The beginning is officially underway…

 

On Friday I competed in my first official America’s Cup bobsled race.  I was the brakeman for Jamie Greubel.  Our race was in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Canadian Olympic Park.  After a long 14-hour drive to Calgary, I settled into a house that belonged to a friend of Jamie.  We had 2 runs Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to get acquainted to the track.  Wednesday was a rough day because we crashed both runs.  Crashes are crazy because one second you are sitting upright and another second you’re upside down being dragged down the track.  I was a little more worried this time because I knew where I was in the track and knew it was going to be a long upside down ride down the track since we crashed in curve 7… There are 14 curves in the Calgary track.  Fortunately we stopped in curve 10 so it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.  I was a little nervous waiting in the start house for our second run though.  I tried my best to not think about it and let Jamie see me upset, but for some reason my emotions had their coffee that morning and were quite alert.  Bummer.  After our second crash that night Jamie and I were both beat… literally. Bruised and banged up.  Thursday night after practice we got the sled all ready for the race.  This means washing and waxing the sled, and sanding runners.  Sanding runners took up about 4 hours, and your hands are typically black from sandpaper dustings afterwards. 

Friday was race day!  Races were at 6pm.  When we warm up for practice and races we do it in the parking lot by the top of the track.  This parking lot is covered in packed snow so you typically have to wear ice walkers so you don’t slip.  Oh and its below zero Fahrenheit.  The snot in your nose freezes it’s so cold.  Once you get warmed up its not too bad.  Plus you have so much adrenaline.  Both runs went great! I remember on my second run we were going down the track and as I was looking down at the bottom of the sled I was counting the curves and just thinking, “Come on Jamie, you can do it! We’re almost there… You got it!”  As we went around curve 14 I was stoked!  I pulled the brakes and once we came to a stop we gave each other big high fives and hugs.  Pulling the brakes was actually pretty difficult in Calgary.  The finish stretch is pretty flat so with the speed from coming down the track makes it hard to brake abruptly.  Plus, your hands are cold and sometimes it is hard to maintain the pulling back and the brakes slip from your hands.  Fortunately I didn’t have any mistakes and was able to brakes with no problems.  We finished in 3^rd.

Later that night we had our awards ceremony where I received my first medal for bobsled.  They even had the flag ceremony and played our national anthem because one of the U.S. girls got 1^st.   I can’t explain the feelings from race day.  It is so inspirational to see all these great athletes doing what they love with such passion.  I feel as if some of the passion is growing within me.  The desire to be the best… The desire to be the strongest and fastest.  The desire to compete for the U.S.A.  To stand on that awards stand and hear our anthem.  I can only imagine what it must be like for the athletes at the Olympics.  The pride that rushes through your body must be unexplainable.  I would have no problem giving everything I got and sacrificing everything I have to own that moment in the future.  The fire from inside has been lit and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me during this adventure.  

2010 Team Trials

On October 27-28 we had team trials in Lake Placid, New York.  I raced on the second race day with Elana Meyers.  Race day is basically the biggest adrenaline rush ever.  I have never competed in a “race” type sport, so this was new to me.  We began the day by getting the runners on the sled and to the starting dock.  Everyone lines up their sled upside down to work on the runners (blades).  Before the race we warm-up on a concrete street about 75 yards long.  After warming up we get all our gear on, which consists of our spikes, burn vest, and speed suit.  I’m not going to lie, it was pretty cool putting on a speed suit that said “USA” on it.  In college track I had a teammate that had all sorts of USA apparel because he competed for USA at some national and international meets.  I was always jealous and wanted the chance to wear that kind of gear, to compete for the “USA.”  Even though this was only team trials, it was a start.  We all got pretty hyped right before the race.  You begin to feel the adrenaline build-up and you can’t wait for your turn. 

As our turn approached I stepped outside to the sled, helped get it to the starting spot, put on my helmet, did a few last minute drills, and put my gloves on.  As Elana came out to join me at the start I was so excited… definitely not nervous.  The announcer clears the track for the start, Elana puts her hand out towards the push bar, I say “set,” and were off! People inside the start house open up the windows and holler at you as you sprint down the track.  As we began our first run down the ice I was going through the turns in my head paying attention to where we were in the track so I can lean the right direction.  We had made it to the 19^th curve out of 20 and as we exited curve 19 we rolled over.  We had gone from speeding down the track to on our side hearing a loud crashing noise as we slide to a stop.  I knew exactly what had happened.  While we were sliding at about 70mph down the track I could feel myself getting sucked out of the sled but I knew not to kick out.  Elana turned toward me and grabbed my arm and was asking me if I was ok, which I was fine.  I could feel the burning sensation run from the back of my right shoulder to my right hip.  Once we stopped the track crew helped us out and we were both checked out and cleared by the trainers.  Fortunately we could still take our second run and even was given a third since we crashed.  I didn’t second-guess whether I should go again one bit.  Crashing was inevitable so I knew the best thing I could do was get back up to that start dock and help Elana finish her runs.  That’s my job and I would do it for any one of the drivers. 

After the completion of Team Trials the committee announced the national team.  Unfortunately I did not make the national team, but I am able to compete on the America’s Cup Circuit.  I also have the opportunity to make the national team for the second half of the season as changes can be made to the circuits depending on performances. 

We are now in Park City, Utah training and have our first official America’s Cup races this week.  After this week we will go to Calgary for a week then back to Park City for three weeks.