One week has already passed since the attacks on The World Trade Center and Pentagon took place. Although the entire nation came to a halt for a few days after the worst terrorist attacks in history, my life as a skier must continue. My reaction to all of this is despair and sorrow, but in a valley far removed from the terrorism, I don't notice much of the unrest. My focus is still on my dreams of Olympic gold medals and the training I need to make it happen. The only way we are affected directly by the terrorism, is that our headcoach Svein Tore Samdal and physiotherapist Kjersti Gundersen are prevented from joining us because there are no flights. We manage very well, however, with assistant coach Egil Kristiansen, who to his wife and daughter's annoyance, had to stay here for an extra 10 days.

On the 2nd of September, the women's team left for Park City, Utah. It takes 30 minutes by car to get from Park City to the Olympic ski tracks. We drove to the tracks almost every day to familiarize ourselves with the different courses. This is my fifth visit to the Olympic area. In other words, I know the tough Olympic courses very well by now. and I know how lactic acid and breathing difficulties can sneak up on you in the steep uphills...

After 10 days we moved on to Sun Valley, Idaho, where we are going to stay for two weeks. The name of this place is misleading, as we have experienced rain, wind, lightening, and thunder.
I need a lot of time to get used to the altitude, but after two weeks I am beginning to feel acclimatized.
And I am really flying during my intervals!
I am looking foreward to "Sun Valley Grand Prix" on Thursday the 20th of September. (Pursuit, 5 kilometres of running + 10 kilometres of rollerskiing in classic style).

I've had a summer free of illness or any injuries, and my training at the start of the autumn is of high quality.
I feel I am about to establish a solid basis for a long and exciting season. For the present, I choose to believe that, in spite of today's unrest in the wake of the terrorist attacks, the Olympics will be staged as planned. Consequently, I continue with my preparations as normal. I think my technically gifted Russian competitors, the strong Czechs, the persevering Ukrainians, and my still remaining Finnish competitors, who are all in Park City now, also believe that we will be competing against each other in Salt Lake City.

So long!

Greetings from

Bente Skari