Mike in the Hot seat.
Me, getting my makeup done for the show. My segment aired yesterday evening.
(Photographs by Mathew McCarthy)
Yesterday evening I got to play and hang out with over 40 kids and their parents. We ran through the woods, played and kept fit! This is the KVR Kids Fit crew and I felt honoured to be their guest. Erica Bassin has been the heart of this group and it’s growing rapidly with Peter and Jeff also acting as coaches/trainers.
Wow, I felt inspired!!!! I was smiling for hours straight!!!
Check out the images below - what fun!
Erica, Syree, Annemieke and me! We had a great evening!
The parents were right in there competing! (Although the Dad's may not admit it; the Mom's Team won in overall points for the night!)
Flexibility was not the Dads' strong suit.
This was serious business!
How fast can you pull out tissue one at a time?...
This was my team for the night, Team Mascots!!!!
Balancing apples is harder than it appears.Today, I’m off to Toronto and will be catching up with sponsors, media, and friends.
OTR appearance is coming soon - I'll keep you posted!
While the physiotherapists and medical staff are extremely happy with my progress I’m a bit anxious as this recovery hasn’t lived up to my expectations (even if I was expecting to have super women powers…hey…I like to set the bar high!). Although I had hoped to be farther along in my recovery, everyone around me seems very optimistic. We’re all working hard to get me back on the World Cup podium, then, onto Sochi stronger than ever.
As you can imagine, the competitor in me is struggling to be patient with my recovery but I know it’ll pay off.
My strength and aerobic power are doing great and improving with every passing week. Two weeks ago I even requested a new program since I felt the one I was doing had gotten too easy. We added more advanced jumping and more volume to the program. I was sore but able to do it all which felt great. However, after a week of this program my knee said it was too much. It swelled, forcing me to take a few days off the knee before resuming my training. This isn’t a big hiccup, but it was a reminder that patience truly is a virtue!
As of now, we’re hoping to get me back on skis in early December. From there we will build towards getting into gates and finally racing. Our whole approach to this recovery is to have a full recovery, so we’re being sure we don’t skip any steps.
I am extremely lucky to have such experience staff around me like Kobelka (physio), Jordan (trainer), and a few doctors including Irving and Litchfield helping me on my road back to the World Cup. And on the ‘Brain/Emotional’ Side of this recovery I’m also working just as hard with equally as amazing people. (Plus a Hubby who is my biggest supporter through all of this:)
I truly am excited that it’s not long now before I’ll be back on snow.
Up next, a short visit to Ontario for some fun times with KVR and a few Gala/Media events!
Patiently Optimistic,
Kelly
Note:
I’ll be OTR (Off the Record, TSN) next week!
Likely on Tuesday’s show - I’ll Twitter/Facebook updates so you’ll know when to tune in!
Check out this Article:
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/VanderBeek+finds+release+behind+lens/3682533/story.html
David - still rocking it in the boat.
I loved this shot of the rocks with the water lapping over them. 
David; looking cute as ever by the river.
This was the morning after the blizzard Calgary got hit with. As you can see by the crystals...it was cold. Good for snow-making in Nakiska & Lake Louise...not so good for David in the water!
This is Taos - Mike & Jill's dog...whom is spoiled like crazy but oh so cute!
I took this picture earlier this morning - the dew on the grass was so beautiful.
Baby Quynn is so beautiful!!! As her Aunt I may be biased...but come on...how cute!
These Canaccord men and I enjoyed a great round of Golf. Especially when things got exciting and the betting began. Mat made a 45foot put to win $1000...only to say it would go to me right before he hit the put! Pretty crazy times fun times.
The view from my street.
Another view from my street.
This was right in my backyard...so pretty.
David and I by the sea in Vancouver.
A beautiful rainbow surrounded the sun in Vancouver.
Most who know me know that I am a passionate person and athlete. I can be overcome with emotion for my own success as well others’ success. Even watching a complete stranger achieve their own goals fills me with emotion as I continue to dream big myself.
Passion can be an amazing tool, but it can also turn on you. I became at peace with my crash and injury quite early but this hasn’t meant that the process of morning and adapting hasn’t continued. These moments where I’m overcome with emotion tell me there is still more I must face looking backward before I’ll be able to move forward. The web of emotions from this crash are far reaching and ever present as my knee reminds me in every step I take.
These floods of emotion are seemingly a part of my process. Going through them, and facing these emotions will help me return to snow stronger than ever before. However, I also know, if I leave any rock unturned physically and mentally it may eat me from the inside out. I’m dedicated to this process of facing these fears and memories head on – I know it will pay off when my feet touch snow again.
As for my knee itself – well it’s doing awesome! And, instead of explaining my knee's condition, I thought I’d show you with some images that David took this morning (below).
Best Wishes & Smiles,
Kelly
One Legged Squats are easy again! Plus my scars are barely visible which bodes well for the healing that's occurred in the joint!
Child's Pose in Yoga - Look at that knee bend! Oh ya baby...that took a lot of work!
Balancing on the Bosu.
It was an amazing crowd on Sunday!!! What energy!!!!
This is Team USA. The Team event is pretty spectacular!
We cheered Jess on like crazy!
Jess exiting the first upstream, with a camera in the foreground filming her; she finished 19th.
