Blog - The Gossip

So, let me start off by telling you that I was asked today if I was pregnant! Thank goodness it was not while I was wearing my speed-suit! LOL. And… it wasn’t just me. Kaillie, Heather Hughes, and I were all asked if we were pregnant when we sat down in a little bakery/café and ordered 6 dessert waffles between the three of us!!! Nope, we are not pregnant – just bobsledders! HAHA. When the waitress found out that we were bobsledders and had literally just finished our race and gone to the café straight from the track, she understood and laughed. I don’t think people really have any idea how much food a bobsledder consumes. A few of us were discussing how different our diets would be if we were trying to look good in our speed-suits instead of perform well in them!!! 

Well, I know I don’t usually recap the races because anyone can just get the results online; but I just thought I’d give you some insight into what has been going on in my head for the past couple of weeks…

I can’t believe it’s 2011. Well, to be honest, I think it’s more like I can’t believe that 2010 is over! For so long there was so much hype, excitement, anticipation, and preparation for “2010” that it’s hard to believe that it’s over! I mean, 2010 was a big year for me, in terms of the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup. And I do have to admit, a successful one at that! 

Yes, I demolished my ankle in the last rugby game early September. And yes, the injury was worse than I thought and meant I couldn’t compete in bobsleigh for the first half of this current World Cup season. But… it somehow could have been worse! I believe that everything happens for a reason. I might not know exactly what that reason is right now… maybe my brain and/or body needed a longer break than the one I was planning to take (which was none)!

I am currently in Austria for the first World Cup since Christmas. There are four races before the World Championships in February, which is the main goal and purpose of my return to the team. I have no idea how many races I will do before then, as it will all be based on how my ankle reacts to pushing a sled again and how much it can handle. 

Well, let me be the first person today to wish you a happy new year!!! I hope you had a great holiday with people who care about you and that you rang in the new year with a bang.

Let me get you all up to speed…. As you know from my previous blogs, our race before Christmas in Cesana, Italy was cancelled because we got 7 feet of snow in less than 3 days. I was supposed to race with Lisa Szabon in that race. The first race this half was in Konigssee, Germany this past weekend and, although I was supposed to race with Helen, everything got switched around because of the previous race cancellation and schedule changes and I actually didn’t race at all. I haven’t raced on that track since 2006 – 3 years ago – and I was a bit disappointed because I think it’s my favourite track (or at least my top 3). It is absolutely gorgeous there and the fans are awesome! There was a great band playing music and dancing at the finish dock. Lots of fun! Although the race is called Konigssee, that is actually the name of the lake at the foot of the track. It’s actually just outside Berchtesgaden – so much history! You can actually see Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest from the bob track!

Okay….. with about 7 feet of snow down and another couple of avalanches blocking the road from Sestriere to the track in Cesana, the FIBT decided to cancel the race. Although sometimes races are cancelled due to weather, it usually happens the day of the race, not 4 days ahead of time! There wouldn’t have been enough training runs, and apparently some of the corners of the track were completely covered in snow and weren’t even visible. So….. the Canadians decided to make due and have a competition anyway! An announcement was made over the speakers during dinner that there would be a “snow battle” at 9pm out in the parking lot. Nation against nation! It was the biggest and best snow fight I think I’ve ever been a part of – between Austria, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Latvia, and Canada about 50 people took part (with no major injuries except for a few bruises to show for it)! It also snowed another couple of feet after the battle! So fun!