The Team BC Athlete Blog is an opportunity for Team BC Athletes to express their opinions and share their voice through BC Athlete Voice. Read the thoughts of our Team BC Athlete below as they prepare for the 2009 Canada Summer Games. Team BC Volleyball player Mike Plantinga and Cary Brett and other will also be blogging straight from PEI! Check out the inside word below...
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Saturday 29th August...
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 "Even though it was a bronze medal
rather then silver or gold it felt like we had accomplished something great. After
seeing so many swimmers and track
athletes receive their medals it was
finally our time and nothing felt better.
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga & Cary Brett
Sport: Volleyball
Home at last... but before I get to being home we shall start from the beginning of the day. Had to wake up earlier then ever so our 9am bronze medal match vs Manitoba. A team we had lost to during pool play, it was time for our revenge. Unfortunately last time we went for revenge we were defeated... but we were going right back out there.
For having a game that start at 5am BC time we started off swingin'. We looked like a completely different team then we did the day before. We were serving tough, passing well, making big plays when we needed to and trusted each other to do their job. The doghouse was getting pumped once again, making new cheers as the game when on. We looked like we wanted to win a medal and we went and took it. Winning 3 straight was just icing on the cake.
After the game we had to rush back to our dorms to pack, shower, plus get a bite to eat on the way back to the gym all within 30 minutes. Everything important got done, we just kinda missed the food part. after Alberta won the Gold we proceeded into medal ceremonies. Even though it was a bronze medal rather then silver or gold it felt like we had accomplished something great. After seeing so many swimmers and track athletes receive their medals it was finally our time and nothing felt better.
We went straight from our medal ceremony into the closing ceremonies. For me, I had some high expectation about closings because I had the privilege of attending Western Canada Summer Games and I had a blast there. Unfortunately I was expecting a little bit more out of closings. None the less seeing all the entertainment was still amazing, because there are not many competitions we will ever go to were they have multiple sets of entertainment. After that whole thing was done and the games were officially closed on came the hours upon hours of waiting.
I embraced that mentality a little to much though cause i kinda skipped the fact of checking onto my flight. i ended up being the last person from all of BC to check in... my bad. so yes lots of waiting, and sitting... in the room, in the cafe, in a common room, outside under then entertainment tent. all in all we were sitting around for roughly 6 hours or so at the university, then we headed to the airport and sat waiting for another 3 hours until at last we boarded our flight at about 2am.
The flight back was very quick seeing how most of it was sleeping, but a long and hungry flight back none the less. Needless to say our final journey for Team BC ended at 7am August 30th, 2009 as our flight touched down. For me personally I have played on Team BC every summer since U16 and now there will be no more. I am going to be to old for any other age category and will truly miss everything from each year as they were unique in their own. our journey with this Canada Games team started back in April with tryouts, we trained for a week or so in May and headed down to Minneapolis for the US Open, winning silver there, started training again in August and after only 21 training session over 2 weeks we made our way to PEI. where we put it all on the line. Playing 7 matches and walking away with a Bronze medal. Good Luck to all future athletes, from your newest Alumni.
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Friday 28th August...
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"Tough match to be a part of. That being
said, we ended up losing 3 straight. Sitting
in the locker room after had a feeling we
all never wanted, there seemed to be no
more sense of "team". However after we
got over the pain of the loss we started
to realize we have a chance to medal."
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga & Cary Brett
Sport: Volleyball
Today not such a hot day compared to the others. Started off alright, everyone talking about the dreams they were having about the gold medal match.
Matched started off with a bang, we managed to play really well through a messed up line up in the first, but just could not squeeze out the win. The 2nd and the 3rd sets blended into 1 mess of errors and lack of execution. There was no life on the floor nor the bench.
Tough match to be a part of. That being said, we ended up losing 3 straight. Sitting in the locker room after had a feeling we all never wanted, there seemed to be no more sense of "team". However after we got over the pain of the loss we started to realize we have a chance to medal.
We have to put our differences and disappointment behind us and come together to kick some bison butt.
The rest of the day we spent as a team watching a varity of sports, supporting both our track athletes and swimmers. We cheered on a couple BC swimmers winning the gold in both the 50m free and 4x100 medley. Cary was stoked that one of the guys from the medley team was from just up the street from where he lives in port coquitlam.
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Thursday 27th August...
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"Our section of 20-25 people were out
numbered probably three to one but
what we lacked in numbers we made
up in noise thanks to the horns, cow bells
and clappers from our Team BC Mission
Staff. It started out cheering for our girls
and turned into cheering with and for BC
and bonding with other teammates"
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga & Cary Brett
Sport: Volleyball
Started the day as usual until we remembered that we were going to be the highlight of TSN. After breakfast we headed straight into game prep and video. the coaches worked all day yesterday clipping and putting together the highlights of the Quebec team for us to analyze.
We headed off to the gym got changed listening to the Quebec team roar in the change room beside us. We walked onto the court unrattled and focused on the task at hand. Once in there is was cool to see all the video equipment around the gym as none of us have played on TV before. The game went off with a bang and we were there to match it, with all guns blazin'. We think all the media around us got us all a little more fired up than normal.
For Cary being on the court it was an amazing experience getting to play in front of the nation and using the energy of knowing that you are being watched by not only the fans in the gym but family, friends and complete strangers back home and around the country. Truly a one of a kind experience. Also just having an amazing group of guys on the bench (a.k.a. the doghouse!) feeding us incredible energy and helping us enjoy the game as well as playing through the rough parts was incredible. If those guys weren't there to have our backs on and off the court, we wouldn't stand a chance.
From Mike's perspective on the bench it was great to be able to be a part of the game even though he wasn't on the court. Plus getting the chance to step onto the court to block, even though I never had to, was a rush in itself. With the energy not only coming from the bench we had fellow Team BC athletes including our girl's team and the men's baseball team helping to feed the fire. If not for them we would have never been able to sustain the energy needed to finish the two and a half hour long, marathon of a match.
After the match we basked in the glory of victory but then refocused on the next opponent. Everyone on the team was also getting texts or facebooks from friends and family about being on tv, and helping give us support for our next games. Later in the evening we headed out to watch and support our soccer team after dinner, but unfortunately they could not crack the speed of the Ontario team and ended up falling short.
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Wednesday 26th August...
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"Our section of 20-25 people were out
numbered probably three to one but
what we lacked in numbers we made
up in noise thanks to the horns, cow bells
and clappers from our Team BC Mission
Staff. It started out cheering for our girls
and turned into cheering with and for BC
and bonding with other teammates"
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga & Cary Brett
Sport: Volleyball
What a day. Had to wake up early for breakfast, ate went back to bed, woke up ate, back to the rooms and off to the gym. We played Manitoba for second place in our pool. It looked as if we were ready for the game, got off to a good start but then went downhill from there. We were falling apart everywhere, error after error. We dropped the first, played even worse in the second, and then the third started off the exact same. In the first two and a half sets we made over 25 errors giving them almost half their points throughout the match. The end of the third set we started to really take control and look like a team. Still falling short 27-29 but that really showed that we control the outcome of the game.
After the loss we showered up the headed to the pool to watch some swimming. We were lucky to get in cause it was really packed and we were told that there is a slim chance of doing so. We stayed in there for about an hour, we saw BC win a gold, silver and bronze medal. Pretty sweet experience seeing how none of the guys have ever seen swimming live in person before. We had to leave cause it was extremely humid in the pool. We wanted to help support our wrestling fans but there was no shuttle out to the venue. We had some down time just roaming around the University then headed out to the Gym to support our girls.
Win or lose, unfortunately they were not able to make the top draw but we were there for support anyway. We started our cheering section with mainly volleyball players but then slowly some baseball and soccer players joined us. We were cheering our hearts out loosing our voices along the way. As the game went on the Ontario crowd kept growing. Our section of 20-25 people were out numbered probably three to one but what we lacked in numbers we made up in noise thanks to the horns, cow bells and clappers from our Team BC Mission Staff. It started out cheering for our girls and turned into cheering with and for BC and bonding with other teammates. Sadly our girls lost but they fought hard to come back from 0-7 and later 4-11 to have a chance at game point but ended up dropping the set 16-18.
OH OHOH OH OHOH OH OOOH!!....the come back cheer!
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Tuesday 25th August...
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"Fortunately for us, we had some
awesome fans on our side. The
women's wrestling team and men's
baseball team were a huge help
to us, cheering for us to bring
us up from our lows"
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga & Cary Brett
Sport: Volleyball
Today we had a more or less an enjoyable sleep in after our late night from playing Alberta. Unfortuantely, our extra hour of sleep cost us the chance of eating the hot breakfast this morning. We never really got the full morning to rest because we had a practice at 11am. Practice definitely helped get the blood flowing, getting the sleep out of our systems.
After practice, we grabbed a quick bite to eat, then headed out to the track because we were told we were going to meet someone, and that someone was... James Moore! (the MLA from Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, and Coquitlam; also he is the MLA of Cary's riding). Took a few pictures with him and exchanged handshakes, then Marc and Rudy were awarded with BC Athlete Voice leadership awards for being excellent role models in the community. We also got to make an appearance on the Compass on CBC!
After that, we sat down to watch the track and field athletes compete, and we all chose our favourite ones to win. We got to see the pole vault and hammer toss for the first time, and watched the men's and women's 100m hurdles finals. From there we headed to the gym to cheer on our women's volleyball team as they played Sask and were being televised on TSN. Due to our impressive cheering abilities/heckling, we managed to help our girls win the first set (as well as apparently getting a close-up on tv!). Cheering for the girls was the highlight of the week so far. Everyone on the team was getting into it with horns, clappers, and cheering. We had to leave after the first set to go have our dinner, as we had to being our game prep. After dinner we had a short meeting in a classroom to go over game plans and strategies. We managed to make it back to the girl's game for the last half of the fourth set, but unfortunately our cheering couldn't help the girls get the victory, even though we did help them catch back up to Sask.
After that game was finished, we headed into the dressing room and began to get ready for our game versus PEI. Big warmup once again. We started the game well, but then hit a rough patch, and ended up dropping the second set. Fortunately for us, we had some awesome fans on our side. The women's wrestling team and men's baseball team were a huge help to us, cheering for us to bring us up from our lows (as well as getting in some of the PEI player's heads). We ended up winning the match in 4. Got some food before the cafe closed, then headed back to our room for showers, sleep, and YouTube.
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Monday 24th August...
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 "Once again had a massive warm-up
and then unveiled our prized
sleeveless jerseys. In the end
we ended up losing in 5, it was
a close match but we did not
play close to our potential while it
looked like they were playing
at their best."
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Blogger: Mike Plantinga
Sport: Volleyball
Today was our first day of competition. We started the day off with breakfast as usual at 8:30am, it looked promising but the bacon kinda ruined the meal, we not sure what kinda bacon it was, but it did not taste the greatest. Straight from breakfast we went to watch the first volleyball game of the tournament which was Yukon versus Ontario. I was supporting two of my buddies from my college team who are from the Yukon, but they never really stood a chance.
After a small lunch we headed to the gym for our first match versus New Brunswick and we rolled them 3 straight. Everyone saw court time during that game which was nice. A bunch of the guys went to the track to watch some of the 100m sprints and there was a little wagering going on during the race . Gord ended up sweeping pretty much everything. After a big dinner we came back to our rooms for a half hour or so to relax then headed out for our 8:30pm game versus Alberta - our first big game of the tourny.
Once again had a massive warm-up and then unveiled our prized sleeveless jerseys. In the end we ended up losing in 5, it was a close match but we did not play close to our potential while it looked like they were playing at their best. After the short meeting in the locker room we went to caught up with our mental trainer Anne and she ran us through a relaxation session - which ended up putting me out cold! We all went back to our computers back in our room and went to bed knowing we could sleep in tomorrow.
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3 Days To Go...
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 "So far the boats are coming
together really nicely and the
atmosphere of excitement
is addictive. I cannot wait to
experience what the Games
have to offer."
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Blogger: Andrea Harvey
Sport: Rowing
These past few months spent in preparation for the Canada Summer Games have been a little hectic but I have been having a great time out on the gorgeous waters of Elk Lake in Victoria. As I train in the misty mornings it is really inspiring to think about the fact that only last summer, the legendary men's eight was training on these same waters.
Only they had a much bigger goal in mind: a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. All the same, as you feel the burning in your legs and all you want to do is stop, I remind myself of what those nine men did together by achieving the goal they had worked so hard for. So I keep going.
Even more inspiring is the fact that we often see the national team going out or coming in from a training session. The lightweight men's four even got a chance to race the national team lightweight men's four in some 500m pieces a few weeks ago! It was a pretty cool experience for everyone.
Training with my teammates has been such a rewarding experience because everyday on the water is one more step towards our ultimate goal of winning at Canada Summer Games. So far the boats are coming together really nicely and the atmosphere of excitement is addictive. I cannot wait to experience what the Games have to offer.
Rowing is one of those weird sports where your day is often almost done before the rest of the world has even thought about waking up. You learn to appreciate the small beautiful things everyday; like the sound of the bubbles beneath the boat when everyone is moving in perfect synchronicity, the way the mist looks as it coats the lake at 5:30am in the morning, the sound of your breath as you push yourself to the limit again and again.
I can't wait to compete in PEI. I am so excited to experience all of those little things all over again in a new place. So good luck to everyone and I will see you in PEI!!!!!
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4 Days To Go...
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 "Team BC's location for our rowing crew
couldn't be better, we train on the same
lake the Canadian Eight trained on before
winning Olympic Gold last year in Beijing.
It's very normal for us to either be
pushing off the dock, or coming in from
a practice as the national team come
in from a practice, nothing could be
more inspiring than to be
practicing beside the team we
aspire to one day be on."
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Blogger: Marc Verkuyl
Sport: Rowing
These past two months have been amazing. Within our first couple rows as a set boat, we had the amazing opportunity to be coached by three time Olympian and Olympic Bronze medalist Jon Beare, from the lightweight men’s four, the very same event we will be racing in at the Canada Summer Games. The idea of being coached by a man who has spent close to twelve years rowing in the event we are in got our whole crew keen to get on the water.
Jon’s expertise is noticeable even when he isn’t rowing, he can spot changes needed to be made within a couple strokes, tell us why, and let us know exactly how it will feel, not something many coaches can lay claim too. Jon speaks very calmly, which helps us staying composed and never getting hung up on small setbacks. What he speaks about comes across as fairly elementary to him, but brand new to us, like “It took me a while to get used to having such a short time at the catch” which is a feeling we’re stilling trying to master and make natural. Since our first outing with Jon he has returned maybe three times, each time we were further along in our development and each time Jon’s goals became more and more specific. Right now I wonder what Jon would recommend we focus on, sometimes I will try to spot something myself, and imagine Jon saying, “for the next twenty minutes just work on that”.
It’s very easy for a coach to putter a long beside a rowing boat and make constant comments, for a sport such as rowing it might seem plausible that constant changes can be made, and full concentration can be attained, but the truth is, while rowing, it’s nearly impossible to work on more than one or two things at any given time. It’s easy for a coach to get carried away with a specific change, repeating the same thing with different words, but it takes a veteran rower to let a crew work on one simple thing, in that way letting the crew put all focus and energy towards that change.
Team BC's location for our rowing crew couldn't be better, we train on the same lake the Canadian Eight trained on before winning Olympic Gold last year in Beijing. It's very normal for us to either be pushing off the dock, or coming in from a practice as the national team (including Olympic Gold and Bronze medalists Malcolm Howard (Men's Eight) and Mike Lewis (Lightweight Men's Four) come in from a practice, nothing could be more inspiring than to be practicing beside the team we aspire to one day be on.
Being coached by Jon has been a great experience, and I hope that other rowers, from any team or club can have the same experience we have had. I wouldn’t trade my hours with Jon for anything, experience like his is invaluable.
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5 Days To Go...
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SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM AJAY PATEL, TEAM BC CHEF DE MISSION
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 "So as you put on your Team BC
attire, know that there is
an entire province that is
behind you and ready to
\support, cheer and celebrate
your athletic performances."
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Blogger: Ajay Patel
Sport: Team BC Chef de Mission
To all Team BC Athletes
Our mission staff team leaves for PEI today (Monday) and boy are we ever excited.
We will try and have everything ready for you when you start to land on Friday. One of the greatest feelings as the Chef is watching our Team BC Athletes get off the plane. I know you will be tired, but I also know you will be excited. Our mission staff will have the logistics worked out so that we can get you through the check-in and into your rooms, where you can start taking in the atmosphere of the Games, but most importantly prepare yourself for your best performance.
As you make your final preparations for the games, I would like to share a quote with you...
"There is no such thing as an easy victory. Every win is a result of hard work, years of dedication. And sweetest success is hardest won. It means pushing ourselves a little farther every day. But no one said winning would be easy. The BEST just make it look that way."
So as you put on your Team BC attire, know that there is an entire province that is behind you and ready to support, cheer and celebrate your athletic performances. You have dedicated YEARS of HARD WORK, for YOUR MOMENT OF GLORY.....and you deserve every bit of it. Good Luck!!!!!
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7 Days To Go...
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 "The Canada Games have been my
goal for the past two and a half years.
I have spent countless hours in the
gym, run hundreds of kilometers
and paddled year round in all
kinds of weather"
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Blogger: Clara van Meel
Sport: Canoe Kayak
Tomorrow our team is leaving for a two week training camp in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I am so excited. The Canada Games have been my goal for the past two and a half years. I have spent countless hours in the gym, run hundreds of kilometers and paddled year round in all kinds of weather. Yes, there were times when I wondered if it was really worth the effort. But when I slip silently across Whonnock Lake, with the morning mist just rising from the water or when I finish a race with a final burst of energy, I am reminded of how much I love this sport.
This year has not been an easy one for me. It began with falling out of my boat in the second race at the BC team trials. I rallied back and made the team after two weeks of worrying. Then I spent the next three weeks trying different team boat combinations with my five team mates. I have also had to balance my training with my various coaching jobs at the Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club.
Now the team has been picked, the partners and teams have been selected and entered in the different events. On Monday we will begin the last phase of our preparation, two final weeks of training, to put us in peak shape for the games in PEI. I want to thank my coaches Kristof and Sarah and my K2 partner Rebecca, and also my family for all their support and encouragement. GO BC!!!!!!
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8 Days To Go...
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"I’m going to give a run down of all
four members of the Lightweight Four.
I once read Olympian Adam Kreek’s
blog post on his Gold Medal Eight
from Beijing that introduced each
member and gave them a spirit animal.
I will try to do something similar."
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Blogger: Marc Verkuyl
Sport: Rowing
I’m going to give a run down of all four members of the Team BC Lightweight Four. I once read Olympian Adam Kreek’s blog post on his Gold Medal Eight from Beijing that introduced each member, and gave them a spirit animal. I will try to do something similar.
Derek Stedman, Bowman, One Seat.
Derek is our defence man, always ready to to stand up for our right of way in any giving situation. Often we will be powering down the course in a training piece trying to catch up with boats who started earlier. The faster boat has right of way, and the slower boat is supposed to move for the faster one, if the boat we’re trying to pass doesn’t do so, Derek is the man to let them know.
Spirit Animal: Antelope
Brendan Downey, Two Seat.
Brendan is known in the boat for always having the best description of how the boat feels, or, why it isn’t moving as well as it should be (he can also read between the lines of what any coach says to him). A good example of the boat ‘feel’ by Brendan - Me: "I think it felt a little slow at the finish" - Brendan: "Clearly we aren’t taking our oars out of the water at the same time, let’s focus on moving our hands in the same motion, and following Liam as best we can, that will give us more glide". Leave it to Brendan to know where, why and when. Brendan could have a very successful career as a coach, after his time on the national team of course.
Spirit Animal: Hare
Marc Verkuyl (Me) Three Seat.
Full pressure at 26 strokes a minute guy, that’s what I like. Rowing down the course pushing as hard as possible at a fairly low stroke rate. I enjoy how the boat glides as we prepare for the next stroke, and I also spend this time to work on my oar movements and placement, so as to improve my technique when we race at a very respectable rate of 36 strokes per minute.
Spirit Animal: Otter
Liam Fisher, Stroke Seat.
It’s Liam’s job to set our stroke rate. Liam is the muscle of our boat, with the arms of a kayaker (he kayaked for Team BC back in the 2005 Canada Summer Games). As muscled as his arms are they are not just for looks, he can, and has done on numerous occasions, spent five minutes on the dock clocking in a good hundred or so push ups for fun. Liam also pulled out an impressive 2 kilometer rowing machine time of 6:33, alloting him the fastest in the boat, followed closely by my time of 6:34. When we line up to race, there will be no need to talk, as Liam’s arms will do it for us.
Spirit Animal: Cougar
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"To Marc, you're going to have an amazing experience. Myself, and everyone else are supremely confident in you. You've worked so hard, and it has been worth it. Best of wishes to you, Liam, Derek, and Brendan. Team BC Lwt 4- for the win!"
Yann-Sebastien Tremblay
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29 Days To Go...
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 "As my team and I count down
to the games, the excitement
on the field increases and
the intensity strengthens"
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Blogger: Corrine Doornberg
Sport: Softball
As my team and I count down to the games, the excitement on the field increases and the intensity strengthens.
We all get along very well, and we know we are going to succeed at the games in some way or another.
As my shoulder starts to heal (since the dislocation), my coaches and I are impressed how much movement I have in it so far, as I have only been out of a sling for a week now. The physio and myself are positive I will be fully healed in time for the games. Yay!
Besides strengthening my shoulder as much as I am able, my day consists of going to my full time job as an interning Civil Engineer. A bit hectic, yes, but definately worth every moment of it.
See you at the games!!
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32 Days To Go...
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 "I have been at BC Summer Games,
Western Canada Summer Games.
So this is now the next step,
which is really cool."
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Blogger: Evan Guthrie
Sport: Cycling
Hi my name is Evan Guthrie and I will be racing for BC in the cycling events at the Canada Summer Games. I'm very happy to have made the team. I have been at BC Summer Games, Western Canada Summer Games. So this is now the next step, which is really cool.
Right now I've been training super hard and logging some hard workouts on the push bicycle. I've just come back from the Mountain Bike National Championships in St. Felicien, Quebec. This race was a big goal of mine for the season. Along with Canada Games and World Championships. I was training hard for this race because I was the defending Junior National Champ from last year. Had a bit of pressure on me, but again for the 2nd year I was sick and on antibiotics and had a great race coming in with the hands in the air. Successful trip.
Now I'm at home for 10 days training hard again, then I head back out to Quebec for two rounds of the World Cup series. I will be doing it with the Canadian Maple leaf on as a part of a National Team project.
Then I come back home and doing some major little tweaks to the training for some super specific workouts. From then I head out to Canada Games where I'm hoping for a good mountain bike race and hopefully a good result for the overall. See y'all out there.
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33 Days To Go...
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 "My preparation for the Games
started at the beginning of
the 2008 season"
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Blogger: Emily Weekes
Sport: Wrestling
My name is Emily Weekes and im a wrestler from North Vancouver. My preparation for the Games started at the beginning of the season of 2008.
I have a busy training shedule but I love it.
This summer I am not home alot because of the training camps I am travelling to with Team BC. From Summerland to Port Alberni to UBC to Jasper - there is alot of driving time and not alot of rest time, so time managment is a key. I'm really excited for another trip, to PEI.
"Determination, persiration, and aspriation are the keys to success"
Good luck to all of team BC !!
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36 Days To Go...
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 "Thinking about the upcoming
games is one of the most
exciting and nerve racking
things I have done so far
in my life!"
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Blogger: Andrea Stevenson
Sport: Softball
Thinking about the upcoming games is one of the most exciting and nerve racking things I have done so far in my life!
My average day leading up to the games begins at 4 am where I get up for work as a local cashier. I know it's early but somebody has to do it! I hit the gym as soon as my shift is over, finding the motivation it takes to bring the best player I can to the games in August.
After a small cat nap, I head to my second job for the afternoon, trying to earn a little extra cash to survive my sophomore year in college. I finish my day off with a league game with the Delta Heat, keeping my skills sharp as the summer quickly comes to a close.
A day in my life not only prepares me physically, but mentally for the obstacles i will face on the east coast this coming august. Bring it!
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37 Days To Go...
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 "I'm just waiting for it to all come
together. I’m waiting for a
jump that will make everyone
proud and prove to myself
that higher heights are
still in me."
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Blogger: Holly Parent
Sport: Athletics - High Jump
Hello everyone, my name is Holly Parent. I am a BC high jumper from Victoria.
Last year I attended the World Junior Championships in Poland and the Commonwealth Youth Games in India, this year I intend to compete at the Canada Summer Games in PEI as well as the Pan-American Games to be held in Trinidad and Tobago.
My goal in attending the Canada Summer Games this year is to medal. I've had a lot of almosts in my event. Last year I missed a medal at Junior Nationals by count back - meaning the two finishers in second place jumped the same as me in fourth. The same situation presented itself again when I attended the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India last fall. Yet again I was ranked very high, however I didn't have a great meet and I came fourth again by count back.
To be able to place receiving a medal would be a dream come true. It is my goal for the upcoming games, as well as to hopefully reach a height I can be proud of. I've spend all season struggling with injuries and new techniques - I'm just waiting for it to all come together. I’m waiting for a jump that will make everyone proud and prove to myself that higher heights are still in me.
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38 Days To Go...
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 "My goal is to be leaving PEI
Saturday evening, heading to
my school down south, with a
gold medal in hand!"
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Blogger: Corrine Doornberg
Sport: Softball
To train and prepare for the games is a little different for myself compared to other athletes in my sport.
After dislocating my shoulder two weeks ago, my day has been full of doctor appointments and physio, when it normally would be fulfilled with batting, fielding, and working out. It has been quite the challenge using one arm, as the hurt one has to be kept in a sling.
It is going to take a very pro-active approach to be ready to play in the games, but I think it is a very accomplishable goal. I am extremely excited for the games, and excited to be playing with some of the top athletes in BC. As a team, we are going to put up a big fight, and I know it is going to be quite the exciting week.
My goal is to be leaving PEI Saturday evening, heading to my school down south, with a gold medal in my hand!
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40 Days To Go...
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 "Even though I'm looking forward
to the added excitement of racing
as a team, it also adds slightly more
pressure to perform well, I don't
want to let my team down. Some
would look at the extra pressure as
a bad thing, but personally
I find it motivating."
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Blogger: Bianca Adolf
Sport: Mountain Biking
Being selected to race for BC at the 2009 Canada Summer Games was great news! Never before have I participated in an event quite like this one. Instead of racing alongside a few other BC mountain bikers, I will get the opportunity to get to know as well as compete with members of the many other cycling disciplines. In addition to the many new faces it will be a neat experience racing as a team, where all our results will be combined rather than individual. Even though I'm looking forward to the added excitement of racing as a team, it also adds slightly more pressure to perform well, I don't want to let my team down. Some would look at the extra pressure as a bad thing, but personally I find it motivating. On the days where I don't particularly feel like training all it helps to think about the fact that I'm part of a team and need to do my part in order for us to do well.
So in the weeks leading up to the Summer Games I'm doing everything I can to prepare. A big part of my preparation involves the mental side of training and racing. Over the last couple of years I have put in the miles to prove myself at competitions, but now its time to step it up and focus on the many mental skills needed to perform well at a higher level of racing. In my attempt to become stronger mentally I have started working with a mental trainer. So far so good, I'm learning a lot! Its so easy to overlook the mental aspects of being an athlete, and although it may not seem like a huge part of racing your thoughts during a competition can separate a good race from a bad one.
In addition to my mental preparations there is of course the physical side of training. This part is pretty simple, do your rides and eat properly to support them. But along with the miles necessary to grow stronger I have started a core strength program. Even though I have to admit this is not my favorite part of my preparations I realize its importance. All the different parts of training and competing can seem like a lot of work and a bit overwhelming at times, but its a great feeling when all the sacrifices and time spent result in a great performance.
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46 Days To Go...
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 "I am really looking forward to
representing Team BC at the
Canada Games as it will be a
memory I will never forget"
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Blogger: Stephanie Hansen
Sport: Diving
Life is pretty hectic these days with lots of travel and important competitions in the lead up to Canada Games. I just got back yesterday from the Canadian Summer Senior Nationals in Quebec City. It was a great time especially making event finals on the 1 meter springboard, and capturing a bronze medal in the 3 metre syncro. It was a highlight having the opportunity to dive against our countries best and past Olympians including, Emilie Heymans, Jennifer Abel, Melanie Rinaldi, Emma Friesen, and many more. Meeting Alexander Despatie on the deck while he was preparing for his event is always a thrill as well.
It has been a long road over the last two years attending many training camps including traveling all the way to Cuba for one of them (well Cuba wasn’t too hard to take). After all that time everything came down to one competition to make it on Team BC. I put together my best performance ever on the 3 metre board placing first and being named the first female to make the team. I am really looking forward to representing Team BC at the Canada Games as it will be a memory I will never forget.
Well I am home training for a week and then getting ready to take off to Victoria for the Canadian Junior Nationals in Victoria in July.
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| Comments: |
"Congratulations on making Team BC! I know that you will do BC proud. Wish I could be there to cheer you on. Enjoy all the festivities and make new friends with all the Cdn. athletes. This will be a time in your life that you will remember forever."
Cathie Melrose
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47 Days To Go...
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 "I want to also say that I
believe that every competitor
at the Games is a champion,
every one of them. I know
that all my fellow athletes
have worked hard too."
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Blogger: Adam Rahier
Sport: Swimming
I am a swimmer. I have had many people call me many things but this particular label has made me a better person. Through swimming I have learned many things. In my hometown of around 20,000 people I was invited to come and swim with a group of Special Olympics swimmers. The coach saw a swimmer in me. From that time 8 years ago I have shown myself and others what I can do. I have set my sites high and have found ways to achieve my goals. Hard work, dedication to training, a healthy lifestyle, being true to myself, dealing with adversity and lack of understanding, and maintaining a positive spirit, have all made me a stronger swimmer.
While working hard at my sport, trying to find ways to succeed, I have taught myself that it’s not always about the final destination of winning (although I have to admit that’s nice ). Success can also be seen in the journey it takes to get there. I have been very, very fortunate to have had great coaches and friends who have helped me every step/stroke of the way. My family has to be the best one there is :o) Without the support of every one of them I don’t think I would be on my way to the Canada Games.
My goals for these Canada Games are to hopefully get a medal, I like them. Two medals would be fantastic, more would be amazing. I want to also say that I believe that every competitor at the Games is a champion, every one of them. I know that all my fellow athletes have worked hard too. I have a goal beyond the Canada Games. I hope that my classification will be allowed to swim once again at the Paralympics and I hope I will be chosen to swim for my country, Canada! I have always tried my best, I have always had fun, I may have had some disappointments but in the end, when I keep the first 2 things in mind, trying my best and having fun I know I can always be a winner not just at swimming but at life.
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Share your voice and comment using the box below...
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9 Days To Go...
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 "It is my first year going and
I am looking forward to having
the time of my life."
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Blogger: Keiffer Johnson
Sport: Canoe Kayak
Hi, my name is Keiffer Johnson. I am a sprint canoeist from Kamloops.
I am really excited to be attending the Canada Summer Games this year at Prince Edward Island. It is my first year going and I am looking forward to having the time of my life.
This year I have been training really hard to try and make it to the games and at trials I was fortunate enough to do just that. It felt incredible to be the youngest athlete to make the canoe team at only 14 years old.
To make it to the Canada Games is the first real milestone in my paddling career. It has been a hard year of training here in Kamloops as well as in Maple Ridge with the rest of the canoe/kayak athletes.
To medal at the games would be phenomenal and I hope I will be able to. Best of luck to all CSG athletes.
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10 Days To Go...
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"Now that our boat has clicked, and our
body movements are the same,
we can put our energy towards
smaller adjustments and fine tuning
our speed and race plan, which is
both exciting and motivating
in working towards our end
goal of a gold medal."
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Blogger: Marc Verkuyl
Sport: Rowing
The lightweight four in the Canada Summer Game’s rowing venue is a somewhat distinct boat class. This is credited to our size, as lightweights can have a maximum weight of 72.5 kilgrams, or roughly 160 pounds. This is most apparent while we row beside our heavyweight counter parts, who are usually forty pounds heavier and a good four inches taller.
Because there are only two lightweight events in the Canada Summer Games (the other lightweight boat being the women’s lightweight double) we are somewhat limited to our four, as we are less powerful than our heavyweight counter parts, it makes little sense to put us into heavyweight event (though at our level of skill success can still be attained with a lightweight in a heavyweight boat) . Though we are limited in boat variety, the upside is that it gives us the upper hand in training time together, because we only have one boat to row (there are roughly six heavyweight boats to put together between ten heavyweight men).
We end up spending extensive amount of time together in our four, which helps us find greater speed through adapting different skills and styles that we have learnt while training with different crews and different coaching. Though it took our crew some time to develop a rowing stroke that all four of us could utilize, it has also kept training interesting, and the thought that ‘ this is going to be one fast boat once we ‘click’ in the back of our mind .This click came only through time rowing together, communication and coaching, while it is possible to have a crew ‘click’ merely by having them row together, sometimes the conscious understanding of what is changing, and why it’s changing for the better is interesting, and can help with similar situations I’m sure we will all face in the coming years.
Now that our boat has clicked, and our body movements are the same, we can put our energy towards smaller adjustments and fine tuning our speed and race plan, which is both exciting and motivating in working towards our end goal of a gold medal.
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14 Days To Go...
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 "As a team, we have noticed
that other provinces are
getting faster, but we are
mproving immensely as well,
keeping up and moving toward
the gold."
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Blogger: Brian Malfesi
Sport: Canoe Kayak
Since the beginning of last season one of my goals has been to not only make the Canada Games team in sprint kayaking but to medal at the games. After a very intense BC trials, 6 male kayakers have emerged to represent our province at the games. I believe all of us are up to the challenge ahead and can make BC proud in PEI.
As I am only 15 years old, I am the youngest of the male kayakers going to these games. This is not abnormal for me though, as I have always been training with the “big boys” throughout my 4 and a half years of kayaking. We train 6 days a week, twice a day on the water and usually one dryland cross-training of weights or running.
As a team, we have noticed that other provinces are getting faster, but we are improving immensely as well, keeping up and moving toward the gold. My dedication to my sport is mixed with a dedication to school. A perfect balance is difficult but worth it in the long run.
Thank you to my parents for all their support and my coaches and teammates for pushing me to my limits. Without all of these influences, I would not be the athlete or person I am today and would not be going to these games.
Determination to do well at the games builds with every approaching day!
Good luck to all BC athletes and see you back east!
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18 Days To Go...
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 "From here on in to the Games,
my days are filled with
intense training & competing
that will help me reach
my goals of medalling in
every event at the Games! "
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Blogger: Kristin Bauder
Sport: Canoe Kayak
I am very excited to be competing at the 2009 Summer Games in PEI. I competed at the 2005 Canada Summer Games thinking it would be my first and last Canada Games. However, the ages for the canoe kayak competition were changed after those games and I am able to have a second amazing opportunity to race with Team BC at Canada Summer Games!
In preparation for the Games I train twice a day, six days a week on the water paddling. Some days include dry-land training as well. I recently came back from three weeks of training in Ottawa with the Canadian National Team who are preparing for their World Championships in August. It was an amazing experience training with the senior athletes and I hope to be in their position one day and race at World Championships and Olympic Games. After training in Ottawa, I raced at the Canadian National Team Trials in Montreal. I arrived home after a tough, but successful weekend of racing, and began the Team BC training camp the following day. From here on in to the Games, my days are filled with intense training and competing that will help me reach my goals of medalling in every event at the Games! The preparation for the Games will also help my preparation for the Canadian National Championships, which are a week after the Games.
Good luck to all the Team BC athletes! See you in PEI!! |
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20 Days To Go...
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 "I'm super pumped to be
attending the Canada
Summer Games in PEI.
This excitement fuels
my focus and training
even more."
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Blogger: Michael Cappus
Sport: Wrestling
Hey my name is Michael Cappus and I wrestle out of Port Alberni.
I'm super pumped to be attending the Canada Summer Games in PEI. This excitement fuels my focus and training even more. I have been going to many camps this summer and have been practicing almost every day so that I will be competing at my maximum potential. This year, I've won my second BC High School Championship as well as every other tournament I've attended in BC.
I placed 3rd at the National Championships losing a very close semi finals. It was an unfortunate loss but it gives me even more determination to come back at the Canada Summer Games and bring home the gold.
Good luck to all the other BC Athletes, we will make our province proud! |
