Here I am at the #3 Japanese Series Downhill in Gifu, Wing Hills Ski resort. I got 2nd!!!!! I am soooo stoked to have podiumed on my first race back into this season. As many of you know, I had surgery to my right thumb in early April. Took a long time to heal and I was so nervous to hit the race scene again. Always in the back of my mind now, is my surgeon telling me if I go down and injure my thumb again, he is not so sure he will be able to repair it for a third time......so it was really tough mentally to find race pace again. I had a terrible qualifier, but managed to somewhat pull through in the final.

I went into this race exhausted by last months move, on a new machine and just recovering from the surgery. I knew I wasn't ready physically but thought maybe mentally I could pull it off. I didn't practice a lot for that very reason. I wanted to save my energy for the final!! Race day I planned to run the qualifier as my practice run and smooth out some things in my head, unfortunately I had some trouble as I caught the girl ahead of me quite early on the course and couldn't pass her easily in the slippery single track. Anyway, I hit some sweet lines in the final and was also, out of control and sketch in some others. I think the power of racing just took over and I made it down the hill in one piece and was elated to have at least hit race pace a couple of times and feel the magic of racing once again.

My new bike feels sweet!!! I had some Japanese comments like, "Hey Karey, you're racing on that??? But that is just a Demo 7 not a full DH rig??? Will you be alright????" Ya, I was alright and my bike rules!!!!!!! Thank you Specialized!!!!! Thank you to all of my other kick ass sponsors as well!!!

Izuka San deserves a great round of applause, she had a great race and a well earned victory!!!! Congratulations girl!!!!!!

We had a visitor from New Zealand join us, Glen Haden of Two Stage. He is here for two weeks and it was great to chat and feel connected to the western race scene again. He was stoked with the course and had some mean competition. He was 1st in the qualifier and took 2nd in the final. He told me he had some loose corners, however congrats Glen, on taking 2nd in your first Japanese race. To Ryo, who took first and Adachi San who took third, you guys rock!!! Welcome back from injury Adachi San!!!

To my dearest friend Ya-Chan, congratulations on your 3rd place in your first ever DH competition!!!!!! Great job girl!! Running the elite course by mistake 3 times did ya well, ha ha!!!!!!

Us proud downhiller chicks with our medals!!!!!!!! Watch out, here we come Fujimi!!!!!!!!

Sweet Riders participants at the Jam off!! Had a great day for the demo clinic, had all beginners who did a great job learning new skills!! Cheers guys!!! Hope to ride again soon...

Also at the Jam Off were many performing artists... Sabunyuma, an African drum and dance group were among one of my favorites.... check out the pictures here. Mom also got to help me out and enjoy the performances, thanks again mom for all the assistance!!!!

Who could have asked for a better day to hike Happo???? We had a blue bird day with no wind and killer views. Mom was a trooper and made the long climb up to the lake with Kouji and I. It was exhilerating and spectacular all in one!! Can't describe it in words just have to check out the photos here!!

Here is the pre-birthday bash photo, the early birds.... check out the pictures here!! Kelton, thanks for helping me paint the bathroom!!! Ya-Chan and mom for all the cooking!!!

How many daughters have their mom's come over half across the world to help them move??? Well, that is what my mom did, a mom of champions!!!! She came over for 12 days and we had the action packed visit that we all expected. After arrival, we had to get the new pad into a state for my B-Day Bash. That was a lot of work.... arrrggg but in the end it payed off. We had the neighbors and lots of friends join us for the celebration.... enjoy the pictures here. Thanks to all who came out!!!