What speeds by you when you want it to slow down and seems to
only take its sweet time when you can barely stand the wait? Life.
And in my life, when things come apart, things start coming
together.
together.
The 2011/12 Canadian Selection Races came and went with suchincredible force that I can barely believe three weeks have passed. I finished
the final Whistler race in 9th place; generating enough points to
remain 9th overall. This placing would not be quite enough for a
spot on the Europa Cup Circuit – and as such, I was named to the America’s Cup
Circuit.
At first glance, the tears in my eyes on the phone to mum and dad may have been perceived as disappointment. And while a small percentage of that moment was indeed my
competitive edge feeling like I had failed – the reality was that the amount of
stress accumulated during the selection process was more than I had yet to feel
in Skeleton. It was over. I was just letting it all go.
competitive edge feeling like I had failed – the reality was that the amount of
stress accumulated during the selection process was more than I had yet to feel
in Skeleton. It was over. I was just letting it all go.
So, while my salt stained cheeks might have said otherwise, I was/am actually
insanely proud of everything I accomplished as a slider, as an athlete and as
an individual.
In Calgary, I pushed fast and drove well. In Calgary, I made
my mark. In Whistler, with less than 25 runs ever, I reached the same top speeds
as National Team members; in just a few days, I shaved full seconds off my
downtimes and when race day came, I pushed a blazing fast 5.05 start – the 4th
fastest overall. I may not have
finished with a 1 next to my name, but I had never felt more certain, comfortable,
and confident as a Skeleton Racer until that moment.
my mark. In Whistler, with less than 25 runs ever, I reached the same top speeds
as National Team members; in just a few days, I shaved full seconds off my
downtimes and when race day came, I pushed a blazing fast 5.05 start – the 4th
fastest overall. I may not have
finished with a 1 next to my name, but I had never felt more certain, comfortable,
and confident as a Skeleton Racer until that moment.
The night of the Canadian National Team’s official
announcement, one of the head coaches said, “Have pride in where you are, and
where you want to be.”
Everything in that moment just clicked.
announcement, one of the head coaches said, “Have pride in where you are, and
where you want to be.”
Everything in that moment just clicked.
******
After 13 more hours with the boys on our road trip home from Whistler, I blinked
and was suddenly on another 15 hour car ride to Park City, Utah for America’s
Cup (AC) Races #1 and #2.
Last year, I raced the AC Park City races; they were my first set of races with
only 6 official training runs, and only my 2nd and 3rd
international races. Last year, my rookie status showed. Last year, I finished
outside of the top 10 in both.
This year, I was anxious and excited. I was definitely an
entirely different slider coming in and I knew it – but would I be able to
perform? Casting those insecurities aside, I hurled myself down the track that
bruised up both arms just one year prior.
I was through and down cleanly and reasonably quick. No one was in the
outrun to see it, but I was smiling.
entirely different slider coming in and I knew it – but would I be able to
perform? Casting those insecurities aside, I hurled myself down the track that
bruised up both arms just one year prior.
I was through and down cleanly and reasonably quick. No one was in the
outrun to see it, but I was smiling.
With a huge amount of sleds and additional Youth OlympicGames qualifying races training at the same time, our days were tremendously
long. We did video review in the mornings and had team dinners as soon as we
could (which was typically around 9:30pm). I roomed with my pseudo-sister and
we managed to keep each other sane. Some of the younger sliders’ mums were with
us as well, and having an actual mum on tour is never a bad thing. I can’t stress it enough – those women are a huge part of Team Canada’s success
– gigantic hugs to you both once again.
I race drew #10 and #7 as starting positions for each race
respectively. There are only certain tracks around the globe that really can
change over the course of a single race, and from what I knew Park City would
be fairly consistent – so I wasn’t concerned.
respectively. There are only certain tracks around the globe that really can
change over the course of a single race, and from what I knew Park City would
be fairly consistent – so I wasn’t concerned.
I felt the butterflies the morning of Race #1 but they were
accented with a new wave of calmness. The first thing I thought of when I woke
up was my race line; I visualized a run and got out of bed. We spent the
morning doing sled prep and were raring to go by 4:00pm.
accented with a new wave of calmness. The first thing I thought of when I woke
up was my race line; I visualized a run and got out of bed. We spent the
morning doing sled prep and were raring to go by 4:00pm.
Our men faired well during their first runs, and I was definitely chomping at
the bit to get on the ice. Screaming and yelling for the remaining competitors
my adrenaline was beginning to flow.
I can’t say I felt all that much different than I had all
week – but I did promise myself to
just believe and let go. A final word of encouragement from Coach Pavan and Phrixus
and I flew. I kept my toes of the ice and came barreling up the outrun in 51.51
(an enormous Personal Best) and yes, I was smiling in my limo-tinted helmet.
week – but I did promise myself to
just believe and let go. A final word of encouragement from Coach Pavan and Phrixus
and I flew. I kept my toes of the ice and came barreling up the outrun in 51.51
(an enormous Personal Best) and yes, I was smiling in my limo-tinted helmet.
But with close to 40 total sleds it would be almost 2 hours
between my first and second run. I was determined to keep my brain away from
the nervous thoughts and my body as warm as possible. I did what I could and
stepped to the line as the final AC competitive sled. My second run was decent. I did take a huge hit
out of corner 14, but I stayed composed. I would remain in first by a combined
lead over 2nd place of 1.27 seconds. Yes, I smiled in my helmet
again.
between my first and second run. I was determined to keep my brain away from
the nervous thoughts and my body as warm as possible. I did what I could and
stepped to the line as the final AC competitive sled. My second run was decent. I did take a huge hit
out of corner 14, but I stayed composed. I would remain in first by a combined
lead over 2nd place of 1.27 seconds. Yes, I smiled in my helmet
again.
In Race #2, I felt much more relaxed for my first run. I let
Phrixus fly with even more freedom and we reached a top speed of 128.0 km
(79.6mph) getting to the finish line in 50.86 (another PB!) Repeating the same
last-sled-off scenario for a second night, I was well prepared mentally and
physically. I was however tremendously un-prepared for a huge ice chunk that
had begun to dislodge itself from the right groove into corner 1. When I
crossed over it – it exploded – and while I’m only recounting what bystanders
have told me in that regard – from my point of view I was going straight as an
arrow and then suddenly was sideways and pointed UP without warning. If you HAD
been able to see my face through my dark helmet visor, I’m sure the whites of
my eyes matched the ice. Thankfully, instead of panicking I just did what I could.
I found a touch of speed, despite running the worst line through the top
portion of the track, and finished with a combined 0.69 seconds ahead of 2nd
place.
Phrixus fly with even more freedom and we reached a top speed of 128.0 km
(79.6mph) getting to the finish line in 50.86 (another PB!) Repeating the same
last-sled-off scenario for a second night, I was well prepared mentally and
physically. I was however tremendously un-prepared for a huge ice chunk that
had begun to dislodge itself from the right groove into corner 1. When I
crossed over it – it exploded – and while I’m only recounting what bystanders
have told me in that regard – from my point of view I was going straight as an
arrow and then suddenly was sideways and pointed UP without warning. If you HAD
been able to see my face through my dark helmet visor, I’m sure the whites of
my eyes matched the ice. Thankfully, instead of panicking I just did what I could.
I found a touch of speed, despite running the worst line through the top
portion of the track, and finished with a combined 0.69 seconds ahead of 2nd
place.
I had done it. Two consecutive
wins. And seriously, that moment was the perfect combination of pure happiness
and reassured belief.
wins. And seriously, that moment was the perfect combination of pure happiness
and reassured belief.
 |
| Nothing can beat THIS kind of warm homecoming |
Team Canada is now back at on home turf – and we are just
wrapping up the remaining training runs for AC #3 and #4 being held at Canada Olympic
Park here in Calgary, Alberta.
First sleds go off at 1:00 PM Thursday, November 17th
and Friday, November 18th respectively – men slide first, followed
by the women; this pattern is repeated but in reverse order by heat #1 ranking both days.
and Friday, November 18th respectively – men slide first, followed
by the women; this pattern is repeated but in reverse order by heat #1 ranking both days.
Wherever you may be: ring a cowbell, cheer loud & send all your fastest thoughts my way!
This is just the beginning,
This is just the beginning,
Wow Cassie, I couldn't be any happier for you if you were my own child. Your parents must be so excited and so proud of your accomplishments. You keep up the great work, and i will be chearing for you from way down here. Benie xoxo