Beach time for some recharge on TFSA beach in Sayulita, Mexico. Thanks Em Harris for that snap!
Alright ok alright. Finally coming around to an update after a two month hiatus. Big news lies on the horizon ... stay with me on this one.
I left off my last post in Thunder Bay for Canadian National Championships. Kind of painful for me to recount these races because they were awful but the best I could do for the state I was in. Out of the five days of races, I only started the 5km freestyle (4th) and the classic sprint (12th). I can only say that I was glad to have come out of that week alive. Barely! It was hard to walk away from a race site and have my season end on such a frustrating, embarrassing and disappointing note. I am glad that I had incredible teammates to cheer on in the 30/50k races! I can't define myself by my last result but it is not where I train to race. I welcomed the spring season with open arms. I really needed time to reflect and absorb my season and reset for the next. I know I am still motivated to ski, I know I am capable of better than how I performed this season and I know there is always a clear sky that follows a stormy day. Don't get me wrong, I love storms - thunder and lighting are my fav. I have learned an incredible amount this past season, and the most important lessons being to be confident in myself and my decisions and that dancing to tSwift will clear any cloudy day.
The month of April consisted of some ski touring, getting all my wisdom teeth yanked (woop!), a visit on the west coast and some time for fun times, sun times and surf time in Sayulita, Mexico... and some margaritas. The waves were small and far between at the time (perfect for my skill level), which meant I had ample time to contemplate while waiting for a set to come in. I had so many questions and lessons that I needed to learn from my experiences from this past season, that I wanted to make sure I had every answer I could before deciding on a path for the future. I sought advice and even asked the Tarot cards what my future holds.
At the end of April, I found out I wasn't reselected for the Canadian National Team. I didn't have any international results to back up my career and the older I get, the harder it is to reinvest in me. As this door closed, another opportunity arose. I was offered a position on the Swiss National Team! I have always been proud to be Swiss-Canadian and I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to put my dual citizenship to use. I was in contact with the coaches in Switzerland to pursue some summer training there, but when the offer came up to join their B Team, the timing couldn't have been better. What was a daunting thought at first (am I really going to switch nations?) has become more and more comfortable to the point where I know realize, the outcome never matters. This is an incredible opportunity to live in Switzerland, race for a new nation, learn, explore, grow, yodel and eat all things Swiss. Being happy, healthy, challenged, accepted and supported in Switzerland will all lead to positive outcomes. I am extremely excited for the opportunity! I am booking a one way ticket and will be living in Davos as of the beginning of June, so my German will have no choice but to improve.
This move won't come without it's fair share of challenges. I am so proud of where I was born and raised. Banff and the Bow Valley have been nothing but kind and encouraging to the girl who wanted to dawn skinny skis and spandex. My family. Is. The. Best. I will be using every inch of bandwidth in Switzerland to make sure I'm connected on FaceTime and Skype whenever I have the chance.
Having trained with the Alberta World Cup Academy for the past 7 years and gone through the ups and downs of ski racing within the program, I am grateful for the time and energy put into my career. Cross Country Canada, Cross Country Alberta, Foothills Nordic and the Banff Ski Runners have raised me through the ranks from pipsqueek to pipsquawk and onward. After a disappointing season, it is hard to leave Canada on a dull note, but I gain inspiration and motivation in dreaming about racing here in the Tour de Canada next March! To all my teammates, friends, sponsors, coaches, support staff, volunteers, community members and family - thank you for everything that you have and continue to do. I will still be racing hard (for a different formation of red and white) and know where I was raised. I'm off to find out what Heidi is really made of. Get your cow bells ready. Hopp Schwiiz!