence and actually felt the front of the boot almost all the way down the pitch! It sounds easy but trust me, when its hard to grip slipping down the course its even harder trying to link turns without being in the back seat a little. Looking back at video I ripped the bottom flats and looked strong. Unlucky for me, with a blink of an eye I straddled the last hairpin seconds before the finish on my first run so I didn't get a second run. In the afternoon Eve, Maddy Irwin and I went skiing on the backside of the mountain where it was actually sunny! The snow was "hero snow" and we had tons of fun just free skiing together. At one point when I was sitting on the chair everything was silent and I found peace with myself. Sometimes I forget and take for granted the beautiful mountains around me. Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me in racing and it's good to "focus only when you need to, and just have fun when you don't"-Storey
Tomorrow I know I can get a run in the top 60. Well, I have to if I want a second run. The coaches here have been super supportive and I'm excited to get more europa cup experience under my belt.
I start 90 tomorrow! I only have to beat 30 girls to reach my goal.. I think its do able ahaha.
julia!