What Fast Feels Like

A few things rolled in with some serious speed these last couple
weeks – Super Storm Sandy, the US Election, and the turn around from Canadian Selection Races to the start of our 2012/13 Tour.

Let me get everyone on pace.

While I managed to make time to write about Selection Race #1
(Calgary), Selection Race #2 (Whistler) bumped right up against team
announcements, packing, paperwork, errands, shipping sleds, last minute to-dos
and getting on a plane to Lake Placid, NY.
No complaints though – this is exactly where I want to be.

A recap of Whistler:
– Quick plane ride

– Good training

– Great meals prepared by Ken Wong and Co.
– More training

– Tyson and Leah being rockstar therapists

– Mom and Dad getting to be a part of the daily action

– More incredible people coming to support/cheer!
– Pushing the new Canadian Women’s start record/ tying the Women’s Overall start record
(watch video here)
– Coming in 2nd in the race
– Officially being named to the Women’s Skeleton World Cup team!

Challenge the conventional; create the exceptional

“What’s your secret?” “… Are you ready?”

These kinds of questions swirled around me at the 2012/13 World Cup Skeleton
team official announcement Wednesday, October 31^st  – we were all dressed up for Halloween and came to Dr. E.W. Coffin Elementary with a great message “Protect Your Skeleton!” (and yes, I dressed as Violet, from the Incredibles!) – but once the kids cleared out of the gym, we were left with the media, and they came prepared to ask everything!

There is nothing quite like the onslaught of media attention – and as a journalist
I have been on both sides of this situation. Chasing down politicians trying to
get a sound bite that gives your story credibility – trying to ask original
questions to an interviewee that likely has a plan for whatever you throw their
way… and sure, I’ve been interviewed in the past, but this time it was forcing me to reflect, and fast. “It just hasn’t really sunk in”, I kept hearing myself say … the thing is, every time I said it – it really DID start to sink in!

In the news:
Canada’s Cassie Hawrysh in a hurry in sport of skeleton, makes World Cup team

Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba

CKLQ – (Radio)

Thankfully, a tremendous amount of change has become a part of my daily
life. My quick transition to the national team and then my proverbial leap-frog move to
World Cup.  My world becoming entirely devoted to this one goal, more and more connections to an amazing family of sliders; along with my desire for SO much more
…. my appetite for it all is insatiable. 

At present, we have been in Lake Placid, NY for a week – and somehow already, tomorrow
is my World Cup debut!

So, as Phrixus is all polished up, tucked in and ready to rock at 9AM (EST), my first ever race bib is sewn (yes, by hand – thanks to my teammates for the quick tutorial!) – I too, must say, “bonne nuit.” 


I acknowledge that a truly incredible amount has happened in a very short span of time – but so far these roads don’t feature too many speed limits.

And while there’s no way to know what’s in store for this journey, life is found in the intersections.

Be sure to check out these links to catch all the LIVE head-first action!
My Peer2Peer
Bobsleigh and Skeleton TV *youtube*

as the 2012/13 Viessmann World Cup makes it’s first stop in Lake Placid, NY – Women to begin at 9:04am EST.