Vancouver 2010 Olympic Champion
Hello and thanks for visiting!
12/14/2011 3:59:28 PM
Pre-race:
This is a brand new track for most of us Bobsleigh athlete’s. There hasn’t been a race here since 2001, and after driving here all week I think it’s a shame. The last time there was a race here, a couple women had some bad crashes and were seriously injured so they ended up closing the track, until now.It’s being brought back on tour because one of our usual track ( the 2006 Olympic track in Cesana,Italy) closed down and they needed somewhere else to go that wasn’t already on the circuit. I was very worried to drive this track for the first time and i know i wasn’t the only one.I had no idea what to expect, but so far it has turned out well and I am very excited to race here. The first day is always the most scary on any track because it has been so long since you were on it last. We only get 6 training runs down a track, then 2 race runs, and you usually don’t go back to that track until the following season. Eight runs down a track per year is not a lot, so day 1 is about making it down and getting the feeling back for that track. On a new track however you have no idea of what it is suppose to feel like, so there is a lot of doubt that can come in. Staying strong in the belief that you know what you are doing is very important.Trusting your instincts is key, and hoping for the best is all you can do. Understanding how the sled is going to react in a corner, and understanding the corner itself is the more important thing. I was able to come to La Plagne a few days before sliding began, so we have done a lot of preparation to minimize the doubt and by the time sliding started I was as ready as i could be. I think being in a new sled this year, I was a little more scared of the unknown than usual, but after the day 2 i was no longer scared. Training so far has been great, I am fast and amongst the top German girls on a consistent basis. This is the most consistent driving I have done all year and I am happy about that no matter how the race ends up. I love the way the track feels, how the sled rides in these high pressure long corners, i think it’s perfect for my driving style and that it suits me very well. This track is fast and the corners hold a lot of pressure, which makes it easy for me to feel what the sled is doing, therefore I can allow it to be free which is always the fastest way. If you would have asked me immediately after day 1 what i thought about the track I would have honestly told you i hated it. I would be lying if i said it didn’t scare me. Everyone around me was saying how much they loved it, but i wasn’t so sure. After day 2 I felt a lot more comfortable and now by day 3 I am hooked. Heading into race day now, I am excited but still hesitant. I know there is a chance to do well, but if we get beat really bad at the start like last race I am nervous that i won’t be able to make it up with my driving. All I can do is my best, and hope that we are better at the start this race, and I drive like I have been all week. I trust in my ability and know that if we are close at the start, I can drive amongst the best of them, but if we are behind at the start I’m scared I won’t be able to make it up. At the end of the day I have to remember that all I can do is my best. As long as i go out there, push as hard as I can, and drive this track like I know how, the rest will fall into it’s place. ?The start on this track is very long and flat. For me as an athlete this is perfect. I am more of a power athlete and less sprinter style, so the tracks where you have to dig it out and really push I do best on. I have to remember though that it’s not just me pushing. I have a fairly new brakeman and I have no idea what type of tracks best suit her. I guess we will find out shortly.
5/28/2011 11:27:01 PM
This summer so far has been pretty busy, and it’s just starting to wind down. I am looking forward to being able to focus more on training and getting into the best shape for this coming season, while making strides towards 2014. I have a few things planned for the rest of the summer, but nothing like last year. Last summer was extremely busy, not that I am complaining cause I am grateful for every opportunity, but it’s nice to finally focus on what’s most important which is training.
I just arrived home from NewYork City, where I had the good fortune of doing a photo shoot with ESPN magazine. I am very excited that I was able to do a photo shoot for a major company, but I was just as excited for the shopping. All who know me are aware I love shopping and this is New York City, it’s the meka for fashion. I went with my mom, and being able to share that experience with her was a treat for both of us. The shoot was amazing, I had the best time, but can honestly say that I am now quite sore from the strain of the shoot. First off they had me slather baby oil all over my body (while wearing a sports bra and bottoms), and wet my hair so that it could be pulled back for a slick look. Then the photographer warned me it was going to be a workout, and even during the shoot I kept thinking, “ok this isn’t easy, but it’s nothing compared to my 5 hrs worth of training everyday.” We did all different types of shapes and I tired my best to make my legs look even more huge. Some shots were more focused on power and strength, others on profile, but overall I felt amazing. I did however feel bad for the assistants that were always having to help resist my pulling and pushing on their gym equipment. I don’t think they were quite prepared for me in that sense, but everyone at the shoot was brilliant at giving it their 110% ( or as I like to say they were very Olympic) in helping to make my photo’s look the best they could be. The day after I for sure can say that I used my muscles in a different way, and they thanked me for it. I am so excited to see what photo ESPN magazine will use, and knowing what kind of photo’s we shot, I am even more excited to hopefully get a few copies for my wall at home. Maybe one day when I get old I can look back and say “yes at some point in my life I looked like that.”
Before NYC the summer has been full of adventure, but also grounding and real. In March I was able to go to Liberia, Africa with my charity Right To Play. It was an experience I will never forget and has really taught me the value of making the most of every opportunity I am given, and the importance of giving opportunity just as freely. It was one of the most life changing experiences I have had, and I now feel like I understand completely the impact that RTP has on people around the world. The values that RTP has taught to everyone (children as well as adults), the empowerment, confidence, willingness to speak up, and just plain fun that is needed in life, was all very apparent on my trip. I was lucky to be able to experience a 3rd world country and see first hand how the charity I support is making this world better, and I only hope to be able to give back in so many ways.
This summer I was also fortunate to be apart of a first (and hopefully annual) Hero’s Tour, across Atlantic Canada. It was an initiative put on by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to help spread the Olympic Movement and keep it alive during our non-Olympic years. There was 9 of us athlete’s all spread from summer to winter Olympic and Paralympic athlete’s. The Atlantic provinces did an amazing job at welcoming us as athlete’s and really took the message we were spreading to heart. We visited all 4 atlantic regions, which was a first for many of us, and I even kissed a puffin’s butt in Newfoundland after a screeching ceremony. We did many events from a few Children’s hospital visits, “Mile Zero” where Terry Fox took his first steps towards his marathon of hope campaign, teaching an exercise class full of local athlete’s,breakfast with true military hero’s and getting to board the HMCS Montreal, while finishing the week with a stadium full of 6,000 screaming teens (and getting to know what Justin Bieber feels like) and the list of memories goes on and on. The best part of the whole event was getting to know the other 8 athlete’s as well as the COC staff, as they were what made this event so much fun. I can honestly say at the start of the tour I was a bit nervous as it was a week long event, and it could have gone either way, but I had a blast. The tour was followed by another couple days with everyone that took part in the COC’s Hall of Fame Gala (reasoning for us being in Atlantic Canada), and when it was all said and done I hope it’s something everyone from the upcoming provinces/cities to local people in the communities as well as the COC continues to adopt.
Directly after the Hero’s Tour I headed to L.A (California) and joined my coach and his new athlete’s for a week long training camp. It was the start of my training for the summer and a great way to kick off my new season. The weather was sunny / warm and getting to train with my coach and a great group of athlete’s was maximally beneficial. It was the kick up the butt that I needed. I am now a couple weeks into training and feeling better than I did at any point last year. I still have a long way to go and I know it’s a slow process, but every day I train hard and follow my diet it’s another grain on rice in my cup. I was told once by a very smart woman, the goals is to have the cup overflowing with rice by Sochi (2014 Olympics) so that I can have no regrets. The way I see it if I have a bad day (which happens to us all) and I slack, a grain of rice comes out of my cup. As long as I have more grains of rice going in then coming out, I'm golden.
The rest of the summer is focused around training, with a couple weeks planned end of July where I will be heading to the U.K and Holland to visit my coach and sled builder. I look forward to many more events this coming summer.
4/23/2011 9:54:30 AM
Our first stop on day 1 was to the Right To Play (RTP) National office. There we met the National Director of RTP in Liberia, Natasha, as well as many of the other staff. Everyone was elated that we were there and Kyle, Jaime and myself were equally excited. The next 5 days we would get to know everyone quite well, and I can honestly say I made some great friends. Ones that I hope to visit in the near future and re-connect with. There were a few key things we learned from Natasha right off the bat, things to keep in mind when meeting new people as well as things to be aware of while walking down the streets. The first thing we learned very shortly after arriving was that almost any word can be made dirty. I never had imagined how a name such as Right To Play could be turned into a sexual connotation, but somehow being ask “do I have the right to play?” from complete strangers followed by a wink does the trick. It was something we all had to get use to because it happened at least a couple times a day. The 2nd thing we had to learn was the secret Liberian handshake. It’s a normal handshake (unless you decide to do the advanced version with a number of different moves), but it’s a normal hand shake followed by a snap of the middle fingers at the end. The snap is done between you and the other person, and it’s a lot harder than it sounds. By the last day we kinda had it figured out, but still not great. Kyle and I would practice it at least a couple times a day, so we wouldn’t be total rookies but I don’t think it really showed.
In the office we wasted no time getting to know all about the specifics on how Liberia was implementing the programs, as well as an itinerary for the week.
After the briefing it was time to go out and meet the people. We were told that westpoint community was our first location and we would be there for the majority of the day. All 3 of us were very gung-ho about heading into Monrovia, seeing the RTP programs at work and playing with the kids. Soon we realized the westpoint was the worst part of the city and is classified as the slums. We were warned before arriving not to take out to many electronic items as you would possibly be attacked for them, and knowing that we were already going to stand out, it made all of your senses that much more heightened. As soon as I stepped out the nicely airconditioned vehicle, it was like a heat wave that smacks you straight in the face. The worst part about the heat wave though was the smell that accompanied it. It was enough to just about make me throw up. It was a smell of fish (because they are right on the ocean), garbage (because they were basically living in a landfill), and human feces (because people would just go the the bathroom right outside there homes on the sand), accompanied by swarms of flies all around. I had never experienced such extreme poverty before in my entire life and can’t even imagine how people live life this way. Walking thru the intertwined shacks to our first location was basically like walking thru a corn maze never knowing which way is up. If it weren’t for the locals we had with us it would have be impossible to find your way around, and you didn’t dare leave the middle of the group for fear that you would get lost and never return home. It was for sure overwhelming, a lot to take in, massively depressing at the same unbelievable. As soon as we arrived at the first school we were greeted by an massive amount of students, way more than there should have been, all screaming there heads off in excitement. I felt bad because a few times it caused a riot and there was a lot of pushing and shoving to try and get close to any one of us. Not to sure how many of them had actually seen a white person before but you could tell that visitors non the less were not a usual occurrence. All of them wanting to shake our hands and after the first few kids, I hate to say it, I felt uneasy shaking everyone’s hand mostly for fear that I didn’t know where those hands might have been, so all 3 of us quickly switched to the pound. The kids picked it up instantly and it was easier for us to get to the majority of children, while remaining a little bit more germ free. I am not a germaphobe by any means, I have a very bad habit of nail bitting since I was 7 yrs old, but nothing makes you feel grosser than knowing hand washing is not common and is a major reason for illness in Africa. One of my favorite songs that RTP teaches kids is about this very subject and it’s sung to the same tune as fara shaka. “Wash your hands, wash your hands, with some soap, with some soap, if you do not do this, if you do not do this, you’ll get sick, you’ll get sick.” We visited 3 different schools in westpoint on day 1 all of them very different, as well as a coaches forum. A forum is where coaches and leaders with RTP meet once a week to discuss issues they are having with kids, how they have delt with a troubled student in the past, all in hopes that they can learn form each other and become stronger individuals. It’s something that the people of Monrovia feel is very important and really helps encourage the leaders to continue the proper teaching techniques. They started and organize the weekly forums all on there own and is an example of how RTP is empowering not only the kids, but adults within the community as well. It was at the 2nd school of the day that I had my first hair pulling experience of the trip, a tradition that continued a couple times a day throughout the entire week. I was kinda prepared for it as my husband had warned me about it previous to going, but the first time is always a shock. Whenever I would bend down to take a picture with the children (but really it happened with adults as well), it wouldn’t be to long before I would feel hands all over my head. Some would just stroke, some would grab handfulls and pull, and some tried to steal the clips I had in my hair. It’s funny to me because on the plane ride over I watched many movies, but one of them was called Tangled. It’s the new Disney movie about the story of Repunzel. The story line is about a princess locked high up in a tower because her blonde hair had magic powers. Every time I would get my hair pulled I would get flash backs to when Repunzel’s hair would glow bright blonde, and how everyone wanted to cut off a piece to keep her magical hair. It made me laugh for a brief second before I would have to stand up because the pulling could get a bit intense. Thanks Liberia for making me feel like a princess! Blonde hair in certain culture is considered good luck, and Liberia just so happens to be one of those places, therefore any opportunity for people had to grab hold, they didn’t waste time. When we got to the 3rd school they were in the middle of a play session and I was so excited because it was my first real life play session. It’s where I was first introduced to what is now my favorite game called “Ride the big fat pony”. There is a video of it on my facebook and soon will post it to my website.
Perspective from the first night when we arrived to the end of day 1, couldn’t have changed more dramatically. When we first got to our hotel day 1 it wasn’t the best looking place. All 3 of us were very concerned about bed bugs, and I had a wet dirty old rag scattered on the floor in my room to pick up the water drips that were coming from the ceiling. By the end of day 1, and when we returned back to the hotel, it was like a breath of fresh air. My once dingy room had now become a palace and sleeping in my bed was no longer a concern, it was more floating on a cloud.
4/4/2011 6:11:40 PM
In my latest blog I made a grave mistake. Sinful really.
I am here to say I retract my date about Kyle's gold medal. SORRY KYLE!!! just noticed that it says 2002 and it should say 2004. Kyle Won his gold medal in the 2004 , Athens, Greece OWG.
4/4/2011 3:51:18 PM
On my way to Liberia ( Africa) and I am very excited. I am an athlete ambassador for an excecellent charity called RIGHT TO PLAY. It’s an organization that believes every child deserves the right to play no matter gender, age, race or where you come from.
The travel so far though to Monrovia has been exhausting and I can honestly say I will never complain about 1 eight hour flight to Germany again. By the time we arrive in Monrovia we will have travelled for 47 hours straight. That is by far the longest total time I have ever travelled for. I am travelling with two other amazing people, Kyle Shewfelt who is Canada’s 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist in Gymnastics, and Jaime Wilson whom is an RTP National Director. Kyle and I flew from Calgary to Toronto, then met up with Jaime in TO and flew 8 hours to Brussels, and finally a 7 hour flight from brussels to Monrovia. I left snowy Calgary on the morning of April 2nd at 7:30am and arrived in Monrovia and 6:15pm pm on the night of April 3rd. It has been a marathon of travel but with teammembers for this trip as great as mine it has been so much fun. Kyle and I have known each other for years and I can honestly say after this many travel hours together, I know him far more intimately than I ever thought I wanted to. As for Jaime this is my first time meeting and getting to know her, and from what I have learned to date we could become really good friends.
When we landed in Monrovia after a long day of travel I was so ready to be at our destination. My hair was greasy and my face felt just as bad as my hair looked. My teeth needed a brushing and I can openly admit I smelled like BO. All 3 of us never having been to Africa before were all just kinda going with the flow and were open for just about anything. Pulling into the airport, the plane just kinda stopped in the middle of the runway ,and when i looked out the window there was a giant stair case and about 20 people that were acting as the welcoming committee. That was it, no bells or whistles or anything that resembled an airport at all. the airfield and runways waere fenced off with regular chainlink fence and it was pretty basic, the most basic airport i have ever seen in my whole life. Welcome to a 3rd world country. We walked off the plane and into the smallest room possible. We somehow after 20 minutes of being in a line up (and inching forward consistantly) towards customs were 5 people from being the back of the plane people. Kyle and I were in rows 18 of a 40 somthing row plane. It was interesting to see how even getting thru customs depended on who you were. Were not in Kansas anymore Dorthy!
Once thru customs, baggage claim was the next step, and that was like hell. It was filled with porters and people so jammed packed it took us 10 minutes just to find a way to the carousel. Our bags went around the belt like 5 times that we could see, there was just no chance in heck of getting thru the mobs to grab them, so we waited. Pushing our way thru security and out of the airport was interesting enough as well, and it only got better from there. Long story short, I got hustled for about $10 USD and we all learned a valuable lesson on how to not get roped in. I now suffer the consiquenses of having my blonde hair, realizing I make for a very easy target over here. After Kyle almost peed himself driving to the hotel, we finally arrived at the Royal Hotel got all checked in, showered, changed and ate dinner. Day 1 in Monrovia is over. Very excited for what is to come over the next few days and from what i could see, in the dark driving to the hotel, I am in for a real treat.
I am so honored to be given the opportunity, to be able to tavel across the world to help inspire a completely different group / continent of people. I hope I will leave this week with a completely different appreciation for life, and have a new found respect for what others around this world have to endure on a day to day basis. I know that I have been given many opportunities to participate in sport throughout my life so far, and because of that, I have become the person I am today. Sport has taught me respect,leadership, goalsetting, hardwork, and the list goes on and on. Right To Play believes that thru sport not only can you teach these life lessons, you can become a healthier more happy human being. To be able to supply these children with sports equipment , set up programs, and allow them to play and be kids is what makes RTP one of the best charity organizations I know.
3/2/2011 4:51:33 PM
Finale
A common question that was asked after the race was over, by almost everyone, was “Are you happy with your result?”. My first initial reaction is to say NO, because I didn’t win, but taking a step back and looking at the season as a whole, I can honestly say that Yes I am happy with my result. The goal this year was always to come out and do well at the World Champs regardless of how the year played out, and finishing 3rd definitely classifies as a great result. The perfectionist inside me wants to say that although 3rd in the World is great, 1st is so much better. It wants to say that I could have done more, that I should work harder, and how can you be happy being the 2nd loser. This is the part of me that pushes me to be the best, it’s the reason that I was able to start driving only 4 years before I became Olympic Champion, and it’s the part of me that keeps me hungry for more. In sport I strive to be perfect, because I know that if I am perfect I will win, and although people say it’s not all about winning and I agree with them, the perfectionist inside me says they are wrong. Regardless, my 3rd place result set a new record, as it’s the first time Canada has won a medal at the World Championships. This is now the 2nd record I hold in the sport and no matter how you look at that, it’s a great thing.
At the start of last week I received a sweet surprise, as Dan (my husband) decided to spontaneously fly all the way over here to watch me race. My Parents were not able to come, so they decided to fly Dan out to have the family support present. It was great to be able to see him, as it had been early 8 weeks and I was getting a little home sick. I don’t usually like seeing my family to often before a race, as they are not always there and consistency is key. There is a list of rules that my family is aware of when they watch me race live, and those rules don’t change wether it’s a World Cup / World Champs / Olympics, but it’s rules that I need them to follow because distractions can be the difference between winning and losing. Never the less, I love it when they come and they understand that support comes in many different forms, just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you are there. Dan on the other hand is different to my parents / sisters as he has been around for the past 3 years on tour with me and so having him present this week has been a treat. It took 2 full years for us to figure out how to work / eat / sleep / train ...... together and I can honestly say that those years were very hard. Last year (Olympic year) was the first year that we had things figured out, and now that we are not on tour together it’s going to take us some time to figure out how to live this way as well. Anyone who has worked with a spouse can understand that it’s not easy, wether you work together or spend so much time apart, either way it’s a learning curve.
The race it’s self was difficult. It had some ups and downs (like the rest of my season), but in the end we were able to hang on to our 3rd place ranking. Overall our starts this race were not what we expected, and a little disappointing for both of us. H.Moyse and I had been getting faster each race, expectations were high, and both of us thought that we would be back on form or just slightly behind the start record (one that we set last year). Needless to say we were both a little flat, and when we don’t live up to our own expectations there is a reason why. We learned something about our body’s this race, and just how much physio therapy and acupuncture is good, before it becomes a detriment. What makes this hard to process is that the lesson learned, should not have been at a time when everything is on the line. We employ people to help us take care of our bodies so that this type of thing doesn’t happen, but now I know, more than ever, that having great therapist is mandatory on tour. The positive side to this story, is that I was able to be a consistent pilot, something that I have been working on for years. Although the starts were not quite what we expected, they were still amongst the best, and it gave me enough to work with as a pilot. Our velocity going into the first corner was great, and that is far more important than a time. I was able to prove to myself that even with a good start, my driving has come a long way and I can hold my own with the top drivers in the world. Experience and driving skill ( the part of Bobsleigh that everyone says takes time) is finally starting to show. This is the main reason I am happy with the 3rd place.
I am staying in Germany for an extra 2 weeks, and my plan is to have no plan. Dan was here until mid week, so being able to spend some extra time with him and relax, was an excellent way for me to wind down. I stayed and watched the 4-man race, which ended with a great friend becoming World Champion, so I was very happy to be able to watch that. Now I have rented a car and will be driving around Germany visiting friends, meeting people and enjoying new parts of the world. It’s a great chance for me to wind down, and to build friendships with other athlete’s from all different nations. its what makes the sport fun for me (besides the speed and adrenaline of course).
I would just like to say a huge Thank you to my partners (sponsors) for everything you have done for me this year. I really appreciate you coming on board and supporting my team. It’s because of you that I was able to be the first Canadian in Women’s Bobsleigh to win a medal at the World Championships. I look forward to re-connecting with everyone when I return home.
2/17/2011 3:21:34 PM
“Your Sports Team Will Be Very Successful This Year”. It’s a fortune cookie message that I have taped to the inside of my computer. I opened it last year in October while we were in Whistler, before the 2009/10 season started.I have never been one to believe these messages, as they usually have no significance to anything that truly happens in life, but for some reason when I opened this one, it was perfect. I taped it to my computer, where it remains to this day, and with how the season played out last year it couldn’t have been more correct. Saying that I am not going to believe every fortune that I open, but sometimes it’s just meant to be. I now open my computer, and everyday I get a great reminder of the year that was so perfect, and how dreams really do come true if you just believe.We are now getting closer the one year anniversary date of my gold medal moment, and I know I am going to do something big, I am just not sure what to do. Every idea just doesn’t quite cut it, but first I have to get thru these World Championships and then I can plan for an extravaganza on the 24th.
This week leading into the race has been pretty eventful. I did a little shopping in Salzburg which was a great release for me, shopping therapy, visited “ Hotel Turken” which is a bunker that was used by hitler during WWII, and attending a school presentation for me put on by my new fan club here in Germany. The school visit was one of my favorite things this week, and although it was a little tough to get over the language barrier we all made it work. It is a special school that is designed for young athlete’s that are up and coming in winter sport. To see all those young faces that are already being given an opportunity to excel in sport, make you realize that the Germans are good for a reason. Excellence starts young and for me to be able to inspire any young child towards their goals / dreams, even if they grow up one day to kick my kids butt, makes my job worth while. I now have 40 German kids from ages 8-12 that will be chanting “Go Canada Go” in a home World Championships, it can’t get much better than that.
With race day tomorrow I am feeling very excited. Training has gone well, and I am right in the mix with everyone. Usually when I am right in the mix, it means that the reserve I have with held from training will be given a chance to shine, I just hope that reserve is enough. We have 2 days of racing back to back now, and it’s about consistency. I start the race #3, which is my overall ranking from the World Cup standings this year, but the good part is that the Germans are ranked #1 and #2. It’s always good when you are around Germans in a race draw, especially on their home track, because the track is usually prepared a lot better for them in a strategic manner, Politics.
Heather’s ankle is feeling better, still not 100%, but we are here now and nothing more can be done. It’s all or nothing time, so here we go....
1/30/2011 6:28:39 AM
Race #7
Recently I was talking with an American pilot, Bree Schaaf, about this summer after the Olympics and heading into this competitive year. She raced in Vancouver, and finished 5th which was very good. She was talking about how heading into this season and during the summer she noticed that she went thru a bit of depression, and I started to think how many other successful athlete’s in the Olympics are feeling this same way right now. I can honestly say that I understand what she is talking about, wether or not it’s depression I don’t know, but I do notice that things are different no matter how hard I try to deny it. As an amateur athlete you spend so many years anticipating the Olympics, even more so when it’s a home games, and for it to be all over so quickly is hard to believe and very anti-climatic. Achieving a Gold Medal dream and being able to live that dream at home, was nothing I could have ever imagined, but now I seem to compare everything to that level, and I probably shouldn’t. I know I have 3 years now until the next games, and it’s the only reason why I am not freaking out right now about my current World Cup results, it’s just that it doesn’t feel the same. Maybe it’s not the depression from the Olympics, but the Gold Medal that has caused this change, maybe it’s both. All I know is that right now I am doing the same thing I have done for the past 8 years, and in the exact same way. I focus on the task at hand while looking ahead for the future Olympics, but while I do this something is different and I can’t quite but my finger on it. It’s not that it’s a negative thing either (although my results are not the best, so it’s hard to see it as a positive at this moment), but maybe for right now this is what is suppose to happen. That is what I am currently telling myself anyway.
As for training this week, sliding has gone well. I feel more like myself and the speeds and times are right up there with the top girls. I am very happy that I was able to come out here right after christmas and slide for those 2 days of Swiss Championships, as it has made this week a lot easier to handle. There was less pressure on me to figure out the track as quickly as possible, and that has given me more confidence in my ability. We changed the sled steering mechanism this week, to something that is completely different than how I have driven for the past 4 years, and at first I was very nervous. I was nervous for many reasons the main one being my ability. Was I going to be able to adapt to new softer steering?, did I have the skill required to drive the sled a different way?, just how good of a pilot was I really?, all questions running through my head in the first day of training. I didn’t have room for questions about the track, and because I was able to focus on feeling the sled, I think I was able to just look where I was going and drive. Right from day one with the new steering I was fast , and although no run has been perfect yet and it will take time to adjust fully, I will do my best to drive as well in the race as I have in training and just be one with the track (it’s the fastest way). As an athlete the only thing we can control is ourselves, and on race day the only thing I can hope for is to have my best training day possible. Being the best doesn’t happen over night, and it’s not easy nor does it just happen by luck. I can hope that God will come down from up above and touch me on the shoulder and BAAM now I am the best, but that isn’t how it works. So tomorrow I will slide the best runs I can have and see if others do the same. I trust that if I have my 2 best runs possible, no one will touch me (like it happened at the Olympics last year), but it’s up to me to make that happen and do the business.
1/22/2011 3:57:16 PM
Are you pregnant?
This is the question that was posed to us after the race here in Winterberg. Not because our speed suits are extremely tight, unflattering, and have two zippers for all the guys in case of a bathroom break. It was because we are bobsledders, and hungry ones at that. Food is something we don’t really struggle with, and my usual response to food questions in the media is “ You don’t get this body by eating only salad”. A statement made funnier when you actually see that I am not exactly a petite size women. So after the race the two heathers and I decided to go for waffles, because we were starving and it’s something we always do here in Winterberg. I don’t know how they do it, maybe it’s the fact that they are shaped like little hearts, but this place makes the best waffles I have ever eaten. When the waitress came up to us, we ordered for 6 waffles four with whipped cream and two with powder sugar, and three coca cola’s to drink. She looked a little stunned at first, then proceeded to laugh, and when she realized that we were not joking, she asked us if we were pregnant. At first I didn’t know what to think, wether to be insulted or not, and if she meant that because of our size or due to the amount of food we just ordered. I quickly looked around and saw a couple sitting behind us drinking coffee and sharing one waffle between the two of them, then it dawned on me that this might be the first time this waitress has ever been asked to get 6 waffles for 3 girls. I guess there is a first time for everything.
The race itself was interesting. It’s getting a little easier to come 8th place, as this has been a pretty consistent number for me, but I am noticing that although it’s getting easier, I am becoming more and more deflated every time. This year to date has been the worst year I have ever had in my 4 year history as a pilot. Everyone continues to tell me that it’s not that bad, as I am ranked 4th in the overall standings right now and not far out of 3rd, but in the past 4 races I have not been in the top 6, so regardless of the overall ranking, I am not happy.
The starts this race were better than last week, which is great news for H.Moyse and I, it means that we are getting stronger each race. As for the driving, I had some really positive things to look back on, but I also had some major issues that need to be addressed as well. Needless to say, we are going to change the entire steering system in my sled hoping that this will give me more feeling while driving down the track, and who knows maybe this is the difference that will allow me to bring back the old Kaillie. It’s a bit drastic, especially for the middle of season, but as far as i am concerned I need something drastic to snap me out of this funk.
1/20/2011 5:50:52 AM
Race #6
Winterberg, the land of joyous fog, rain, snow, and basically every other weather condition except for the sun. The Amazing part is this is normal for here. We just finished the official training, today is the day off before the race, and heading into the race tomorrow I have no idea what the conditions are going to be. Weather seems to be an issue here always, but never for the good. It’s like russian roulette but every option is miserable. Mother Nature isn’t so kind to Winterberg, but I guess it’s also how you look at.
We arrived here sunday night after a 6 hours drive from Austria, and much to my surprise Monday morning was beautiful. I think it shocked all of us athlete’s, as i honestly can’t remember one other time I have seen the sun here, but it was only a matter of time. Tuesday Morning was back to normal with fog so thick you can only see 100 meters in front of you and a light drizzle of rain , and by the evening it was raining quite hard. We woke up Wednesday morning to a cloudy snowy day, which by the evening had turned into a full out snow storm. Today is still very cloudy, a little chill to the air and there had been no sign of the sun in the past 3 days. I think if I lived here permanently I would need to own a sun bed, for the vitamin D alone.
The hard part about the weather here for a bobsledder is that when it comes to choosing the best equipment for race day, it’s a total guess. The sled stays the same as I only have one, but the runners are very dependent on ice temperatures. Some are wider and will be faster in warm weather, and some are narrower so you will be faster in cold weather. It gets even more complicated as a specific runner also has an optimal temperature that it is fastest in, and that is very dependent on the runner itself. Most runners have a range of about 4 degrees, and if you drop above or below that, to bad your slow. Now if you confuse the different widths ( to make it easy there are average 3) , or weather changes as drastically as it can here, then you might choose the wrong one, which can cause you to be half a second behind easy and there is nothing you can do about it. You could wake up and it will be rainy, with a snow storm that magically appears in the afternoon, and if you chose a warm (wider) runner cause it was rainy warm in the morning, your out of luck because in the snow a thick runner is too fat and you will be snow plowing a grove for the other competitors to follow. It’s a tricky decision, choosing equipment, but one that I as a pilot have to face every week. Sometimes you can be right on, and sometimes you loose, all things that most people are not aware of.
Heading into tomorrow I have no expectation for this race, as this is usually my worst track on circuit. It is very similar driving to the last place, and requires very little. It is one of the tracks that is easy to get down, but to do it fast is hard. You make one mistake and better luck next year, especially in the first 5 corners of this track. My best result here is 5th place, but we do currently hold the start record (which Heather Moyse and I set last year.) I am hoping that tomorrow will be a stronger result than last week, and heading into next week we will continue to grow stronger each race until World Championships at the end of February.
I hate saying it, but tomorrow will be one of those races that you just head out, try your best and whatever happens, happens. I know the K.I.S.S principal is to always just go out and do your best, but at the same time, it does annoy me a little that the Canadian mentality (according to the rest of the world), is that we are just happy to be there and as long as we do our best, that’s all we can ask.
I think the Olympics was the first public display of us actually standing up and saying although we are happy to be here, and yes we will do our best, we are also happy to kick your butt as well. We are no longer just showing up to do our best, our best is top in the world. Although we received some flack for it initially from the press, it is the reason I am so proud of my fellow Canadian athlete’s, but also proud of us as a country. We stood up for greatness as well as doing it in a Canadian fashion. We showed up to do our best, but more importantly we showed up to win.
Tomorrow I am not so confidant with what result will be achieved, but I will do it K.I.S.S. style (even if i hate what it represents), cause I honestly don’t know what else to do.
12/20/2010 10:39:19 PM
Race #4 & 5 - Lake Placid, NY, U.S.A
We are now in the final stretch before christmas and we have 2 races this week. I am not to sure how H.Hughes (my brakeman) is going to handle racing back to back, but it will be interesting to see how she does. Racing back to back days is usually something that only happens once a year at the World Championships or Olympics, and is very different to every other World Cup race we do in the year. Having to perform 2 days in a row is very different, than just giving it your all on one day, this is where experience comes in.
As for me, I am very much looking forward to racing here on this track, it was the first track I learned how to drive. Most athletes hate this track though, as it is classified as one of the top 3 hardest in world (along with Whistler and Altenberg), but I think it’s all in how you look at it. Mental focus / stability is a major issue in every athlete and for many different reasons, but in our sport when things happen at lightning speed there is no time for second guessing or self doubt. If you have it in your head that the track is difficult or dangerous, that the speed is to great or your simply just not ready, reaction times are thrown off and you second guess your decisions. In Bobsleigh you have a very small window to steer the sled or you miss the pressure and you have no control, when this happens the usual reaction is to panic and feeling goes out the window, we call it survival mode. That mode is never ideal and trust me when I say it makes you feel very panicked, and i don’t know one person that likes to feel panic. We as athletes try not to focus on the negative that happens in sport, but sometimes it does creep in, and turning it around is a science. This is one of the reasons I will always look for the positive, and why I will also keep things simple. The more positive and simpler life is, the more room i have to focus on the task at hand. So no matter how many people tell me the track is one of the worst, I choose to make it the best.
For some reason I seem to do better on the harder tracks, the ones that most hate, and the easier ones I have more difficulty with. The harder tracks require more focus and more driving but risk is greater for crashes, and for me that is the best. The reasoning for it, is actually one of my weaknesses. I have a very heavy hand when it comes to driving a bobsled, and for the past 4 years I have been working on giving up control and allowing my sled to just run free. The more you steer a sled the slower it goes, and the more you can just let it run free and do the work by it’s self, the faster it is. So when it comes to the harder ( more driving) tracks, I seem to do better because driving is natural for me, and the tracks that require less steering are actually ones that I have to really concentrate on. This track really suits my style of driving, therefore I have always had great results on it, and that is the reason for my excitement this week.
The fact that we have two races, is like the icing on the cake.
12/12/2010 10:21:13 AM
I think the title says it all. As per normal , and every year we have come here, without fail it has snowed on our race day and yesterday was no different. It was raining in the morning, and by mid afternoon it had turned into slush with a little bit of hail, eventually turning into a full blown snow storm. There was still no indication that it as going to be a horrible race, but by 3pm the winds had picked up, and with the high altitude at the track, it very quickly became a snow storm. Living in Calgary I fully understand that weather can change in a heartbeat, so I am not surprised at how quickly we were snowed out.
Still I went about life as I normally would on race day, doing my pre warm-up 5 hours before, so my central nervous system is highly activated, and then trying to calm my nerves down so i don’t get to excited to early on in the day. Trying to eat some lunch and pack up the sled with all the racing stuff to head to the track, and being at the track (as the weather got worse) doing my track walk 2 hours before the race starts, going over what I am suppose to do in every corner. We started to warm up 1 hour before go time, and the race started on time, as any snowy race usually does not. Being in a sport where cold weather is a necessity, snowy races are common, not appreciated as much but common non the less. I was drawn the 2nd sled off this race, which is usually one of the better numbers you can have in weather like this. It makes it so the girl ahead of you can make the tracks in the snow and snowplow, and you still get the fresh ice underneath, as long as you stay in her tracks.
First run was ok for me driving wise, but the push was lacking and on this track the push is important. I was actually pretty happy with the run, and I only made one mistake near the bottom of the track. It was one of my better runs on this track (not perfect ) but better, and I knew I could go even faster on 2nd run. Saying that the time wasn’t there and looking back I am now happy that the race was cancelled, but sad at the same time. I was looking forward to getting another shot at making it perfect, and when they stopped the race after the 7th sled in the 1st run, I was immediately a little disappointed. The weather had gotten so bad from the 1st sled to the 7th, that by the time they stopped the race you could barely see into the next corner, as well as the fact that the timing eyes had blown closed with snow and they couldn’t get it clean.
The push on our only run, wasn’t the best and that would have made it hard for us to do well anyway, especially on this track where the start means a lot, but I can leave here knowing that my driving skills are improving and I am getting better at consistency. I can’t say where I would have ended up , because some of the top girls had not gone down, so for now i have to just look at my driving and the pushing, and compare my run to what I had done during our training week.
As for the cancellation of this race, they have decided to have a make up race. It is planned for now to be in Lake Placid, N.Y (which is the next world cup location), but it is not confirmed. Basically this race is a wash and didn’t happen, so they will have a totally different one somewhere else. Sometimes this is a blessing in disguise, if the next location is one that you like, and sometimes it sucks if the place they plan to have it is somewhere you don’t like. At the end of the day, weather is something I can’t control, and where they have the make-up race is out of my control as well, so I will just hope that it is in Lake Placid (cause I like this track), but we will have to wait and see if they can accommodate a 2 women’s races back to back.
Regardless where ever they plan to have it, it will be a great learning lesson for the new brakeman. Having 2 races back to back sort of simulates a World Championship or Olympics,where it’s done over 2 days and it’s the total of all 4 runs. This would still be considered 2 separate races, but be can pretend that all 4 runs count towards one race. A regular world cup race is one day and two runs total. This is why i focus so much on consistency, because being able to have good runs back to back as a pilot is more important in the top races, then having a good and and bad run, when all 4 runs count for time.
As for now, i will chalk this race up to more driving experience and look forward towards our next destination.
12/6/2010 1:18:20 PM
Calgary Finale
At the end of the race, I look back and I can honestly say it was not my finest hour. The race as a whole left a lot to be desired, and I am now looking forward to moving on.
It’s hard to be happy with a 4th place result (especially when it’s behind another Canadian) , but I have to remember that the all the girls ahead of us are very experienced and we are a brand new team (not to mention H.Hughes is the newest Brakeman by far in the top 5). I am sure that I didn’t hide my disappointment very well, but I have to remember that it’s only the beginning of the season and I have an ace in back pocket (Heather Moyse ) ready to be pulled out at the right moment. Saying that, I knew that this season was going to be about me and improving my driving skill, and looking back on the race I didn’t drive perfect. Overall we deserved the place that we received and will work harder to make sure that I don’t feel this way again. It’s one thing to come 4th knowing that you did everything you could, but it’s another to be mad at yourself and know you could have done better.
During these times I remind myself that it’s how we overcome obstacles that determines what kind of Champion we will be. As long as I stick to the plan, and not become to frustrated or impatient , I trust that things will workout in the end.
I can’t spend to much time reviewing what has happened, and there is no time to dwell on the past, so I will learn and move forward because everyday there is something to be gained and who knows when it will come in handy.
Thank you to everyone that came out and supported me on Friday, I really appreciate it, and I hope that you enjoyed watching Bobsleigh live. I look forward to next year when we can plan a big TOTAL fan club event for the race and have everyone come out to be apart of the team.
On a more positive note, we did have a couple really cool experiences and some fun moments throughout this week. For starters, and I think one of the coolest was our limo ride to dinner on Thursday night. It has become a tradition since last season to eat steak and french fries the night before a race, and it was something that started with the Swiss Mens team a while back, we just adopted it and joined in. I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO of Ric’s Grill during the World Cup in Whistler, and he wanted to supply us with our pre race dinner while here in Calgary. So we headed to the downtown location and not long after we ordered the waiter comes out and informs us that the kitchen had flooded and they couldn’t serve us any food. Now instead of just saying sorry and to bad, or sending us somewhere else, they ordered us a stretched limo and pre-ordered our food sending us to the newly opened location in the N.E. It was a blast and when we arrived our food was waiting for us, so no time was waisted. We felt like rock stars and it was a great way to spend a few hours with the girls , Dan , and a few of the Germans.
On saturday we were fortunate enough to head over to the Alberta Children’s Hospital with some of our skeleton teammates as well as with Melanie Doane, and do a little presentation to some of the kids. It was a great experience to be able to share our medals and allow children to play athlete for a few hours, while sharing stories and learning about each child. Having a Juno award winning singer with us in Melanie Doane was really cool as well, and to be able to sing Christmas songs with someone that is extremely talented in the music department is always fun. I know the kids loved that part of the visit as well.
All in all it was a good week, but I am definitely glad to be moving on and heading to Park City.
12/2/2010 1:32:19 PM
This week has started out with a twist. It’s neither positive or negative but something that has taken some time to get use to, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. It’s different to know that I am at home here in Calgary, but weird to know that my house is literally 7 minutes away from the hotel that i currently reside in. I know that I am at home here in Calgary, where I have grown up my whole life, but it just feels like another stop on my tour for this year.
Now I know that most people don’t understand why I am staying at a hotel, and it’s a question that i have had to answer from all sorts of people including other athletes. Why would someone live out of a suitcase when they could be staying at home in their own bed with creature comforts? For me the decision was simple. I didn’t want to go back into everyday life. On tour we are pretty secluded from the rest of the world, and our lives basically consist of sleeping, eating, training ( both on the bobsleigh track and in the gym ), equipment preparation, video, and for about 2 hrs a day fun time with friends. In my everyday life and while I am at home I will always find other stuff that needs to get done. There is laundry, and phone calls, walking the dog, going to the bank / bills, meeting up with people and the list goes on and on. I could honestly, and this happened quite a few times in the summer, think that I have nothing to do that day but train. By the time I know it I have 6 things on my list for the day and I am starting to panic that they won’t all get done. I couldn’t afford for this to be the case while I am trying to focus on racing and being at the top of my game. For this reason I choose to stay at a hotel , keep close to my teammates and coaches, and pretend that we are somewhere really cool and it’s just another day in the office ( or in my case just another race). It’s strategic more than anything and we will see if it pays off when race day comes around on Friday.
Now as I explained Calgary is home, and with that is suppose to come home track advantage. I can honestly say that I have only ever done one World Cup race here in calgary (as a pilot), and I have about 200 less runs here than in Whistler. I don’t really consider this my home track, and I truly don’t feel any advantage what so ever. I remember my first World Cup race here in Calgary 2003 (I was 18), it was as a brakeman for Helen Upperton, and most of the other pilots are the same as they are now. I am competing against girls that have driven this track since 2003, and out number me by 4 years or more worth of driving skill, not to mention years worth of driving this track because of it being the only one that Canada use to have. Saying that, nothing has changed in that department since i started, and they will always out number me in experience. Naturally the best thing for me to do I guess is to say Why not me and forget about rules. I need to remember that the only limitations I have placed upon me are the ones I place upon myself, and to just head out there apply what I have learned and what I know, and trust that the best will rise to the top.
As for my team, Heather Moyse has re joined us this week with hopes of being able to start pushing as early as next week. Unfortunately after an MRI scan of her ankle she will be leaving us again Sunday due to therapy constraints on tour and just not getting what she needs to heal as fast as possible. As a teammate she has been great for the new girls this week, with another set of eyes to help and learn from, but in regards to being an asset for me, I need her to be 100% fit when she returns so we can continue to kick some butt when ever that might be. It’s a tough decision as she brings more than just physical ability to the table, but I think that right now what is best for her is actually the same thing that is best for the whole team. I have a pretty strong team on new girls right now, and I have no doubt that we can continue to be near the top thru this first half of the season here in North America. Europe is a different story though , and almost all of the new girls have not been over seas. H.Moyse’s expertise and experience alone will come into handy when dealing with Jet lag, weird food, not being able to speak the language, and just being away from what is familiar, not to mention her pushing capabilities. What is important and getting back to what is basic for this year, my goal for the season is and always has been to become an even better driver, as well as dominate at World Championships in Germany. So if I look at what is important I have to remember that although it would be great to have H.Moyse on tour with us now, it’s more important that she is ready for Worlds. She will re join the team after christmas, when we all head over to Europe, but for now it’s important she is healed and gets back fit.
I hope some of you can come out and watch the race, it is Friday, Dec. 3rd and it starts at 2pm sharp. It is over at C.O.P and I have drawn the first sled off. I look forward to sharing my sport live with some of you, and trust me when i say that it is very different to what it looks like on t.v.
All the best,
Kaillie
11/25/2010 9:24:49 PM
Friday will be the first step towards my next goal, but it’s bitter sweet at the same time. It’s hard to not look back after so much has been achieved, and after the season i had last year ending on such a high, but i have to keep moving forward and strive for even higher success. Last year was achieved because of my focus and drive towards my goal of Gold in Vancouver, but it was one of those goals that didn’t really have an ending date. It started at the age of 7 and was something I was going to reach for always. I had vowed to myself before last year that no matter the result I would continue in the sport and go for gold in 2014, Russia (who knew it would be for a potential repeat performance). And I was going to continue to aim for the Gold until I reached what I felt was so rightly mine. But life never stops and each day there is something that can be done to ensure that your goal is reached, when the time/ date come around. One of my mentors told me once that each day is like a grain of rice. Every time we wake up real early for practice, or we push ourselves to jump a little higher and a little farther, or we learn something the hard way, heaven forbid we take a step back to move a few steps forward, we add that grain of rice into the pot. The goal is to have that pot filled with rice by the time our goal date has arrived. To know that on your day you have done everything possible to fill that pot, and there isn’t one more grain of rice that can fit in, is how we can reach our full potential. I have to know that my full potential is reached so that on my race day ( February 2014) I can have no regrets; I know I am at my best and I can just go out there and kick butt. See, I am confident in my abilities and I know that if I am at my best and my full potential is reached then there will be no reason on this earth that I will not be standing on top of that podium (again) singing “O Canada”.
So Friday is step 1 of many, and I am hoping to add another grain of rice into my pot. We have been here in Whistler since the 16th of November and although I live in Calgary, I truly feel this is my home track. The last couple weeks have taught me that I am ready to do this again for another 4 years and that I really enjoy what I am doing. I am very lucky to have this opportunity to be able to be able to work and play at the same time, while also achieving many of my goals. To know that I have such a supporting company and sole sponsor, that is striving for excellence right along side me, and that our partnership is valued at such a high standard, makes me want to step up my game so that I can be of the same caliber.
These first couple weeks of sliding have taught me patience and understanding; it has taught me to control what I can control and not stress over things that I can’t but I think most importantly it has taught me leadership. In starting again for another 4 years, we have brand new teammates that have just begun their dreams/ goals and are learning every single day what it means to be a bobsleigh athlete. I have 2 brand new girls that are a part of my team and trying to be a leader to them while also being a leader to the sport is something I am not use to. I came into this sport at the age of 17 and as a kid always looking up to the great ones (The Gold Medalists) in sport, it is a little weird for me to now think that I am one of those people. I guess it goes back to be careful what you wish for because it just might come true. Leadership is something that i have seen people excel at and some flounder, and I have always promised myself that I will be one to have a positive impact. I had just gotten use to it throughout the summer to people i don’t really know but to now try and do it in your own sport where your not quite sure of how you are perceived and/or how you can be a leader to people who have been doing it a lot longer than you, is a totally different matter. I guess i will take it one step at a time and try to learn as i go, and who knows maybe this is another grain of rice that one day will be added into the pot.
Now throughout this past week here in Whistler my teammates and i have been enjoying both the sliding as well as our friends from other countries. We have been taking in the wonderful sights and smells of whistler, relaxing in an outdoor warming pool, and trying to pull a prank on the Germans. Let me just tell you the prank went all wrong and instead of saran wrapping all there stuff, it turned into me getting saran wrapped when we got caught red handed. It was all in good fun and it definitely made the week go by a lot faster. It’s great when you can enjoy the time you have with fellow athletes outside of sliding just as much as the actual sliding itself.
For now though i have to look at the task at hand. Race day is friday and the goal is to push as hard as i can and drive that track like only I know how, and if i can accomplish those two things then the result will be there. If not, then I will try and figure out why so that I can learn and never do it again.
As some of you may know my #1 brakeman for this year Heather Moyse was injured during this summer in Rugby, so we are still waiting for her return (which will be around Christmas) and until then I have planned to use my brand new girl Heather Hughes.
Talk soon.
Kaillie
9/14/2010 4:04:51 PM
We are now one month away from the beginning of the season, and all i can think about is how this summer has flown by. It has been an interesting summer and i honestly can’t believe we are in the final stretch before it begins all over again. When i look back, the past 4 years have been a blur, and now I have to look forward to another 4 years. I wonder what I can learn this time around, and how much better i can be? I guess only time will tell. I only hope that i can still count on my original mentors (believers) for support and guidance, but also explore the opinions and learned lessons of my new mentors. There is so much i still have to learn, and if i want to be considered one of the GREATS of the sport ( Like Pierre Lueders or Andre Lange), then i have a long way to go. For now though, I look 4 years down the road, and work on becoming better so i can repeat.
The last month has been one that I am grateful for, but am excited to return home. My Husband and I left Canada on August 18th and headed for the U.K. I then left him in the U.K after 10 days and headed to Switzerland for another 10 days, later to extend my ticket another 6 and go to Germany until the 13th of September.
It had been 2.5 years since i had visited Wales, and it was important for us to see our family over there. I got to spend some quality time with my Godson Alexander and our best friends (his parents) Sean and Ez. After an IPad and IPhone gun fight between Dan and the little man, we visited with my Mother and Father In-Law, Dan’s brother, and some good friends that I needed to see. We also made sure to eat a legendary Cornish Pasty in Cardiff (Wales). We spent a night in London and got caught up with our physical coach Stu (who now lives in London) over pizza and doughnuts. HHHHMMM, doughnuts! I also did a bit of shopping, which is always a must in the U.K , and met the Pirates of Pensants (Rugby). I re-connected with the best physio in the world ,Gordon Bosworth who is also responsible for getting Heather and I in peak performance at the Olympics, and learned a few things about myself that i think will prove to be very important for me in years to come.
Flying over to Switzerland I had no plans, but i did know i was going to stay with. and visit my “ on tour “ parents. The main reason for me heading there was to see them. The Olympics were so busy i didn’t get a real chance to hang out and say good bye to a lot of my friends and support, so i had to make a special trip to accomplish this. Hans and Ursula have been such amazing people to have on tour for the past few years, as they have been my parental figures, away from my real parents, for the winter seasons. Hans was one of my pilot coaches as well and is the whole reason for my tractor / Ferrari metaphors. He is the one that has been trying to get me to drive my sled more like a Ferrari and less like a tractor for a while, and i am so thankful for this. I stayed with them just outside of Zurich in Dielsdorf, and got a great tour of the country over the time i was there. Ursula took me on a few boat rides around some of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes, as well as a must needed tour of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. This is also where i decided that one day i want to be a part of the IOC. I had the best time in that museum. I spent a few days with a great friend on the swiss men’s bob team, Alex, and he showed me around Zurich as well as his home town in the mountains. It was the most spectacular view i think i have ever seen. I love it there. I also got the opportunity to push on their start facility, and spend my Birthday on the rooftop being treated like a princess.
Ohhh and would you believe it, but i also ate the best steak in the entire world. I had to go the Switzerland to do it, but the steak at Horseshoe bar was brilliant. I feel bad saying it, coming from Alberta, but it’s true.
I then headed to Germany, which was only suppose to be for a night, but those Germans are so convincing. I ended up extending my ticket for another 6 days, which was an awesome decision. It started with me heading to Herzogenaurach to meet and thank the Adidas people, as well as do some shopping at the Adidas factory, later heading up and spending the night with Heather, Lars, and Claudia in Oberhof. Yes, Heather Moyse was there as well, so it was great to catch up with her and spend some quality time together. Weird that we have to do it in Germany, but never the less. When i went to leave the next morning, I stopped by the pushing track where i ran into many other German athletes, and got invited to attend Andre’s retirement party. Now, Andre Lange is a legend in the sport, and you don’t pass up an opportunity to say goodbye to someone of that level. I had to stay. I drove back to Switzerland that day, said my goodbye’s and phoned Air Canada. I spent my final week in Germany with some more of my favorite people in the sport, and got an opportunity to connect with people that i hope to remain life long friends with. I spent a few days in Munich relaxing and training which was exactly what i needed, with Alex Mann ( German bobsledder) and then off to Oberhof for my final days. Andre’s party was great (but kinda sad at the same time), and i owe a big thanks to Claudia Schramm (German Women’s bob) for the translations. I speak almost no German, so i spent the whole time picking out words that i did know, but i was honored to even be invited. It was really great to catch up and see people, but even better to learn more about them and where they come from. The benefit of travel.
All and all it was a much needed trip, and one that i enjoyed tremendously. I now have many more trips planned for the future, and hope that one day i can also show my friends this side of the water. Stampede 2011 here we come.
Now Focus is back on Bobsleigh and we will let the games begin.
Here we go 2011-2014. But one step at a time, and keeping with my tradition of the KISS principal (Keep It Simple Stupid), I will work on one year at a time.
oxox
k
8/26/2010 7:21:45 AM
I am currently nominated with Heather, on behalf of the Women's Sports Foundation, for the 2010 Sorts Women of the Year Award. Please copy and paste the link below and Vote for us. Needs to be done by August 31st / 2010.
Thanks to all who Vote for us.
http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/News-And-Events/Awards/Sportswoman-of-the-Year-Award/Vote.aspx?type=team
oxo
8/15/2010 1:25:20 PM
Time to enjoy this life.
I recently returned home from an Amazing wedding in San Diego and a fantastic trip in L.A. It was really great to get away, from what is now my life, and relax for the first time since the Olympics. Although the trip was only 8 days long, it allowed me down time and time to catch-up with some of the important people in my life.
My husband and I were apart of the wedding party in San Diego, and couldn’t have been more honored. It was the first time I had ever been a bridesmaid, and to be able to share their special moment with people close to me ( Mandy, Kennski, Red, Danno, my parentals) was unforgettable. I was able to see a little bit of the city and enjoy some the sunny weather. It was really nice to be in a place where the sun comes out every day, cause as anyone from Calgary knows there is no guarantee with our weather as it’s ever changing. I can honestly say that i am truly thankful for GPS though. We would have been very lost without ours and I will never travel anywhere without one.
Thanks to technology and our IPhones, we were also able to go sail boating on the pacific ocean and spend a few very calming hours re-connecting with my parents and my husband. My Grandpa Ron use to own a 40 Ft. Morgan Sailboat, and as a kid we sailed all the time, I think that is why i love it so much. I learned how to steer on this trip and one day soon hope to take a course with my dad to become a real Captain. I have a long way to go, as i really didn’t do anything but i can take the wheel for a brief stint, but it was enough to make me want to learn more. I enjoy the calming, peaceful, quiet that you get when out in the middle of no where, and the rock of the waves is enough to put anyone asleep. If i could do that every month, heck every week, I would be beyond lucky.
Spending a few days in L.A was an experience that i hope to some day very soon repeat. I met a lot of really interesting people, saw some things that i never could have predicted and made some new friends. Thanks for a great time Katie ! I was able to do the tourist thing, and put my hands in Marilyn Monroe’s, I enjoyed the sights of Rodeo Dr. as well as do a little shopping, and met some amazing people. It was a very successful trip on many levels and I am very excited about what the future holds.
I am in the middle of a National Team Camp right now, which started shortly after i returned home, and i can honestly say i can’t wait for it to be over. In the 8 years i have been apart of this sport, i have never been apart of a camp that consisted of two girls for most of the camp, and me as the only constant. It was an experience to say the least and can only hope as we move forward this is a one time occurrence. I can’t control what others do, only my personal commitment level but it was definitely a lesson. I think it was also a lesson for the new head coach, but he is excited about working with the team and the changes he can ( will hopefully) make. This in turn makes me really eager about the next couple years and i am looking forward to what me and my team can achieve.
I leave in a few days for the U.K. and Europe. I am very excited to get away and have some fun. I am very excited to see our God son Alexander and spend some time with friends on the other side of the ocean.
Until next time.....
oxox
kails
6/7/2010 9:29:30 PM
So now training begins all over again for another 4 year cycle. I have dedicated another 4 years to the sport, as i not only want to be the first Olympic Champion for Women’s bobsleigh in Canada, i want to be the first for the sport in our country to defend an Olympic Gold. I now have to learn to train and go about my real life, but as an Olympic Champion. It’s not quite the difference i expected, although i never really thought past the actual event so i don’t really expect anything, it’s just new. It’s what i have been dreaming of since i was 7 years old, and now that it’s happened it’s hard to believe and even harder to comprehend. I have my moments when it hits, like when an eye lash falls out and i have to make a wish, it’s a brand new one for the first time in my entire life. But i also have my moments when i’ll be in the middle of a work out (now that i am back at it 3 months later) and i find myself not doing that extra one rep. or that extra one second longer because why, i got what i always wanted. I think the challenge now is to fully embrace it and take ownership ( and do what the pussycat dolls sing “ But be careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it.”) Now this is what i wished for, and i am fully ready to receive it. It’s like my sports psych. use to ask me just before this past season “ You might be ready for this year and the Games, but are you ready to be great?”. It took us a couple sessions to really get me ready for greatness, but we did achieve it, and now i have to be ready for what follows it. All i can think of is more greatness, so i keep working at it.
I was at an Adidas function in Toronto a few weeks ago and i had a guy asking me a few questions about my sport , the Olympics, and stated how proud he was of us as the athlete’s. While we were talking we had many more people come up and ask the same questions, and state the same sentence. It something i have grown accustom to since the Olympics. He turned to me and asked how i do it, and of course i said “Do what?”. “ How do you answer the same questions over and over and over again and not get annoyed or frustrated?”. I simply replied the exact same response that i was told when i asked that question of Marnie McBean (fellow athlete/Olympic Champion in Rowing). She told me that i have to remember it’s the first time for that person to be asking me that specific question. I can’t be frustrated or annoyed at them, cause it’s not their fault this is their first time meeting an Olympic Champion, an Olympic athlete, meeting me or having watched the Olympics whole heartily and are just really proud to be Canadian. This Olympics affected more people than just myself and i have to remember that.
I think part of me taking ownership of this medal, and really believing it, is being ready for it. I can honestly say for the first month or so after, i was not ready in the slightest for the greatness that follows greatness, but i continue to learn in more ways than just on the track, and i am ready for what i wished for.
This year will be an interesting one as i don’t know how it will feel or how i will be treated by my fellow competitors, but it doesn’t matter. All i have ever known is to fight and fight hard for what i want, so that is what i will do. I will go into this year fighting harder than ever before because it’s all i can control. This is what gives me the reassurance that the season won’t be any different than before, and i dictate the results. I can control just how hard i fight, and if i use my key points i have learned over this past 4 years, it is to keep it simple, make sure i get what i need, however i need to get it, have a great team around me, and fight like hell. This i can do, and this i will do, look out 2011, here i come.
A great family friend told me once “Kill them all and let God sort them out!”, and in regards to my drive and determination, this is a quote that i live by in Bobsleigh.
Of course i have my Amazing friends on tour, some within this country but most from abroad, and without them i couldn’t love this sport as much as i do. My closest friends are the one’s i will opt to travel and go see in the summer months, they are the one’s i will go to dinner with the night before a race, they are the one’s that make me want to learn another language just because i would love to chat with them in there language for a change. It still doesn’t change the fact that on race day i want to kill them, but that is the best part of my friends, even thought on race day we all want to win and beat each other, we will still come and give each other a hug when the day is over, no matter who won, or how the race ended up. We cheer each other on, and when it’s your time to shine you better be ready to kill. On the other hand, there are the athlete’s that i love to kill on race day and really enjoy it, as we just don’t exactially see eye to eye, but in all fairness they just bring another aspect to the competition and without them the sport wouldn’t be the same either.
See it’s not the actual sport that most of us love, it’s everything that goes with it. Being truly honest no one loves hurdling themselves down and icy shoot at 147 km/hr, being half nervous / scared out of your mind that you might not make it down safely, and don’t even get me started on the butterflies i get on race day. It feels like your heart is going to explode. No one loves the bruises and bumps and burns and scars that come with this sport, it’s the people and places that are the best part. They are what keep you coming back year after year and they are the heart and soul of bobsleigh. Sometimes i think we are all slightly stupid for doing this sport, But it’s what we love to do and i am so happy with how my story (history) has turned out so far, good and bad it’s been all worth it.
But getting back to this year It’s nice to be training again, and gearing up for another year ( and another 4 year cycle). It gives me something to focus on, another goal and another dream. I am looking forward to what is to come, but this time a little wiser.
P.S.
Pierre i know you read blog’s, so FYI just because i am a little wiser doesn’t mean i will stop pestering you for answers to my questions. I’m afraid you will be stuck with me for the rest of my career. Thank you for this!
oxox
kails
4/15/2010 8:36:10 AM
It’s hard to describe, but the overwhelming feeling that is presented to you when you come home, after winning Olympic Gold, is not one that i was prepared for. Nor is it one that i planned for. I’m not superstitious, but i do know first hand that anything can happen, especially in Bobsleigh, so i try to always just roll with the punches while striving for excellence. No one wants to plan their life/career around something that may or may not happen, like an Olympic Gold Medal, cause you just never know. But then when it does happen, it hits you like a ton of Bricks. You are now 6 months behind and you literally need to hit the ground running, to not get left behind. The pressure that is associated with this, is far more than anything i experienced during the Olympics.
As most of you know i have been aiming to be an Olympic Gold Medalist since i was 7 years old, after watching an idol of mine Mark Tewksbury , win his Gold in the 92’ summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Being able to see him has been something i have been eagerly awaiting since the 24th of February, when i crossed the finish line as Olympic Champion. I had started planning what i was going to say and how i was going to say it, right down to the finest details, when right out of the blue i ran into him the other day, at my RBC bank branch. It was not like i had foreseen it happening in my head, and after we both did the double take, realizing who each other was, but not preparing for it at all, i got the biggest hug i have ever had in my entire life. That was one of the greatest days i have had since the Games.
People ask me almost on a regular basis, how has your life changed since winning, and to be honest, it’s hasn’t. I am still the exact same person that went into Vancouver in February, i now just have the pleasure of knowing what it feels like to achieved a 17 year goal. That and i have met some really Amazing people.
I am currently reading a book by one of my newest Hero’s, Michael J. Fox. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his dearest mom, while attending the semi-final hockey game during the Olympics. At the time, i have to admit, i was definitely star struck. His cool and poised demeanor was one i will never forget. He was so down to earth, personal and real (and i hope this seems a little less creepy, cause I'm married) But I honestly fell in love that day.
He was my most favorite person i met at the Games. Being able to meet him and his adorable mom (who i think was more excited to see us and the medals, then watching the game) are at the top of my Amazing people list.
I now find myself in a position that is very unfamiliar with trying to get sponsor’s, book speech’s, agent or no agent (which i have decided to work with 2 really great people,Ian and Mike, who have become my newest sponsor’s while doubling as my agents) and learning how to move forward in the best way for me and my business. I want be the best role model i can possibly be to any up and coming kid or athlete. I want to inspire a little 7/8/9 year old to set a goal of winning an Olympic Gold Medal for Canada, and be able to see it come around full circle. I also want to be able to train harder than ever bfore, because now i have the worlds largest target on my back, and not have to worry about where money will come from or if i am going to be able to afford the worlds best equipment when it becomes available to me. All of these things are the make-up of my goals for the future and they are within my grasp,i guess i just have to work harder to make sure they all come true.
As i was wisely told one time by Marnie McBean (who is 100% on top of my AMAZING people list), and remind myself quite often of, is that “as athlete’s, we don’t train as hard as we do to ensure that our great days stay great, we train as hard as we do to ensure that our bad days are great days to.” This amongst many other truly inspirational things Marnie has said to me, has been what has pushed me thru a lot of very difficult training days over the past few years. That, and the goal of winning in Vancouver. Which now has become the goal of defending my title in Sochi, russia 2014.
Not that i am complaining, or suggesting that my unfamiliarity is a bad day, because there is no way i would have ever given any of this up. Not even for a billion dollars. And as an amateur athlete (using that term very loosely as i honestly feel we are at the same level as a professional just with a way smaller salary), i know money is always up there on the priority list. But i don’t do this for the money, obviously, i do it for me, plain and simple, and because i want it that badly i’ll make it work. It’s just that i feel like i have to work even harder at getting everything that is thought to just come along with a Gold Medal, and it hasn’t been as easy as one would think. But saying that, it’s been a thrill so far and I'm excited to start building my new team heading into the next 4 year cycle.
I now fill my days with emails, phone calls, traveling, and trying to organize many more amazing opportunities that come my way.
I am not looking forward to the day i have to start spending hours upon hours back in the gym. I’m having to much fun sharing my medal and experiences with Canada.
Next Month though...... let the training begin.
But for now i’ll keep enjoying the time off, and continue to explore this great country I call home.
A couple days ago i was at the home opener of the Toronto Blue Jays, and i got to spend a few days getting know the amazing city of Toronto, one that i have never explored before. I have met some really great people, and have been welcomed with open arms, and for this i am truly grateful.
A huge THANKS to Adidas, as i got to spend a few hours yesterday, trying on clothes, shoes, and learning about their exciting technology. The one thing that really interested me was the new training tool they have to help you become a fitter and stronger person, very individualized which really impressed me. It was easily the best shopping day of my life, and i am a big shopaholic, so that’s hard to do.
I can’t wait to come back and build new, but also stronger personal relationships with the people that make this city great.
I head to montreal and Ottawa in about a week, and then I'm off to PEI at the end of the month.
Thanks to everyone who has followed me throughout my journey, i hope to meet you all in time, and if you do see me please say hi. I promise i don’t bite.
oxoxoxo
kails
3/8/2010 10:59:22 PM
Dreams do come true!
I have wanted to be an Olympic Gold Medallist since i was 7 years old. And now i am in the Club!
Every now and then i have my moments when it hits me ,and i really understand what heather and i have achieved.
The first time it hit me was in the airport on my way home after the Olympics. And yes, it never really hit until this moment. But i was in the airport and i had just sat down when this amazing woman came and sat right next to me. She had recognized who i was and said the usual "congrats and you make us proud", i was waiting for her to ask for a picture and or autograph, which i would have been happy to give, but all she wanted to do was talk about funding and support for athlete's. Her and her husband had 5 kids and she just wanted me to know that she understands how hard it is financially for amateur athlete's and that she admires us that much more because of what we sacrifice. After chatting with her for 10 minutes i asked her if she wanted to see the medal. She said yes and as i was pulling it out of it's case, she broke down and started crying. She was so happy and honored to see such a beautiful thing, i couldn't help myself. She started making me cry. That was the first time i realized just what i had achieved, and it hit me. We took some pictures, and i will forever be grateful to Anita for giving me that moment. The moment you realize you are an Olympic Gold Medalist for the first time.
Don't get me wrong, the 16 days of the Games were full of moments and memories i will never forget. The moment we went up on stage in front of a huge Canadian crowd to receive our medals, was exhilarating. I honestly started shaking,and my heart was about to jump out of my chest, race day i was less nervous. Being able to go on stage after receiving our medal and dance around with The Roots, Amazing. When we came screaming up the breaking stretch on the 4th run during competition,with all those Canadian Flags waving, indescribable. Sitting in the stands witnessing the final men's hockey game, hearing the cheering and chanting of "Go Canada Go",deafening. Being apart of the Team Canada that made history by winning 14 Gold medals, Overwhelming. Walking in as home nation during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Breathtaking. Walking down Robson street in Vancouver during the Games, proud.
Being able to share this Gold Medal with Canada, Priceless.
I am so Proud of all my teammates in every sport, and although this games has had it's ups and downs, I think we showed the world what Canada is truly made of.
oxoxoox
kails
2/4/2010 9:54:22 PM
The World needs more Canada!
I think the title says it all.
I am now in Whistler, training on the track this week to learn as much as possible before the big show begins. Things are going according to plan, i trust my plan, and that is my focal point until the 25th of February.
Preparations are underway big time here in whistler and the village is transforming right before our eyes. It’s very exciting to see. My favorite part is all the lights on the trees, there everywhere, and all white and or red. It looks so magical.
Thanks to everyone who has supported and believed in me from the beginning. It is because of you that i am able to live my dream over these next couple weeks. And to all that have been skeptics, i thank you as well. You have pushed me in different ways, and i wouldn’t be here today, doing what i do, without all of you.
The next 3 weeks will be busy, but in no way different than what i have done all year. So keep the fast thoughts coming, and the Care-Bear shine strong.
oxoxoxo
kails
1/29/2010 10:04:16 PM
I was nervous to head back into the 2nd half of tour after Christmas break, for fear that my lucky streak would be over. This just proved to me that you really do make your own luck. As the saying goes “The harder you work the luckier you get.”
First World Cup back after Christmas ended up being a successful one. We were in Konigssee, Germany and Heather and I were a team again. I was looking forward to driving this track, as well as being back on tour. The christmas break was great and much needed, but i was excited to see my friends and get back to racing. The week was full of ups and downs both on the track and within the team, but Heather, Amanda and I were able to get thru,have fun,and succeed. The race itself was a good one, Heather and I pushed to our 4th Start Record of the season, and i drove pretty consistently, resulting in a 2nd place finish. This was my first Silver medal ever and to be honest it felt great. It was nice to have a little confirmation that i do know what i am doing as a pilot, and that we as a team can be amongst the best in the world,consistently. Although it was not a gold, a silver that week was just as happily accepted. One more step in the right direction.
Heading into St.Moritz was a little nerve racking. The year before had proven that anything can happen at any time,especially in bobsleigh, and you shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch. The 2008/09 race in St.Moritz had ended upside down and resulted in Heather getting a really pink Bum. We were sitting in 2nd place, which at the time would have been my highest ranking, and on the 2nd run i made a mistake in one of the famous corners called horseshoe, and i ended up crashing. Trust me when i tell you, St.Moritz is the most beautiful place i have ever been, and is the smoothest track in the world, It is also the only all natural ice track in the world, but when you crash it is like a cheese grater on your skin. I have three, third degree burns on my back and leg from a crash there in 2005 (as a brakeman). So after our crash i was very thankful that nothing major had happened to either myself or heather. Now the positive from last season was before we crashed we were in 2nd place, so coming back this year, although nerve racking, i knew we could do well. Last year was my very first glimpse into podium results and i knew with another year of driving under my belt, and the great starts we have had this season, we could make this track a positive memory.
The week was long and difficult for me as a pilot, i had to try and become a smooth/ soft driver. This track especially requires pilots to be Ferrari drivers, to drive your sled like you would a ferrari, smooth and fast. I however am more like a John Deere tractor driver. I tend to steer the sled more than i have to and it is usually allot harder than needed as well. Tractor driving tendancies are not so bad on a track like Altenberg, but in St.Moritz, it is a speed killer. Speed equals a good time therefore tractor driving is slow. Needless to say i worked hard on a few aspects of the track that week, horseshoe and my tractor driving, and by the race i was as ready as i could have been.
Heather was again my brakeman, because after our great results throughout the season so far how could we mess with something that obviously works, and it proved again to be the right choice for both of us. We finished in fourth, behind a German 1,2,3 sweep, but considering the year before i am not complaining. I stood just underneath the podium a little disappointed in the way i had driven, but also understanding that i was not the best pilot on this day, and that the girls that stood above me deserved to be there. But as i stood there i couldn’t help but think of how the next week would be different and if i want to get back on the podium i would need to focus more, and drive better.
So we arrive in Igls, Austria and the whole team is a little on edge. The Olympic Team is being named and as per usual people are tense. The meeting for the Women goes as expected where Myself, Heather, Helen and Shelley-Ann are the four athlete’s named to the Olympic Team. As for the Men, Dan unfortunately will not be competing (baring injury to a current athlete) come February, as his injury is still an issue and he was substituted for another athlete at the last second (Coach and Pilot decision).
On the sliding side of things i tried to focus on becoming a better Ferrari driver, and test some equipment throughout the week. Everything was going along well until the night before the race. It seems that when one athlete on any team, gets the flu, it spreads like wild fire. I had managed to avoid this sickness that was spreading all week and the Night before the race it hit me. I was up all night with a very bad case of nausea and sleeping wasn’t really an option. I was one of the lucky ones, as it didn’t hit me as hard as some, but having nausea on race day was horrible. All i could tell myself was fake it until you make it. Pretend your not sick and focus on being the best you can be today. Marnie McBean (one of my mentors) told me once “I don’t train as hard as i do to only be great on my great days, i train as hard as i do to be great on my bad days as well.” and true to form she was right. Heather and i set our 6th start record of the year and ended up with a bronze.
Overall we ranked 2nd in the World Cup standings at the end of the year, set 6 new start records, one track record, and were never outside of the top 6 all year. We are now heading into the final race of the season with a clear plan, and confirmation that with a fast start, good consistant driving (on a track that i love), and great equipment,anything can happen.
Why not us!
12/30/2009 9:17:11 PM
To all that have supported and believed in me, this one is for you!
Altenberg was a great race. It was the first time i have stood atop the podium in a World Cup. The first time i have listened to "oh Canada" (and sang along) knowing it was because we (Heather and Myself) had just won. To have proof that what you feel in your heart, and what you know you can actually do, are correct. That i am truly one of the best in the world and not just because my parents tell me so ,or because i believe it.
This race was not the first time we have set a start record (i have managed to set the start record on almost every track so far this year) and it wasn't the first time i have set a track record ( Lake Placid World's 2009), but it was my first win, and the first time i have managed to do all 3 in one race. It actually is the first time i have seen anyone do all three in one race, and i have been in this sport for 7 years now. Triple Play!
Altenberg was great reassurance that i am on the right path, and things are falling into place. But looking forward, we have 3 more World Cups left (possibly 4 races if i compete in World Jr's) before we truly find out what team humphries is made of.
With the fist half completed, i look back and can only laugh at the fun i have had so far this year. Both on and off the track, the adventures we have gotten into have been almost as fun as the racing itself. Some adventures we choose, like driving to switzerland to visit a injured swiss teammate and great friend ( Hi DT!) for lunch. While some choose us, like running out of gas on the autobahn, and having to flag a complete stranger down who doesn't speak any english, to help us. I never understood how anyone could run out of gas, until I did it. To this day i blame heather for making such a great CD, that us girls lost track of everything singing along. Throughout our many endeavors the trio of myself, Heather (a.k.a GPS), and Amanda Moreley (a.k.a Mini Mart) have made the best of every scenario presented to us, and because of that, it has been a very fun and successful first half.
To explain a little more about Heather and Amanda's nicknames, they are names that have developed over this first jaunt in europe. Heather was deemed our GPS because of her great navigational skills (which we didn't really find out about until we decided to take a different route thru switzerland by choice.) Amanda's nickname of MiniMart was one given to her because of the little shop that she brought with her to europe. She has everything you could ever need food wise and i'm sure if she could, she would have packed the kitchen sink (does a hot plate count? because she did bring that.)
I am now sitting at home enjoying this time with my family and trying to sleep and recover as much as possible. It is only a 10 day turn around from the time i left europe to the time i return. Although that is not alot of time to spend at home, i feel a well rested me that is jet-lagged is alot more beneficial than one who is not jet-lagged but overall a little tired. It is not easy being in a foreign country without your family and easy access to training facilities.
Wishing everyone a great holiday season and a happy New Year.
oxooxoxox
12/16/2009 11:51:33 PM
The season is in full swing and I am currently in preparation for the 4th World Cup in Winterberg, Germany. As usual, the weather here has been drizzling, sunny (first day only), poured rain, been so foggy that you can only see a few feet in front of you, and at the moment it's dumping snow. Not the best weather on tour, but it's consistent with Winterberg.
People say that it's easy to get down this track but the difficulty is getting down fast. So far my record here has proven this correct. The pilots that have experience, especially on this track, are usually the ones that dominate here. The pressures aren't big, and the driving is very minimal, kind of like driving on eggs. Do too much and you can have a nice line through the corners and be dead slow, but do too little and your not only taking the long way around but the track will sneak up on you and eat you like dinner. Tricky, but i'll be dammed if i'm going to let this continue another race. Winterberg here we (heather and I) come.
We started the season with an International Training Week (ITW) in Whistler where the rest of the world gets to slide and learn the track. It's mandatory that we (Canada) allow the rest of the world "X" number of runs on the track before the games. Still learning the track with every run down, it also allowed me to see how I compare to the the rest of the world. On a non-business aspect I was really excited to see my close friends again and reconnect.
Park City was the first World Cup and I was really excited to start racing. Heather was my brakeman and we set the start record, twice. First run we set the start record and until the bottom, where I made a costly mistake, we were sitting pretty. Second run we set the start record again (overall beating it by 5/100ths of a second) and I drove better, just not enough to make up time. We ended up in 6th place. For the first race of the season I wasn't pleased with this result as I knew it was my driving that cost us a great result, but it's a long season.
Lake Placid was the second World Cup and I really enjoy that track. I think I liked it more because everyone is a little scared of it, or maybe cause I learned to drive on it, regardless. I raced with heather and again we set a new start record. The driving was alot more consistent which allowed us to finish 3rd, just pushing out Germany 3, to prevent a german sweep. I am really excited about this result as it proves that with a great push and consistently good driving we can get a podium finish. Something that I truly believe is possible come February.
We then got on a plane for what seems like forever, if your like me and cannot sleep on planes, arrived in Munich and proceeded to unloaded the crates that carry our sleds. After a short stay in the Adidas hotel, and a quick shopping trip to the Adidas factory, we proceeded to drive 10.5 hrs to Cesana, Italy - home of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Cesana was a hard week of trying to get over jet lag and travel, with the race ending not as great as I would have liked. Shelley-Ann was my Brakeman and we pushed great. We tied the start record and my driving seemed to be pretty consistent for it only being my 3rd time there, it just didn't fit together. Maybe it was the equipment, not that i'm blaming it on that, cause my driving wasn't perfect, but i think the weather didn't suit the runners as well as i would have liked. The week was filled with ups and downs, and i ended up crashing one of the training runs in the middle of the week. The sled (Hot Lips) and my brakeman that day (Amanda) are ok, they only suffered a few minor scratches, i however bruised my ego a bit. It makes you realize pretty quickly that anything can happen to anyone at anytime.
This week has been about testing runners and learning the Winterberg track. I guess we will see how well I did on the -learning the track- part tomorrow. As far as the equipment goes, I need to figure out what's best for whistler in February, so the testing continues.
Thanks to all that have supported me and believe in me. It's because of you this is possible. oxoxo
8/17/2009 5:19:46 PM
Hey Everyone,
This is the first time i've ever blogged,and it's on my brand new website. It's still in the works so please be patient. We should have it fully up and operational very soon, it's just taking some time. And for all that know me i'm not the best with email so it's taking a while. Sorry Dustin (my web page designer).
i'll blog soon to keep you all updated on training and such, this was just a trial blog.
thanks to all.
oxoxox
kails