Vidar Loefshus and Andy Newell.  Many thanks go out to Vidar and Trond for all their hard work.  I have said it but can't say it enough - these guys busted their butts for this team and for American skiing.  Vidar has helped us sift through the many choices for his replacement and is very happy and satisfied with his first choice.

Newell leading the final on the first lap.  You can see how dirty the snow was.  We worked hard on the skis between each heat.

The Podium in Changchun.

7 million people live here yet it is only a little dot on the map.  Changchun, China.  The air quality was... not great.  We arrived at the race about 9 hours before the start - late due to visa issues - and it was dark out.  Driving into the city there were very few lights and it seemed to me that we were out in the country.  The next morning we awoke to find ourselves right on the edge of this huge city... it was just that the whole city was asleep and there were no lights on.  It was like a ghost town after about 8pm.

Beckie almost closed the gap on Bjorgen in Japan by winning the final race, her final race ever.  Congrats Beckie.  Here she is after her second in China.

The power plant right out your bedroom window.  There were litterally apartment buildings right next door.  Changchun, China.

You can see one of the little hills and the first corner of the sprint course in this picture of the soccer stadium where the race was held.  I guess there were about 30,000 fans for the race.  I don't know - there were a lot anyway.

Busses of school kids and marching soldiers visit a space exploration exhibit next to the stadium.

The crowd (with little glowing sticks - perhaps directly from the power plant?) behind a women's heat.  It was a neat venue and a very interesting trip.  We were only in China for about 30 hours total - from the time we arrived to the time we flew out.  This wasn't the plan - it just happened due to visa troubles and a long, long travel day.  We probably traveled longer than we were actually there.  That was a good example of the mental aspect of sport.  It doesn't have to be perfect - you have to get the job done regardless.

The word auspicious came to mind when I saw this beautiful full moon over the stadium.  Changchun.

Spring series is on but the World Cup season is over for 2006.  It had some major ups and some major downs.  We have learned a lot and it is time to put those lessons to use.  The diamond is visible (thanks Vidar and Trond) and now it is time to dig hard for it.  It isn't going to be easy or always pretty, and there's going to be some disagreement and fighting but that is just a part of the process.

Time to go get it.

(all Vordenberg images)