As I sit here typing this, I am reflecting on what I have lost and gained this summer. So far the only things I can think of losing are two teeth that are causing me a bit of pain. Yet I don't feel less wise which is good news.
The summer was filled with adventure, excitement, sadness, happiness, and unfortunately a bit of depression.
Not literal depression but I had a good two weeks where I knew I wasn't acting like myself.
I fell in love, I crashed and burned. I became closer with my two closest friends and now miss the crap out of them. I went in with four extra teeth and am leaving with only two extra teeth.
I raced, I trained, and I coached. I watched and I learned.
It was a different summer then the regular.
I had thought to myself that this summer sucked compared to last. But when I truly thought about it, I was living a bit of a dream life last year and this summer was more of a slap in the face.
I have learned that things don't come to you. The only way to gain anything in life is to work your ass off, and never look back because it will be all worth it in the end, regardless of the result.
Back to the depression.
Don't worry! It wasn't because of the love.
Well in some fashion it was.
In a matter of seconds, the sport that I love doing the most was taken away from me yet again. But hopefully for a shorter period of time.
Sometimes things happen for a reason. As corny as that sounds. But I am sick of sitting on the bench.
This year my goal is to be at every training session, weather I am there for moral support for my team mates, or weather I am sacrificing my body right beside them
It is my job this year to make sure my team mates and I can reach our absolute best.
It's a big year. 319 days until London.
319 days.
We have some work to do.
Thanks everyone
PS Ribs are good, teeth hurt, and I apologize for lack of postings this summer.
Hope everyone else's summer has been as good and filled with adventure as mine has.
Take care.
Aj
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Race
Well so far the race has been delayed as a large storm is inbound.
We are so far unsure on when we will start but they will be giving us a half hour warning when we do start.
So keep your fingers crossed as we all hope to get on the water ASAP!!
Aj
We are so far unsure on when we will start but they will be giving us a half hour warning when we do start.
So keep your fingers crossed as we all hope to get on the water ASAP!!
Aj
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Race Day
Race day here today in Wausau at the Junior Pre World Championships.
The course that was set was fairly open with one tricky maneuver from gate 10-13 through the main drop but other then that it was fairly flat and the times were blazing fast for 20 gates.
With a good Qualification run day under my belt, I am looking forward to a more challenging course for the Semi-Finals.
I was consistent on both runs. I laid down a 115.16 on the first and a 115.76.
At the end of the run I knew I had not improved and that it was going to be a fairly equal time. That doesn't bother me though. Sometimes having two consistent runs can be the safest way to finish a race.
The goal for today was to keep my negative emotion's out of the question and only focus on what went well and how I can make the small mistakes better.
As Michael T-Pec's Tayler said today, "When you play with fire your going to get burned", after his second run. Beforehand he said, "Well, I'm just going to go for it. I'll either get a 95 and beat Michal Smolen, or I'll get a 195."
Those are truly wise words from truly, a wise paddler.
It turned out to be a day full of smiles and good paddling.
I am unsure of the final results for today but I will post those later tonight hopefully.
Take care everyone!
Make sure you have your shirts ready to go for tomorrow as well!!!
Aj
The course that was set was fairly open with one tricky maneuver from gate 10-13 through the main drop but other then that it was fairly flat and the times were blazing fast for 20 gates.
With a good Qualification run day under my belt, I am looking forward to a more challenging course for the Semi-Finals.
I was consistent on both runs. I laid down a 115.16 on the first and a 115.76.
At the end of the run I knew I had not improved and that it was going to be a fairly equal time. That doesn't bother me though. Sometimes having two consistent runs can be the safest way to finish a race.
The goal for today was to keep my negative emotion's out of the question and only focus on what went well and how I can make the small mistakes better.
As Michael T-Pec's Tayler said today, "When you play with fire your going to get burned", after his second run. Beforehand he said, "Well, I'm just going to go for it. I'll either get a 95 and beat Michal Smolen, or I'll get a 195."
Those are truly wise words from truly, a wise paddler.
It turned out to be a day full of smiles and good paddling.
I am unsure of the final results for today but I will post those later tonight hopefully.
Take care everyone!
Make sure you have your shirts ready to go for tomorrow as well!!!
Aj
Sunday, July 3, 2011
AMERICA
Hey Everyone!
We made our 27 hour journey and even got to hit up Sturgeon Falls! Sturgeon falls is a large rapid that is created between one lake running into another. What does this do for us?
It creates the perfect playground.
We spent probably close to 2 hours on some of the largest waves in the west and enjoyed a morning of carving, slalom boat cartwheels, and even a pourawhet or two from Chris.
After a long drive on day one, we definitely deserved the great surf.
Now that we have arrived in this wonderful town, we have discovered a fantastic course, great people, and beautiful weather. This sounds like a perfect combo to make into an amazing trip.
The best part?
No girls.
All bro's!
The internet is too slow to upload photo's but they will be up when I return to the motherland!
Take care everyone
We made our 27 hour journey and even got to hit up Sturgeon Falls! Sturgeon falls is a large rapid that is created between one lake running into another. What does this do for us?
It creates the perfect playground.
We spent probably close to 2 hours on some of the largest waves in the west and enjoyed a morning of carving, slalom boat cartwheels, and even a pourawhet or two from Chris.
After a long drive on day one, we definitely deserved the great surf.
Now that we have arrived in this wonderful town, we have discovered a fantastic course, great people, and beautiful weather. This sounds like a perfect combo to make into an amazing trip.
The best part?
No girls.
All bro's!
The internet is too slow to upload photo's but they will be up when I return to the motherland!
Take care everyone
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
NTT
Canadian National Team Trials is always a weekend filled with; hope, excitement, and happiness.
Unfortunately, it is also carried along with disappointment, sadness, and high expectations.
It is one of the most pressure filled weekends the sport has to offer in the country. It realizes peoples dreams, and makes people realize how hard it is to do what we do.
If anything there is only lessons to be learned. Losing, winning, and of course being content.
Accepting the fact that maybe you didn't make it because of a lack of training due to injury or maybe you forgot the main target goal during the year. Their is a number of excuses or happenings that could cause failure, but only one element can contribute to winning.
Hard work.
It all starts in September, after World Championships. The racing season is over. An athlete is filled with joy, regret, contentment, happiness, etc. I could go on forever.
Like a bear preparing for hibernation, athletes need to prepare their aerobic and anaerobic systems for the next racing season. Once they have put as much as they had time for into the reserves they restart at the team trials and see what they can do. Its a viscous circle of success and failure. But without failure their would be no success.
The weekend for myself was a zero pressure smiling fest. Without the 6 months of aerobic and anaerobic pump, I didn't have much to bring to the course other then the technique I have learned from Youtube, and stroke technique.
But, I brought what other people could not.
The lack of pressure on me for the weekend was probably the single reason why I managed to get through the week and weekend without quitting in the middle of a workout and managing to get through a race without screaming at myself during my cool down.
The weekend consisted of two runs on the first day and two on the second. I had two touches on the first three out of four then my last run I managed to do what I thought was a clean run but was given, what I thought to be, a controversial touch. Again. But due to the fact that this was not a high pressure race for me; their was no need to protest.
I guess it turned out to be a pretty successful race for me.
It was a great weekend. Although it pains me to see an Albertan athlete who deserves to be on the team to miss it this year I am happy to see another make the Senior team for the first time in their paddling career.
It seems like Team Trials is always a win lose situation. But, that's life I guess.
Here I am in the Quebec City airport at 2:46 am local time awaiting to return to my kingdom. Its pouring rain but I couldn't be happier sitting exactly where I am, right now.
Well I'll be home soon and I'll be seeing you all soon.
Hope all is well
Aj
Unfortunately, it is also carried along with disappointment, sadness, and high expectations.
It is one of the most pressure filled weekends the sport has to offer in the country. It realizes peoples dreams, and makes people realize how hard it is to do what we do.
If anything there is only lessons to be learned. Losing, winning, and of course being content.
Accepting the fact that maybe you didn't make it because of a lack of training due to injury or maybe you forgot the main target goal during the year. Their is a number of excuses or happenings that could cause failure, but only one element can contribute to winning.
Hard work.
It all starts in September, after World Championships. The racing season is over. An athlete is filled with joy, regret, contentment, happiness, etc. I could go on forever.
Like a bear preparing for hibernation, athletes need to prepare their aerobic and anaerobic systems for the next racing season. Once they have put as much as they had time for into the reserves they restart at the team trials and see what they can do. Its a viscous circle of success and failure. But without failure their would be no success.
The weekend for myself was a zero pressure smiling fest. Without the 6 months of aerobic and anaerobic pump, I didn't have much to bring to the course other then the technique I have learned from Youtube, and stroke technique.
But, I brought what other people could not.
The lack of pressure on me for the weekend was probably the single reason why I managed to get through the week and weekend without quitting in the middle of a workout and managing to get through a race without screaming at myself during my cool down.
The weekend consisted of two runs on the first day and two on the second. I had two touches on the first three out of four then my last run I managed to do what I thought was a clean run but was given, what I thought to be, a controversial touch. Again. But due to the fact that this was not a high pressure race for me; their was no need to protest.
I guess it turned out to be a pretty successful race for me.
It was a great weekend. Although it pains me to see an Albertan athlete who deserves to be on the team to miss it this year I am happy to see another make the Senior team for the first time in their paddling career.
It seems like Team Trials is always a win lose situation. But, that's life I guess.
Here I am in the Quebec City airport at 2:46 am local time awaiting to return to my kingdom. Its pouring rain but I couldn't be happier sitting exactly where I am, right now.
Well I'll be home soon and I'll be seeing you all soon.
Hope all is well
Aj
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Valleyfield it is!
Here I am in Salaberry-da-Valleyfield Quebec!
Originally Team Trials was suppose to be help in Jonquierre, but due to unreal flooding they were forced to change venues. With a quick response, Mike managed to change accommodations and rental cars for everyone. Unfortunately changing flights was not an option so we had to drive from Quebec City (initially driving east 4 hours to JQ) to Valleyfield (still 4 hours but opposite direction)
Despite the change up, Team Alberta and boats have arrived safely! I also managed to snag a legal helmet and I am hoping my new Duem PFD arrives in time to race with. Levi got his and it looks sweet!
The accommodations aren't stellar but the view of Lac St. Martin is unreal. The sun always sets right over top of it so I'll hopefully get some photo's up for all of you to see one of our planets most beautiful scenes.
The goal for this race isn't to go hard. It isn't the same as last year. Their is zero pressure and it feels great. I am here to learn and have a good time. I feel its a great way to open a season full of learning. With a bit of a rough provincials due to things on and off the water I am hoping this weekend's races will help me forget about it. The goal is to keep a smile on all week and keep it together in that good ol' brain.
Well I guess that's all to report for now!
I hope everyone is still going to have those T-Shirts ready for the weekend even though I'm not shooting for team!
Hope all is well
Aj
Originally Team Trials was suppose to be help in Jonquierre, but due to unreal flooding they were forced to change venues. With a quick response, Mike managed to change accommodations and rental cars for everyone. Unfortunately changing flights was not an option so we had to drive from Quebec City (initially driving east 4 hours to JQ) to Valleyfield (still 4 hours but opposite direction)
Despite the change up, Team Alberta and boats have arrived safely! I also managed to snag a legal helmet and I am hoping my new Duem PFD arrives in time to race with. Levi got his and it looks sweet!
The accommodations aren't stellar but the view of Lac St. Martin is unreal. The sun always sets right over top of it so I'll hopefully get some photo's up for all of you to see one of our planets most beautiful scenes.
The goal for this race isn't to go hard. It isn't the same as last year. Their is zero pressure and it feels great. I am here to learn and have a good time. I feel its a great way to open a season full of learning. With a bit of a rough provincials due to things on and off the water I am hoping this weekend's races will help me forget about it. The goal is to keep a smile on all week and keep it together in that good ol' brain.
Well I guess that's all to report for now!
I hope everyone is still going to have those T-Shirts ready for the weekend even though I'm not shooting for team!
Hope all is well
Aj
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)