Summer Snowboarding

Toronto: The City of Hustle

2009-11-12T20:12:00.001-08:00

I love going home to Toronto. It’s so contrasting to the places I momentarily inhabit with its fast pace lifestyle and concrete jungle setting. I definitely just experienced my busiest week ever in the biggest metropolitan in Canada.

The intensity started as soon as I woke up on Monday morning, tired from the three hour time difference of BC it was 6am to me and 9am to the rest of Toronto. Pilates was first, I go to Health Movement in Ajax and my trainer really likes to push me. She, Fanny, is a two time Olympian for synchronized swimming so she knows how much athletes can handle and then she takes it further. It’s always a challenge, I like that. Next was my gym workout with Athletic Training Professionals (ATP) and owner Jamie Hollins. He’s not an Olympian but a professional at what he does. I drop in whenever I get back to Toronto and he gives me his assessment, normally I am not up to his standards of fitness (sometimes I’m too skinny, not activating properly or something) but this time I was right on the money and he was very happy with what he saw. After a big workout I had Dr. Yip the magical witch doctor, she specializes in fixing problematic bodies; she’s the best but you have to pay for it. Still she put me back together and fixed my sleeping problems too. Magical.

Well my days looked like that for the week I was home but there were always meetings with sponsors (I re-signed with Nike) and other extracurricular things were thrown in the mix. I went to a meeting with a reality show producer to brainstorm about concepts for a potential show, I can’t say too much on this subject other then it’s going to be banger. I also was able to see Sony’s new ad campaign I am in. I took some pictures beside my life size cutout too. Nevertheless, the best part of Toronto was going to the Black Rock Spa called Iyashi. This place is a new potential sponsor for me and I was there trying out treatments to see if it was something I would want to endorse. I have to tell you about it.

Iyashi is at Younge St. and Eglinton Ave. and it is the only black silica rock spa in North America. The rock, when heated, emits far infrared rays and negative ions. The two combined provides a cornucopia of health benefits from weight loss to detoxification. The negative ions are especially essential to balance our bodies out from all the positively charged ions out there due to the electronics we encounter everyday. The treatment is really simple; you lie on a towel over the heated rocks in a provided garment for about 90mins, split into 20 – 25 min sessions of heating and 5mins of cooling. The facility is beautiful and clean and it has a deluxe private room that accommodates four people.

After I sweated my tush off and was warmed from the inside out I felt calm and refreshed, it’s unlike any “hot spot” I have ever been to. I went there for five treatments total and with each one I was more sold on the concept and product, it was sort of addictive. I’m not going to lie, I was a skeptic but I was given the chance to test it out, I really put the hot rock promises to the test and I believe they work. I did huge double workout days without stretching and then used the spa. I woke up the next morning without any stiffness or feeling sore anywhere. The spa treatments work and was the most relaxing part of my time home. Thanks again to Gary, Norma and Ryusuke who made me feel welcome and like a part of their family.

Check out the link here
www.iyashibedrockspa.com

Public speaking is not something I normally perform in but I got an offer I couldn’t refuse, to speak at my high school, Rosseau Lake College. Although the event transformed from speaking to a class to presenting in front of the whole school it was a lot of preparation and fun. My contact asked for an HOUR long presentation, 40mins of speaking 10mins for questions and 10mins for pictures and my video. Now, for people who have never done any public speaking they should know that an hour long presentation is like an eternity for the speaker and the crowd, Obama doesn’t even speak for that long. However, six hours of prep plus time to get signing cards printed and a two and a half hour drive up north made for a great 50 min presentation and 10 min signing session. I must say that I was proud of my speaking and organizing skills for the length of time I had to prep and for the presentation in general. It felt really good to be able to give back to a place that was like a second home and family for me while I was growing up, maybe I inspired some kids to go for their dreams.

So that was the last week of my life, busy up until the last moments (singing pictures for family) of arriving to Pearson airport for my departure to Colorado. What a whirlwind of a time! Sadly I did not have much time left to see my nieces since we had conflicting schedules, seems like toddlers don’t like to stay up past 9pm when my free time finally kicked in. I hope they know I love them.

What a whirlwind of a visit there, there is never enough time in the day. Now it’s on to Colorado for the most important training camp before the Olympics. It will be a lot of work but worth every second.

The New Zealand Nutshell

2009-10-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

Pictures 1. Snowy mountains from plane 2.Carol, Me, Ryan and Paulina defying gravity 3. Malcom and I on sled 4.Sasanoki crew 5. Salmon Teriyaki and Tofu salad
6.NZ Crew 2009

I feel so lucky to get to do what I do. Not only because I get to travel around riding mostly white and fluffy stuff, but because of the people have I met along the way. My second round in New Zealand was great, filled with productive training with rock star flare and great friends.

The snow was ideal. In fact, it was more like winter when I returned then when I left. The worst part was that I didn’t pack any thermals since I was expecting spring conditions. However, this definitely was not the case with the temperatures in the negatives and many cloudy snowing days. Still, this was favorable conditions for the pipe and it enabled us to train to the scheduled end of the camp.

The camp was at Cardrona and not cheap with fees of $110NZ/day; sled access was an extra $50 but worth it since it maximizes pipe usage. I was sure to get the full value of the camp riding 20-25 runs a day and I even had a chance to drive the sled(thanks so much to Malcom King who accommodated Ryan and I on those private extended play days, that was awesome). The days were really memorable and productive. I tried a few new tricks, dialed some old ones and despite the weather some days I had a whole lot of fun.

This time I was on my own in a sweet one bedroom suit under a family of four. This place was found by my friend Richard, who has educated me in the areas of rabbit control and all the generalities of New Zealand that I had interest in. My home for two weeks was perfect and had everything I needed, including peace of mind.

As I find when I am alone it is hard sometimes to plan meals for one, so I tired my best but ended up at Sasanoki restaurant. I couldn’t resist the mouthwatering teriyaki salmon glistening over a steaming bed of Japanese rice. Also, Takenobu’s amazing tempura made especially for me was delectable. Hisachi was so hospitable, he provided a home like feeling for both Ryan and I. Next year should be just as tasty.

Ryan and I had to say good bye to the Fun Top, our trusty vehicle, but we couldn’t part with such an amazing car. We lucked out and found a spot for it to wait for us until next season. It will cost us a snowboard deck, but we will have a car ready in Wanaka next year…hopefully it will still start but I have some faith in that piece of vintage metal.

Finally, I am home again in Squamish, for a short while at least. I fly out to Toronto on Sunday, which seems so soon. It’s hard to believe I will not be here again until January. These last few sleeps in my own bed I really try to savor. I treat myself with not turning on an alarm clock and if I really want to turnover and just sleep, I do. There are going to be many, many early mornings in the next 100 days to the Games, so why not enjoy some extra sleep in my own bed? Two more sleeps and I am on my way again…

It might as well be my Birthday!

2009-10-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

It felt like my birthday today on that mountain. The combination of sunny skies, groomed pipe, snowmobiles and some good friends made for a truly terrific day of “training”. I was able to ride yesterday, in fact that was my first day back to snow after taking a break in Canada, but the jet leg hindered my performance. Today was different.

The start of the day went great, I slept well (which is detrimental to athletes), woke up and ate my regular training day breakfast. This consists of slow cooked oatmeal, a banana and yoghurt; I started eating this meal for its health benefits but have now fallen in love with it. I left my house on time and went to pick up my teammate Ryan; we were on the hill by 9am. Today my friend from the Polish team, Paulina, was not feeling well and her kind heart gave me her sled pass for shuttling up the pipe on snowmobiles; this was the key to one of my best days ever.

Whether I was riding down the pipe on my board or up the side of it on a sled I was having the time of my life. So many times I thought ‘this feels like my birthday’. I had to have ridden at least 20 laps, screamed out loud 30 times and given out 100 high fives to my friends who were enjoying it just as much as I was.

Every time I got to the top of the pipe and tuned in my Walkman to a song that pumped me up I felt so lucky to be where I was. I would remember what my coach had me working on, gave a quick look around to see if anyone else was going to drop in, turn my board parallel with the pipe walls and go for it. As my base made contact with the snow friction was released and speed gained, I glided along the coping if the right wall and slowly weighted my back side edge to make the board roll down the 22ft wall and into the pipe. I keep eye contact with the top of the left wall and before I know it I am sailing out if the pipe, flying though the air grabbing my board, I look at the lip under me as I come back into the pipe, land on my front side edge and prepare to do the same on the opposite wall. This is the best feeling of the day, my makeshift birthday.

At the end of the run I unstrap my bindings, get some feed back from my coach and run back to the sled waiting to take me up for another try at perfection. Not only am I progressing but so are the other athletes who are training in the pipe. Guys are throwing amazing maneuvers, like double inverts, and with each trick landed the whole pipe crowd erupts with cheers of recognition, everyone is stoked. This aura that surrounds the pipe is an uplifting feeling which each person can sense.

Finally the mountain patrol closes the pipe and riding for the day is over. Ryan and I make our way back to the Fun Top to throw our boards in and retract the roof. We drive down the sunny road with huge smiles plastered across our faces. My day is concluded with two good friends, Ryan and Paula, on the sun deck of the gym stretching and doing Cosmo quizzes. It is days like this one when I try to treasure every moment because I know that not everyday can feel like your birthday.

In-flight Comforts?

2009-09-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I know how New Zealand sounds so far away to most people and really it is pretty far. However, I feel it is all a matter of perspective. To me, the long flights are not bad as long as you provide yourself with lots of entertainment.

In example, I always travel with my Vaio, Play Station Portable, e-book and a set of noise canceling headphones (I find myself constantly seated by the screaming baby). That way I can watch movies, play games, read and do it all in my own little world. Although, I do like to talk to the people around me from time to time, lately I have not sat beside anyone of interest but I try. Most people are content with sitting in their undersized seat and watch the in-flight movies.

Ugh, seating. I am lucky in the fact that I scored with the tiny Asian gene, I fit in any seat with room to spare. I am very grateful for this when I see bigger people stuffed in those small seats with only 32cms of space separating the rows and they are almost completely stuck for 14 hours. Seems like legal torture that we pay for.

Aside from the miniature seats, baggage is something that really annoys me. I am always trying to dodge the luggage weigh stations, especially for my snowboard bag. It’s hard to pack your career into one bag that is less than 50lbs. Tickets should include a total weight limit that includes your body weight and baggage weight. I guess that’s one more step to a more perfect world that won’t be taken for a long time.

Still, transportation has come a long way over the past 100 years. People get stressed about sitting on a plane for a long time; well imagine if that was a boat or a wagon. Now imagine you have to cross rough open ocean seas or a barely marked bumpy road with dangerous people down it. Even though that flight may not always cater to our first world comforts, it’s still leaps and bounds better then travel as close as 20 years ago.

Thinking about these things always makes me feel better about the long haul down there to the other side of the world. Particularly because I just got home a few days ago but I will be going back down under for a camp in just ten days (it worked out to be the same cost to stay there while I took a break or to come home and take a break. Sleeping in my own bed is almost priceless at this time). I also try to enjoy the travel as much as possible because I know my life will never be like this again. I try my best to savor moments and preserve the memories.

Goals into Success

2009-09-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing feels better than accomplishing the tasks which I set out to accomplish. I have found this is much easier when I set daily goals that correspond to the bigger picture, just like splitting up a pie into smaller slices to eat it. Another help is having someone to hold you to those small goals so you don’t get side tracked, which is something that I do too easily. However, over the last two weeks I have worked with my coach to really get work done.

Goal setting should take a lot of credit to my accomplishments. Even though it is hard to set daily goals in the snowboarding environment because there are many unpredictable factors, like weather and snow conditions, having a good idea is a start. In the morning I have been talking over what I want to do with my coach, and we make sure our plans are flexible so we can change them to accommodate the conditions of the snow and pipe. We even have a back-up plan in case I am not feeling on point or undesirable weather rolls in. These goals and plans are paramount to fast progression and consistency in my training.

The past week my day consists of waking up at 6:45a and being out the door by 7:30a. It’s about 45 min to the lodge and another 15 – 20mins to get ready, and I am usually on the lift by 8:45a. I train until around 10:30a and then break for a snack, after which I resume training until noon then snack again. I keep riding until 1:30p or when I feel tired. The pipe here has been a hiking pipe so I get tired after about three hours of hiking an eighteen degree slope. All of the training time includes small goals which all contribute to my full tick runs. This regiment has done well for me, but I really have to thank my current coach for helping me set it up and making me follow it.

Roberto Marfia has been coaching me for the past two weeks and I feel that my riding has come together. When I am on my own I get excited and keep switching my concentration, now that I am with him he has been grounding me. Roberto has been setting up my training days/goals and holds me to them. That helps to keep me calm and focused, but most of all it boosts my confidence. Making me stick to the tasks at hand and giving me feed back in a positive manner has been a major factor in the success over the past two weeks. I am so grateful to have a coach like that in my career at this time.

It really is a great feeling when things finally start to flow and ideal situations are met. I only have a week left of training until I take a break from the snow and head back to Canada. Yet I know the week that is left will be productive because I have these two things working for me, goals and a good coach. Then I add my talent, determination and heart and presto! I have recipe for flourishing training days.

Out Numbered

2009-09-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

It was glorious when our little car made it safely down to Wanaka and I found that my coach was here. I finally made it on snow and I am loving life again. So much that bloging has slowed; therefore I am happy to make this entry. Now, I am living in a house with four guys and back to playing mom. Nonetheless this is okay because I love the simpler life with out the drama that sometimes follows females.

Yes, we made the 450km journey from Christchurch down to Wanaka without further problems. We were stoked to have the top down for part of the way; it left a good feeling after the repair fiasco the days before. Ryan drove most of the way while I prayed that we would not break down. Although now we have been driving up the scary dirt roads in the car and it seems to be fine. The best is when we have four people and boards in the car; it reminds me of a clown car. We used our ankle and toe ratchet straps to fasten down the back of the boards while a leather skipping rope holds down the front to the roof racks. It’s a little Macgyver style but definitely works. One more reason to be thankful we ride snowboards; you could never pull that with skis.

Having a coach on snow is a luxury and I was stoked to arrange for one to be with me over the next few weeks to train together. Coaches make tasks like goal setting and sticking to those goals much easier. Having eyes on you is important to progression, there are other ways to get what you want, but coaches are instantaneous feed back which acts as a great tool. However, it does push the testosterone content in the house up one more notch and leaves me out numbered 4 to 1.

I really don’t mind being the minority, I did grow up in a boarding school where boys out numbered girls 4 to 1. Still it’s just that I often slip in to the mom role, a curse for being somewhat organized and punctual. I find myself tidying, organizing dinners, riding times, and the general going ons in the house. They don’t ask me to do those things but someone has to do it for the flow of the house. I really don’t mind, I guess it’s the common differences between women and men that I am noticing more as I mature. There is one thing I honestly don’t know, what it is about men and socks? Every where I turn there are random pairs, or singles, of socks hanging around on the floor or in the couch. I don’t really understand how one loses track of such things constantly. The worst part is that they never remember taking them off in the first place.

Still I will take the mother role and mystery socks any time over the drama that is built up in living with women. Men don’t have to gossip, if they do then it is about that hot chick that was in the cafeteria, lasts for about ten minutes and is over with. They don’t take forever in the bathroom and can venture there quite fine on their own. I know that right now it is perfect for me; this uncomplicated lifestyle for my complicated task.

Not worth the stress

2009-09-07T00:47:00.001-07:00

The saying “if it sounds too good it’s probably true” has more meaning to me today than ever. So, my friend and I were presented with a sweet deal. A 1989 Mazda 121 fun top and we had bargained the price down to $500NZD from $1000NZD. There were only 200,000kms and the soft top still retracted. This deal was cheaper then renting a car for the month while we are in New Zealand. We test drove it for four days, taking it around the city and for hill climbs to make sure it was mountain safe, I installed a new stereo head unit, we just got roof racks and changed the oil, it was a dream. That is until we were leaving Christchurch this morning.

About 30kms from where we were staying we were driving around a round about; clutch in, gear down to second, clutch out and instant squealing noise. It was so loud and abrupt that we stopped the car immediately. With a quick diagnostics our conclusion was that the clutch had burned out, the car seemed to scream when we let out the clutch but was fine when the clutch was in. Two things were for sure, we needed a mechanic to take a look at the car and we were not going to make it back down to Wanaka today.

My wingman, Ryan, went on a reconnaissance mission to find that nearest garage and shortly returned with the information of a garage about 2km from our location. As we are both athletes we decided that pushing the car for that distance was no big deal, there was also the fact that a tow truck would be at least $100. We pushed that car for about 4kms before we were rescued by my good friend and host, Graham.

Graham, being the good soul that he is, got a tow strap, called his mechanic and towed us with his Honda Legend to the shop. Alistair at Summit 4WD was awesome. He had that car up on a lift and was ripping it apart within an hour. When we got back to Waikuku he was already calling us. “Katie” he said “I’ve got two pieces of news…it’s not the clutch, that is fine. It’s actually the gearbox. Now we don’t have one, but we are looking for a second hand one now. I’m just going to warn you, we might not find one until tomorrow”. Just hearing that made my heart sink, what was suppose to be an easier route was turning out to be a nightmare. The problem was that we were already paying for a place in Wanaka, my coach was flying in tomorrow and I was suppose to meet with the realtor today to work out details for the place. This was costing time and money we were not comfortable spending. My stress levels were on the rise.

I had to stop, take a few breaths, think of a clam blue ocean and remind myself that these stresses are minimal to those who are starving or dying out there in the world; you know to put things into perspective. I did feel a bit better. The mechanic called back 30mins later to tell me that they had found one for $300, he could do the labor for $350 and we could be on the road for tomorrow morning. I felt so much better.

Now we will see how the Fun Top runs with the new gearbox and if we can sell it at the end of our stay here for some of the money we dumped into the car. I feel so tired tonight, like I had a huge workout at the gym, although pushing a car for 4km might do that to you. The worst part was the stress I was causing myself but it was a good reminder that stress is self inflected and not worth the ware on my body and mind. As a result, today I am taking on the new saying of “don’t sweat the petty, pet the sweaty”, realizing that there are many factors out of my control, stressing about these is redundant.

Tomorrow is a new day, things will come together and I get to go snowboarding soon.

Friends and beach and rest

2009-09-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

Friends and beach and rest

True friendships are rare in this world. To me, real friendships pick up where they left off not matter how much time goes by. I value these friendships above all else especially because I travel so much. Right now I am visiting two friends who I know from my home province of Ontario. Graham has been in my life since I was the ripe age sixteen, we wakeboarded together for my whole career in that sport and we have kept our friendship running since. While he was at Lakehead University he met Lori and when I saw them together, as I was passing though Thunder Bay one summer, I knew they were great together. I was lucky Lori was so inviting and accepted me as a friend almost instantly. We too grew close over the years and when they finally got married last year I was asked to be a part of their special day as a Bride’s maid.

Today I am visiting with them at Waikuku beach just outside of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. They are finishing up their Ph.Ds and have been living here for the past four years. I visit them almost every time I come down to New Zealand which I am very grateful for. This year I have met their new edition to the family, Tazman. He is literally a bundle of joy, always laughing and smiling at the world and people around him. He is defiantly one of the best babies I have spent time with and I am sure Graham and Lori feel fortunate to have a happy baby; it makes it a lot easier when you are trying to complete an important thesis. My two friends are model parents in my eyes with their hands on approach to parenting and abundant love that floats around their home. I feel so welcomed here as it is a very relaxing place to be and helps balance me out between the snowboarding world and the real world out there.

Yesterday I went for a run on the beach where I felt so free with the sea breeze on my face and the feeling of my feet sinking into the sand with every push off the ground. I loved the liberty of running where ever I wanted to and hearing the waves crashing on the beach. I can’t believe people run on treadmills around here, what a waste.

Needless to say, I am enjoying my time away from the mountains. I have amazing friends here who love me and I am surrounded by an environment full of natural beauty; probably the reason why it took me so long to make a blog entry. This time here gives me a chance to recharge my body and mind and mounts my hunger for the snow again, both vital pieces for staying focused and in the game.

Rainy Days

2009-08-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Doing an outdoor sport has its pros and cons. I love being out in the sunshine and bluebird days when the warm air hits your face to give you a cozy feeling inside. However, it is not always that ideal. These past four days has been the complete opposite. It has been pouring here with huge wind gusts, although I do love hearing the rain drops exploding on the tin roof, it’s not fun to snowboard in this weather.

So I have been filling my days with going over the copious amounts of emails I have been collecting in my inbox for the past four year, I am now down to 980 emails as oppose to 1900. I have been catching up on business which needed attending to, sending off photos to sponsors, watching movies, going to the gym, etc. All very mundane to me when compared to boosting airs in the half pipe. I find my situation similar to that of Mathew Mcconaughey’s in the movie Surfer Dude where he waits seemingly forever for waves to come in.

Tomorrow I will head to Christchurch to see some good friends whom recently had a baby. I am looking forward to spending time with Lori and Graham Strickert and their new baby Taz. You know the type of friends who you always just pick up where you left off? That’s these guys for me, where it’s about the quality and not quantity of time spent. As I get older and more transient I find these are the friends who truly love you and I value these friendships the most.

I will be away from the mountain for a week, the time off will be good in the sense that it will give me a good break from snowboarding so my hunger for it will mount. Time to reset the mind and body is always a good choice to avoid being burnt out.

It's Fun to Be a Kid

2009-08-25T03:53:00.001-07:00

Days off are the best, I really enjoy taking some time for myself off snow, especially after a great day of training, you know leave on a good note. The time off is important in keeping the balance of mind and body, also to get hungry again for the snow. Besides much easier to take time off when the skies are full of low lying grey rain clouds complete with showers.

I spent my day hanging out with my roommate who is a close decade younger then me and a friend from Germany who I met three years ago but is finishing up his law degree down here in New Zealand.

I had a vigorous workout in the gym where at the end I taught Palmer, the teenager, a handful of core workouts with explanations included of how they were beneficial to snowboarding and general health. I am a firm believer in strength to battle injury; this is what I was trying to pass on to my younger protégé for the day. She did great and after we had a foam roller party to loosen our tired snowboarding muscles.

After a very satisfying lunch we left for Puzzling World, a tourist attraction in the town of Wanaka. It’s full of optical illusions and different rooms to leave your mind boggled or expanded. It was really fun hanging out with the carefree and fresh teenager and old friend whom I had not seen in about a year, something I have not done in a while. Spending time with Palmer made me want to be seventeen again. We had so much fun shooting video with my Cybershot camera and running around the place. There were a cluster of tables at the exit of the attraction with various puzzles on them and this is where we sat for a good length of time getting puzzled. This was perfect way to spend the afternoon when it was wet and uninviting outside.

This day ended with a Thai dinner where the kid rookie and my national team teammate joined us. Supper was full of conversation that crossed all age groups and we old dogs enlightened the new ones on life lessons and the culinary delights of Thailand. Right now, as I yawn to myself, I am very surprised at how tired I am from all the excitement of my day off the snow. I have a feeling of delight that I get to pass on things I have learned from my experiences and practices. Furthermore, I may not be seventeen but I can still appreciate the excitement that encompasses being that age.

Show me the Support

2009-08-23T02:38:00.001-07:00

Man, why does it have to get so hard? Over the past little while I have been dealing with a lot. Life does not get easier as the Games get closer. Not that I ever expected it to but there are always things going on behind the scenes that are hard to share with the public. Dealing with sponsors, coaches, finding good pipes and fairness in federations can be the hardest part. The snowboarding is easy element; it’s what makes all the tears, yelling and loaded emails worth while.

When there are only six months left every day counts and I have to make the most of it every time my board glides through the pipe. Having a coach keep a watchful eye, or better yet a Handycam, on you is imperative to progress; believe it or not getting those eyes can be a huge mission. Lately my coach has been slipping and I am getting frustrated with the lack of attention and professionalism I am getting. The even more exasperating piece is a sliver tongue which is very convincing to my sponsors to the point where my constant cry for help is mistaken for drama. My needs are simple and the roles should be clear but they get clouded by excuses made to look like my faults. I didn’t realize that wanting to ride cloud or shine, hard snow or soft snow, was a bad thing. I try to enlighten my investors about the industry and its workings and I come short of doing so because my points get intercepted by third parties. Sometimes I am at my wits end and I want to give it up for an uncomplicated lifestyle of school or normal work but I know I can’t stop now. I am lucky to have a couple of brilliant minds to keep me on track no matter what my sponsors or coaches say or do to me. Thank you to those people.

Finding proper training grounds at this time of year can be an even harder task. Here in New Zealand there are amazing conditions for practicing and I am currently trying to stay longer to make the most of the snow features. Counting on the weather two months in advance is a gamble that shouldn’t be taken during a qualifying year. You would think taking a proactive approach would be the right idea instead of being idle while the southern hemisphere winter passes you by. However, it feels like a battle to get the resources I need to maximize my advancement and I can’t understand why that is.

Being rational is not something my federation is proficient at, being hypercritical is more their forte. The qualifying for the Olympics is performance based and is decided just before the event. It would seem like a logical approach to apply this to a substantial contest as well, but alas it is based on a theory of opportunity rather then performance. The just action would be to include those athletes who are riding the best at that time in the contest and not a list that was composed weeks prior to the event. This would be the best for the riders and put Canada in the most optimal position for results. In sport there are always politics and this is what diminishes people’s sprit and love of the game.

Thus, all of these features have compounded for me over the last little while giving me a bad feeling in my heart and aches in my head. Currently as an athlete I am in a place where talk is cheap an actions mean the world. I feel my support team seems to help each other more then they help me. I would think in my ten years of snowboarding I have seen a thing or two and I know what works for me. If my riding has improved it is because I understand a lot more about the bio mechanics of half pipe riding, not just because someone different is yelling at me to bend my knees and look up. They all tell me they believe in me and I believe in me, they just make it hard to believe in them. If it looks like I have gone over the edge it is just because you were not listening in the first place so I had to yell to get attention. Truly, I am focused, I have planned and I am going to conquer.

Different but the same

2009-08-21T03:39:00.000-07:00

Here in New Zealand things are a little different from Canada, which you would expect going to another country. Not only do the toilets flush in a different direction but they also drive on the other side of the road which puts the driver’s seat is on the other side of the car (this can be very confusing at first when you are running for shotgun) and I get a bit frustrated when I set off the wipers when I am suppose to be signaling. People say “mate” a lot and other strange words like “ta”, “oy” and “sweet as” (if those are words). Sometimes I have to ask native people to repeat what they have said to me because of the slang used here. When I was working out I had to remember to convert the pounds in to kilograms, at the start I wondered why a weight with a 10 engraved on the surface was so heavy. All these traits are adopted from their once ruling country of Britain but it’s clear that New Zealand has its own flavor.

Not only do I find differences in this country but also with my placement in it. I am currently staying in a house with the range of ages being from 17 to 31 and I am sharing a room with someone ten years younger then me. A little different from the boarding lifestyle I lived through high school but it’s still dealing with people in close quarters. I am grateful for the skills I learnt during that time because I can utilize them now. For example I have to accept the messes in the common areas, where if I were at home it would drive me crazy. At times I find myself cleaning up after the younger ones and even the older one because I naturally take on a mentoring and nurturing role. Yesterday I taught one of the kids how to start a dishwasher after I got over the fact that he did not know how to do this simple process (what kind of kids are people raising? Teach self reliance not just self esteem!). Today I made dinner for a bunch of them and after reminded them to wax their boards where I taught a waxing 101. All of these tasks are very different from my normal life of mostly living on my own and they are a challenge from time to time but a great reminder of how lucky I am to be able to live in a solo manner. I am so happy I have the gym to escape to.

Fortunately snowboarding is the same no matter where I am and here it is back to full o n winter. Including cold crisp mornings completed by feeling the icy air through your nostrils and seeing it slightly crystallize in your breath. I wake up, eat, drive, ride, hike, ride, hike, etc, until I have to eat again. Then head down the mountain, snack, workout, make dinner, work a little, snack and then off to bed. The life is not as glamorous as some think but I live it and love it.

The Gift of Travel

2009-08-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Traveling is something I have always loved. It is the adventure that draws me in and excites me. I was the tender age of 17 when I first ventured alone and it was a trip to Australia for a student exchange. I still get the same feelings when I reach an airport now as I did on that first day of departure.

Coming to New Zealand used to be a total flight time of 24 hours, not including layovers. Now it has been cut to 15 hours, thank goodness for the Vancouver to Auckland direct flight and my Play Station Portable. Still, once you have connected to that last flight to the southern island (after a 5 hour layover) and then shuttled to your final destination it has been a long voyage. I am happy to say that dealing with the jet leg is much easier when you are traveling east to west than the other way. Going home is another story.

At least I am here now in the cozy town of Wanaka. It is a beautiful little town on a blue lake which has cinnamon colored mountains with snow as white icing. This is my fifth year here and I am very familiar with the infrastructure of the city and this is soothing to me when you are this far away from home. The local people are very nice once you get over some of the cultural differences and I end up seeing the same half pipe snowboarders who also follow winter. The only thing I can never get over is the houses here.

It’s always cold at night. Central heating is not common in the housing; only the main gathering room and kitchen are heated mostly by a wood burning stove. Only select newer homes maybe heated by floor heating. There might be an oil heater that can be carted from room to room depending on where you are, if you’re lucky. Other huge factors are that some houses are not insulted and have single pane windows! You never know what you’re going to get since most houses are rented over the internet, so I am sure to travel with my own duvet to keep toasty. This is key to getting a good night sleep so work can be done the next day.

Riding is the best job, as I have expressed before, and I was pleased to go to work today. Friends tell me it was the best day of riding all month. The sun was out and the pipe had a perfect cut on it, a great opener for my first day up the mountain. It was all fun today dropping in on the 22ft transition and I loved every minute of it. Even hiking that steep slope didn’t bother me because I was so elated from the experience. I would never know this had I not traveled here.

So to everyone who has never left their province, state or town. Get out there and travel around, see the wonderful features which surround you, voyage to the other side of your country or even better grab a passport and go to another country. Meeting the people, smelling the scents, tasting the foods, and gazing at the brilliant landscapes will enrich your life as it has mine.

Getting Things Done

2009-08-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

Has anyone out there ever made a video? I just made my first video and it took me ages longer then I had expected. About eight hours over two days for a five minute video. I guess it didn’t help that it was working with new software and new equipment. The picture in the corner shows how crazy I got at some points. It was defiantly a learning experience. Please take a look at it and pass it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW_fauFGlEs

Thank goodness I have a great outlet to beat the frustrations out of me, the gym. On Saturday I did a killer workout. Squats, chin-ups and bench press, followed up with dead lifts, high pull and an over head bar press. I did some core and stretching and I felt so much better. Yesterday, I ran shuttles followed up with a 30 seconds on and 30seconds off sprinting set. Today, it was back to the gym for a final workout before I leave and I quarter squatted 315lbs. Pushing that load is a great feeling, once that bar is off your back you feel as light as air (oh, and no bar pad either, throws off your balance). . I’m happy to get in a heavy workout before I sit on a plane for fourteen hours. Those Sony cordless headphone are the best in the gym, I really have the freedom to move around with out the worry of getting tied up in wires.

So now it’s a whirlwind to leave. I am in my final stages of packing, going though my check list which I have developed over the years and making sure the rest of my life is in order before I leave. I have taken a couple of days off my blog so I thought I would squeeze in one before I make my way down to Vancouver. My next one will be written from down under where I will be in winter again. I must say that I am a bit sad to leave summer behind so soon, I was really enjoying the warm outdoors. C’est la vie, I guess this is what I get for loving snowboarding.

It’s really great to be home

2009-08-12T11:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I spent at home and I really enjoyed it. After writing my blog it was off to the gym. I had a harder workout then normal because I don’t have to be hiking the pipe all day today and so I knew I could push more in the gym. I did what I call an 8’s workout, 8 sets of 8 reps with four different exercises in two rounds and no rest. My first round was deep squats, tuck jumps, chin-ups finished with a bench press. The next round consisted of dead lifts, VMO Squat, push-press and bent over row. Then I finished with a 15 min core workout and 15mins of stretching. Sounds like a lot when I write it out but it goes by fast. I don’t mind working out because it has become a part of my lifestyle.

After a shake, a big meal and some computer work I treated myself to some anime. For those who are unfamiliar with anime you might know it as Japanimaton (cringe) or along the lines of Dragon Ball Z or Pokemon. However, there are many kinds of anime out there. I like the more technical drawings with deep story lines; some of my favorite ones take place in feudal Japan with samurais and ninjas. The one I was watching had more of a military feeling and they fought in big machines. Anime is my little geek out secret that I am sharing with you. I love watching anime and it looks and sounds awesome on my Sony home theater system.

Another great aspect about being home is having my kitchen. Cooking is a great outlet for me and last night I had bbqed kebabs, rice and green beans. For dessert…smoores…Yummy! It really is better than any restaurant and I have to eat at a lot of restaurants when I am on the road. Overall, a perfect relaxing day.

Today, I have already gone for my run; it was a sprinting day for me and I have the best shoes to run in. The Nike Zoom Vomero3 makes me feel like I am running on clouds. They are my favorite shoes in the Nike repertoire and have really changed how I feel about running. Still no matter what shoes I was wearing this morning it was still an early one for me and it’s not always easy to drag my sore body out of bed and go running. But I did it and feel so good after, it’s worth it.

Now I am heading down to the city. I think I will hit up some pitch and putt. These courses are sweet 100yrd holes where you play with only a 9 iron and a putter, just the right amount of golf for an ADD person like me. I think I will head to china town for some moon buns and look for a long lost anime classic Princess Mononoke that I no longer have in my collection. Whatever I do I know it will be fun because Vancouver it a beautiful city that is full of great active people.

Camping IS in-tents

2009-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

After only one night in my own bed it was time to get ready for my camping adventure. I had to collect my camping gear from around the house, run around Squamish for the rest of my supplies and then drive up to Pemberton to meet with the crew. These tasks at first seemed easily done, that is until I received all the calls to pick up items needed from the rest of the group. It wasn’t until 5pm that I started my way to the meeting place.

When I arrived in Pemberton I was greeted with smiles and hugs from friends whom I had not seen in a long while, some even years. The weather was a bit cloudy but I was excited to see Crispin in good spirits. We all rallied together to form the convoy traveling to the camping destination, Birkinhead Lake.

I had already been to this camping spot a couple of summers ago, so I was familiar with the set up. There was a provincial camping park at the end of the 12km road, but there was also a sweet private campsite half way in. I suggested this spot for our group as to not disturb other campers in the area. After a brief reconnaissance from the group it was decided we would camp there.

We all quickly set up camp; I was sleeping in my SUV because I did not trust the BC weather and knew my luck was not the best with camping, and then started making dinner. I love eating out in the woods with a bunch of friends, it’s such a raw experience. Good meals always seem better when catching up with old colleagues.

The group ate and drank into the late hours of the night. Over to the north of our campsite we could see the eerie orange glow from the forest burning. It was our only glimpse of fire for the weekend because of the extreme fire ban in the area. We substituted our campfire for a bright LED lantern, not quite as exciting but understandable. Then it started to rain.

Thank goodness I had the comfort of my vehicle, it rained all night. Some were so soaked they left in the morning due to a poor fly over their tent. The rest of us were troopers lasting up until 4pm; when finally, after raining all day, I was the one who said “Maybe sushi is better”. I watched Crispin’s ears perk up as the idea sank in, we all agreed.

With the same efficiency we rolled in by we rolled out. By 6 we were at a warm dry table, back to civilization and wolfing down sushi. It was a short but very sweet time out in the bush. I was so happy to see Crispin enjoyed my birthday gift of snowmobile oil and the Sheppard Faiery card case.

I got home, unpacked and slipped into a hot bath. I was chilled to the bone and needed the warmth. Last night I slept as hard as I did the first night back from my Oregon trip. When I woke up this morning I was so grateful to be home and eager to get to my tasks at hand before I head down to New Zealand. Now, after this blog entry is done I get to go to the gym, go grocery shopping and finally work on some business stuff. I may not have a regular job but believe me, my career is still work. Still it’s the best damn work and I really enjoy doing it.

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

I had my final day on snow yesterday and it was nice to be in the sun again. As I drove toward Mt. Hood I could not see the distinctive snow covered peak that seems to rise out of nothing. Instead all I saw was cloud, as if it was not there at all. However, as I made my way up the curvy tree lined road the clouds started to thin and the sunshine started to show. It was a beautiful day above the clouds and a perfect way to end my trip to Mt. Hood.

Not only was the weather ideal but so was the pipe. Seeing the fresh cut made me smile, I knew work was going to be done. Having my coach pay close attention to me and put me through drills, it turned out to be another productive day in the half pipe. We started early and ended early because this was only a third of the long day ahead.

After it was off to Hood River to say good bye to my new Hood River family and to pack up the car. As I have said before it was a pleasure meeting them and I am grateful to have them as friends.

Next I went on to Portland to pick up a few last minute presents for my good friend Crispin Lipscomb who turned 30 this week. I think he will be impressed with his Shepperd Farry Obey card holder, a one of a kind item to possess. I was very excited to purchase this gift for him.

Finally it was the long drive back up to Canada. Four and a half hours later I was at the boarder handing my passport to boarder control. It was midnight and I guess they had the time so they pulled me over for a random search. What was a time killer for them was just a killer to me. At last, after an hour of tearing through my possessions they handed me back my documents and I was on my way, tired and hungry. I decided Pho soup was a good solution to my frustrations, and it was.

Driving up I could see the devastation the forest fires were having on the stunning province of British Columbia. In Britania Beach there were actually fires on the cliff beside the highway, I was utterly shocked at how close it was to my home.

At 3am I pulled into my driveway, safe, exhausted and very relieved to finally be home. Nothing can describe that first night in your own bed after a long time away. Sleep came on fast and lasted until 11am. It was almost surreal waking up at home with my own comforts surrounding me. I am taking it all in because over the next two nights I will be camping for Crispin’s birthday celebration. This will be a whole other blog!

Wet and Rainy Day

2009-08-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

This morning when I woke up I was greeted with grey skies and high winds. Not always the best sign when you are expecting to go up the mountain. I knew it must have been bad because when I looked out the window I could not see the beauty of Mt. Hood. Thankfully there is the internet and sure enough when I went to the Timberline website to check out their webcams all I saw was grey on three of the five cams and wet lenses on the other two. I came to the conclusion that I was not going up riding today.

I am looking forward to a day off snow. The past four days have been long, especially yesterday, but I have been taking a lot in. Yesterday was the best day. Although the weather was not as good as it has been, the pipe had a fresh cut on it and I was able to put together some great contest runs. After riding I went to the Town of Hood River to do some shopping and have a very enjoyable dinner with good friends. That night I headed over to the Page’s house where they were accommodating me. We had some great conversations about snowboarding and life. It was fresh to meet good people with wholesome values. I am grateful to have them as friends now.

But today is catching up day for me. Being in transit I missed an opportunity to write about my adventures. So, I found some internet and got to work. Not too much going on other then emailing and going to the gym followed by a big stretching session. Today I get to balance out the high intensity training I have been doing with some reflection. These days are equally as important as on snow days. The Page’s farm style log home and great hospitality provides the perfect environment to relax and get extra work done. Thanks so much to Jenny, Marcia, Jeremy and John for helping out a fellow snowboarder and just being amazing people.

Another day in Piperdise

2009-08-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

I am close to the end of my Mt. Hood training and I am happy to say it has been a productive time here. Although the pipe did not have a fresh cut today it was still super fun. Even with a difficult and inconsistent pipe I still was able to put together competition runs, this made me very happy.

Not only is the riding great here, but so are the people. Because there are only so many half pipes in the world, I end up seeing the same people in different places. Today I was able to exchange names with a Jeremy Page, who is a native to the Hood River region. I have seen this kid in Colorado, California and Vermont and never had a chance to meet him. The one thing I have always noticed about him, other then his massive airs and Terje Haakonsen style, was that he always rode with a ton of heart. I really respect that. However, the coolest aspect of meeting him was that his mom and sister were out taping and cheering him on, even on this very normal day. It was awesome to see that kind of support on the mountain. Still, it gets better. After conversing with his family about snowboarding in Hood and how my coach and I were looking for a new place to stay they offered us a room at their house. It really made me think about how remarkable our snowboarding community is; people who barely knew us were inviting us to stay in their home. So rad, I love snowboarding.

After we came off the mountain it was off to see Alex Neun my photographer. He showed me the pictures from our shoot yesterday and they looked picture perfect, pardon the pun. With in a 30 minute photo shoot he got the on snow shots I was looking for. It’s great to work with professionals. The top photo is just a sample of what he shot. We are going to do more tomorrow but in a lifestyle type setting. I am really looking forward to it.

To top it off, I was able to throw together a killer barbeque with some great new people I now call friends. It was complete with steak, corn, roasted potatoes and carrots, caramelized onions and baby back ribs. Yummy! Again I was held in awe by the community around me as I ate my dinner and was completely satisfied. I really love snowboarding!

Sounds of summer snowboarding

2009-08-04T17:57:00.001-07:00

I am down in Oregon right now training at Mt. Hood and it is the best. Summer is my favorite time of year to be snowboarding, all the fun without the cold. Mt. Hood is a sweet little set up. We ride at Timberline resort which is open from November to September every year and makes it the longest open resort in North America.

Training has been going great, a lot of hiking the half pipe but hard work is to be expected when there are only five months left of qualifying. I have been working closely with the best coaches in Canada and the States to put together some great contest runs and to boost my snowboarding skills in general.

Today was especially fun because I was able to put together a photo shoot with Alex Nun, a well known photographer in the snowboarding industry. We were shooting the new Sony cordless MP3 player/headphones. This is a hot new unit everyone should check out at http://www.sonystyle.ca/ . It’s a great way to move without the hassle of wires getting in the way and since the player is in the headphones the sound clarity is amazing. I love them in the gym, but this was the first time I was able to try them on the mountain.
I will have pictures from Alex in two and share them with you on my website and here at my blog. It was defiantly proven that life is better without strings attached.

Tomorrow I look forward to another day in the sun and on the snow!!