After traveling almost 6,000 miles to Abetone, Italy, freshmen Pascale Augspurger had the experience of a lifetime. Augspurger has been skiing for about 12 years, and began racing at early age. It is now one of her greatest passions. Augspurger trains five days a week during the winter season, and goes to races almost every weekend. Because of her great determination and dedication to the sport of ski racing, Augspurger was able to go Italy for two weeks with some of the best AVSC downhill skiers.

“I really wanted to go on this trip because I knew that getting the opportunity to ski out of the country would really help my racing, and skiing in Europe has always been a dream of mine,” Augspurger said.

While in Italy, Augspurger and three other AVSC athletes skied on the vast mountains in Europe. They free skied on Abetone, a popular ski destination in Italy.  Augspurger got the opportunity to forerun two races, Italian Nationals and Pinokio Cup, a U16 international race.

“While in Italy, I learned about their culture, and how friendly and out going the people are. Watching them ski, I was able to see how seriously they take it, and how popular the sport was because there were so many more spectators than races I have ever been to.” Augspurger said.

Not only were they able to ski, but they also went to many amazing places and tourist attractions. They visited Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Ferrari Museum in San Marino.

“I think it was an amazing experience for Pascale to go to Italy because she was able to travel abroad and ski in a new country, as well as learn a new culture,” Pascale’s mom Nicole Augspurger said.

Augspurger said that the trip was certainly one of the best trips she has ever been on, and is really excited to take what she learned from skiing in Italy and put it to use during competition season next winter, 2015.