Beijing or Bust

It's on like donkey kong.

After a disappointing and heart-wrenching Worlds, I have sucked it up and refocused my energy towards the next step, qualifying the Olympic spot for Canada. With no school and no work, all of my energy will be given to training and preparing for the Olympic trials next spring. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain now ladies and gentlemen.

Albeit for a couple of races, I had a pretty stellar season and I wish to carry this momentum into this next season. My german friend Thilo Schmit calls me the "kanonenkugel" or cannon ball. I now find this name fitting and can associate myself with it. You see, the momentum and passion I have for excellence is like the momentum a cannon ball carries when it is shot; and as we all know, when a cannon ball gets moving it cannot be stopped.. unless you have a death wish.

Look out for the cannon ball my friends, it will be coming to a river or training site near you.

Heart Break Hotel

Arrggghhhh…

Well, it’s over. With 10 seconds in penalties today I ended up in 45^th position and was unable to qualify for the semi-final and final. At this calibre of racing, a touch can be the difference between success and failure and I got taught this lesson today.

Going into the race, I never envisioned being in this particular position. Training was going well; I was fast, consistent and most importantly, clean (not touching gates and taking penalties). Maybe it was stress or nerves – I can’t really put my finger on it at this point in time – but I did not perform to my potential.

So, what’s next….well, life is too short to fret, worry and be down. So, I think I will take some much needed rest and relaxation and come up with a new plan for next year.

Although this race adds a slight blow to my Olympic dream, I am not out of the race yet. Our qualification involves the best 2 out 3 races, with the next set of races happening next spring.

So, in the meantime I am going to sit back, enjoy some World Championship racing and cheer on my other teammates.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Yes, it has been a long-time since my last blog entry and I’m sure all of you have been anxious to know what happened to our boats…well, let me tell you that things have turned 180 degrees and the Canadians are back on top. After shrewd negotiations with custom officials, our coaches were able to reclaim our rightful possessions and return them to us. It was an ordeal, but as always, everything works out in the end. Again coaches if you read this, thanks for your work.

The last few days have been great. We continued with the Canadian tradition of shaving the rookies heads…the internet here is painfully slow and uploading photos is an ordeal…but we buzzed the Purcell brothers (C2 team) and Julian Potvin-Bernal (C1) – welcome to the team. In addition, we have consumed a copious amount of sushi. Surprisingly, Sao Paolo has the highest concentration of Japanese inhabitants outside of Japan.

Anyways, today is our last day of training before the race starts on Wednesday. It’s very exciting and I am very excited…but as always, it is now a waiting game until Wednesday. So from now until Wednesday, I’ll be sitting, waiting, relaxing.

GONGSHOW

'If they try to send me back to Brazil, all I'll say is NO-NO-NO.' Think Amy Winehouse.

Well, I could sit here and rant about our current ordeal, but, why waste the time and energy? Things could be better, but, this is life - you don't always get what you want! Instead we must embrace our current situation and make the best of it. Things will eventually sort themselves out and when they do, we will thrive; more importantly I will thrive.

Just a quick update, our boats are still in Sao Paolo, trapped behind the bureaucracy of Brazilian customs. However, we hope the tireless efforts of our coaches Michal Staniszewski and Mike Holroyd will pay dividends and we will have our boats tomorrow.

I have been fortunate enough to get on the course here in Foz Do Iguacu. The course has changed significantly from the last time we were here in March. The changes have been positive as there is much more flow and continuation on the entire course. I like it.

Anyways, until our boats come, I am going to continue drinking Brazilian coffee and consuming copious amounts of Mangos. So, life isn't that bad after all......as my dad always asks me when I start to complain about stuff, "Where would you rather be, in Brazil (or other country) hanging out or sitting on the 38th floor at ScotiaCapital building trading stock?" Well, as you can imagine the answer is pretty simple.

So friends, until next time keep fit and have fun.

World Championships or Bust

Well, this is it. The final dance.

However, some of us Canadians will be going to the dance without our dance shoes. Yes, the Brazilians have done it to us once again. They have commandeered our boats and are holding them hostage until Monday morning, 9:00am.

We thought we did everything right this time around. We shipped our boats by Cargo a week in advance; plenty of time to ensure their safe arrival in Brazil. However, little did we know that today is Brazil's independence day and thus, nobody works. Therefore, my Vajda 350XL is stuck behind closed doors, collecting dust. If you are reading this Vajda 350XL, I miss you.

So, what's the game plan now....well, I am currently relying on the generosity of the paddling community to help me out. I have orchestrated a few plans (primarily borrowing boats) which will hopefully allow me to train in Brazil in the meantime. But, everything is out my hands and control right now, so we can only hope for the best.

Godspeed John Hastings, Godspeed!

Kayaking in Saskatoon - IN JEOPARDY!!!!!

Apparently the proposed Whitewater Center to be opened in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan may be in jeopardy. A risk-averse, change-resistant journalist by the name of Les MacPherson wrote a piece in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix criticizing the development of this site. This journalist fears that the serenity and ambiance surrounding the downtown Saskatoon weir (proposed site of the course) would be devastated and the Pelicans who flock there in the summer would be left homeless. Why? Well it is all because of us 'eskimo-rolling', 'Woooooo' screaming whitewater enthusiasts.

Well Les, let me try to put your fears to rest. I can prove to you that the ambiance won't be ruined and the the Pelicans won't be left homeless, and that such a site will actually do more good for the city of Saskatoon than you may think. Please, read on.

Les, just south of Yellowknife in the NWT is a river called the Slave. The Slave is one of the most beautiful rivers I have ever paddled on; its big volume whitewater is one-of-a-kind, making this place a Canadian paddling mecca. Anyways, there is a section on this river which is inhabited by thousands of Pelicans and is appropriately named Pelican rapids. Now, let me tell you something about Pelican rapids, it is probably the largest and most spectacular part of whitewater on this whole river. Although I lay no claim to being a bird specialist, biologist or even marine biologist, I believe that Pelicans are relatively resilient creatures and if they don't run away from the mighty rapids of the Slave I don't see why they would run from the much more tame rapids which I hope will soon inhabit the South Saskatchewan?

As for the destruction of the current serenity and ambiance, sure there may be times when passer-bys will hear the shrieks of excited whitewater...but, I would much rather hear that, then the shrieks and cries of someone struggling to stay alive after getting stuck in the turbulent and dangerous back-wash of the present weir. In addition, the sound of white water and rapids is incredibly soothing; don't they sell relaxation tapes to the public where the theme is The Sounds of Rivers or something like this?

Les, I understand your reluctance to the monetary/financial outlay for the facility. $15m is a lot of money, but believe me, this center will pay dividends both tangible and intangible. This site will offer Saskatoon and surrounding residents with a new, exciting form of exercise and outdoor entertainment. The development of a slalom kayak/canoe racing club and program will attract Olympic-class athletes and International competitions to Saskatoon and Canada. Finally, commercial rafting ventures can be very profitable with significant positive spill-over...in this case, the spill over will effect local businesses directly as there would undoubtedly be an increase in tourism as a result of this unique facility.

So Les, I beg you....join the dark side. I bet if you try either whitewater kayaking, canoing or rafting, you will be sold. In fact, I invite you to come out to Ottawa. If you come, I will personally guide you down the Ottawa River or any of our surrounding rivers so you can experience the brilliance of our sport first-hand.

For those of you who have yet to see this article, it can be found here, http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/third_page/
story.html?id=97b84882-ed64-47e0-a1bd-8aaf6e9f0848

I love kayaking.