Day 1:
Today was the first official full day in Poznan, Poland. I don't really count yesterday, mainly because Dylan (my teammate) and I didn't arrive until mid afternoon and then we spent the rest of the day attempting to catch up on some much needed sleep.
This morning we headed to the event venue for a day of race prep. This includes boat selection and classifications. We did get to spend a little time on the water, about a hour and a half for each country. Today was a pretty slow day, there was a lot of sitting around waiting. However, I am not sure if it was just because we didn't do much or if it is that time seems to be standing still whenever I think about this huge race coming up!

Well, there ya have it. I am now on the United States National Team for Worlds. I did it. I won my race! The race I had no idea about up until a month ago. What is my life? How are all of these amazing things happening to me? I realize hard work and dedication do play a factor, but still. I am just a one legged nineteen year old girl from the part of Michigan no one knows about, how am I standing on the top podium at the US Olympic Trials?
This is by far the the most prestigious honors I have been given. I am going to represent my country in Poland at Worlds! How many other other people get to say that in their lives? The list of people I have to thank could honestly go on forever.

TEXAS.

Well, with the end of my ski season come and gone what now?
KAYAKING THATS WHAT.
Yep, I have yet again moved my entire life to a new place where I know no one, this seems to be a recurring pattern for me. This time instead of the rocky mountains, I am in the home of cowboys and big hair (which really isnt that much different from Colorado). A few weeks ago I received a message from a man named Ben Kvanli, a former Olympic kayaker who was looking to put together a team this summer. This message came to me in no other way than Facebook! He said he had been searching for me since he saw me compete in last years Extremity Games. After a few messages back and forth, the decision was pretty clear, I was to finish up my ski season and then make the 17 hour drive from Frisco, Coloardo to San Marco, Texas ASAP.
So I did. I saw the beautiful cornfields of  Kansas and Oklahoma (and then more in northern Texas). Lets just say this ride was a lot of me belting out to the radio for what seemed to be endless hours on in. But then I finally made it.
I am lucky enough to be training with some of the most amazing people. Ben is such an elite athlete, paddling with him is such an experience! We paddle on the San Marco's river every day, which is just a few steps outside my door here at the Olympic Outdoor Training Center. So far we have done a lot of white water, I went down a 13 ft waterfall two weeks ago!
We are also focusing a lot of time on our flat water sprint. This is the first time I have ever been in a race kayak and let me tell you it is a whole new experience. First of all, it is so narrow I had doubts I was going to get my big ski racing leg in it at all! Once I finally squeezed in, I learned my next great challenge.. balance. Ben first put me in his old race boat. I literally let go of the dock and next thing I knew I was saying hello to the fishes that swam underneath me. So I got upgraded to a little wider boat, and it has been a perfect match since. Ben explained to me that the boats I am currently practicing in are way tougher to handle than the one I will actually be racing in come two weeks at the Paralympic team trials. So by training in these boats, the others will feel like a walk in the park. Let's hope so!

Mau took me on the adventure of a lifetime in Jackson Hole! I attended the "Steep & Deep" camp put on my Adaptive Adventures. It was amazing skiing, Mau even said I had a break though! I learned how to finally ski powder, which is something I have dreaded in the past. You can check out more photo's from my trip and follow me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Allen/370425689636743

We had a great race in Park City, Utah last week! This was my last disabled race of the season, it went by way to fast. However, my training is only just beginning. I still have a few weeks left on the snow, even an able bodied SL race to attend in April. And then I'm off to "da  UP" for a summer of the gym and traveling to dry land camps with Team Summit.

Road trip! Me, Jess, and Katrina load the car for our eight hour drive to Park City, Utah for our next big race! Wish us luck..

Today was a powder day at Copper kinda day.

This past weekend I helped out at a Stars of Tomorrow Camp held by Adaptive Adventures.  It was a great long weekend filled with good skiing and awesome kids!

I defended my title at the Stiler-Meyers Cut two weeks ago at Schuss Mountain in Downstate Michigan! This was my second year at this race, and my second year winning! The trophy is on display at the National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming Mi. It was great to get the opportunity to ski in the midwest again. It was typical Michigan weather- snowing so hard you could barley see in front of you! Oh, and lets not forget about the sheet of pure ice under that foot of fresh powder, yep typical Michigan skiing! 

Between skiing and the gym my favorite pass time is knitting, I think I am starting to be known as the "crazy hat lady" at ski races.