All 27 original candidates at least

April 23, 2008. My half-birthday. I arrived at Mammoth around 1pm, called Cam and Oliver on the way up the hill, ate my last travel sandwich out of the cooler, got my boots on and walked up to the Broadway lift. I had already bought my $10 lift tickets for the pre-selection days Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cam and D.O. were already on the hill, just finishing lunch. The sun was out and the snow was soft. Rider Rally was going on, so I knew I'd see some friends I haven't seen in a while. National Team members KC Gandee, Chad Frost, and coach J. Randy Price were on my list of friends to see. I knew they were all on the hill.

Now, this was a full four days before the actual tryouts started. I had come early to ride, check out the snow conditions, get used to the layout of the mountain, meet up with old friends, and warm up for tryouts. I also had no worries with extra lodging expense for the days because our director at Breckenridge, John Buhler had donated his Dad's house in Mammoth Lakes for us to stay for the week. The four Breckenridge skiers and riders going for the National Teams and staying at the house were myself, Cameron Hunter, David Oliver, and Chuck Creen. Oliver and Chuck aere going for the Alpine Team. Patti Banks, not staying with us but also from Breck, stayed elsewhere with her husband and our Training Coordinator Tommy Banks. Patti was trying out for the Nordic Team.

The "Breck House," as it came to be called, was one of the best perks of the trip. It was invaluable to have a house to keep stuff, store food, and provided a base camp that helped us to remain focused during tryouts. We were able to connect around some common ground: all being from Breck. John came and stayed also, and his parents, Louie and Dina were there over the weekend before tryouts. Thanks John, and especially Louie and Dina, for allowing us to use your place for free during the week. The house was just right at the bottom of the hill, a five minute drive from the mountain.

I shot my first video clip with my little camera on the lift ride. "Here's the first video" I said to the camera as I rolled up the Broadway lift to meet Oliver and Cam. The weather was sunny and beautiful, maybe 50 degrees, the snow soft and springlike. The air smelled like pine and the mountains were shining and jutting in the sun. From Mammoth, you can almost always see the Minarets, and Banner and Ritter Peaks, to the north towards Yosemite National Park. They are dramatic, rugged and pointy peaks among the sharp Sierras. These mountains are certainly newer in their evolution than Colorado Mountains. They're just not as worn down and rounded as a lot of mountains in the Rockies. Especially the Tenmile Range around Breck, which is pretty rounded off - there's been more time for the weather to erode them.