Last week, in one big breath, Canada saw one of its very best athletes, diver Alexandre Despatie, retire, and an equally great champion, speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon, announce his comeback. It was a remarkable juxtaposition; Despatie leaving the arena because he knows it’s the end, Wotherspoon jumping back in because he doesn’t want it to be. Continue reading
Olympic Season Not a Reason to Change
“So, you must be really ramping up your training now that the Olympics are coming, right? You must be working hard these days?”
Throughout my career, I was asked this question frequently in the months leading up to an Olympic Games and came to expect it every four years. But the first time I heard it, I distinctly recall staring blankly back at the interested individual, blinking slowly, incomprehensibly. Ramping up my training? After a moment or two of peculiar silence, I found my words and replied awkwardly, “Uh, well, we train really hard all the time actually, so mostly just doing the same as usual.” This was met with an equal degree of incomprehension, a shrug and, “Uh, okay, well, good luck!” Continue reading
Just Like Riding a Bike, Eh?
The end of winter in Calgary is like a mirage in the desert. It slyly offers up the illusion that a lovely spring is about to sprout with a bout of glorious warm days, only to cruelly make it vanish with a hasty plunge of the mercury, just when its arrival seemed imminent. In fact, April is my least favourite month in this town… I’m tired of my skis and eager to row and ride but endlessly thwarted by one snow squall after another instead. Continue reading
Photo Blog: Sedona, I Heart You.
A sublime ride in sunny Sedona this afternoon. Red rock, blue sky and check out those white calves!
Rocky Mountain Ski Bum
Not a bad place to hang your hat!
One of the best things about retiring from my old job is that it has opened up a wealth of time and freedom to go skiing — a lot. In the first sixteen years that I lived in Calgary, I went skiing about once or twice a year. In the two winters since I quit speed skating, I’ve been close to sixty times. It’s so nice to finally be able to enjoy my backyard – the spectacular Rocky Mountains.
Of course I don’t lament all those years I spent not skiing, as I was happily engaged in my occupation at the time, but now that I can get out there regularly, I appreciate it so much. Continue reading
Getting Back to Blogging
Well, I haven’t been as productive as I had planned on this fancy new blog. I made the big switch and promptly left everyone hanging!
This is not a very good way to get one’s blog thriving in the big bad world of a gazillion blogs. But, I have been writing! If you’re keen to see what I’ve been writing about check out my latest blogs for CBC Sports and the Huffington Post:
Huffington Post: Wake up and Smell the Coal Alberta!
CBC Sports: Finding that Olympic ‘sweet spot’
CBC Sports: In Awe of Short Track Speed Skaters
And, please stay tuned, I really do plan on being a better blogger in the very near future…
Calling all YYC Clean Energy Folks
In my next life, my goal is to work in the environmental industry. Hopefully renewables. In preparation for my return to school in May to get my masters in Sustainable Energy Development, I’m getting out there and meeting all kinds of great people who work in the industry to learn as much as I can and figure out where I hope to fit someday. I happily stumbled across this event and asked if they needed any volunteers… Turns out they’re looking for help to spread the word… For all you clean energy techies out there, this is a great summit coming up in Calgary on March 5. You should totally go! Continue reading
The GrovesLine 