Whistler Update...

Sliding has been going well… I seem to figure out something new each day and my times continue to improve. Yesterday was actually the first day I’ve felt like myself since I’ve been here. My head wasn’t in a fog since we slid at 9am and I was wide awake, ready to go! I have 4 more training runs before the race and I feel like I’m on the right path. I can’t tell you how different things are on the World Cup circuit compared to Intercontinental Cup. For the first time, I actually feel like I have the support I need to slide well. I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way) with amenities that I’ve never had access to in the past… even more than World Champs in Altenberg last year… The USOC has sent up a group of sports scientists to help video and collect data. My first day down the track, there was a camera at the entrance and exit of almost every curve. That’s unbelievable… it’s an IC slider’s dream! Haha Just a few hours after we get back, they have it downloaded on computers and you can sort through everything by athlete, curve, date, first or second run… you can use a split screen to analyze and compare yourself with other sliders in slow motion. There’s even a high-speed camera that can be played back at 300 frames per second to pick apart your form and other precise details. I can watch it on my own or go over things with the coaches. We also have a physio guy on staff who is awesome! He can do chiropractic work, active release therapy (ART), soft tissue and massage… anything we need to get our bodies feel’n good. The only thing that I’ve been slacking on is in the food department. We have a kitchen but my cooking skills are lacking. Subway, dominos and the local burrito place have been getting most of my business. Oops… I’m working on that though! Haha Seriously, I have to hand it to everyone behind the scenes making these two weeks happen… FOR THE FIRST TIME in my career… I couldn’t ask for anything more… This has been such an amazing experience and I’ve learned things about my sliding that I may have never figured out otherwise. THANK YOU!

Photos:

1) View from the top of the track including the first curve
2) Martin and Eric going over video together
3) Dukurs in Curve 14
4) Orive taking video