As my fingers tap along the laptop keys to write this latestblog installment I have to admit that I’m very pleased with myself.
bag that I have managed to Tetris-style pack with ALL of my gear for our next
America’s Cup trip – which requires us to fly to Lake Placid, NY.
year you know just how re(eff-ing)diculous the baggage fees are. So, since I
NEED my Skeleton sled to race, and it is much too large to fit in the overhead
compartments, I’m predisposed to have at least ONE bag – so I’m automatically
paying for an extra. I refuse to give the airline the financial
satisfaction of a third bag and so, I force myself to pack like a pro. Hooray!
Okay, I’ll get down off this soapbox now and rewind the tape…
The second stop on the 2011/12 America’s Cup circuit found me here “at home” in
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This
past week, in true AC-Calgary fashion, the weather taunted us with impromptu,
localized snowstorms and bone chilling winds – without hesitation, we pushed
on. Official training was fairly uneventful, and I was feeling confident in my
equipment choice and race lines.
fairly mild weather-wise. Our races were scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM and I
had been race-drawn as 1st women’s sled off for both days. Part of
me was thrilled and the rest of me was terrified. First off !? This meant that
my downtime would have to withstand 14 other women; never mind the fact that
all our races are based on two combined downtimes.
The men started the show on time and I kept my mind occupied. The forerunning
sled between the men and us was suddenly at the line and it was shortly after
2. I put on my calf-length coat, took a deep breath and waited to be called to
the line. “Cassie Hawrysh to the Skeleton start position …” I confidently
walked out of the start house and made my way to the line. My Speed & Power
Coach, Michael Steen was standing on the block with Phrixus. Taking a quick
look at the stands, I saw a small cheering squad, and while I had heard the
groove was going to be sticky I promised I would dig deep; I had to make this
run count.
loaded much too early and felt the delay in speed as we entered into corner 1. (A
hint of disappointment flashed over me, but I pushed it aside) Overall, the run
was good. A couple small mistakes didn’t evoke any panic and I crossed the line
with a 59.62. I weighed in and was cleared to continue. I wasn’t sure how the
rest of the downtimes were shaping up until we unloaded back at the top. So
far, so good: I would be 15th sled off for heat 2.
the boys’ times suggested the ice might be slowing down and a few of the girls
struggled to maintain consistency. Regardless I stepped up to the block around
4:00 PM. My mind wasn’t rushing; my heart was beating at an even pace. I knew
what I had to do. Be consistent – at all costs. Be calm; let the sled go….
The skids were minimal, I felt good about it. I crossed in 59.81. Which gave me
a combined time of 1:59:43 and put me +0.77 ahead of 2nd place. I had done it; I was elated. A quick
sled check and the result was official. A Gold medal performance on my home
track!
A snowfall overnight made
for a different scene upon arriving to Canada Olympic Park for Race #4. My
morning had become slightly screwed up and I arrived with less than enough time
to get my sled set up and put into park fermer (all sled work must be completed
45 minutes before the beginning of the races). In a bit of a panic, I made a game-time
decision. Despite the fact that the ice temperature had dropped significantly
from the day before – at least on the official readings from the top – I knew
there was a chance my equipment choice would still be just fine. I made the appropriate
adjustments and trusted my decision.
First women’s sled off once again – the groove was even stickier. I managed to
do what I could to get Phrixus on a line for speed. Through the snow and avoiding
a few less than ideal in track ice cuts I crossed the line in 1:00:48. “Would
this be a fast enough result to repeat my performance from the day before?” I
wondered. Time would tell and thankfully it held up and I was 15th off
for heat 2 again.
The second run did not go as well from my perspective. A couple of in-corner
skids and some sub-par entries left me with some questions. Just the same, my
composure helped Phrixus and I to a combined time of 2:01:26. This would add up
to +1.74 ahead of 2nd. I smiled as the #1 flashed on the clock as I flew past it in
the outrun.
4 Races. 4 Gold medals.
These performances were indeed an echo of the week prior and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing people around me who continue to raise me up – even above my own expectations. Like the new Bobsled Canada Skeleton sponsorship ads say “We slide alone, but never solo.”
Skeleton Racing, even at it’s best, really is insane. We run bent over, we ask our bodies and minds to work at 100% during entirely unnatural conditions, and then we put ridiculous amounts of pressure on ourselves to find perfection during intense speed. But I truly love it.
It has been said that, “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” This sport demands that we have all the guts in the world, and leave everything on the line, every time.
Next stop: the Adirondacks and Lake Placid, NY.
It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves,
NEWS FLASH:
Keep up the great work Cassie! Hope all these accomplishments help get you over to Europe so you can win some more gold medals 🙂
Percy Street Proud 🙂 Way to go Cass!