Toronto: The City of Hustle

I love going home to Toronto. It’s so contrasting to the places I momentarily inhabit with its fast pace lifestyle and concrete jungle setting. I definitely just experienced my busiest week ever in the biggest metropolitan in Canada.

The intensity started as soon as I woke up on Monday morning, tired from the three hour time difference of BC it was 6am to me and 9am to the rest of Toronto. Pilates was first, I go to Health Movement in Ajax and my trainer really likes to push me. She, Fanny, is a two time Olympian for synchronized swimming so she knows how much athletes can handle and then she takes it further. It’s always a challenge, I like that. Next was my gym workout with Athletic Training Professionals (ATP) and owner Jamie Hollins. He’s not an Olympian but a professional at what he does. I drop in whenever I get back to Toronto and he gives me his assessment, normally I am not up to his standards of fitness (sometimes I’m too skinny, not activating properly or something) but this time I was right on the money and he was very happy with what he saw. After a big workout I had Dr. Yip the magical witch doctor, she specializes in fixing problematic bodies; she’s the best but you have to pay for it. Still she put me back together and fixed my sleeping problems too. Magical.

Well my days looked like that for the week I was home but there were always meetings with sponsors (I re-signed with Nike) and other extracurricular things were thrown in the mix. I went to a meeting with a reality show producer to brainstorm about concepts for a potential show, I can’t say too much on this subject other then it’s going to be banger. I also was able to see Sony’s new ad campaign I am in. I took some pictures beside my life size cutout too. Nevertheless, the best part of Toronto was going to the Black Rock Spa called Iyashi. This place is a new potential sponsor for me and I was there trying out treatments to see if it was something I would want to endorse. I have to tell you about it.



Iyashi is at Younge St. and Eglinton Ave. and it is the only black silica rock spa in North America. The rock, when heated, emits far infrared rays and negative ions. The two combined provides a cornucopia of health benefits from weight loss to detoxification. The negative ions are especially essential to balance our bodies out from all the positively charged ions out there due to the electronics we encounter everyday. The treatment is really simple; you lie on a towel over the heated rocks in a provided garment for about 90mins, split into 20 – 25 min sessions of heating and 5mins of cooling. The facility is beautiful and clean and it has a deluxe private room that accommodates four people.





After I sweated my tush off and was warmed from the inside out I felt calm and refreshed, it’s unlike any “hot spot” I have ever been to. I went there for five treatments total and with each one I was more sold on the concept and product, it was sort of addictive. I’m not going to lie, I was a skeptic but I was given the chance to test it out, I really put the hot rock promises to the test and I believe they work. I did huge double workout days without stretching and then used the spa. I woke up the next morning without any stiffness or feeling sore anywhere. The spa treatments work and was the most relaxing part of my time home. Thanks again to Gary, Norma and Ryusuke who made me feel welcome and like a part of their family.

Check out the link here
www.iyashibedrockspa.com

Public speaking is not something I normally perform in but I got an offer I couldn’t refuse, to speak at my high school, Rosseau Lake College. Although the event transformed from speaking to a class to presenting in front of the whole school it was a lot of preparation and fun. My contact asked for an HOUR long presentation, 40mins of speaking 10mins for questions and 10mins for pictures and my video. Now, for people who have never done any public speaking they should know that an hour long presentation is like an eternity for the speaker and the crowd, Obama doesn’t even speak for that long. However, six hours of prep plus time to get signing cards printed and a two and a half hour drive up north made for a great 50 min presentation and 10 min signing session. I must say that I was proud of my speaking and organizing skills for the length of time I had to prep and for the presentation in general. It felt really good to be able to give back to a place that was like a second home and family for me while I was growing up, maybe I inspired some kids to go for their dreams.

So that was the last week of my life, busy up until the last moments (singing pictures for family) of arriving to Pearson airport for my departure to Colorado. What a whirlwind of a time! Sadly I did not have much time left to see my nieces since we had conflicting schedules, seems like toddlers don’t like to stay up past 9pm when my free time finally kicked in. I hope they know I love them.

What a whirlwind of a visit there, there is never enough time in the day. Now it’s on to Colorado for the most important training camp before the Olympics. It will be a lot of work but worth every second.

The New Zealand Nutshell

Pictures 1. Snowy mountains from plane 2.Carol, Me, Ryan and Paulina defying gravity 3. Malcom and I on sled 4.Sasanoki crew 5. Salmon Teriyaki and Tofu salad
6.NZ Crew 2009

I feel so lucky to get to do what I do. Not only because I get to travel around riding mostly white and fluffy stuff, but because of the people have I met along the way. My second round in New Zealand was great, filled with productive training with rock star flare and great friends.

The snow was ideal. In fact, it was more like winter when I returned then when I left. The worst part was that I didn’t pack any thermals since I was expecting spring conditions. However, this definitely was not the case with the temperatures in the negatives and many cloudy snowing days. Still, this was favorable conditions for the pipe and it enabled us to train to the scheduled end of the camp.

The camp was at Cardrona and not cheap with fees of $110NZ/day; sled access was an extra $50 but worth it since it maximizes pipe usage. I was sure to get the full value of the camp riding 20-25 runs a day and I even had a chance to drive the sled(thanks so much to Malcom King who accommodated Ryan and I on those private extended play days, that was awesome). The days were really memorable and productive. I tried a few new tricks, dialed some old ones and despite the weather some days I had a whole lot of fun.

This time I was on my own in a sweet one bedroom suit under a family of four. This place was found by my friend Richard, who has educated me in the areas of rabbit control and all the generalities of New Zealand that I had interest in. My home for two weeks was perfect and had everything I needed, including peace of mind.

As I find when I am alone it is hard sometimes to plan meals for one, so I tired my best but ended up at Sasanoki restaurant. I couldn’t resist the mouthwatering teriyaki salmon glistening over a steaming bed of Japanese rice. Also, Takenobu’s amazing tempura made especially for me was delectable. Hisachi was so hospitable, he provided a home like feeling for both Ryan and I. Next year should be just as tasty.

Ryan and I had to say good bye to the Fun Top, our trusty vehicle, but we couldn’t part with such an amazing car. We lucked out and found a spot for it to wait for us until next season. It will cost us a snowboard deck, but we will have a car ready in Wanaka next year…hopefully it will still start but I have some faith in that piece of vintage metal.

Finally, I am home again in Squamish, for a short while at least. I fly out to Toronto on Sunday, which seems so soon. It’s hard to believe I will not be here again until January. These last few sleeps in my own bed I really try to savor. I treat myself with not turning on an alarm clock and if I really want to turnover and just sleep, I do. There are going to be many, many early mornings in the next 100 days to the Games, so why not enjoy some extra sleep in my own bed? Two more sleeps and I am on my way again…

It might as well be my Birthday!

It felt like my birthday today on that mountain. The combination of sunny skies, groomed pipe, snowmobiles and some good friends made for a truly terrific day of “training”. I was able to ride yesterday, in fact that was my first day back to snow after taking a break in Canada, but the jet leg hindered my performance. Today was different.

The start of the day went great, I slept well (which is detrimental to athletes), woke up and ate my regular training day breakfast. This consists of slow cooked oatmeal, a banana and yoghurt; I started eating this meal for its health benefits but have now fallen in love with it. I left my house on time and went to pick up my teammate Ryan; we were on the hill by 9am. Today my friend from the Polish team, Paulina, was not feeling well and her kind heart gave me her sled pass for shuttling up the pipe on snowmobiles; this was the key to one of my best days ever.

Whether I was riding down the pipe on my board or up the side of it on a sled I was having the time of my life. So many times I thought ‘this feels like my birthday’. I had to have ridden at least 20 laps, screamed out loud 30 times and given out 100 high fives to my friends who were enjoying it just as much as I was.

Every time I got to the top of the pipe and tuned in my Walkman to a song that pumped me up I felt so lucky to be where I was. I would remember what my coach had me working on, gave a quick look around to see if anyone else was going to drop in, turn my board parallel with the pipe walls and go for it. As my base made contact with the snow friction was released and speed gained, I glided along the coping if the right wall and slowly weighted my back side edge to make the board roll down the 22ft wall and into the pipe. I keep eye contact with the top of the left wall and before I know it I am sailing out if the pipe, flying though the air grabbing my board, I look at the lip under me as I come back into the pipe, land on my front side edge and prepare to do the same on the opposite wall. This is the best feeling of the day, my makeshift birthday.

At the end of the run I unstrap my bindings, get some feed back from my coach and run back to the sled waiting to take me up for another try at perfection. Not only am I progressing but so are the other athletes who are training in the pipe. Guys are throwing amazing maneuvers, like double inverts, and with each trick landed the whole pipe crowd erupts with cheers of recognition, everyone is stoked. This aura that surrounds the pipe is an uplifting feeling which each person can sense.

Finally the mountain patrol closes the pipe and riding for the day is over. Ryan and I make our way back to the Fun Top to throw our boards in and retract the roof. We drive down the sunny road with huge smiles plastered across our faces. My day is concluded with two good friends, Ryan and Paula, on the sun deck of the gym stretching and doing Cosmo quizzes. It is days like this one when I try to treasure every moment because I know that not everyday can feel like your birthday.

In-flight Comforts?

I know how New Zealand sounds so far away to most people and really it is pretty far. However, I feel it is all a matter of perspective. To me, the long flights are not bad as long as you provide yourself with lots of entertainment.

In example, I always travel with my Vaio, Play Station Portable, e-book and a set of noise canceling headphones (I find myself constantly seated by the screaming baby). That way I can watch movies, play games, read and do it all in my own little world. Although, I do like to talk to the people around me from time to time, lately I have not sat beside anyone of interest but I try. Most people are content with sitting in their undersized seat and watch the in-flight movies.

Ugh, seating. I am lucky in the fact that I scored with the tiny Asian gene, I fit in any seat with room to spare. I am very grateful for this when I see bigger people stuffed in those small seats with only 32cms of space separating the rows and they are almost completely stuck for 14 hours. Seems like legal torture that we pay for.

Aside from the miniature seats, baggage is something that really annoys me. I am always trying to dodge the luggage weigh stations, especially for my snowboard bag. It’s hard to pack your career into one bag that is less than 50lbs. Tickets should include a total weight limit that includes your body weight and baggage weight. I guess that’s one more step to a more perfect world that won’t be taken for a long time.

Still, transportation has come a long way over the past 100 years. People get stressed about sitting on a plane for a long time; well imagine if that was a boat or a wagon. Now imagine you have to cross rough open ocean seas or a barely marked bumpy road with dangerous people down it. Even though that flight may not always cater to our first world comforts, it’s still leaps and bounds better then travel as close as 20 years ago.

Thinking about these things always makes me feel better about the long haul down there to the other side of the world. Particularly because I just got home a few days ago but I will be going back down under for a camp in just ten days (it worked out to be the same cost to stay there while I took a break or to come home and take a break. Sleeping in my own bed is almost priceless at this time). I also try to enjoy the travel as much as possible because I know my life will never be like this again. I try my best to savor moments and preserve the memories.

Goals into Success

Nothing feels better than accomplishing the tasks which I set out to accomplish. I have found this is much easier when I set daily goals that correspond to the bigger picture, just like splitting up a pie into smaller slices to eat it. Another help is having someone to hold you to those small goals so you don’t get side tracked, which is something that I do too easily. However, over the last two weeks I have worked with my coach to really get work done.

Goal setting should take a lot of credit to my accomplishments. Even though it is hard to set daily goals in the snowboarding environment because there are many unpredictable factors, like weather and snow conditions, having a good idea is a start. In the morning I have been talking over what I want to do with my coach, and we make sure our plans are flexible so we can change them to accommodate the conditions of the snow and pipe. We even have a back-up plan in case I am not feeling on point or undesirable weather rolls in. These goals and plans are paramount to fast progression and consistency in my training.

The past week my day consists of waking up at 6:45a and being out the door by 7:30a. It’s about 45 min to the lodge and another 15 – 20mins to get ready, and I am usually on the lift by 8:45a. I train until around 10:30a and then break for a snack, after which I resume training until noon then snack again. I keep riding until 1:30p or when I feel tired. The pipe here has been a hiking pipe so I get tired after about three hours of hiking an eighteen degree slope. All of the training time includes small goals which all contribute to my full tick runs. This regiment has done well for me, but I really have to thank my current coach for helping me set it up and making me follow it.

Roberto Marfia has been coaching me for the past two weeks and I feel that my riding has come together. When I am on my own I get excited and keep switching my concentration, now that I am with him he has been grounding me. Roberto has been setting up my training days/goals and holds me to them. That helps to keep me calm and focused, but most of all it boosts my confidence. Making me stick to the tasks at hand and giving me feed back in a positive manner has been a major factor in the success over the past two weeks. I am so grateful to have a coach like that in my career at this time.

It really is a great feeling when things finally start to flow and ideal situations are met. I only have a week left of training until I take a break from the snow and head back to Canada. Yet I know the week that is left will be productive because I have these two things working for me, goals and a good coach. Then I add my talent, determination and heart and presto! I have recipe for flourishing training days.

Out Numbered

It was glorious when our little car made it safely down to Wanaka and I found that my coach was here. I finally made it on snow and I am loving life again. So much that bloging has slowed; therefore I am happy to make this entry. Now, I am living in a house with four guys and back to playing mom. Nonetheless this is okay because I love the simpler life with out the drama that sometimes follows females.

Yes, we made the 450km journey from Christchurch down to Wanaka without further problems. We were stoked to have the top down for part of the way; it left a good feeling after the repair fiasco the days before. Ryan drove most of the way while I prayed that we would not break down. Although now we have been driving up the scary dirt roads in the car and it seems to be fine. The best is when we have four people and boards in the car; it reminds me of a clown car. We used our ankle and toe ratchet straps to fasten down the back of the boards while a leather skipping rope holds down the front to the roof racks. It’s a little Macgyver style but definitely works. One more reason to be thankful we ride snowboards; you could never pull that with skis.

Having a coach on snow is a luxury and I was stoked to arrange for one to be with me over the next few weeks to train together. Coaches make tasks like goal setting and sticking to those goals much easier. Having eyes on you is important to progression, there are other ways to get what you want, but coaches are instantaneous feed back which acts as a great tool. However, it does push the testosterone content in the house up one more notch and leaves me out numbered 4 to 1.

I really don’t mind being the minority, I did grow up in a boarding school where boys out numbered girls 4 to 1. Still it’s just that I often slip in to the mom role, a curse for being somewhat organized and punctual. I find myself tidying, organizing dinners, riding times, and the general going ons in the house. They don’t ask me to do those things but someone has to do it for the flow of the house. I really don’t mind, I guess it’s the common differences between women and men that I am noticing more as I mature. There is one thing I honestly don’t know, what it is about men and socks? Every where I turn there are random pairs, or singles, of socks hanging around on the floor or in the couch. I don’t really understand how one loses track of such things constantly. The worst part is that they never remember taking them off in the first place.

Still I will take the mother role and mystery socks any time over the drama that is built up in living with women. Men don’t have to gossip, if they do then it is about that hot chick that was in the cafeteria, lasts for about ten minutes and is over with. They don’t take forever in the bathroom and can venture there quite fine on their own. I know that right now it is perfect for me; this uncomplicated lifestyle for my complicated task.

Not worth the stress

The saying “if it sounds too good it’s probably true” has more meaning to me today than ever. So, my friend and I were presented with a sweet deal. A 1989 Mazda 121 fun top and we had bargained the price down to $500NZD from $1000NZD. There were only 200,000kms and the soft top still retracted. This deal was cheaper then renting a car for the month while we are in New Zealand. We test drove it for four days, taking it around the city and for hill climbs to make sure it was mountain safe, I installed a new stereo head unit, we just got roof racks and changed the oil, it was a dream. That is until we were leaving Christchurch this morning.

About 30kms from where we were staying we were driving around a round about; clutch in, gear down to second, clutch out and instant squealing noise. It was so loud and abrupt that we stopped the car immediately. With a quick diagnostics our conclusion was that the clutch had burned out, the car seemed to scream when we let out the clutch but was fine when the clutch was in. Two things were for sure, we needed a mechanic to take a look at the car and we were not going to make it back down to Wanaka today.

My wingman, Ryan, went on a reconnaissance mission to find that nearest garage and shortly returned with the information of a garage about 2km from our location. As we are both athletes we decided that pushing the car for that distance was no big deal, there was also the fact that a tow truck would be at least $100. We pushed that car for about 4kms before we were rescued by my good friend and host, Graham.

Graham, being the good soul that he is, got a tow strap, called his mechanic and towed us with his Honda Legend to the shop. Alistair at Summit 4WD was awesome. He had that car up on a lift and was ripping it apart within an hour. When we got back to Waikuku he was already calling us. “Katie” he said “I’ve got two pieces of news…it’s not the clutch, that is fine. It’s actually the gearbox. Now we don’t have one, but we are looking for a second hand one now. I’m just going to warn you, we might not find one until tomorrow”. Just hearing that made my heart sink, what was suppose to be an easier route was turning out to be a nightmare. The problem was that we were already paying for a place in Wanaka, my coach was flying in tomorrow and I was suppose to meet with the realtor today to work out details for the place. This was costing time and money we were not comfortable spending. My stress levels were on the rise.

I had to stop, take a few breaths, think of a clam blue ocean and remind myself that these stresses are minimal to those who are starving or dying out there in the world; you know to put things into perspective. I did feel a bit better. The mechanic called back 30mins later to tell me that they had found one for $300, he could do the labor for $350 and we could be on the road for tomorrow morning. I felt so much better.

Now we will see how the Fun Top runs with the new gearbox and if we can sell it at the end of our stay here for some of the money we dumped into the car. I feel so tired tonight, like I had a huge workout at the gym, although pushing a car for 4km might do that to you. The worst part was the stress I was causing myself but it was a good reminder that stress is self inflected and not worth the ware on my body and mind. As a result, today I am taking on the new saying of “don’t sweat the petty, pet the sweaty”, realizing that there are many factors out of my control, stressing about these is redundant.

Tomorrow is a new day, things will come together and I get to go snowboarding soon.