PM Gear - Skis

Just a really quick entry and a plug for a great company.

I bought a pair of PM Gear Skies back in January they are BRO 174's and all I can say is they kick ass, I have used them from boiler plate conditions to fresh powder and they have been great they are my goto ski.

Almost as good as the ski's is the customer service, I bent a ski due to the abuse I put the ski through 3 days of bumps on one ski with the combined weight of about 200lbs is tough for a ski. Well PM Gear hooked me up with a replacement I was not expecting it but I got it and thats great.

So bottom line you want a great ski buy from these guys you can only get them on line.

PM Gear FKNA

Oh they also sponsor some ski skier named Andy, so they are supporting everyone who enjoys a little gravity hucking down the hill.

Skiing Camp Jackson Hole - Grand Targhee

Well this post is one month late but I had to get it done more so to show off the great photos that I got.

So after having my bobsleigh driving course canceled at the last minute and with plans to attend the Grand Targhee all mountain camp, I decided to make my way down to Jackson Hole and try and get into the Adaptive Steep and Deep camp I figured if I did not get in I would at least get some skiing so really a win win.

Happy to say that I was able to get into the camp and it was the best thing I did all year my skiing improved soooo much, I ended up changing the way I ski I learned new drills and techniques that moved me from what I felt was an intermediate level skier to an advanced one "at least thats what I was told".

Since it took so long to get this post in I will just have to sum up the trip and if anyone wants more info let me know, so to sum it up

Jackson Hole Steep and Deep ended up being Steep and Technical due to no deep but this was great for me and allowed me to work on my skills. Thanks to Kurt, Nate, Nick, Ryan, Blair, Elizabeth for helping me out during my days they made the experience amazing and thanks to JH for having this camp and being leaders in adaptive integration, oh and hi to Connie she is one of the owners of JH and chatting with her in the bar was really cool, also see below about Hannah she gets a special post coming up.


Grand Targhee another great camp I was able to rock this camp, well I felt I did with my new skills from JH I was doing steep stuff, lots and lots of bumps and even went into the trees!! I would never have gone into the trees before. Again huge thanks to Joel, Matt, Cindy who tried to take me out, Gil and all the helpers at GT again another great camp.

Bottom line if you are an adaptive skier you need to goto both camps or at least one, you will improve you skills, you will have a great time, you will come back.

OK here are the links to the camps that you must goto, oh and if you are not an adaptive skier great you can still go but go and help out you pay less and get to make a difference in a persons life.

These are the two groups that put on the camps:
tetonadaptivesports.com
adaptiveadventures.org

And here are the camp links:
jacksonhole.com
grand-targhee

All right now time for some photos, right now just going to put up some photos that got taken of me by Hannah Hardaway, who is this person? well she is a professional photographer that I got the pleasure of hanging out with at Jackson Hole and she happened to take some kick ass shots, note the first two photos.

Here is her website: Hannah Hardaway Photography

Here is a link of some photos that she took at the Jackson Hole Camp:
Jackson Hole Adaptive Camp Photos

Well thats it I did get some more skiing in at Panorama and Kicking Horse on my birthday but its time to switch to summer mode and get out training.

Kicking Horse + Sit Ski = Kick Ass Time

Best Weekend Ever

This last weekend I had the privilege to join a group of friends that teach the disabled program with me CADS, these amazing friends made this weekend unforgettable!

So thanks to Jakob who did a lot of the heavy lifting carrying around and setting up my ski, Kendra Jakob's back up and super star.

Special thanks to Cheryl Link for the use of her stunning house she is an amazing architect check out some of her stunning work here MOUNTAIN MODERN

Ok now on to the skiing, I was a little nervous before the first run I was not sure I was ready for this hill and the nerves only got worse the farther up the gondola we went and I saw the amazing terrain that we were about to ski.

First run was not so great over half way down with my nerves gone I was flying, I felt fantastic this was going to be a great day then I hit a small bump got air caught my front down edge on the landing then boom, I explode out of my sit ski sheared my buckle right off I was flying through the air with only my feet attached to my sit ski, I recall being in the air and seeing my ski thinking I should not see what I am looking at.

I was able to get back into the ski and ski down with a little help from John, who was able to rig up a temporary strap once down I was able to get a new buckle from the very friendly ski patrol to continue the day.

The rest of the day was great I was really able to push myself with the huge amount of terrain that this hill has.

Day two I was a little sore but was ready to go, and go I did Kendra introduced me to "Bubbly" a run that I would do 5 times that day it was a great time.

I also took on "My Blue Heaven" not the groomed part the mogul part, fell a few times but its was a good challenge.

I then went for my biggest challenge of the weekend the run called "Think Twice" I thought way more then twice but with Jakob following behind me I took the plunge literally, I dropped in and was ok traversed then made my first turn it was fast and I fell into the hill but it was all good, got up traversed a little more made a turn but did not commit that was a mistake I tumbled a bit down the hill I stopped in a awkward position but luckily Jakob was right behind me helping me up. I did some longer traverses to get down the rest of the way down and learned a few things about my level of skiing, I want to advance, I will nail this run next time.

The rest of the second day was a little more low key I was getting tired and still had to drive home so I took it easy.

Bottom line a kick ass weekend I will be back to Kicking Horse again and again it was truly epic for me and to my understanding it gets even better!!!

Now for photos and Video as they speak louder then my crappy writing skills.

New Sit Ski testing

There is a new group from the University of Calgary that is developing a new Sit Ski with a focus on affordable, they are looking at bringing it to market for around $1500.00 can.

Here is a short news segment on it, oh and I got to be the tester for this new ski so I get some screen time.

Global News Sit Ski Clip
Calgary Herald Sit Ski Clip

Las Vegas Half Marathon 1 hour 32 min

Viva Las Vegas!!

Had a good training camp down in Vegas last week did some good training rides on Thursday and Friday, came home with an extra $50 bucks oh and did the half marathon.

I have to say that the race was organized much better this year they had 26,000 runners.

Race day was a cold 2 degrees as the start and I don't think it got much warmer, we were treated to group of skydivers at the start jumping in the dark at 6am then fireworks to start the race big show and fun to see.

After the first 10km or so I though to myself I really don't like the racing chair its not very comfortable and I am not very strong at it but I had to get it done.

The course was mostly flat, the first 10km was slightly down hill the last of it was slightly up hill but over all a good fast course.

One of the highlights of the race was the rock bands every 3km or so they added a great touch and kept the motivation going, also the crowds were great lots and lots of energy and on a cold day in Vegas it was great to see so many people out.

Finished in 1hour and 32 min, 24 min faster then the Victoria Half so I am happy with the result just have to get another 45 min faster as I would like to be able to do the half in under 1hour.

First Paraplegic Ski Patroller in Canada

One year late but last year I became the first paraplegic in Canada to be become a ski Patroller, and just last week I re-certified to maintain my certification.

So what did I do for this and what is my current status?

Well my story starts at the information session last year, I met Geoff Scotton the president for the Calgary Ski Patrol Zone he was of coarse unsure about my participation in the course as it had not been done before.

Well Geoff called me back and said that I could take the course but I would not be able to continue after that, I was fine with that as I had really not expected to be able to do that much.

So during the course an 80+ hour course I was able to demonstrate that I had the skills to continue on after the classroom sessions, at that point Geoff let me know that they would let me continue until I was not able to perform at a level that they require just like everyone else so that was great news to me.

I passed the the written test, I passed the diagnostic scenario test. I have to say this would not have been possible with out the support of the amazing instructors, after that I just had to pass the on snow testing to finish.

The on snow testing was an assessment of my skiing ability and my ability to pull a toboggan down the hill. This is were is gets tough I don't ski like your typical Patroller but I do have to use some of the same skills such as turn initiation, weighting and unweighting in a turn I was passed with my skiing ability.

Next was pulling a toboggan down a hill this was tough but I did it and it was the first time it was done. I did it with at tail gunner who is a person that ski's behind the toboggan with a rope attached to the back of it to help maintain control.

I had planned to patrol at Nakiska if I was able to so I attended the returning Patroller weekend, we did scenarios through out the first day, the second day we did lift evacuations that was the first time I was evacuated in the sit ski I was a little nervous but it was all good.

Unfortunately this is were I finished I attend the ski around day at Nakiska with the Patrollers, this allows them to see if I would be a fit and to see my abilities. During one of the last runs I was dropped off the gold lift this caused some serious damage to my shoulder, that was my last day of skiing for the year.

But now I am back and feeling better then ever, I hope to be able to continue were I left off at Nakiska I hope to start out doing some sessions in the Patrol hut and if I am able to, start patrolling on the hill itself in some sort of capacity.

As of last year I finishes as an Associate Patroller not an active Patroller as I did not end up patrolling at a ski hill last year.

I have to give a huge thanks and shout out to Geoff, the whole Calgary zone and the Canadian ski patrol system for taking a chance and being leaders in allowing me the chance to become a Patroller they could have just as easily said no.

Ski season has started

Spent last night ripping up Canada Olympic Park, OK you don't really rip up COP but it had been 10 months since I had been on the ski.

It felt really good getting back in the bucket after my shoulder injury last year at Nakiska after getting dropped off the gold chair lift, and oh so happy that they have replaced the gold lift with a new detachable.

I have a feeling that its going to be a great ski season can't wait to get into the mountains again to really shred it up.

Here is some old video from my first season of skiing

Ski Video one
Ski Video Two

Almost 10 Years, Gotta Plan

So I have been thinking of what I should do on the 10 year anniversary of the accident that changed my life.

After 10 hours in surgery and from what I understand close to passing away I started my new life as a person with a SCI, this as you can imagine was quite a new change for me but I was determined to live my life finishing up school and getting a job. (A later post will contain more details)

So what to do for the 10 year anniversary have a party, have a drink?

I have decided to do something that I have been wanting to do since I was 16 and that being IRONMAN Canada, I still remember watching this race live and thinking that one day I would do it. That day will be in 2011 to celebrate all the life that I have lived since 2001. I hope to have as much family there as they have all supported me through this process and know that seeing them and my kids at the finish line when I roll on through will be one of the greatest days of my life.

Victoria Half Marathon Champion

Race Weekend recap

Had a good flight out to Victoria I got upgraded to executive class so that was a good start to the weekend, checked into a nice room at the Grand Pacific thanks to my friend Amanda for the room hookup.

Headed out to the expo picked up my race package and I was able to move from the full marathon to the half and this turned out to be a great thing.

Spent the evening with my fellow racer Glen and our coach Steve on the patio overlooking the bay drinking ice cold water.

Saturday got the wheelchair together and ready to go for Sunday then had lunch with Amanda, she offered to show me the course. Now I was expecting a flat course I figured when the website says fast Boston qualifying times I'm thinking flat, I was wrong I heard the world rolling and that it was very rolling with some steep sections I new that it was going to really challenge me.

Got up early on Sunday headed down and did some warming up, then off to the start line and off I went, I am pretty sure that were not ready to for me as they still had some roads closed off but I did get a police escort for a while.

After the first 3km up hill I was caught by the runners I expected it and received lots of encouragement so that was all good, at around the 10km mark I was thinking hmmm good thing I am only doing the half, at about 11km mark I was thinking what the heck am I doing out here my arms were getting rubbery and I was having trouble lifting them, at the 12km mark I was feeling better for the rest of the race I felt good and bad but kept pushing through it.

Crossed the finish line and I must not have looked very good as they kept asking me if I was ok, I got my finishers medal and headed back to the room.

Post race went to the awards and found out that they did not have my chip time so I went off my computer 1:56 slower then I wanted but considering the conditions of the course I feel ok with it.

I received my first trophy that Jack has been wanting since I started racing and he was very happy to receive it when I got home, its now his trophy and he is very proud of it.

Post race had a hot tub, sangria on a patio and some wine.

The next day I was pretty sore but better then I thought I had a good flight back to Calgary Glen and I both got bumped to executive class can't get much better then that.

POST RACE thoughts

I am very happy that I was able to move into the Half the Full would have been less then fun it was the right choice, I think that this was a great first race in the chair and prepare me for Vegas in Dec, I will now have to get some rollers and get training for it as I don't role so well in the snow.

Next race Vegas baby!!!!!!!!

RMR - Resting Metabolism Rate Testing

Got my RMR - Resting Metabolism Rate Testing done today, this is a test that is used to determine a persons baseline calories that they use in a day.

This test involved me sitting in a chair for about 30min while hooked up to a vent to gather my exhaled gasses, the toughest part of the test was the nose plug it was a little tight.

My results are as follows
RMR = 1579

The following numbers represent how I burn calories so looking at the numbers when resting I burn 21% carbohydrates and 79% fat this is good and indicates that I am active or I fooled the test :)

%CHO = 21
%FAT = 79

I also used an online calculator to see what the results would be but its very inaccurate and would not recommend using one, online result = 1712

So what does this all mean? Well I am trying to loose about 30lbs and knowing how many calories I need daily based on no activity will allow me to alter my diet to match my activity level to my food consumption.

I was tested at TCR Sport Lab http://www.tcrsportlab.com/index.htm in Calgary.

testing was done by Cory who was very helpful in explaining the procedure and results, after the test I had a nutritional consult with him that was very informative that I am sure will help me achieve my weight loss goal.

TCR Sport Lab has many other services and testing such as VO2 max, bike fittings, spin classes, Swim and run clinics so check them out.