Season's Quickly Approaching

Every year it's the same, the feeling of astonishment that the racing season is already upon us. One week from now the world will be coming to Panorama for the Women's GS/SL events and to Lake Louise for the Men's DH/SG events. Sadly I will be unable to compete for a spot in the women's GS event in Panorama as I'd hoped. There was a FIS rule I didn't know about that excludes me from even trying to win a spot in that race. Although I've been training a lot of GS and seen huge improvements for myself in this discipline over the last 2 years, I haven't been racing it enough. Therefor, my world ranking has dropped to 354th in the world. I had to be ranked 350th in the world or better to compete. I hadn't realized my ranking had dropped so much in the last year (no racing will do that!). I believe there must be a reason/meaning for why I'm not able to race this GS. Happily, I have two disciplines where I'm ranked in the top 10 so at least my time away from GS racing was well spent.

Otherwise, I'm doing well and I am extremely excited to start racing in Lake Louise! My wrist is holding up well in training and my new brace will allow me enough movement to race and compete to the best of my abilities. We've been training the last week in Nakiska where one run is open (with another run opening tomorrow). The training in Nakiska is challenging but great at the same time. We've been blown away a few times, literally blown away, by the wind that is. Yes, Nakiska is known for it's wind storms! Luckily it hasn't been too cold so it's not too difficult to endure.

As for my skiing it's coming back to a place where I feel strong and confident. Although I'm a bit shaky emotionally I know, come race day, I will be ready. I have so many years of training in me that I can rely on my instincts.

As for what I've been up to since my last blog, well, Lots! I was honoured with the task of ringing the opening bell at the TSX. I was joined by CBRE, Comcor, and my family for this wonderful event. Another big event was the Gala in Toronto. This was a fun evening full of music by the Barenaked Ladies and Tom Cochrane plus amazing food. (Photo: Kelly, Britt Janyk, Larisa Yurkiw, Manuel Osborne)

I hope everyone reading this is well and looking forward to the, quickly approaching, winter wonderland that is snow. I love being Canadian!!!

Cheers,

Kelly

Broken Radius

Sadly, this message is going to be a bit short as I struggle to type with a new addition to my arm - a cast.

Yesterday, my day of Super G training with the girls started out great. In my first run back in speed I won the first run, and in this crew that's something to be proud of any day. My next run I touched the ground with my inside hand on one turn, unfortunately it dug into the soft snow. Although I never fell nor did I lose my pole, I did wrench my wrist badly. I knew right away I'd hurt it. After Dr. Mark Heard took a quick look at my wrist and Andree taped it up as well as she could, I continued with my training session. I did 3 more runs of Super G, and amazingly had some good skiing in there (but slow times as it took me an extra second just to get to the first gate since I couldn't push out of the gate!). The rest of the day I kept it taped up but continued with my regular work of dryland, video, etc.

Today was a day off for everyone. After realizing my wrist still hurt this morning Andree and I decided to get an x-ray done in Invermere. (For this Farnham camp we're staying in Panorama and taking the helicopter in & out of the glacier every day....ya, we're spoiled!) The hospital visit was fast and painless with the aid of a great South African doctor. The x-ray showed a fracture on my Radius' styloid process. So, a cast went on.

I'll continue to train the rest of this camp with some modifications to my pole and taping my hand to it. After two weeks in this cast I hope I'll be able to move into different casts that are more fitting for skiing and weight training. I should be out of the casts in about 4 weeks.

Now the big news, I will be all better and set to race in Lake Louise!

So finally, don't worry about me. I'll be just fine, simply getting some of these injuries out of the way. I'll be ready and excited to race as soon as the season kicks off.

I just read a great article on CBC's website about Farnham with a bit about your's truly in there! Here is the link if you'd like to check it out.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/column-scottrussell.html

Take care!

Till next time,

Kelly

Farnham Glacier, Leg Solid

What an adventure this is, camping out at Green Camp on Farnham Glacier. The tents are surprisingly comfortable, mostly warm and dry, and the food is amazing with some girls chefing it up with healthy but tasty food.

I've skied four days now and I'm really happy with how my leg is doing. It didn't swell up after skiing and I've been really excited to see how solid in feels in the turns. Although it's not perfect, I'm back skiing so life is back as it should be! Since being here it's snowed about 45cm. This has meant that the training has been less than ideal but at least we've been getting on our skis and doing what we can. However, the last two days of skiing were impressively good after the cat driver's did a great job removing as much snow from the track as possible.

I'm sharing a tent with Meg Ryley, Anna Goodman, Emilie Desforges, and Gail Kelly. We're in close quarters but we all seem to be enjoying it. Although looking at this place with the knowledge I'll only be here for 4 days here is very different than if this was home for weeks...or even months.

There have been a few notable moments here so far. Our first day we had one young girl with Alberta pass out during the orientation meeting (she was fine, just a bit sick and hadn't eaten in a while); a near death experience driving up to the ski hill as our truck lost control going backwards (both luck and skilled driving by Steve pulled us out of this situation unharmed, although it was too close for anyone's comfort and spectators to the incident where pretty scared for our safety); and finally a spider crawling up my arm in the middle of the night which I squashed as soon as I felt it then had to pick it off me and my bed with the aid of my flashlight. Good times, good times.

Regardless, I have to admit I've really enjoyed being here and realizing that this whole set up is here to help us go faster. It's incredible to think about how many people have put in countless hours to get us here. I have to admit it's mind blowing. It makes me feel extremely supported and very excited for every opportunity I'll get to race for Canada in Canada.

No one can ever say skiing isn't inTents!

Cheers,

Kelly

Getting Back to Lifting Weight

Well, I'm in Calgary and this morning was my first day getting back into lower body weights. Although still limited in some ranges of motion, I'm feeling good. It's nice to be back lifting (I was watching my right leg get smaller and smaller! Not fun.) Here I'm working with Kent Kobelka for physio and Matt Price for training.

Over the last few weeks I have been keeping busy with training on the bike and doing upper body/core and physio. I was also doing a lot of training in the water, going for runs with a flotation belt or in the lake with booties on. Unfortunately last week after one of my swims I came out with swimmer's itch! (Something I had never heard of until that point) I looked like I had the chicken pox and it was unbelievably itchy (hence the name). Oh well, it only took about 4 days to settle down and now all the dots are fading. In the end I had to laugh! It is extremely rare to get this from swimming in Cultas lake, but I did! If there's a way, I will find it...unfortunately.

David is in Brazil getting set to race in his World Championships this coming weekend. I am both nervous and excited for him. I love cheering him on, still it's a place of no control and all trust. But, no matter what happens in sport, I will be there to love him and give him a big hug and kiss whenever he needs it!

As for skiing, for now the plan is to get me back on snow early in October.

Till next time,

Kelly

Minor Injury

Yes, injuries happen to the best of us, especially in this dangerous sport of downhill skiing.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing well now that I'm back here in Canada. I met with the surgeon Dr. McCormack and the prognosis was the same as what I heard from Chris Irving (Ski Team's Doctor) and the Chilean Surgeon. Depending on how the bone heals (it's different from case to case) I should expect a full recovery in anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. So, no matter what I'll be racing this season.

What I have is a moderate bone bruise. For now I can't weight bare as I try and let the bone heal so it doesn't escalate into a fracture or more cartilage damage.

So, my camp in Chile ended short. I fell in our afternoon session of Slalom on Monday August 27. That day I got X-rays on the hill and they came through unclear. Chris Irving, our team doctor, then took me down to Santiago for more X-Rays and finally an MRI. The final prognosis there was that I had a moderate bone bruise and that I would need crutches to prevent any weight bearing on the bone for a while.

In the end, I am very relieved that my ligaments are solid and strong, my bone is not cracked, and I'll be back before we know it! For now I'm set up with one of Canada's top Physios in Abbotsford and will be working to get back as soon as possible with as little muscle loss as possible during the recovery.

I will keep you up to date as things progress and if I get anymore information. For now I'll be doing physio and my plan is to go to Calgary on the 16th of September for a fitness camp with Matt Price (our physical trainer) and a few other athletes who are returning from injury. Our next ski camp is in October at Farnham glacier, for now the plan is for me to be there.

Upon my return to Canada David picked me up and has been taking great care of me. With a beautiful flower bouquet and all, he has been amazing! Unfortunately David is leaving for Brazil on Sunday for his World Championships but I have lots of support here and I'll be just fine.

Again, please don't worry about me. I am really happy that this injury was not more severe and I feel positive that my recovery will be shorter rather than longer. I'll keep you up to date as things move along. I'm just happy that my knee ligaments held together through a crash like that! Pretty amazing really.

Big Smiles,

Kelly

La Parva, Chile

This morning I happily awoke to the snow falling, it's a picturesque Christmas day in August! Today is my first day off since arriving in La Parva ski resort 6 days ago.Here training are the women's World Cup Tech and Speed teams and we are expecting the arrival our Development team today. This year we jumped right into full courses and intense sessions on the hill, which left all of us with some extremely stiff backs. We were all moving like old lady's until yesterday when our bodies adjusted to being back on snow. As much as we train and as strong as we are, there is simply no way to simulate the G-forces your back deals with in the courses.

So far we've done Slalom, GS, and Super G training. All the teams are staying in different apartments, I'm with the Speed team which includes Emily Brydon, Britt Janyk, Sherry Laurence, Larisa Yurkiw, Dany Polleschuk, and Alison Forsyth. Our physio with us right now is Therese from Whistler who has been great at keeping us in one piece. The tech team has been faced with a few altitude issues and minor injuries but they're pushing through.

Three days ago we had some young visitors from Ontario come watch our GS training. Unfortunately I didn't realize one of the groups was Pete Bassin and his racers from Chicopee! I am still upset with myself that I didn't clue into the fact that it was Pete (the helmet through me off). I would have loved to ski with the kids and rip around the slopes with them. Oh well, hopefully we'll get another opportunity next year or sometime this season.

As for myself, I'm feeling strong and finding my rhythm again. There are some changes I'm determined to pattern into my skiing to help me continue moving downhill. :) As a group the level of skiing has really been picked up. Emily, Brit and I are all close and with Ali's return it's creating a great competitive environment. There have also been equipment changes for this upcoming season. The skis are now wider, plates are smaller, and boot heights are lower. All of these changes are in an effort to make this dangerous sport a bit safer. Hopefully, these changes will mean the athletes will face less severe and frequent injuries. Volkl & Marker have done an excellent job adjusting to the new requirements. The differences in the equipment aren't overwhelming and we can still turn these skis with the best of 'em.

We'll be staying here in La Parva for another 10 days then we'll make our way to Portillo after a few days off on the coast for recovery. Yes, life is rough!

With Lots of Smiles and Best Wishes,

Kelly

Heads Up - The National

I just thought I'd let everyone know that The National (Canada's top news program, which airs at 10pm Eastern Time) will be featuring a story on Wednesday, August 8 about David and I.

It's a year out from the Beijing Olympics and they'll be talking about the funding discrepancies between winter and summer sports. It always a surprise to see how pieces are edited, so I hope it turns out well!

Come One Come All - Press Conference

Everyone is welcome to attend a Car Presentation and Press Conference for Kelly VanderBeek that will be held at Mertin GM in Chilliwack on Tuesday, August 7th at 11:30am. There will be a few short speeches and I will be available for interviews, post card signing, and more.

Where: Mertin Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd
45930 Airport Road
Chilliwack, BC
V2P 1A2

When: Tuesday, August 7th
11:30am

Duration: About 45min total time

Everyone's Welcome!

Mid-Summer Update

Now back in Chilliwack I'm enjoying my summer routine of training, eating, sleeping. Well, that might not be totally true. I have found a few moments to squeeze in some golf, biking, and other fun and relaxing activities. Although my lawn is dying after the extreme heat wave that hit Chilliwack, the house is as we left if thanks to our great neighbours. (We're lucky enough to have two RCMP officers living next door....plus they're great people with two sweet little girls with another little one on the way.)

In other news, I'm finally driving my new GM vehicle! I chose a black Envoy SLT and I'm really enjoying my pimpin ride:) This is, officially, my first car. As in most things I've done in my life, I don't do things in a small way! The reason it took me so long to get into my vehicle was because of difficulties getting it insured. (This vehicle was awarded to me from GMC for a one year term because of my results last season) There were a few quirks getting it ensured but luckily Chad Robertson from Barton Insurance in Chilliwack and Carole Jardine from CNS worked together to get me all set up. I'm now happily riding around in my big rig.

Last but not least, skiing...that is what I do right? I often find that in the midst of the summer months, far from the snow and racing world I, at times, forget that when it all comes down to it, it's on the hill where my work is done. All this time in the gym, running, biking, and jumping is done to improve my ability to ski fast. I believe this time away from the hill is essential to racing well and coming back to my skis with fresh eyes and mind. With a vision of what changes I'll need to make in order to continue moving up the ranks. I am back in regular contact with my sport psychologist Roger Friesen as we prepare for the upcoming season and beyond. My time with him helps me understand what's going on on every level as I compete. I am a firm believer that we function as one person, that it's impossible to separate the athlete from the person. As we all know, life is a constant work in progress!

Also, the joys of being a high performance athlete never cease. Just yesterday I had random drug testing show up on my doorstep. Sadly, they showed up just as I came home to grab a few things then head to the spa since I'd finally decided treat myself to some R&R! I had to cancel my appointment....so I could pee in a cup, what a trade! Heck, I'm sure the receptionist had to believe my story for the cancellation since I'm sure they've never had an excuse like that before! Oh well, so it goes.

As for David, he's racing in his National Championships this weekend then he's off to China on Monday for the Pre-Olympic event in Beijing. I've really enjoyed watching him progress throughout the summer and face challenges head on. Sport can be a tough battle but one worth fighting!

That's it for now. I hope you are all well and soaking up some sun.

With Many Smiles and Good Wishes,

Kelly

Leaving Prague, Next Up Ljubljana

I have thoroughly enjoyed my week here in Prague. This was my first time to the Check Republic and I have found it holds much beauty and character. I would like to learn more about its history, as it seems rich and diverse.

I've had a good week of physical training with great access to the athletes gym right at the river where David is training and racing. It is all brand new and perfectly set up for everything I need. Running is also wonderful with so much to see and explore, this is one way to keep training interesting!

The only hiccup from the week was David getting food poisoning the night before his qualifiers on Friday. I have never seem him sick like that, we heard accounts the next day of other athletes who had eaten at the same restaurant, at the same time, and the time lines were identical. It was hard to see him so violently ill. He is doing better now, although still feeling some of the effects. Tomorrow is race day for him, I look forward to helping out where I can and stretching my vocal cords as I cheer him on.

Other than training, we've been able to explore the city and see a few sights. It's been interesting and I hope I will return to this great city sometime soon. After here we go to Ljubljana. Andree Lavoie (our team physio) and her new husband live close by so I hope we'll get together for a nice dinner.

Charity Golf Tournament, Back to Regular Training

Well, since the bike trip ended, I have enjoyed what has been a wonderful block at home. A whole 2 weeks!!!! I've loved every second of it. Most of my teammates stayed in Whistler for another week after the bike trip for a training camp. (Yes, they thought the bike trip wasn't enough training so they added another week in the gym!) I guess everyone was a bit tired and found the week to be tough to get through. This made me feel even more confident in my decision to go home and do my training there, eating my own food, sleeping in my own bed, and enjoyed being with David as well. It was great and I was amazed how great I felt so quickly after that long bike ride.

Being back in the gym and working out regularly felt good. It was nice to settle into a routine and enjoy the time at home. With some nice bike rides with David and golf excursions, including a charity golf tournament, life is good. I'm hitting my driver better than ever but this sport is addictive....I already want to buy new clubs! And I've only been golfing for less than 2 years! I've decided to wait until I get a bit better though, then I'm sure I'll dive in the deep end.

I'm now with David in Prague to support him during his World Cup races. I really enjoy this time and getting to know the 'other side' of sport. It's always an adventure which makes everything exciting.

Till Next Time,

K

June 2 - Duffy Face Off, Arrived in Whistler, Burgers All Around!

I am so glad glad I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning! Overall it was a good day; I didn't hit any walls, my butt survived, I didn't get burnt, that my legs felt recovered (more or less) from yesterday, and I made it to the finish line! It was a tough day and by far the hardest stage we've had this whole camp. We began riding at 7am with all the girls, a few boys, two athletes from the disabled ski team, Dusan, and Bruce. The rest of the men's team began at 8am, with the anticipation that some of the fastest guys would close the gap. (Oaf almost did close that gap, he arrived in Pemberton's rest station ridiculously close to use! We were all blown away by his ability to ride. I was happy to make it to Pemberton without being passed, although I didn't make it by much!)

Before we began riding we were all standing around with our bikes waiting for the go ahead. As we stood there, we compared heart rates, many of us (including myself) reached 119 bpm just standing there! However, once we began everyone got into a rythm. The first hill was the biggest we'd face (likely in our lifetime). It was hard, very hard, but I made it failry close to the leading climbers which felt like a huge success. Everyone who attempted the hills finished them, which is a huge feat and testament to the will power of this group of athletes. Several athletes weren't able to ride today due to injury, and some just missed the first hills then picked up with us for the final 100km. It was hard to see some girls try so hard but just weren't able to do it with severe knee pain. I found it really hard to leave someone behind to be picked up by the cars.

I spent most of my day with Emily Brydon and Liz (an ex rower, and now triathlete who's working with VANOC). We worked really well together which made such a difference both mentally and physically. Especailly when it came to the final leg of the journey from Pemberton to Whistler. This final stretch was deceivingly long, hot (reaching temperatures over 30degrees), and mostly uphill. I have to admit this part hurt, that is, until I saw Whistler then it felt like someone had given me a new set of legs! It's amazing how much is left in the tank with the right motivation. (The end of a nearly 1000km ride is huge motivation!)

In Whistler everyone slowly regrouped and collected at the Rec Centre so we could ride together, with a police escort, to Creekside. There we were greeted by some media and lots of excited people from the Whistler mountain ski club. (Including the sign that was made by the Weasle workers and hung on the side of the road just before the most amazing descent after 70kms of climbing)

At Creekside we enjoyed some great hamburgers (as you can see Mike Janyk was right in there!) as we basked in the scorching heat.

After the eating, we all went to our condos to shower and chill. It was nice to do nothing! Us girls all went out for dinner at Dusty's then picked up some Ben n Jerry's for desert:) Many of us, including myself, we hit the hay early. While others' nights are just beginning....

Thanks to everyone taking such an interest in my blog during this epic bike trip! We all had an amazing time and gained such respect for all our teammates. I will never forget this experience...and I can now say I rode the Duffy!

Till Next time,

K

June 1 - Dodging Potholes, More n More Hills, Summer has Begun!

Today we rode from Cash Creek to Lillooet, leaving at 8am in sunny hot conditions. Luckily we were off the bike before noon so that saved us from the scorching heat as it hits the 30's midday. Today was full of different group dynamics with some people struggling, others having good days, and with many of the guys taking it easy trying to save energy for tomorrow's big ride from Lillooet to Whistler. I had a bit of a rougher ride feeling the volume start to pile up. I'm sure there are also some nerves as we head into tomorrow.

This afternoon we enjoyed a playful time in the beautiful reservoir in Lillooet cooling our muscles off. It was spectacular with the mountains jetting into a massive lake. The water was freezing...in an oh so perfect way. After the cool down we hit the local ice cream shop (hey, after burning nearly 3,000 calories today It really hit the spot!)

A great thing for today was having Larisa back on the road with us! Although she didn't do the whole ride, skipping a few of the big hills, she did extremely well after such a big crash only a few days ago. Also to note from today was an interesting event when Emily Desforges was given money by a passing truck driver who wanted to donate to the 'cause' we were riding for! Way too funny, since we're really just riding for the heck of it! Sounds like it may to donated to the party at Dusty's after the ride! :)

Tomorrow our day will begin early with a 7am departure time. We'll be riding from Lillooet to Whistler, 136km, starting with the steepest climb any of us have ever ridden. The uphill will continue for first 70 kilometres. From there we will have some huge descents and more uphills, but not as painfully steep or long. I'm nervous for tomorrow but excited about the challenge.

Today David is racing in Europe, there are so many times I wish I could be in two places at once. I look forward to seeing him again this Monday when he returns to Canada! He's been a huge help throughout this whole ride, helping me face the challenges head on all the way through.

I'll let you know who survives and how we survive the final day of the Tour!

Cheers,

K

May 31 - More Uphills, Hot n Sunny

Today we left Kamloops and rode to Cash Chreek. It was a beautiful day with full sun and temperatures that reached 27 during our ride and up to 30 after lunch. Before we hit the road some old friends came to send us off. Nancy and Dave, who opened their home to me years and ago when the National Championships were in Sun Peaks, came to say hello and wish me well for the rest of the ride. It was great to see them again, it has been over 6 years since I saw them last.

Today's ride felt like we were always going either uphill or downhill. There were some amazing views of lakes and golf courses surrounded by desert like hills. The hills went quite well and I felt strong which was great. Although my muscles felt a little flat after a day off, my knees and lungs were much better! I'm certain this cold is on it's last legs! Another good things as we face the hardest days yet.

The girls are really sticking together right now and working hard to make sure everyone finishes. On the hills there is always a pretty massive separation in the group, but we always wait at the top, spinning out our legs out so we can start the descent together. The heat may become a factor, but for today it was ok.

We're now on our way to the dunk our legs in cold water to help speed up recovery.

Tomorrow we'll be facing a 2 hour climb to start the day, followed by a nice descent then two more, steep but short climbs. The next day...well...I don't even think there is a word that can properly describe how much it may hurt. I'm just wishing I had a granny gear!!!!! :)

Till tomorrow,

K

May 30- Day off, Massage, Media, Dinner with Kids

The day off in Kamloops was a pretty chill (yet busy) day for everyone. Many of the athletes played nine holes of golf, others got massages, and others went for a relaxed recovery ride on their bikes. As for myself, my day started with a long chat on Skype with my boyfriend David. It was great to connect via video after a few days of only texting. After a long chat, I had a relaxed breakfast then I went into town for a massage. Still feeling sick I enjoyed a day to give my body some rest.

At around 3pm we all gathered and went to a local GM dealership for for media event with some signing and photo ops. It was a beautiful day with full sunshine and 30 degrees. To be honest, I couldn't handle to sun for too long, so I gathered with the others in the shade whenever possible.

After the GM conference, we went to dunk our legs in the river again, physio then dinner with the local Kamloops Ski racers! It was a wonderful dinner with steak and all the fixings! I really enjoyed the evening with more laughter than I could handle. I crashed soon after dinner very tired and hoping to be set to go for the next ride.

Only 3 days left of riding!

May 29 - Rode into Kamloops, A few Big Hills, One Crash

Today began with a surprising wake up call at 6:30am delivered to all rooms....ah the joys of training under Mike Fichta! No, seriously though, it was a great day that was very, very full. We started our day leaving Mike Wiegele's at 8:30am, rode 106km that had a few hills that were unexpected but good. I am really happy with how I'm riding now and feel more and more like a cyclist. The groups are great as we learn to draft more and more effectively trying different styles and techniques. The group as a whole is impressive, you can really see the different strengths of everyone. It's been great and I have such respect for all my teammates.

Today we had one crash with Christina Lutenburger going down pretty hard (followed by Manny flying over her and impressively landing on his feet). Luckily no one else got wrapped up in the crash and Lusti walked away with a few scratches and one big goose egg over her right eye.


After the ride we had a snack at the Dairy Queen in Clearwater and awaited the designated time of departure. (I had a physio treatment from Julie on the picnic table outside, pretty funny but very needed) We then loaded up the trucks and vans and drove for about 1h towards Kamloops. We drove this section because of the lack of shoulder, gravel, and high number of transport trucks. About 10km outside of Kamloops we unpacked the vans, got back on our bikes, and rode 10km into Kamloops' Husky station for a media appearance. It was a lot of work for one camera and one reporter. Still, they were very hospitable in welcoming us to the city.



From there we moved into our University dorm rooms for the night! Before you get any ideas into your head, this place is beautiful and brand new! It only opened 4 days ago and the rooms and amazingly spacious and comfortable. Not your regular dorm rooms.

From there we quickly changed and went down to the river to dunk our legs in the cold water to aid recovery. This is a picture of Emily Desforges and she soaked her legs while trying to cover up her skin that got burned on today's sunny ride.

Now, it was dinner time with the Mayor of Kamloops! This was a pleasant meal that wasn't full of formalities, which was nice after a long day. Finally, I ended my day with Julie and more physio, then e-mails, and finally bloging.

Ah, now it's time for bed....I can't wait!

Oh ya, tomorrow's a day off!!!!! (from riding that is)

K

May 28 - 90km Ride, to Mike Wiegele's, Beach Volleyball

Another day, another hundred K. Well, almost. I had a great day out on the bike as we enjoyed some tail wind, some head wind, and nice rolly terrain. Today I rode with all the girls in one big pack. Emily Brydon was the only one absent as she started off her day with the boys. Although we faced some nasty conditions on the shoulder of the highway at times, the girls ran a tight group considering how much experience we have. I found today was a good recovery day for me and my joints as I adapt to this kind of volume. My muscle and stamina feel great, but my knees' ligaments are not used to this! Physio has been key for everyone.

Our route today took us from Valemount to Mike Wiegele's Heli Skiing resort. Although we won't be doing any Heli Skiing, we are enjoying these beautiful log cabins for the night! This afternoon we also had some laughs as we all tried to play some beach volleyball. It was great.

As far as my health goes, I'm still coughing quite a bit but it's getting better and better. I'm happy to say my voice is back to normal as well!

Next destination...Kamloops.

May 27 - 130km ride, rain, lost one

I'm Back! Today I rode with the group, covering 130km's from Jasper to Valemount and I felt amazingly good. Luckily my lungs were clearer than when I rode yesterday, otherwise I don't think I would have made it. The day started with a fun descent from the hostel, but unfortunately this descent cost us one athlete. Larisa Yurkiw had, what I heard, was a pretty scary crash that launched her into the woods. Luckily she came away with only a severe bruise on her thigh, although it is likely severe enough that she will not be riding anymore.

For the first 70km I rode in a group of 7, without knowledge of Larisa's crash, as we faced heavy rains with some wind. I ate more dirt today than I have through all my life. I felt lucky to be in a group that was working so well together, it made the ride go quickly. With 3 boys and 4 girls it was a nice mix. Although in the first 10km I had several rooky mistakes as I got into it; dropped water bottle in the rain, chain fell off the cassette, and nearly taking out Emily as I tried to get food from my back pouch. Luckily, I got into the rhythm from there though.

Mostly today, I was just happy to be out on my bike, I was mostly smiles...even with the rain:) At 64km mark everyone took a short break, changed clothing, refilled water bottles, ate, washed off as much mud as possible, then we hit the road again. Some of the athletes didn't change clothing and wanted to get going quickly. Those, including myself, who did change clothing weren't finished fast enough to continue the ride with them. So, when we were ready to hit the road again it was a group of 4. The other girls hadn't reached the rest point yet.

So, the rest of the ride consisted of a group of 4. I was amazed at how much more work it was, especially when the head winds picked up for the last 30km. Still, we worked well together and we had some fun on the big descents and worked hard on the ascents.

My body appears to have survived the first day fairly well. My right knee is quite sore from overuse, but with icing and physio I hope it won't become cumulatively worse.

Till next time!

K

May 25 & 26 - Jasper Hostel, Day Off, Short Ride, Soccer

Yesterday was a long ride of 150km's with one very big climb which ended in Jasper. Unfortunately I was still unable to ride and found it hard watching from the sidelines. However, I was impressed with the group and was very inspired. Most of the girls started the ride 45km into it, skipping the massive climb, but Emily Brydon, Brigitte Acton. and Christina Lustenburger did the climb with great success. Today (a day off for everyone in Jasper) I got out on my bike for just over an hour to test the lungs and get back on my bike. Jay Keddy came with me, which was great since he had some awesome pointers and was very supportive as I hacked up a lung. Still, I felt pretty good and did one pretty big climb without too much trouble. I'll be back riding with the group tomorrow for a relatively flat 120km ride.

Currently we are staying at the Jasper hostel. Yes, I said hostel. We are all in big rooms filled with lots of bunk beds. (Luckily the girls have a separate dorm though!) In many respects it's been pretty nice with everyone pitching in for meals, and overall living. Yesterday evening we had a small campfire with smoores (spl?) and all. Not everyone joined in, but I certainly loved being by the fire. Sadly, (or not so sadly) I may be leaving the communal living environment for tonight with Lusti. She also came down with this bug so we may leave to help stop the spreading of germs.

During our day off we played soccer with the locals racers. It was a great opportunity to meet them, spend some time hanging out and enjoy a great BBQ lunch! This picture is of Meg Ryley and one the young Jasper Ski stars guarding the net!

That's all for now!

Cheers,
K

Thursday May 24 - Fresh Pow, Chest Cold

Well, the stories are pilling up already. This morning we rolled out of bed to find 10cm of fresh powder on the ground! The roads were still clear, although wet, so the decision was made to truck (bike) on. I was feeling sick last night and as I got worse through the day but I hoped it would pass after a good nights rest. Unfortunately for me, I slept a mere 3 hours, and woke up to realize I'd lost my voice and had a nasty cough. The doctor listened to my chest and made the call that I wouldn't be riding today (although I must admit that wasn't a hard choice - I was in bad shape). It was hard not starting this ride with everyone, and to watch the day pass as I rode in the RV with the team's cook, Chad, to the next motel. Since arriving, I have hunkered down in my room to rest since I hope to be back on my bike tomorrow.

Tonight we'll be resting at the Saskatchewan Crossing. Next stop, Jasper!

Fresh Snow....we should have brought our ski equipment!