Worlds Jan 25th - Feb 1
Hopefully all travels home were safe and felt shorter than they actually were!! I just wanted to pass on a note to everyone to say thanks for a great worlds. As is typical in sport I'm sure we all wish some of our performances were a little better and may have been surprised by the level achieved in other areas. I know there were many personal best scores recorded at this tournament and over all Team Canada was definitely recognized for their ability and sportsmanship on and off the water. Both as a parent and a senior member of Team Canada it made me proud of the recognition and support that Team Canada receives from the other participating countries. On a number of occasions through out the tournament and after the tournament I have had officials, team coaches, skiers and volunteers come to me unprompted and compliment our Canadian Contingent. I think when you see skiers on the water such as Gordie and Paul who have been in the sport longer than most of us, it can't be missed that they are consistently getting louder cheers from other competitors and supporters from other countries. This is the same feed back that I have been getting about our younger skiers. It's comments and actions like this that should make everyone feel like they represented Canadians well!! The score that you may not be happy with.....well that may be something to remember in June when the water is a little to cold to ski in, or is that an opportunity to work on that extra wake crossing or trick that is only 50-50 right now!!
Thanks Tippings for keeping food and drinks for us at the site on your dime!! Thanks to Al Moynes for managing the junior team. (The T-shirts are awesome as well) Thanks to the Blackmores for the awesome team jackets, medical staff and support.
And for the endless hours reviewing score sheets, watching boat paths, answering questions and organizing things we don't even know about. Thanks very much for leading Team Canada in the 2009 Worlds.
Makes me want to come back!!!
Here is a link to our Calgary Paper that was sent to me today. http://www.calgaryherald.com/Sports/Calgarian+medals+barefoot+water+skiing/1242775/story.html
Dwayne Rowland
Beautiful day in NZ. Everyone skied well, particularly the Juniors. I was lucky to be rope/handle guy and managed to see all the Jr runs. Looks like we are peaking at the right time. The Tippings brought lunch for everyone – much appreciated. Then the group shot I dreaded- being the Tool in a non red/team suit: (I briefly considered wearing mine inside out as it looks black and red that way however the crotch rips and worn places would be dead giveaways.)
Regardless, it was a great experience; being with the group photographed and also seeing the pride of all the happy and loving parents who are the key element to this team and event. I am fully aware of the family commitment to fulfilling the dream of a world championship; we are among those tireless/selfless parents who have contributed in so many ways. The Blackmores, Tippings, Moynes, Rowlands – all inspiring folk who are always there to support and encourage all the skiers.
So here we are looking at the “camera” people as they view us with pride; the lake and green hills of New Zealand are the backdrop. We are about to enter the show. I think how wonderful it is that these parents travelled all this way to share and contribute to this adventure. How their cheerful disposition contributes to the moral of this team. How their support of their kid’s love of barefoot skiing has made it all possible.
I believe among the Canadian Barefoot Team parents, there is a genuine understanding of how difficult this sport is; how much perseverance it takes to become really good at. Without this group of parents' contribution, Canadian Barefooting would not be the same and my own kids would be without the family of barefooting that keeps them motivated to remain members thereof.
So, for the brand of people you are and the wealth of understanding and support brought to our skiers…Thank You.
Duane
We all made it out on the water yesterday and had a great time skiing. Every one was happy to ski and get their feet on the water and to see what the tournament sites are like.
I was real happy to get out there and run some slalom and some turns and not get smacked down on the side of my head. We encountered a bit of wind in the afternoon, but everyone seemed to ski well in it and nobody complained.
Off to the beach this morning, and then back to the lake to get another round of training in.
I love barefooting!
Schwarty
The team had a well deserved and needed sleep in. Most of the skiers slept quite well and emerged from the hotels well rested and ready for some action. After a little sight seeing around the cities, the weather started getting a little cold and a little rainy so everyone retired to their rooms for some rest. After a nap it was time to get skiing. The site was nearly blown out so spirits were a little low. The Aussies were training before us and having a little trouble navigating the rough water - not good. The open Team started the training set and it was less than productive but we got on our feet and dusted off a little jet lag. The senior Team skied next and faired well and had some fun remembering how to barefoot. Seriously though, they sked well. The juniors were up next and skied very well and showed the Open Team that they are maybe a little soft!!! Gordie and Paul went for a quick trick set to finish off the training and hoped to redeem themselves. They both ran some trick runs and skied much better than the first set. Perhaps just getting their feet back made life feel a little better. Dwayne Rowland threw a couple of jumps in at the end of the day, and poked a huge jump that we hope he replicates during the tournament. Day 1 of training is done and we are fed, skied and ready for bed. Training Day 2 starts at 10am tomorrow with the juniors.
Paul
We had 18 in our group. 6 Airports, 3 or 4 different airlines, 4 security checks, Customs, "Bio Security" ...I congratulate the TEAM for being great travelers over such a long journey.
Quite early on I realized that I should perhaps settle in as the "tail gunner" and was fairly happy with the clean up required. Only one pass port dropped on the floor of an airport, and one customs document floating down to the ground off a aimless barefoot traveler's baggage cart...just 5 Meters from the hand in point. I watched as a friendly person in the next line picked it up and passed it to our Whistler BC based million mile club father of two.
The town is called Waikanae and is about 5 min south of Otaki - the Host town. We are about 12 min from the tournament lakes.
I got up at 5:30 am well rested. Great sleep. Put some shorts on and headed towards town to do a little recon on our new headquarters. I figured I would see Gordie Croteau - Current World Slalom Champion - very shortly into my trek, and he did not disappoint. 5 min after I left the motel he came running down the road. I went for coffee and he took the next right to go find the beach on his morning jog. The estimation was about 3km. He just got back to hotel and reported in that it was 30 min down that road.
I expected to see Paul MacDonald very soon after I left on my walk also - Current OPEN MEN'S Tricks Bronze Medal Holder, 2006 Worlds (Canada's First and ONLY medal in the Men's division...as of this writing). Paul did not disappoint either. Up for his morning walk/suss out of the area with sidekick Dwayne Rowland.
I see a trend here....people with medals seem to get acclimatized fast......
I had no expectation of seeing any of the Junior Team unless there was a fire in the hotel, that was directly next to their room, and emergency personal had to go in and wake them up.
Off to get some breakfast in the Guy's room. More later. We train at 4pm - 8pm today.
Coach
Currently another brisk Saturday Morning in Winterhaven Florida. It is 3 deg C here this morning and it is a humid cold that goes right to the bone! Local onlookers from the lake side were yelling as skiers swapped out of the water and into the boat "are you guys crazy! Aren't you cold!" There is no mistaken that yes we were cold and yes probably a little crazy too! There is no mistaking that the Canadian barefooters are in town as we have skied many of the different lakes wearing our red and white wet suits show casing maple leafs that can be spotted from just about anywhere. a full week of barefooting has resulted in some sore feet, sore muscles, some wipe outs that would make a yoga master cringe but is out weighed by the successes, confidence and camaraderie of the Canadian Barefoot Team.
That's all for now
SKIUL8TR
Dwayne Rowland
Even though the weather was cold this morning - spirits are high and bodies are staying warm!!!
Paul MacDonald
Today was great. A little cool, but Canadian!
Dwayne Rowland
Everyone had a great day today. Team meeting at 7:45am then off to the lake for the first group. We pulled the last boat out of the water in the dark at 6:30pm. Cool weather, but the skiing is right on track. Great improvements from day one with much more room to go. We are tightening up the sets and getting more into tournament mode.
Thanks to all for being patient with the cool temps, long days, and the odd blunt comment from the Coach.
Canadian Girls definitely kick ass! We have an awesome group of talent that we have never before taken to a Worlds. Good to see such a high level of skiing out of FIVE Canadian Women.
Many thanks to Mike Holt (USA Independent skier) for giving his Sanger to the Canadian Team for training. You are one special guy Mike. See you soon at your Otaki Hut!
More later, got to eat……
Richard Gray
Arriving a week early, I can fully appreciate how cold it was this week during team training. The only people who didn’t arrive before it got cold were the Rowlands, and I blame them completely for this cold weather. To make up for this bad luck they brought upon the team they offered up their house and hot tube for our use. As much as I hate the cold weather, I really appreciate the great cooking, company, and the use of the house and its hot tub. Thanks:)
All of us skiers are working our butts of despite the cold. Working
slalom a ton, we are all trying to pull our scores up past what they
have ever been. Tricks have been not working out so great for me so
far, but Paul says that you should be skiing pretty bad before a
worlds. I really hope he's right!
Dani Tipping
Hey coach, here goes,
We seem to be receiving cruel and unusual punishment from the weather. Every morning starts out extremely cold and we're expecting it to fall below freezing tonight but it really could be worse. The days warm up gradually and we have received some nice sunshine in the afternoons, the water is also quite warm. After a couple of fabulously refreshing sets we retire to the Rowland's house and take advantage of their hot tub which really is a lifesaver and Cory's excellent cooking. Following that, Bed! The days have been really long with everyone pulling out all the stops to prepare for New Zealand, I'm having the best sleeps I've ever had in my life. Speaking of which
Brain tired,
Body Sore
Must Sleep
So I can ski some more!!!!
PS coach, I think that this excellent exhibition of rhyming skills should be put into consideration when we decide the skiing order for tomorrow. I would like to sleep as much as I can.
Katie Godfrey
So far training has been awsome. The entire team has turned out and is cheering each other on every day from start to finish. Some cool mornings so far, but that would never stop a true canadian now would it? At least we haven't had to scrape ice off the boom. Yet!
I got to take my kids to Disneyland yesterday, and they loved it! What a great time it was to ski early in the morning, then head off with the family to see Snow white and the rest of Mickey's friends.
I'm looking forward to another great day of back slalom that the team, especially the juniors, has been excelling at lately. I'll be on the dock at 8am with my coffee and dry suit, ready to go.
Coach, I want the first set on Sat morning when its REALLY cold, then nothing will seem hard when we get to New Zealand. Also, I want to go back to Disneyland!
Don Schwartz
We leave for Training Camp on Sunday. Winter Haven, Fl
Travel to NZ on the 19th