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| 2008 World Cup team decided in Lake Placid |
| Selection Races 2008 • November 19th, 2008 |
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Before i start writing my update, check out the feature on the Globe and Mail website: http://www.globesports.com/others An in depth look on what else goes into being an athlete. Great job Donna Spencer from The Canadian Press Calgary.
Good ol' Lake Placid will be the sight of the 2009 Skeleton World Championships, so we were very fortunate to get a week of training as well as a race in before the big event. The unfortunate part of the week is that I wasn't able to take full advantage of the training...due to a burger that had a slightly greenish tinge to it. Yes, i know, stupid mistake...this I realized at 5am when I was yaking my guts out. I realized it again when I was horizontal for 36 hours, every time I stood up, my stomach would have unbelievable cramps. Luckily my coach Wlli was very sympathetic and understood I needed to rest for a couple of days. But I wasn't dismissed from our 3rd and final selection race, nor did I expect to be.
Not feeling very zippy when i woke up at 4am on race, I went about my business as usual preparing for the race. It was a very early race time, 8am, and most of you who know me I am a night owl, so not the best combination for success. But all worked out and I finished the race and as a bonus I ended up 1st. It was a very tight race for the 2nd & 3rd spot on our women's team. The vetran Michelle Kelly proved her hunger and secured her spot on the team finishing 2nd at Lake Placid and we have a new comer to the squad, 21 year old Sarah Reid, reigning Junior World Champion. We have a strong team this season and I look forward to see what we can accomplish on the World Cup tour.
The men's race was separated by mere 1/10ths of a second. Keith Loach won his 1st selection race of the season, Jon Montgomery was 2nd, Mike Douglas 3rd, Jeff Pain 4th, Paul Boehm 5th and Jamie Landry 6th. Our men's team this season will be Jeff, Paul and Jon, so keep checking in, I am confident we will see some great results from these experienced, decorated athletes.
Yesterday we arrived in Germany, we are so fortunate that our federation, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS), understands our need to adjust to the European time zone, so no competition this week, just training...thank goodness!!! I haven't slept much in the past 4 days, so I am looking forward to getting my body on track.
We will kick off the first World Cup race in Winterberg, Germany next week. Wish us luck and check back in for the update!!
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| Selection Races 1 & 2 |
| Selection Races 2008 • November 6th, 2008 |
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Ok... I’m sorry I'm so behind on my updates! Summer flew by, my days were filled with dry land training and therapy and riding horses (therapy for my mind!) We had a bit of an upset this June when Duane was steer wrestling and tore his hamstring off of his pelvis! An extremely painful injury and required surgery and a committed, lengthy recovery that he has been dealing with amazingly. That meant his hazing horse was going to have the summer off and I started to play around on the barrels with him. I was about to make my barrel racing debut at the end of July at a little jackpot near Airdrie. The announcer called my name and I was riding up the alley and then due to a hail storm the jackpot got shut down! I was so disappointed, it had been 12 yrs since I had barrel raced last, but I guess I’ll have to wait til next summer.
This is my 14th sliding season! WOW! I am aging myself! But it has been like no other season so far and we are only 5 weeks into it! The first 13yrs we would start sliding on the Calgary track, but this October we took our first skeleton runs down the Whistler track. I’ve had a fortunate career to not have neck problems and that all ended on day 1. I have much more sympathy for my sliding peers now when they are complaining about sore necks! What an amazing facility! The entire track crew is so eager to work with us and help us with what ever we need. The public is so excited to have us in Whistler, we had more people out to watch our training runs than we do at a World Cup in Calgary!!! It created a positive environment that made it fun for all of us sliding down track at awesome speeds! The scariest part of the track for me wasn’t a specific corner or the outrun like it usually is, but the BEARS!!! They were everywhere, on the roads, in the parking lot where we warm up, along the track and even in the track at times! I might not have learned as much as I should have because I was too afraid to watch, just incase a bear thought I’d be a good snack before they hibernate for the winter! For those of you who know me best know that my biggest fears are bears and bulls!!
I would say our first camp in Whistler was a success. We had the first of 3 selection races at the end of October. The format was the same as the Olympics, 4 heats over 2 days. I was happy with my race. I made some mistakes that I learned a lot from but still was successful winning the inaugural race on the Whistler Olympic track. It wasn’t an easy race, I was 1st after run 1 and I was glad to get the 1st run of the 1st race of the year over with. I had some problems on my 2nd run and I fell to 2nd behind Michelle Kelly. Day 2 was a day I will never forget. I had to deal with some personal matters, which I can’t disclose in my update. But I decided that I would put a wall up and go about my business, it is race day and issues can be dealt with later. I didn’t get the sleep I needed the night before and then my old black berry was programmed to fall backwards according to the old day light savings calendar, so I woke up late and didn’t get my stim workout in. I definitely felt that in my warm up, didn’t have any zip. Despite how I felt physically and mentally I keep focusing on the job at hand. I had a rough 3rd run and I fell further behind Michelle’s stellar track record run, but maintained 2nd place. Heat 4 is reverse order of rank and as the race began the battle I had been fighting the previous night and all day hit me like ton of bricks and I broke down. Bawling uncontrollably, trying not to disturb my teammates, I didn’t know what was going on with me. I’m sure from the intense camp, being completely worn out, I broke. Thankfully Kim Cousins, Lindsay Alcock’s dry land coach, was able to console me. I sat back down and visualized my run, then stood up with about 3 minutes until I was on the line and started crying again. Amy Gough and Sarah Reid were great teammates by taking the time ask if everything was ok, sorry ladies if I distracted you, not my intentions! Never in 13 yrs have I ever experienced anything of the sort where I was completely out of control, especially in a racing environment! I got myself somewhat together as I stood at the line and launched myself off, I was crying all the way down the track and I barely remember my run I know it was a rough one because of the bruises on my body, but I couldn’t tell you what I did to get down the track.
How I won that race again…I have no idea, I can only assume Michelle had a rough 4th run, we were only separated by 1/10th of a second over 4 runs, great racing in my opinion. Even though my experience was traumatic at the time, it was great practice incase something similar or worse happens to me at the Olympic Games, because as we know, life is full of surprises… good and bad.
Sarah Reid was 3rd, Amy Gough 4th, Carla Pavan 5th and Lindsay Alcock was 6th. Our men’s race was Jeff Pain 1st, Paul Boehm 2nd, Jon Montgomery 3rd, Mike Douglas 4th, Keith Loach 5th and Kelly Forbes didn’t finish.
As soon as the race was over we rushed home, had lunch, a meeting, packed the van, did a quick hot/cold session and had a nap then started our 12hr drive home to Calgary. Not a day off, but back on the track in Calgary to get set for our 2nd selection race.
It was a whirlwind of a week, training on the track trying to adapt to the different speeds, I went 138km/hr in Whistler and in Calgary was 122km/hr, big difference! But we adapted and raced this past Saturday and I had another successful race coming out on top. Sarah Reid was 2nd, Amy Gough was 3rd, Michelle Kelly 4th, Carla Pavan 5th and Lindsay Alcock 6th. Our men’s race was Jeff Pain 1st, Paul Boehm 2nd, Jon Montgomery 3rd, Mike Douglas 4th, Jamie Landry 5th, Keith Loach 6th. It is going to be a great 3rd race in Lake Placid, NY on November 16th, then our World cup and Intercontinental Cup teams will be decided. I will write after race #3 to let you know who our World Cup squad will be this season.
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| Response 1 |
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Thursday 6th of November 2008 06:13:26 PM • Submitted by: Rusty |
| Hi Mellisa! Wow what a week you had - I wondered how the bear situation affected the athletes. I know I had to overcome my bear fear every time I went out to the track. I had one get a little close when I was checking in the new volunteers in the parking lot by the refigeration plant...
Congrats on your first 2 races and for overcoming fears and emotions - the makings of an Olympian! 14th sliding year - I remember signing you up at the track for your first skeleton school - don't worry I never told any one that you were under age!!
Good luck to you and your team mates this year. I will be in Winterberg and Whistler this year - see you then.
Rusty |
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| Response 2 |
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Thursday 6th of November 2008 07:48:00 PM • Submitted by: Cheryl Gelinas |
| Mellisa, I am so happy that you were able to draw on your experience and ability to focus and find yourself so well placed going into race 3. You met your challenges head-on (pardon the skeleton pun) and overcame. I wish we could be there to surprise you in Placid, again, but this knee is still in its infancy, and not quite ready for prime-time. I look forward to the update on your great site. Love, Cheryl |
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| Response 3 |
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Thursday 6th of November 2008 10:05:13 PM • Submitted by: Karl Gompf |
| Congrats Mellisa! Thanks for sharing your journey. You really make the experience come alive for those of us who envy the excitement of your sport--but would not have the guts to even try it. (Although I'd like to some day)
We are with you in spirit. The best to you!
Karl---from Manitoba |
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| Response 4 |
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Friday 7th of November 2008 11:21:16 AM • Submitted by: Garnet & Nora Gompf |
| Thanks Mellisa for the great update. Isn't it funny how life hands you bombshells just when you least need or expect them? You are an amazing young woman and no matter what the outcome you have done your very best in all aspects and we are extremely proud of you. Sorry to hear of Duane's accident and hopefully he fully recovers.
We have purchased our tickets for 2010 and will stay with Garnet's friend who lives in White Rock. He will also come to the races with us. All is well here and we are busy getting to know our 10th grandchild, Denver Ross. Had our first snow fall last night, about 3 or 4 inches so it's likely here to stay.
Our best wishes go out to you as we know you are the very best so keep smiling and loving life.
Love always,
Grandma & Grandpa Gompf |
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| Response 5 |
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Friday 7th of November 2008 03:11:15 PM • Submitted by: Ed |
| Way to hang in there |
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| Response 6 |
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Monday 10th of November 2008 03:57:52 PM • Submitted by: Joanne |
| Way to go, Mellisa! You have such focus and drive! I am so proud of you! Keep up the great work, and most of all, enjoy and have fun! Love, Joanne |
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| Response 7 |
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Tuesday 18th of November 2008 05:16:10 PM • Submitted by: Dad |
| I am so proud of you. Makeing the National team again not just making it but winning all 3 races against the toughest girls in the world. Keep up the great work I will be cheering for you every step of the way. I will be up in the middle of the night watching your races on the computer. Keep having fun. Love you Dad |
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