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
Sunday, July 10, 2011
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
Sunday, February 27, 2011
No Name
I was not sure what too call this post.
We never really know what life is going to throw at us.
"Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."
That's some Forrest Gump for you. A fan told me I was getting lazy with my quotes so there yeah go.
Well I hurt the good ol' trusty ribs again so here I am sitting at the courses Cafe with my cappuccino typing away, but this post isn't about my little sob story about how much pain I am.
This post is about something that happened last night.
Last night for dinner, Mike, Lina, Jessica, myself and of course little baby Erik all went to this place in Penrith called the Stone Grill. Its an excellent little place.
It wasn't about the food though even though it was fantastic. It's about the conversations we were having, the smiles, the laughs, the whispers. It all seemed to good.
It made me sad that yet another adventure is coming to end. But with every ending, a new beginning.
It's a little hard to explain but its one of those you had to be there moments.
I always hear stories from Mike, Paul, Jess, Cam, just everyone. I am always jealous because I don't have any cool fun stories too tell the group but it doesn't matter because my adventures have only just begun, and I am looking forward to the journey ahead.
A short story movie producer on Vimeo once said in one of his movies, called The Dark Side of the Lens, said "I may not make much of a living, but at least it's a living worth scraping"
Hope all is well
Aj
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