PYEONGCHANG 2018: It’s Christmas eve, and by now the presents are wrapped, the grocery shopping is done and the house is starting to overflow with extended family.
However that’s not always the case for our PyeongChang 2018 hopeful athletes, who tend to do Christmas a little differently…
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SAMI KENNEDY-SIM: Ski Cross, Sochi 2014 Olympian aiming for her second Games at PyeongChang 2018
How do you usually spend Christmas, and how will this year be different?
Usually I am in Europe and my coach and I (who don’t have family in Europe) will spend five or six days ‘off’ in a hotel somewhere (a bit sad really). This year I will return to Australia for nine days of sun and family!
What is your favourite things about the festive season?
Coming together with family and friends and celebrating each other! (And I love presents....)
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What is your favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Lots of food! When I am in Europe we will try to make a roast turkey and have a fondue night, but in Australia it is all about the roast ham and fresh produce!
What’s on your Christmas wish-list this year?
Something shiny around my neck in Korea on the 23rd of Feb.....
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How will you spend New Year’s?
I hope to enjoy New Year’s Eve with my husband and some friends at the beach. I fly back to Europe a few days later so I need to maximise my Vit D!
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PHIL BELLINGHAM: Cross country skiing, Sochi 2014 Olympian aiming for his second Games at PyeongChang 2018
How do you usually spend Christmas, and how will this year be different?
Usually Christmas is pretty low key and it is either spent with the Aus team or just with a few other athletes on the team. Quite often it will almost pass by like any other day and basically go unnoticed. But this year I am lucky enough to spend it with my girlfriend’s family in La Grand-Bornand in France which is a beautiful place with great skiing in the French Alps.
What is your favourite things about the festive season?
The best thing about the festive season is taking some time away from skiing to enjoy a lot of food, different company and quite often some different culture.
What is your favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
I haven't had A Christmas list for a long time as Santa no longer turns up, maybe he doesn't know where I am, but if I had one a holiday to South America would definitely be at the top.
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How will you spend New Year’s?
New Year’s will be spent in Davos, Switzerland where I'll be in bed pretty early trying to sleep before the start of the World Cup Tour De Ski which starts the following day.
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TAYLAH O’NEILL: Moguls, Sochi 2014 Olympian aiming for his second Games at PyeongChang 2018
How do you usually spend Christmas, and how will this year be different?
Since I first started coming overseas for the Northern Hemisphere winter in 2008 I have spent Christmas with my entire moguls team. For the past 2 years, we have spent it in Winter Park Colorado, with the Australian mogul team and AUSMSA team. This year, however, we have some time off over Christmas in between the World Cups and so we are doing it a little bit differently. This year I will be spending Christmas in Vancouver, Canada with my teammate James Matheson.
What is your favourite thing about the festive season?
My favourite thing about Christmas would be spending time with my family. While I currently do not spend Christmas at home, I look forward to Facetiming them all while they are having their Christmas lunch and seeing what my nephews and niece received from Santa.
What is your favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Probably my advent calendar in the lead up to Christmas. This year I have a Kinder Surprise one :)
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What’s on your Christmas wish-list this year?
I already had Christmas with my family before coming overseas. I received some Bose noise-cancelling headphones from my siblings, which I was hoping for most. My parents always pack me something small to open on the day as well, so I am looking forward to opening that on Christmas Day.
How will you spend New Year’s?
I will be spending New Year's in Apex, BC. I will be back with the team and it will be during a 3-day training camp between World Cup competitions.
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