ERIN TRIBE: October 2010

Thanks to one of our gold team sponsors, PUSH Fitness Centre, we were able to officially announce our team for the 2010/2011 season. We invited the media and our sponsors to join us in welcoming the announcement which was followed by a rollerski relay race and demonstration. We divided into three teams: Team PUSH, Team RBC and Team Fresh Air. I was on Team Fresh Air with Harry and Chris and we took home the win! It was just for fun but you can't ever do a race without that competitive nature.

We are very fortunate to have a great group of sponsors supporting us in the community. Thanks to PUSH for allowing us to hold our kick-off at their facility and for helping us build our strength throughout the year. We're mighty strong now! Here are some pictures courtesy of John Sims.

Shaking hands with NDC President Nancy

L-R: Leif Lennie, Andy Shields, Chris Hamilton

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The Sky Walk at the top of the Dachstein Glacier

I've just return to Barrie, Ontario in time for turkey and in time for some much needed rest. I was skiing in Ramsau, Austria for three weeks with the team and it was wonderful! We arrived to so-so snow conditions and then battled through a few white-out days to see a ton of new snow. After that it felt like mid-winter skiing in September and all the pros came out to train on it. We saw multiple National teams and Olympians skiing their way around the 6.5-ish km loop doing some of the same workouts we were. It was really cool to see that we train the same z1 workouts (although Olympians Petra and Justyna ski MUCH faster) as they do as we work to be faster. I have to say the value of this trip at this time of the year really paid off. I was able to make some much needed technique improvements, especially in classic, that I think are going to stick this time! Everyone worked so hard on the team to squeeze everything out of the camp. We finished off with a hard zone 4 ski striding workout up the ski runs in Schladming and everyone KILLED IT! After feeling the effects of the medium/high/medium training volumes over the weeks and some intensity throughout the camp it was great to finish off on such a high note.

We stayed in a little town called Schladming at Haus Katerina. We have stayed there for the past 3 years and have gotten to know the area and owners a bit. Our dinner pension at the Winter.Garten was better than ever and our favorite server was still there as well. Overall it was a comfortable and adaptable atmosphere to spend three weeks in.

We took advantage of one rest day by heading to Mozart's homeland, Salzburg. We heard from another Canadian team over there that there was a castle worth taking a look at so Scott, Andrea, Chris and myself headed up to the top of the escarpment to check it out. It was massive! It was a huge establishment and such an old part of history. We had dinner at a restaurant where Mozart was reported to have eaten frequently and wrote songs. If you ever go to Europe, you have to try the pancake soup. There is a real name for it but I can't pronounce it, never mind spell it. Let's just say the German language isn't my expertise... but I can count to six and exercise polite manners.

After a night in Munich, an eight hour plane ride, jet-lag, k-ankles from travelling and a yearning for a shower I arrived in Toronto to see my best friend Kristen waiting at arrivals. Talk about an awesome surprise! I haven't been home since May so although the camp was great, I'm enjoying my time at home. I head back to Thunder Bay on Friday to rest up and enjoy some fall training. Enjoy my pictures! (click on them to view larger)