As the season gets closer I`m feeling more excited, confident, and passionate. But before I get ahead of myself, I`ll give you a quick update on what I`ve been up to.
Since returning from Austria the days have been filled. With one rest day that was all about the laundry and unpacking it was back to business in a hurry. Training throughout this period was filled with a lot of power, jumping, and lactic intervals. I made a three day trip to Trail, BC with my title sponsor Teck. This was for an employee recognition event but I was also given the honour of touring the smelting facility where the Gold and Silver and being produced. It certainly felt real seeing this metal and knowing this is the process all the metal in the medals went through. I had many interviews and events to attend during this short block at home as well. One being the Peak to Peak Gala in Vancouver that included a special guest John Furlong. I first met John about 9 years ago and we have stayed in touch since then. Seeing him made me realize how long and challenging the roads we have travelled to get here have been. Still, when John speaks I hear the passion in his voice and it reminded me that I too feel exactly the same way. When everything is stripped away it`s our passion that keeps us going.
I then flew to Calgary and jumped right into fitness testing that evening. Fitness testing continued the next day, with a press conference and interviews afterwards, then back to the University to complete our fitness testing. Testing went well and I`m excited to put the bulk of that work behind me and get back onto my skis. Right after testing we hit the road for Nakiska where I am now and will be for the next two weeks of training.
On a side and rather fun note, their filming a movie here and Leonardo DiCaprio is staying at our hotel. Eating dinner he was 10meters away and consequently putting the women`s team into giggling fits. Pretty funny.
I have now had three days on my skis here in Nakiska. With a new high speed quad and cold weather the training is as good as it gets. We were training GS the last two days and we`re now moving into more speed. I`m feeling great on my skis and moving towards race mode. I love this time of year, the anticipation is exciting and the bulk work done. Now, I just need to go fast….the fun part.
Till next time!
Many Smiles,
Kelly
We call these the Moon Boots. This is a new recovery system that we`re trying out, it uses compression to help flush out our legs.
Larisa, Emily and I having a laugh doing team photos at Nakiska yesterday.
A rare hour of quiet I enjoyed up at Cultas Lake while David was on the water training in early November.
David and I with the Olympic Mascots at the Peak to Peak Gala in Vancouver. In order to actually spend time together David was great, hitting the road with me for all the events I had on tap.
In Trail, BC I visited Teck`s smelting facilities before speaking at the employee recognition event. That is a SOLID bar of 99.9% pure silver, weighing about 70lbs. We saw lots of gold as well in its final stages before being melted down into a bar. Very cool stuff, it certainly made me excited to see where the metal for the medals is coming from.
