Monkeying around down south

Day 4 of our recent 10 day team camping trip found me exhilarated, albeit sopping wet, running barefoot along massive dunes on the Oregon coast at Pacific City, OR.  The approaching storm system that had us socked in for the past few days had finally manifested into gale-force winds, whipping up a violent surf that added salty spray to the already driving rain as I jogged along through the abrasive sand.  This different, and therefore exciting run (think kelp and dead jellyfish strewn about) was a welcome reprieve to my otherwise foul mood brought about due to what was to be a relaxing, beach-reclined surfing sojourn sadly turned into a cold and sodden misery fest.  Luckily, our three to four-ish day stint on the Oregon coast was cut short to two days.  Two days of cuddling up next to a puddle inside my tent.  We couldn't have been headed for a better location: Bend, OR.  The high desert.  And our third stop of four on CVTC's 2010 "Monkeying around down south" trip. 

Now, this doesn't near weave the tale of the adventure on our camping/training/road trip, so let's rewind to the beginning and do it proper with pictures and all. 

Our first stop of the trip was at Mount St. Helens, Washington, and one of the most spectacular runs of my life (on Ape Canyon Trail.  As you read on, you will notice an undeniable monkey/ape theme to our trip, thus explaining the title).  The scenery was so abnormal and breathtaking on and around this active volcano that it became an instant hit.  The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens decimated everything within 600 square kilometres as it's north face collapsed.  To this day, it remains the most destructive volcanic eruption in history in the United States. (Check out video of the 1980 eruption here)  

The peak of Mount St. Helens seems so near, but is in fact still thousands of feet above where we made it to.  The peak even lost 1,300 feet off the top in the 1980 eruption.  

That afternoon after our run on St. Helens, we took to spelunking the nearby Ape Cave.  What I thought would be a small cave system that perhaps a small group of capuchins could theoretically inhabit, turned into a 1.6 mile underground journey of fear and discovery. 

The dank darkness in Ape Cave was absolute, and the temperature was frigid.  Those in t-shirts invariably froze. 

At every bend in the lava tube, we were confronted with challenging obstacles.  Here, Geoffrey is squirming his way through a tight spot.  Another hindrance was an 8-foot cliff we had to scramble up and over.

Mid-way through our 1+hr odyssey through the abyss, we were tantalized by a hole in the ceiling offering fresh air and light to help reverse our gradual Gollum-esque acclimation to the dark (like googly eyes, pallor and mental insanity).

Out of the cave, and without any long-term cave dweller adaptations having taken hold, we took to the road to make for Oregon and the "beach time" that awaited.  Cannon Beach, OR is one of the quaintest little towns I know, situated directly on never-ending beach, with boutique shops and cafés that speak to a zoning requirement of "one-storey cute and shingled". 

Cape Kiwanda at Pacific City, OR.  I wasn't too choked up to leave this behind... The boys were left making do with the "food tent" for the trip after our rightful tent was somehow left behind in Whistler by certain members of the team.  

The weather upon our arrival in Bend, OR was nothing short of a miracle as we were met with bone dry heat.  Every possession was laid out to dry.  Our campsite at Tumalo State Park had phenomenal rollerskiing through the desert.  

After a few days to dry out, even Bend couldn't remain dry with the imposing weather from the coast.  

 Smith Rock State Park near Bend.  Amazing scenery and running trails.

Monkey Face in Smith Rock.  

 Back side of the hulking Monkey Face. 

Two Great Horned Owls at Tumalo State Park campground.

S'more preparation - the traditional art I have honed all my life under the tutelage of my old man's marshmallow roasting skills.  

Twin Lake Campground in Winthrop, WA.  Unfortunately, we only spent one night here and left early the next morning without getting a chance to explore the environs. 

CVTC (which I hear is being changed to CVDC - Callaghan Valley Development Cenre) 2010-2011 below Liberty Bell Mountain at Washington Pass at the conclusion of our trip. 

I am now back in Whistler for the remainder of the fall waiting for the snow to fly.  It's time to both narrow the focus and address any last minute preparation issues before important racing becomes a reality.

Thanks,

Thomsen

A recent roller ski training session in Whistler... (I am in blue)

Homelife Real Estate

A big shout-out to Homelife Real Estate in Yellowknife for their support for my 2010/2011 season!!

As a small real estate company in Yellowknife, Homelife is a great partner to the community of Yellowknife, being a supporter of many local events and organizations.  With Homelife as a sponsor for this season, I am proud to represent this business to my best ability within my home community of Yellowknife and in my travels to competitions across Canada and abroad.

Business as usual

June was a month of sussing out the current situation of the bod.  What to work on, what is weak.  No significant gains were observed, but the stage was set for how to systematically go about things over the rest of the summer.  

July has been a month of great progress.  At the top of the list is my move into the Whistler Athlete's Centre, at Cheakamus Crossing (what I like to call the Cheak-X), aka the Olympic Athlete's Village.  My new living arrangements are very comfortable and training is extremely convenient.  With all of my teammates in the same row of townhouses, team training outings are easily arranged and the area surrounding the Cheak-X is beautiful and contains a variety of excellent running/cycling trails.  We also live directly across from a state of the art sports centre, so we are soon to be in one of the best training situations possible once that opens in the next month.  

2nd on the list of things to be excited for for the month of July, is my improvement of overall fitness.  Instances of superior fitness are seen on an almost daily basis, and sensations have been great.  Good energy all of the time (likely thanks to the new training paradise I am living in), and notable improvements in running economy and double pole strength - two useful gauges over the summer months.  I am particularly excited about these two developments as they will directly influence my classic skiing, particularly my classic sprinting.  

My running improvements have likely come from specific track work of drills and strides (possibly supplementation of barefoot training as well).  The double pole has been changing perhaps due to technical changes recommended by Chris.  We are trying an Emil Joensson (top World Cup sprinter) approach to pole plant and power application - having the poles plant at nearly vertical and having the power phase end by the time my hands reach my hips.  

Some of the new methods with Chris conducted at the track in Brackendale.  Bounding, strides, drills, plyos, sprints...  Intended for:

- Practicing and strengthening my new found range of motion in hips and ankles (found through stretching).  Strengthening new range of motion is essential to prevent injury in the regions that were purposely damaged (stretched) for mobility gains.  

- Training proprioception with fun and coordination-challenging range of movement drills 

- Neurologic and strength training with all out sprints.  Finding that turnover, and learning to apply power too.

The main intended outcome of our track practices is being able to generate better power with legs, primarily for classic striding (where I am normally brutal).  

At the start of the month I was on-snow on the Haig glacier near Canmore, AB for a camp with my new teammates and with the National Team.  Even with specific fine-tuning and exciting new ideas, one mustn't lose sight of the most important part of training: getting in distance hours.  4-hour days are commonplace when skiing on the Haig.

A shot outside the dudes' room at the Haig - Peelix the mountain goat licking the pee off of the rocks.  

The guys of CVTC 2010, preparing for our 18km run out from the Haig base camp: (l to r) Chris Manhard (coach), Geoffrey Richards (Rossland), Jeff Wood (Whitehorse), and I.  Our glacier camp was a very productive time, both for training and for team bonding and getting to know each other. 

This is our new neighbourhood at the Cheak-X (Whistler peak in background).  

This year I have committed to spending more solid time chunks in Whistler - being here more, travelling less, and having consistent daily training and rest at a home base.  This was a commitment born from being inspired at the Olympic Games this past year.  It is easy to show integrity to my objectives, being a part of the Olympic legacy.  Every time I rollerski the paved finish line area at WOP, I get goosebumps as I remember Petter Northug claiming multiple gold on that exact spot...

This is my community.

Growing up in the North, my family didn't have much money (not enough for me to play hockey, anyways), so at first I was put in cheap sports like soccer and track and field (luckily, I was fortunate enough to score some sweet 2nd-hand ski gear at the annual YK Ski Club Snow Show, and so was eventually put in skiing at age 7).  

Soccer was my main sport for quite some time, and I like to think of myself as having been one of the more decent players playing on gym floors around the 'Knife (outdoor in YK is predominantly bunk, with very few fields used by too many people resulting in a lot of dirt and hummocks - and so indoor soccer rules the North).  The indoor soccer years of my generation were dominated by a set of brawny Inuit twins by the names of Sam and Joe Ashoona.  These guys were untouchable; they could run faster and shoot harder than anyone, and could win any battle.  Their dad, Bob Kussy, was an exuberant coach and everything-soccer maniac.  Amazingly, a few of the teams that I played on were crafty enough to employ tactics to shut down Sam and Joe to pull out big wins in Aurora Minor Soccer League and in Super Soccer tournaments.  

Crafty U-11 boys Lime Green, getting the job done.  Anyone from Yellowknife would find this picture pure gold (sorry Aaron for ripping it off your FB), as it contains 3 Aitkens, and many other noteworthy YKers, including Yellowknife's Snowboarder extraordinaire, and my good buddy, Andrew Matthews (bottom row, laying down).  I am center on the top row.  And yes, I was a shrimp.  

Today, the Ashoona's run an art studio (check it out here or check out their Facebook page here).  I am proud to announce that they are on board as one of my major sponsors, providing me with traditional artwork to use as gifts for my big sponsors!  Me and the Ashoona's all go way back, and fought it out countless times on the soccer court.  They taught me humility on the soccer floor and inspired me to play harder and to work hard at becoming a better soccer player and athlete.  Although my competitive soccer days are long gone, the skills and lessons I learned are invaluable for my ski career.  The Ashoona's support of my Olympic aspirations is a fine example of the great community that is backing me in the pursuit of my goals.  

Team Ashoona.  Joe (far right), has become one of the best Inuit carvers in the world.  

"Dancing Bear" - by Joe Ashoona

CVTC rebooted (again)

Last year at this time, I had just committed to returning to Whistler after a VERY tough decision to return to a program left in shambles.  Despite the gamble, I discovered a previously unknown state of fitness.  I had a great relationship with a coach whose strengths were closely aligned with my interests and goals.  Even though the racing season was derailed with an untimely injury, I was excited for the new fitness potential I had demonstrated throughout the training season.  With the lackadaisical race season (Olympic racing lull in North America) coming to a close, I was ecstatic to have a fresh shot at showing my stuff over another year building on a seemingly indomitable training recipe with a coach who was familiar with the execution and direction of the intended outcome of said plan.  Alas, my coach was in a difficult situation with his job and another child on the way and decided to return home to Newfoundland.  

Luckily, the prospects for the Callaghan Valley Training Centre in the new year were promising as a new coach was hired immediately, and the outlook was quantifiable for interested athletes come decision time in April. 

Last year I spoke of some mythical creature of a coach who would pull the proverbial sword from the stone, fitting into the demanding position of building a program on the sacred Olympic grounds of Whistler with a unique skill set of vision and enthusiasm.  It seems like CVTC may have found such an individual, but as always, time will tell in this new age of Olympic Legacies.  

New beginnings are not so bad when you know the variables and are comfortable with change.  To kick off my 3rd year with the CVTC, I spent my week training high up in Callaghan Country with the BC ski team.  The skiing was quite breathtaking, but still did not compare to what Yellowknife has to offer at that same time of year.  It was very unfortunate that I missed out on the YK Great Slave snow melt, but Whistler was still a good time.  

Mike Gilday crashed on my floor for a week of his down-time from skating training.  It was great to get out skiing (having his ass handed to him) and mountain biking (me having my ass handed to me) together during his stay. 

 After a huge week of skiing, Michael and I made it down to Pemberton for 3 days of +25 heat (this is early May) on a (so far) unvisited beach freshly stocked with driftwood from the winter.  

We are both into the Primal living thing, so there was no better way to unleash the inner Grok than to rough it on the beach, roasting meat over a drift wood fire and chucking boulders and logs about, grunting maniacally. 

After some downtime on the beach, it was time to return home to Yellowknife to spend time with family and to attempt to secure funding for another year of training and racing at the highest level possible.  It just so happened that Gilday was home for the exact same dates as I was.  A group of us got out to his cabin, after pushing our canoes over candled ice for the better part of an hour.  

The crème de la crème of Yellowknife's elite male athletes hitting up the Capitol Theatre for the Sir John Franklin High School Film Fest.  

Gildays and I with Corey at the Ryan Lake Mine just outside of Yellowknife, a must-do run if in town.  My 10 days in Yellowknife flew by.  I was sooo busy - I was literally sprinting around town the entire time.  Training was almost a write-off for the week, but I cherish the few days I was in fact able to get out on my old stompin' grounds with the likes of Core-man and the rest of the small group of athletes hailing from the 'Knife. 

Returning down south, it was back into training with 2 weeks totally 36 hours.  The second week of which was spent with members of the new CVTC in Rossland, soaking in as much rain as possible beneath the permanent rain cloud that seems to be sitting over all of south-western Canada.  L to R is myself, Geoffrey Richards, Mac-Daddy and Kajsa Heyes - all members of the new and young (I'm an exception to this young-ness) CVTC.

The summer should be heating up quite soon, both literally and metaphorically training-wise.  Time to dust off the rollerskis after a good spring of on-snow training and hit the road.  

I have had 5 different coaches in 5 years.  Although enlightening, the whiplash between training philosophies has been disheartening.  Experiencing so many different views of skiing and training, I have reached a level of maturity as an athlete to realize that continuity must come from within.  A wise man once said, "all of the greatest athletes are self-coached in the end."  That being said, I still recognize the value of a coach screaming at you to get up a hill a little faster, or a coach giving suggestions or making observations and for being there in the cold, driving rainstorms of the fall in Whistler.

I have 48 weeks to improve every year (and 2 weeks for rest, plus 2 weeks for re-adjustment to training).  To become great over the coming years, it is imperative that I am improving every week of the 48.  I must seek areas for improvement and put in the time to overcome mediocrity to rise above the rest.

My recipe for improvement:

- Identify weakness (test, feel, observation)

- Set goal for improvement

- Set timeline for re-test/assessment

- Create a training plan to address weakness

- Complete every training session with goal in mind

- Re-test and analyze

Then, move on to another area of weakness(es) and repeat the steps above.  

Alrighty then, let's get out there and improve...

T

I can't wait till we start having June/July on-snow camps here...

Tour of Callaghan Country lodge... A backcountry lodge located at an altitude of 1400m that has 25km of trails found above 1200m with some of the best snowpack in Canada (there was about 4 meters of base when I was up there yesterday).

This was the last day that they were open to public. However, they will be grooming for CVTC/BC Team from May 4-9. And then more into the summer, hopefully. Thanks to Brad Sills and the CC crew for a great year despite the difficulties the Olympics presented for skiing in Whistler. And here's to a bunch more great skiing this spring/summer!

(click on link at bottom for higher res version on Vimeo)

Untitled from Thomsen D'Hont on Vimeo.