Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
24CnossentoldAdaptiveSpiritthatwhilehistrainingasaSealhasbeenhelpfulinwhathestryingtodoasaskierithasnotalwaysbeenanalogousandwasnotbyanymeansimmediatelytransferrable.Inskiingeventhelongestracessay15konlylastmaybe50minutesorso.Sotheyrereallynotthatlong.ButwhenyouredoingBUDsbasicunderwaterdemolitionandNavySealeldtrainingyourebeingtrainedtopushyourselfforhoursuponhoursandtooperatewhilecoldwetandwithvirtuallynosleepatall.Itsamuchdierentexperience.ThatbeingsaidhoweverCnossenadmitsthereisatleastoneaspectofBUDtrainingthathasdovetailedperfectlywiththelonelinessandphysicalrigorsoftryingtoturnoneselfintoaworld-classcross-countryskiracer.ThementaltoughnessthatissomethingthatyoureallypickupwhiledoingBUDsthatwithoutquestioncomesintoplaywhiletrainingforwhatImdoingnow.HavingjustspentthespringaspartofthetesteventinSochitohelpRussianocialsprepareforthe2014ParalympicsandthenhavingtrainedintenselyintheinterimincludingathreeweekstintinBendOregoninspringlikeconditionsCnossenisnowlookingtogivehisbodyarestforafewweeksbeforeramp-ingupforthe2013-14seasonbyengaginginsomehigh-impactmountainboardingtogoalongwithhisregulargymwork.IncludedinCnossenstrainingmayormaynotbeatriptoArgentinatocompeteintheArgentineNationalsandgetbackonreal-lifesnow.TheproblemhefacesintryingtogettoArgentinaisaproblemfacedbyalmosteverymemberoftheU.S.ParalympicSkiTeamthatofpersonalexpenses.ThetriptoSouthAmericawillsetCnossenbackatleastbyhisestima-tionssome6000.FortunatelywhateverfundsheisnotabletocomeupwithonhisownagroupcallingitselfTeamSemperFianorganizationthatsupportswoundedanddisabledex-Ma-rinesthroughoutthecountryinmanydierentwayshastoldCnossenthateventhoughheisaNavymanandnotaMarinetheywillsupporthimandgivehimwhateverfundsarerequiredtomakehistriptoArgentinaareality.AsforhisexpectationsforSochiandthe2014ParalympicsCnossenremainsanicebalancebetweenoptimisticandrealisticabouthischancesatapodium.WhilehebelieveshelearnedsomeimportantlocalknowledgeduringtheSochitesteventinMarchandthatmaybeabletosneakuponafewoftheunsuspectingRussianswhoremainthedominantforceintheworldofadap-tiveNordicskiinghealsofeelsthatasacompetitorhestillhasalongwaytogoatleastfromatechniquestandpoint.ImstillverynewatthisanditsaverytoughsportsaidCnossenwhologshiseveryworkoutandracemeticulouslysothathecanlearnfromhismistakesandcharthisprogress.ButIpromiseyouthisSochiwillnotbethefastestIeverskibeforeImthrough.AndIwillcontinuetolearnandcontinuetogetbettereverytimeIgooutthere.HethenaddedLookIexpectthateveryoneoutthereisgoingtogive100percentsointhatsenseIllbenodierentthananyoneelse.ButIamtrainingashardasIcanandIwillgiveitallthatIhave.AndIllknowthatregardlessofwhathappensinSochiIcouldnothavedoneanythingmore.TheproblemhefacesintryingtogettoArgentinaisonefacedbyalmosteverymemberoftheParalympicTeampersonalexpenses.