underway!
Canadian Selections and as always, required quick packing and even speedier travel
arrangements. With my season being 100 percent self-funded this year, getting
things booked, timed and secured last minute was an even trickier situation.
While Canada retained 12 athletes on the Canadian National team: 3 men/3 women
on World Cup and 3 men/3 women on InterContinental Cup – the first ICC race
wasn’t in everyone’s budget. As such, Paul Fraser and myself were the only two
Canadians on the roster to race in Lillehammer, NOR. We were also unable to
have the Head Coach with us, Thankfully, Latvia agreed to help our cause. I
can’t say that the potential cost wasn’t a deterring factor, but more than that
– I had never been to Lillehammer and the chance to learn a new track is
something I just couldn’t pass up.
A couple of (should-have-been-expected) hiccups surrounding transportation occurred the
morning we were set to depart but of course, my Kelleher Ford Escape (aka: The “Cass-Car”) saved the day. It zipped us from Calgary to Edmonton in time to catch
our Iceland Air flight and travel the 6457km across the ocean to Oslo, Norway!
For reference: here’s an entertaining video of 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist, Amy Williams racing James May down Lillehammer on BBC’s Top Gear. Amy on her sled down the track. James in a Mini on the road alongside the track.
My first run down had me looking around a little too much as
I entered a high-speed corner and <
pinned on the ice for the next two corners. I crossed the finish line, took off
my helmet and raised my white-gloved hand to my nose. Sure enough, there were
remnants of blood. oups. Hah! From the get go, Lillehammer made sure I knew
that I was going to have to be “on” every single moment of every single corner.
was feeling confident.

to explore the city. Our adventures led along a 1994 Olympic ring inlaid
cobblestone pathway and beautiful scenery all around and ultimately into a pub
in the heart of Lillehammer. The barkeep greeted us as we entered and our
senses were accosted by hundreds of sports prints, images and memorabilia from
all over the world. The bottles were all on display behind our friendly bartender
and two tables contained small groups of people eating and chatting away.
Looking to taste some local spirits we were served up two oversized shot
glasses filled with Gammel Opland.
play. We took our seats and sipped our 100 centilitres of Norwegian liquor.
don’t you believe them….”
much I really do adore my “job”, and that no matter what happens, no matter how
rocky this road has gotten or may still get– I’m on the right path. MY path!
hotel in Øyer.
off. This initial emotion passed quickly, but I remember thinking it was unique.
Paul and I had finished our sled and race prep the night before, so we had an
easy morning and made it to the track with lots of time.
it’s tingle as I set Phrixus down in Park fermé. All the countries and their
staff milled around; Paul and I had joked all week that Canada was a
“small-nation” as the two of us nodded a “we’re here” nod to our
stand-in Coach from Latvia.
The ice looked like it was going to be good and fast and I set up my sled in
accordance to what I had understood from our 3 days/ 6 runs of official
training. I had drawn #5 and despite still modifying my movements to
accommodate my foot/heel I was feeling great during my warm up.
that the ice was in fact quick. My tummy butterflies danced; I was ready.
loaded. The run didn’t feel perfect; they almost never do. I knew I had made
mistakes, but as a slider you almost always keep hope in your heart as you
cross the finish line and strain to see your downtime. I saw mine. I wasn’t
ahead, and I knew it was going to ultimately be a battle in the second run.
As predicted, aside from First through Third place, who all
demonstrated their experience with this track and laid down some serious runs.
There were about 12 of us all within .20 of a second. I knew I could have a
better run, and I planned to do just that.

to give me 13th place.
despite my efforts, and my acknowledgment that without the coaching staff we
normally had on tour, I was dealing with a number of variables on a track that
I couldn’t really have perfectly understood in less than 10 minutes of practice
– I was still very disappointed.
This is an admitted crutch of my competitive attitude. I could list and understand all the (possible) reasons as to why things went the way they did, but I still
have to go through the grieving process in order to move on.
Of course, I have. As I always do. Because in reality -when you are on tour there isn’t
much time to waste time living in the past – a few hours of sleep and one
returned rental car later, Paul and I were on a flight from Oslo to Munich.
Met by Head Coach, Ivo and arriving around the same time as one of our other teammates the 4 of us drove the 2 hours to Konigssee, GER.
can be openings, openings to new questions, new perspective, new approaches.
suffering similar issues through official training here in Konigssee (a track I haven’t been to in 2 years).
Coach of the Russian team and something in the back of my mind told me that it
was time to ask him to check out my equipment.
issues. 1. Runner integrity that needed fixing and 2. My balance point when I
am on my sled (due to the new saddle I have been riding since the beginning of
this season) was way off. On their own, each of these items can cause big
problems; together they are a recipe for massive time loss.
since the beginning of the season. Argh! Regardless, tomorrow when I stand at the
line, I’ll know I’ve done everything
I could – because I wasn’t too proud to ask for help – and I’ll be thankful for the past
mistakes and the missteps, because I never would have learned all that I was shown without them.
Cheer loud!
Stay tuned for Race #2 and #3 updates!