I can’t really talk about Lake Louise and the opening World Cup races without also talking about the passing of my mother in law, MegAnne Ford. Although I hadn’t intended on letting everyone know about her passing, I simply broke down in the finish area after the final training run unable to finish the interview I had started; I had to explain what was happening. My husband David drove to Calgary to fly to Victoria to see his ailing mom, but unfortunately he missed her passing by about an hour. Her death left us both shaken and stricken with grief. I was happy when David returned so we could share in this grief and support each other threw it as best we could. David did an amazing job of supporting me through these races; given his emotional state he was truly remarkable.
Racing:
Racing was certainly challenging as I did my best to control the grief that was always so close to the surface. Friday I found myself quite numb to it all but by Sunday, at least on the hill, I felt more like myself and as though MegAnne was there with me in some way. It was a solid weekend of racing finished 13th, 13th, and 11th but it was a very strong weekend for the team. The weekend was certainly highlighted by Emily Brydon’s two podiums and in the Super G when all six girls starting the race finished in the top 30. It was wonderful to see the team rise to the occasion and to know that all our hard work this summer is paying off. Knowing I finished 11th on the day of the SG with a costly mistake at the bottom is extremely promising as well, and finishing 13th in the 2nd DH with ice blinding one eye for the bottom half of the course was also a strong indication of how I’m skiing. Even with a few curve balls I’m in the mix.
I was asked in an interview how I thought this weekend would help me during the Olympics in February as a type of ‘trial run’. I answered by saying that the Olympics is a massive undertaking that can throw any number of curve balls our way. This week, was certainly filled with such curve balls and that will only make me stronger moving forward. I also saw my team step up in ways I don’t even think we expected – it was great to see and very promising.
After the races:
About an hour after getting in the car to leave Lake Louise, when the day’s race adrenaline wore off, I broke down into deep sobs. The grief had been so strong but mostly kept just below the surface for the weekend. It was in the car that I finally let myself feel everything that had been there all along. As MegAnne’s family and support network told me though, it’s these tears that will carry her into the next world. David and I hit the road driving back to Chilliwack on Sunday after the race then rose early Monday morning for the funeral in Victoria. MegAnne was a pioneer in many aspects in her life and that was continued in her death with a green burial (she is one of the first in Canada to have a green burial – as of now Victoria is still the only place that offers this as an option). It was a beautiful ceremony performed by women who made up a large part of MegAnne’s spiritual network. I, along with 7 other women, carried MegAnne to where she will rest. The ceremony included some chants, shared stories about MegAnne, and many tears as we said goodbye. To end the ceremony everyone had one flower which was crushed and placed on her body before being lowered. I would encourage anyone who is interested to look into Green burials, it was remarkably spiritual and, at least for MegAnne, it certainly honoured her connection with the earth and it’s energy.
What’s Happening Now:
I am now at the end of a long trip back to Europe. Going; Abbotsford-Calgary-Frankfurt-Munich-Shuttle to Innsbruck-then Driving to Sulden, Italy; it made for a long day. I’m now hoping to get back to some normal sleep patterns and a few days of good training before we hit the road for Val D’Isere’s World Cup events next week.
Thank you to everyone for your e-mails, support and love. I hope you all know how much I cherish family, friends, and the network that I find myself so blessed to be a part of.
Recent Media Links:
This was an article printed after my first training run in Lake Louise:
http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/733264--perkins-olympics-don-t-scare-one-skier
I am also a highlighted athlete in this month’s West Jet Up! magazine:
http://www.up-magazine.com/story/map/kelly-vanderbeeks-favourite-spots
Till Next Time,
Kelly
1 comment:
You are an inspiration Kelly, keep pressing forward to 2010. My condolences. Love K
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