Hey Everyone!

Am I ever horrible at keeping up with this Blog of mine.

But between working, going to school, and training, it does't leave much time in a day for a guy to update! I am going to be able to keep updating in Charlotte while I am gone and then once exams are done I'll be back at this.

Well the things that are newest in my life is the trip to San Marcos Texas. What a trip that was! It was a busy 10 days. With packing 23 sessions into 8 days of training it turned out to be a long week and making me happy to come home.

The course in Texas was a sweet spot for getting my sea legs back under me and trying out the new speed and fitness I have acquired from all the hard work I have been putting in in the passed few months.

A big thanks to Ben Kvanli for letting us crash at his club house that was a 5 minute paddle downstream from the course. This made it an optimal place to live!

Here is a link to the camp video that I made! http://vimeo.com/38119083

A big thanks to Sages mom, Stephanie Viselli, for taking all of the awesome pictures throughout the trip.

With a smooth and easy flight home from Texas, I cam back to the real world with working hard in school, in the gym, and on the erg. Despite the weather Mike and I were still able to squeeze in a couple whitewater sessions. He even paddled with me TWICE in one day. That's right folks, twice. I think he was probably pretty sore as he was working pretty hard to ensure his victory on each short course. I have might have won once but I can't quite remember.

The majority of my training in Calgary since the middle of February has been just Mike and I as Paul, Haley and Jessica (Check out Jessica's website here http://jessicagroeneveld.ca/) were training in Brazil to compete for Canada's olympic spots in London. It was a heart breaking weekend, watching my team mates, who I have witnessed work so hard come up just short. Granted, Jessica had come down with a stomach bug. I still look up to her as an athlete with the amount of hard work she has put in, I only hope I can match what she has accomplished in her years of dedicated training.

Don't worry though! We secured our k1 mens spot thanks to David Ford. Paul had a touch on his last run that put him out of first place, but thanks to David we were still able to take the spot.

The next big weekend for Canada is in approximately 4 weeks which is Olympic/Senior/U23 team selections in Charlotte, North Carolina. With this being my first trip to Charlotte, I find myself working harder then ever with the knowledge that it will be the most challenging course I have ever paddled on.

My goals for the race are of course to make the u23 team and compete in Wausau, Wisconsin for the Junior and u23 world championships. But beyond result goals, I want to try and replicate the feeling I had at last years team selections. After each race, I felt good about the race I had raced. I left everything on the course and was able to produced runs that I was satisfied with. In order to do that I just need to keep the pressure off and not worry about what everyone else is doing and worry about myself. Which is going to be impossible since it is Olympic team trials and I am more concerned about my team mates then myself.

But nevertheless I will do my best to worry about me.

Well, that is whats new with me. I am going to do my best with keeping this up to date so that no one loses track of me!

Staying off the radar has been a tough go, but I'm almost at summer vacation, then it's time for some fun filled racing! Whoop!!!

Hope every one is well

Aj

Photo credit to Stephanie Viselli

Long time

Hey everyone

Yes it has been far too long since the last post.

My life has been a bit of a whirlwind since I moved back to Calgary. Trying to adjust to the full time job and full time training has been more of a challenge then I originally planned for.

On top of all that I also start school in January! Woot!

As stoked as I am to be going back to school it also makes me sad.

I can't see myself working this amazing job, going to school, and training all at once. It obviously comes down to balance.

But as Dad has always said, "I always try to maintain balance in my life. Between being a father, my job, a good husband, and a good friend. No matter what though, you will always be doing a shitty job at one of those. The trick is, is to not mess up the same one too many times"

This passed fall has definitely opened my eyes and has given me some insight on how to properly balance everything.

But man is it ever tough!

I guess its something to get used to!

Back to the whole school thing.

The newest plan is to upgrade my Math and Chemistry for the winter and spring semesters. Then come fall I will be starting my Bachleor of Science degree. From there, who knows!

Physiotherapy, Athletic therapy, Med School, Law school etc.

The world will be at my finger tips.

As for training. Its all the same. Go to the erg, punish myself for the cookies I ate earlier then hit the gym in the afternoon. Working those two sessions around work then coming home and passing out.

I cherish my days off. The days I do manage to get off I spend most of my time reading, sleeping, and catching up with friends. You know, all the good stuff ;)

I know some of you are probably asking, "Aj? What ever happened to pursuing Video and Movie Productions?"

Well the answer my friends is this. Lately I haven't really put any movies out. I have footage from our Las Vegas trip which I haven't even touched yet and some kayaking footage I haven't looked at either.

I have simply lost inspiration. So I decided that maybe keeping it as a hobby for now is my best bet. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I will wake up and crush out two or three videos.

That isn't for me to decide though. It'll happen when it happens.

Something else thats new!

At work I have met a variety of new, interesting, and amazing people.

One of them is so amazing she did a free photoshoot for me! yahoo!

Here are a couple shots from the shoot! Enjoy!

I hope all is well

Aj

Photographer: Erin Molly

It's been too long

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

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

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

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

For Marissa