Spring 2010

Spring, the word along helps me relax! After the last world cup in Norway I made my way back to Canmore in time for Shark fest (ski races up at Mt. Shark) and some good end of season skiing. I got out ski touring with my parents and Moki, first time in a long time, and just enjoyed my 2 weeks in Canmore before I was taking off again. 

sunrise in Oslo, Norway

First stop Burns Lake, B.C. Chandra has started an organization called Fast&Female that I am sure most of you have heard of. Young girls from all over Canada get to come together and get motivated but older experienced athletes. So right before leaving on my spring vacation I went to Burns Lake with my mom to hold a F&F event. We had about 70 girls and it was awesome! The day was filled with fun, games, yoga, dancing, healthy lunch and great talks from me and other amazing women. Rachelle van Z was my fellow ambassador and she organized most of the day and a huge THANKS to her for a wicked day. 

Fast&Female event in Burns Lake

This year Brendan and I decided to go to Hawaii together. Maui was our island of choice and it did not disappoint, true the weather was not as nice as we were hoping but this forced us to explore a little more. We spent 5 nights in Kihei and the high light of this part was going to a luau one night and exploring the south end of Maui. The lava fields are just so amazingly beautiful. There is one area of lava where they fought battles way back when in bare feet. B and I tried to stand on it for a second and could not handle it! 

lava fields in South Maui

Brendan and I in Hawaii on our way to the Luau.

After Kihei we took the Hana highway to Hana. If you ever go to Maui you have to take a day to drive the Hana highway, if not stay in Hana for a couple nights. Everything is so lush and green and there is more than enough waterfalls to satisfy everyone! We spent 3 nights in Hana and I think we could have spent more time there. It is so quiet and peaceful, that you just fall into a trance and forget about the outside world. If you get up early enough you can find a lot of beautiful places where you can have them all to your self. My favorite was when we got to walk through the bamboo forest. The clacking of the bamboo together is music to your ears.

waterfall along the Hana highway

Bamboo forest just past Hana

9 days in Hawaii was perfect and Brendan and I came home for about 15hrs before heading back to the airport and flying to Ottawa. This is where we started the last horray of the Olympics.     The first day some athletes went to talk to school before heading over to Parliament hill and having lunch with the PM and ministers. It was pretty neat having a good chunk of the Olympic team in Parliament and when they broke out in O’ Canada it was pretty special! From Ottawa we went to Montreal for a parade and the Olympic hall of fame gala dinner. There was a great turn out for the parade and it was awesome to see how the country is still so pumped from the games! Then we had the Hall of fame evening! As an athlete we rarely get to dress up, so when the opportunity arrises we like to go all out. Everyone looked so amazing and after a hour in our heels the women were dying, but thats the sacrifice you make to look good!  It was so good to be able to see everyone from the games one last time. Because we most likely won’t be all together again for 4 years! And for the athletes who retired after these games it was a chance to say good-bye. 

all the people at the parade

all dressed up and ready for the Gala! 

From Montreal the rest of my team went home and I went off to Toronto to visit my good friend Kately Mudry. She gave me an insiders tour of Toronto and we probably biked the whole city! My favorite part was when we went to Toronto island one afternoon and got to bike from one end to the other. It is so crazy that you can escape from Toronto to these quiet little islands with no cars and very few people (I am sure it is packed during the summer) and still see the CN tower across the water! 

CN tower from Toronto island

biking around Toronto

Katelyn and I on Toronto island

As female athlete rep each April I have to take some time for the executive meetings with Biathlon Canada. Last year there was no male rep so it was just moi, but this year Scott Perras signed up for the job and it was great to have him there! In Biathlon we plan our sport in quads, so since the last quad ended with the Olympics it was time to plan the next 4 years. This took a lot of time, I was in Ottawa 5 days in meetings from 8am - 6 or 7pm. It was pretty full on. But our voice was heard and we got some things changed and some things the way the athletes want it so that was a plus. Having two of us there made a big difference as well. 

Right now I am on the airplane flying back to Calgary. I been gone from home for almost a month (with just one 15hr stop over in Canmore). These past 5 days have been pretty full on and I can’t wait to be home. To have some solid down town in Canmore. Also I get to start training again!!!! I love that I am so excited to get started again, so if anyone wants to go insert activity here I am so down! 


Cheers!
Rosanna