Clyde's Secret Glades - Revelstoke Mtn Resort

http://vimeo.com/9148366

Still working on the video of the kids skiing. Here's a little downtime for yours truly. Trying to keep up to Jeff was impossible ! This guys ROCKS the boards.

Cannot write much - going for early morning run.......

Cheers,

Brent

2010 Olympic Torch Relay

So - for a few of my 5 followers - this is old news. For the others - here goes. Yours truly was selected to be an Olympic Torchbearer. My magical day was one week ago today. 7:23 am on January 25th at Osoyoos BC. I was runner No. 10 out of 206 for that day.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

http://vimeo.com/9012504
The video says more than I can possibly write. A few things of note.

YES I was nervous - I only told our daughter - what 4 times ? - to pick me up at the Cultural Centre.

Pierre-Luc our handler reminded us that we were SELECTED by the merits of our application. It was not a random draw. He challenged us to do something with this. I am.

Since that day - I have been to two ( 2 ) Elementary School assemblies - with two more planned. At least 800 people have grabbed hold of our Torch. The more - the better.

What this life-changing experience has done is shown me that each and every one of us can make a difference in other people's lives. To see the school kids go crazy is priceless.

ENJOY - I DID

Cheers,

Brent

just in case you were wondering....

No offense - I know it's mandatory and my 2010 dance card could be affected - but - I HATE the trainer. So - the outdoor stuff has been the standard. Yes - I'm not cracking off 5 hr trainer rides like Payne-Train Bryan - so call me a poof. I'm hoping all of my other activities will compensate.

So - instead of rambling like a fool - here's what this blog is about. Next mtn bike ride. This Sunday in the am. How far ? Most likely a 2 hr stint then a kahuna skate ski.

The bike ride I'm REALLY looking forward to is the Climb Sturgeon III. Friday January 22nd. It celebrates my and 2 others birthdays. We climb Knox in the dark - and fall into Sturgeon Hall. Shitty - we have to drink beer afterwards.

So - YES I'll be wearing helmet cam. YES we are going to equal last year's total of at least 5 hearty riders. YES we're gonna drink some Warsteiner. MAYBE I'll ride my bike INTO Sturgeon. Would make a great video shoot eh ???

This morning's run was sticky baby poo mud on the runners. That was a good 40 minutes of the 2 hr run in the muck.....Joy. Oh and it was raining non-stop too. Character building I'm told.

Saw this video today on vimeo. Levi cruising on the TT in his Mellow Johnny gear in Sonoma. Shit I could watch this video all day......

Levi cruising on the TT machina in Sonoma

you think you've got cardio ?? think again !

Have purchased a pair of XC skate skis - aptly called MISERY STICKS. Why ? Well as my title eludes - one can never ever never assume the task is complete. Compound this exponentially when dealing with your fitness.
Strive higher - stronger - faster. Better yet for us mere mortals - associate with lung demons no matter your sport. If you can befriend or have friends that are that much better than you at the game - train as much as they'll allow you. Remember karma can be a real bitch - so extend the courtesy when you're approached by an entry level friend.

Telemark Night skiing January 5th - a rest stop at a junction

I've known for 20 years that XC skiing was the key tyo better cycling - did I do it ? No. Shitballs. But - so as to not go throught life feeling sorry for myself - I've finally done it. WOW. This sport is incredible. I cannot begin to describe the soreness in my arms and lungs after 5 solid sessions on the sticks. I plan to skate ski 2hrs this coming Thursday night and 4 hrs on Sunday. I'm going to enter a 30km Loppet on January 24th. I wont finish last - but it'll be damn close.

This video is from Sunday January 3rd. Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. Enjoy.

http://vimeo.com/8545741

Cheers,

Brent

Skiing Big White Christmas Day & Boxing Day.....

The girls went out and did their thing for the two days. They're actually on snow for pretty much every day from 24th - 1st - while we're slaving the system.....

A couple of interesting points.
I have never told Ilana she has to go wow the camera - just ski and be themselves. She gets to see the whole spectrum from filming he footage to editing to final cut. She is taking quite the interest in it too.

For whatever reason - the girls have named the Hero HD camera " Xavier ". It could be worse - but it is actually quite cool. The professor from the X-Men I say - they say " Who ?? ". Oy !!

You be the judge....

http://vimeo.com/8409513

Mountain biked up Knox yesterday morning in the dull and dreary cloud. Nordic skate skiing on the misery sticks at Telemark in the afternoon. Blissful blue sky and gorgeous sun.....WOW.
Sounds like that is Jaegan's and my New Years Day plans - with Xavier....video to follow.
Hmmm - could be epic if I run - then bike - then skate ski......Heh Heh

Cheers,

Brent

Been busy....

Boxing Day am - about to get ready to go for a run with Trevor. Been slammed lately with skiing, running, and some biking. Oh yah - work and family too.....

So I finally purchased a Hero HD camera. Helmet, chest, gluteus maximus - you name it - you can mount it. So Jaegan & I christened it with a very dark Knox to McKinley and back mtn bike ride 12-11-09.
40 kms of fun - I was pumped on how the video was going to turn out - wow was it dark.....
The video made one realize how damn good our eyes are as core instruments in daily activities.

So a scant four days later - we hit paydirt. Tuesday December 15th - we did a night mtn bike ride at Rose Valley. I even rode on the frozen reservoir. Fun - slick - a tad cold. You be the judge....

http://vimeo.com/8230497

 Then our daughter Ilana got her wish and used the Hero on her training day prior to a two day race at Apex Alpine in Penticton. I think she had fun. You be the judge.....

http://vimeo.com/8346055


We just had a perfect bluebird day at Big White - she had the helmet cam on again. Today too.
Will keep you posted....


Cheers,
Brent 

K1 Camp Silver Star

So here is the K1 group of Big White Racers. Awesome bunch of kids. We just spent 3 days at Silver Star - skiing, dryland training, learning how to edge & wax skis, boot fitting, racing brushes, racing gates, and most important - having FUN.

 Head coach Trevor Haaheim ( right above this sentence ), our daughter Ilana far right. Besides being on snow as much as possible - the main goal was the group to gel together away from family and other distractions. It really worked. The kids had a full - full schedule - so there wasn't a lot of goof time. With our temperatures averaging minus 14 - nobody came in early because they were cold. Wow. Trevor even had them running in snow AFTER skiing.
Trevor is an amazing leader. Besides being our Program Director - he's won our Okanagan Int'l Marathon ( a few times ), and is an accomplished road racer. 2010 will be his first year not racing with Total Restoration. Why I say this is he commands your attention and respect - no matter the age. I believe he exemplifies the expression " Lead by Example " and then some. In addition to the days he runs, skis, and teaches the kids - him & I even squeezed in two 5:30 am runs to Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre and back.

Yes that is the moon above Trev. It's too bad I didn't have a night savvy camera - cause these runs were AMAZING. Our full moon was earlier in the week - but I really didn't need the HID light for the runs. Snow covered trees - snow blanket everywhere - full clear sky of stars - the crunch crunch of our feet on the snow - running at altitude - good company. What more could you ask for ? All of the kids were mouth-gaped in amazement at what time we got up and where we ran. Our response - it's nothing - anybody could do it. LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
A few parents have also commented same - my answer - had we run to Vernon and back - YES that would have been superhuman. But not this weekend - not enough time before 7:30 K1 dryland...

So - sounds like last Tuesday Night Ride dudes ride - will be Knox to McKinley - will be ~ -14. Lead by example......and bring hand warmers too !

Thanks to Trevor, Kasey, Jesse for coaching this weekend. Thanks to the kids for their enthusiasm and commitment to the Camp. Thanks to the chaperons Heather M, Diane D, Anne Marie K, oh yah - and me.

Cheers,
Brent