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Chillin' in the Adirondacks

08/20/2012

You know, around Lake Placid, and especially at the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, we always feel that winter is never far away. 

Even in this greatest of summer weather that we've enjoyed for several months and continue to enjoy, the next season is really never that far into the future.

We are now into that season where night-time temps are great for sleeping, while the entire next week will offer day-time readings between 75 and 80.

Anyway...back to my original point. In about 3 months, we will be on snow at Whiteface Mountain, skiing and riding for another season of fun. But there was one person who could not wait that long.

Andrew Weibrecht is the middle of 3 skiing sons of Mirror Lake Inn owners Ed and Lisa Weibrecht. You might have actually seen Andrew at the hotel at some point, but maybe it didn't register who that was. You never really expect to bump into an Olympic bronze medalist on your vacation. But then again, you were Lake Placid.

His image, with the bronze, is elevated behind our Front Desk, and there is a framed cover of Sports Illustrated where he's sharing prime PR space with Body Miller, Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso, who also won alpine skiing medals in Vancouver 2  years ago.

Andrew is currently back on snow in Chile getting ready for the upcoming World Cup season with his teammates and several new speed coaches hired in May by the U.S. Ski Team. 

"I'm working with the new coaches and working on a few things that are not really my strengths. In a short time, I've made progress. I'm pretty psyched about it."

Like lots of athletes at the elite level, success does come with some pain and frustration, and it's been no different for Andrew.

Two seasons ago, he had shoulder surgery. This past spring, his ankle needed repair. But a spring and summer of physical training in Lake Placid, where he has use of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Training Center and expertise as well as the Mirror Lake Inn's state-of-the-art fitness center, has led Andrew back to the snow.

Here are more of his thoughts from Chile, where he will train until Aug. 31. He'll then return to Lake Placid for a Sept. 2 wedding date at the Whiteface Club and Resort.

"It's awesome being back on snow. It's fun. I've been here a few days, and I'm trying to get my feet back underneath me."

Of the ankle surgery: "Everything feels great. There are no issues skiing. I don't even think about it anymore. Last year was rough because it was something that was always there. I'm just happy to be past it."

The plan in Chile: "I'm totally cleared. The plan is to free-ski 4 days and then go up and do some gate work. The focus on this camp is mostly gliding. That's not too intense. It'll be easy on my body and I'll be able to get a lot done."

As for winter snow conditions in La Parva: "The snow cover was thin when we got here but we've picked up a few feet of snow since we got here."

Lake Placid - snow - skiing.....it's all connected. And if we're not doing it, we're thinking about it.

Thanks to Doug Haney of the U.S. Ski Team for supplying the Weibrecht comments. If we get any images from his Chile camp, we'll post them here.