I have to get back into this…

So here it is!

I am in Ontario right now at my family cottage, with my mom, dad, uncle and aunt. My whole family was here for the first days of the trip which was extremely fun. And loud. My three older brothers are not, and I repeat, not quiet. They ARE fun though : ) I love spending time with them. Especially now that we are all grown up… I think?  We do not see each other that often any more, so time with them is always enjoyable. It is a but more “zen” around here these days though, thanks to my mother who is a yoga teacher in the summer, but more so due to the lack of testosterone. And… I can’t say I’m hating it.

My daily routine involves lots of tennis, working out, yoga with my mom, and reading books. Oh ps. I just got a dragon tatoo on my back… ?? : ) I also have to mention the amount, and quality of the meals we enjoy up here. We have no power at the cottage. The term “roughing it” is said multiple times a day here. When friends come to visit us here we tell them it’s next to camping, to keep their expectations extremely low. Having said that, our main cottage should be at least “THREE TIMES BIGGER THAN THIS!” (Zoolander anyone?) The meals that come out of the tiny kitchen Boyd slaves in, is truly amazing.

This is the view from our cottage. And I swear, this picture is not even that good compared to some of the sights we see out here.

I am back in Vancouver in a week or so, and preparing myself now to hit the gym hard upon my arrival, in preparation for my Chile trip mid September!

So we got 3 and a half days on snow… the half day was more of a psychological training day then anything I think. I wrote in my last post about my new enthusiastic coach who I like… Well I’m not so sure anymore. Haha We DID have to hike 5 runs of a 30 gate SL course in the torrential downpour one day though. Yes, you guessed it, in our spandex! It was actually not as bad as it sounds considering we were all soaked to the skin through our downhill suits! It brought me back to my K days as a youngster at Grouse; skiing (and loving it!) in every weather condition possible, besides actual snow of course….

But this was the one sunny day!!!

You would have thought we had been training in the heart of Vancouver with all the downpour we experienced in Hood… We did get one sunny day though! And took full advantage of it! Now, at this time of the season, all we are looking for is miles miles miles on our skis! Obviously doing this while perfecting quality and positive muscle movements so our brains instill these movements. We actually got a few runs in on our SG skis which is not a typical thing to see at Hood, but it sure felt good to get on those long boards after a few days of being on toothpicks! (does Slalom need to even exist?)

I am now back in Van, ready to hit the gym hard for the next few weeks! I will be coaching dryland for the youngsters of my home club, Grouse Mnt, this month also which I’m pumped about. Who doesn’t like playing soccer with kids (its amazing how your self esteem just skyrockets after a game with them…) and doing tuck jumps?! I will also be taking a university English course via online. Oh yes, right, and looking for sponsors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it’s about time I checked back in eh?

After a relaxing month or so off, chilling, being active outside, seeing friends, I am back at it! Back at it in the rain! I am in Mount Hood Oregon with two BC girls who were on the development team last year with me, and the BC Men’s Ski Team. I have been dropped from the National Team for the summer and will reconvene with them in the fall. Due to the post Olympic financial downfall that occurs with every country after the Games, not meeting criteria for the full World Cup team, and also having (besides Britt who is at a different point in her career than me) no speed girls to train with this summer, I will be skiing with the BC Team men. I have taken a pretty positive approach to this summer I think, and am very excited.

Firstly, I will actually get a lot of time on snow this summer, compared to zero days last summer. I will be working with my new coach Brandon Dyksterhouse. He is a young, enthusiastic, positive, and a wicked skier himself! I will be skiing with guys who are very good skiers. This is good for me because guys typically are better technically at skiing then girls, so it will be a good visual to have with me all summer. And lastly, I am switching ski companies to Head!

We’ve had two days on snow so far here at Mount Hood. The weather is not ideal, but for what we are doing, it’s quite alright. At this time of the year we get back to the basics of skiing and work on the fundamentals. We are doing a lot of runs, (as many as we can with the rain… But I’m from Vancouver, it’s second nature to me! ) and drills, on our SL skis. This is exactly what I need, improve my technical ability in this sport, in order for me to achieve my goals at the highest level of skiing, which is the World Cup.

Day 3 tomorrow! Let’s hope that rain decides to stop!

Well, we’re all back at (unfortunately) home away from home, Nakiska, for the Nationals.

We have a few more days of racing until this season is over, and I can say honestly my body is thankful. It is a struggle mentally and physically attempting to give it my all for each race. I have not performed to my potential ability, which is not helping my finish strong. BUT! There is still two more days of racing for me, and I WILL give it my all, whatever that may be, and hopefully be happy with myself at the end of both races. That’s all I can do. Having my father and brother here is super nice and definitely helping, and the sunny days are aiding to good attitudes as well.

I have no idea of my spring/summer schedule as the National team each year goes through a very in depth process of analyzing the previous year before going ahead and starting the next year. And I don’t think this year’s analysis will be any different than last year with having the Olympics in our own country. The ACA staff will be definitely be putting their thinking caps on together, for more than a few days.

But that is out of my control, and I am only going to focus on the next few days and finish the season smiling (let’s be honest, I’m always smiling)!

I have been reunited with the rest of the Development for the past 4 days. It’s fun hanging out with more then 2 teammates, let alone girls my own age! : )

We had 3 days of early morning, solid training in Quebec at Mount Orford and now are in Burke, Vermont. We are racing Super G in two days here which kicks off the NorAm final race series. We’ll race the Super G and the Super Combined here then head to Waterville, Newhapshire for the GS and SL races.

Checking in from the Green Drake Motel!

Chilling in the sunshine!

I’m not counting or anything… But we have 3 days left here!

I have skied better and faster each day we have been on the downhill track here in Aspen and today I was a mere 2 one hundredths off of the podium! I love them to bits, but at least one of those american chicks seem to nick ahead of me every race. I don’t like it. I’m debating pulling a Tanya Harding on some of them? Haha I’m kidding, it’s up to me to decide to ski fast from the top to the bottom of a race course. Once I do that, I will be on top of that podium, and pleased! No better day then tomorrow though! It is the American Nationals DH race, same track as the  one we have been on the past few days. But the difference?  There’s loads of dolla bill$ involved! And I’m not talking about 50 bucks… The winner gets 3,000$ american dollars! The NorAm DH title was announced today after the race. I came 2nd overall this year! This means that I clinched a World Cup spot for myself for next year in Downhill!

Smart fast skiing, leaving everything on the hill, is my game plan for tomorrow!

“Dear American broadcasters,

You suck at showing Olympic coverage down here, get it together, eh?

Sincerely,

Georgia”

- The letter I am almost convinced to send into NBC.

So it finally happened! I made it down an Olympic run! After a few bumps, excuse the pun , the few days previous the SG on Saturday, my attitude in the start gate was definitely not “all or nothing”, as it usually is. My entire ora on the morning of the SG was different then it had been for the Dh races… Going up the chair lift alone listening to music, taking in the gorgeous scenery around me, I had a huge smile on my face. I felt solid on my skis, and tried to take my positive energy into the race . In the lodge before my run, watching a lot of girls DNF or make costly mistakes those nerves of mine definitely crept up and tried to smother me. Fortunately, I think my stoked attitude clouded those nerves enough for me to ski smart, and rip into that finish to hear the roaring crowd of amazing fans!

After exiting the finish coral I met with my family and friends… It was overwhelming, to say the least, seeing the people who care the most to me so proud and happy for me, after a race that was far from good. That is the one thing I have taken from this amazing experience, the thousands of people that cheered for me didn’t even really care how I did! They were behind me in whatever I achieved in Whistler. This heart warming support I saw from people just because I had on an Canada jacket, multiplied ten fold when I was surrounded by the people I have known for my entire life. You know who you are. And my love for you all is crazy, ridiculously big. What up.

I am in Basalt, C.O right now with the Europa Cup team. A team with a total of two athletes. Steph Irwin and I are holding down the fort here in our fairly ghetto motel (nope, that wasn’t a typo) room. We have made a new friend already, Jimmy, who lives in the ceiling above Steph’s side of the room. I didn’t offer to switch beds… Is that mean? We think he’s a rat. Aaron, aka Speedy, our service man, thinks he’s a raccoon. He’s kiwi . You may laugh at his awesome accent when you meet him, we all do, daily Tim, Walter, (coaches) Speedy, Steph and I went up to the mountain today just to free ski and take a look at the DH track. I had 4ft deep fresh, amazingly light, powder runs with my fat skis. It. Was. Crazy. Fun. DH training runs start tomorrow! Steph is starting 10 and I’m running 4!

Later!

Whistler, BC – Today was an exciting day for Georgia Simmerling. With all of her family and friends watching, Georgia skied to a fantastic 27th place on a difficult course, giving her excellent experience at the highest level.

Georgia battled through a long week of adversity, including one DNS due to a treacherous downhill, and a minor injury before the Super Combined which stopped her from racing there as well.

Simmerling now heads to Aspen, CO for some more racing, competing in NORAM races later this week.

Press Release

February 18, 2010 11:45 AM PST

Whistler, BC – Canadian Olympic Alpine Ski team member Georgia Simmerling missed competition this morning at Whistler mountain due to a shin injury suffered in warm up. This is Simmerling’s second “Did Not Start” in two days after being pulled from the Ladie’s Downhill yesterday morning. There was hesitation for Georgia to compete in the Ladie’s downhill due to the treacherous nature of the course, and the lack of training runs afforded to female skiers in the days preceding the start of competition.

This mornings injury is not serious and Simmerling is hopeful to compete in the Ladie’s Super G, taking place this Saturday, February 20^th.

Georgia thanks the continued support of her sponsors.

Press inquiries can be forwarded to NG Farrell Marketing, 604 306 5559

me and most of the family the first day in the village!

After hearing that our training run was already cancelled for the next day we finally got permission in the afternoon to head down to Vancouver for the Opening Ceremonies! Em, Shona and I frantically gathered our outfits and got ready super quickly to make it in time for the last bus leaving from the Athlete’s village down to Vancouver with a coach bus full of other athletes. We were accompanied by multiple police cars for the drive down, as well as a helicopter and a plane! I have to say, it felt a little ridiculous having all that security just for us…

When we finally arrived at BC Place, the folks in charge were frantic themselves because we were apparently “late” for the march into the stadium. Ironically, we thought we had timed it perfectly seeing other canadian athlete’s sitting and leaning against the wall, having been there apparently for hours… When we finally started to march towards the stadium, the buzz and excitement filled the area. The actual performers for the show were along the sides of the corridor as we marched, not yet in the stadium, which was really cool having them cheer their hearts out giving us a taste of what was yet to come. As we marched in to the stadium to the 60,000 people all cheering for us, the canadians, I had never felt so alive. Mostly everyone in that stadium had no idea who I am, but regardless, they screamed as loud as they could. Walking around the arena, looking up into the crowd, the emotion I felt was one I will never forget.

walking in to BC Place! indescribable emotion...

torch bearers entering the stadium. so cool.

Sitting in our seats, watching the breathtaking show performed by so many gifted singers, dancers, athletes, and many more I had never in my entire life felt so happy, and proud to be a Canadian.