ANDY SHIELDS GOES TO EUROPE!

Here is a terrific Article about a great friend of mine and someone with whom I learned to ski when I was little. We come from the same original club Waterloo Jackrabbit club, and he is one to watch in the years to come. Lucky for me I still have 2 years before he is my competitor! Good luck in Europe Andy!

C

(click on the post title for the link)

1 or 2 posts? that is the question... i opt for one!

Today, I am sitting at home for my first day back at my moms house since I left last June for Whistler. I love it here! There is nothing that can beat meals cooked for you! This epic post sums up these last couple of weeks for me, and once again its full of first time experiences!

Since moving to whistler I have become used to being the learner and always going around with an open mind. The experiences that I have come across have been life changing, and enlightening. And they remind me that I still have a lot to learn.

After the Olympic trials in Sovereign Lake and Canmore, I headed home for a week back in Whistler. This was the first of the 'firsts'. Christmas alone. A hard one to stomach, so as i've learned this year when things get tough, I have to just put my head down and focus on what I have to do. This way I get what I need done. What did I need? two things; money, and a good recovery and prep period before the biggest focus of my season other than Nationals: U23 World Championship Trials. I had at best an extremely slim chance to be selected for the world champs, so I thought I'd have just give it my best shot and see what I could learn from the races.

That was my focus of the week, shortly put, I worked everyday from the 23rd to the 27th. Trained every morning at Lost Lake (a 10min walk from work). Treated myself to a beautiful Christmas morning ski up on the upper Fairway and Blacks Loop! Than when that week was done I hoped on a plan for Quebec City!

After all the terrorist scares I was a little apprehensive about flying, not so much about the risk. But the hassle of the security measures. I ended up flying out with a friend of mine, Kajsa (also racing in the up coming races) and let me tell you, it went without a hitch! my life long never-beep-through-the-metal-detector-luck just keeps rolling! the flights were pleasant, the company was great, and we were greeted on the other side by a VERY fantastic family (Kajsa's cousins).

RACE TIME!

At U23 Trials, there are 3 races, and the winner of each is selected than the next most consistent athlete are picked to complete the team of or five if the room is available. The first race was a 30km Pursuit, I was registered, but opted out of it to save my legs for the sprint the next day. As a sprinter, I thought I'd give it my best shot in that event. This proved to be a good decision! So far this year I've steadily moved up in my sprint races, from 96th in Soveriegn, to 55th and 49th in Canmore, and than 17th in Val Cartier, QC! All of a sudden I am right in the mix! This race felt good, but I really surprised myself with my qualification! I was 18th after the time trial! BOOM! It shocked me, but as I took it in, I knew I could do better! So I went into my quarter final with one goal, beat as many people as I could and try and move up! It was a very fast heat and I let it get a little close for comfort at the finish line, we were 3 lunging to the finish for 3rd spot in our heat. I still don't even know who took it, but with the results up now, I finished 4th in the heat, and moved one spot up in the overall results! I had accomplished my goal! My first ever Senior mens heats, and a very solid performance! I am still pumped! I ended up 9th U23 in the country and so think that there is still a LOT to come from me this year. As it turns out now, I think I had a better crack at being selected than I had thought, but its still a tough race, and next year will be that much better!

The 3rd and last race of the trials was a 15km classic technique individual start. This was going to be the first hard distance race of the year for me! I had decided to not try and hold back, but to go for it from the start! As a sprinter I have always had trouble with these middle distance events, as I find its too fast for too long, I much rather a good old fashioned long distance race.

The morning of the race I felt good, and motivated! The race began fast, I pushed from the beginning, and might have paid for that a bit in the second of 3 laps of 5km. The course was extremely hard, big climbs, soft conditions, and fast technical downhills. At the end of the race I clocked in my best distance race in a year! So I am very motivated to keep going and start focusing on the next couple of races!

That was one of the longer posts I have ever written, Pictures will be coming!

Cheers for now!

C