tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56053658245895110752024-02-07T08:42:06.459-08:00Soren Meeuwisse - Blog Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team //
Smith Optics Ambassador // Fast and Female Ambassador // NextGen MTB Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-42562380469245917122019-04-30T08:48:00.005-07:002019-04-30T08:49:47.574-07:00Lighting Up the Night with Onlia <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have been involved in a lot of cycling events over the years but recently I was a part of a different kind of cycling experience. It didn’t involve mountain biking or a competition and took place in the heart of downtown Toronto in -15 degrees Celsius on the dark night. Sound a bit weird? Actually, it was quite the opposite. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.onlia.ca/" style="color: #954f72;">Onlia</a> </span>is </span><span lang="EN-US">a new digital brand offering a safe driving app and digital auto insurance in Ontario. With roots in The Netherlands, a known safe cycling capital, Onlia hosted this event to promote road safety for all in Canada</span><span lang="EN-US">… yes, for drivers AND cyclists. They have a mission to always put safety first, a value that is CRUCIAL for all while we share and enjoy our Canadian roads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A couple years ago, I was cycling back from school when my perspective on road safety changed dramatically. It was nighttime, pouring rain, and I had to bike along a very busy road that had no shoulder or bike lane. Forced to ride on the sidewalk, I was not seen by a car and was hit at a fast speed from the side. This scenario had always been a, “What If” moment for me, then comes the moment you feel your body dent the side of a car and then you’re rolling off the hood. So much can happen in a fraction of a second, seemingly out of your control. This is a terrifying and horrible situation for everyone involved, cyclist and driver. Everyone makes mistakes but many accidents can be prevented. I was insanely lucky to walk away relatively fine physically, with my commuter bike fixable and a greater sense of bike safety awareness for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Although I race mountain bikes, I spend a LOT of time road riding for training. It’s so easy to hop on your bike and head out on the roads day in and day out without giving a second thought for the risk you endure. I know I can speak for myself and my elite-level cyclist friends by saying that each year there are too many close calls and accidents that could have been avoided. Compared to the country side roads, the city can feel like a war-zone between cyclists and cars. Infrastructure is lacking in most urban areas, discouraging people to even consider cycling as a convenient or safe mode of transportation, for their work commute, or as a hobby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Onlia provided Torontonians with a supportive and fun environment to learn about safe, nighttime city cycling. Proper lights on bikes are VERY important for cars to see cyclists. At a minimum, all cyclists should have a white light on the front and red light on the back (this is actually the law at nighttime). With the help of Onlia, four colourful lights were installed onto the wheels of bikes for everyone that attended the cycling safety event; hence the event name “Light Up The Night”. Not only do the lights look super cool when the wheels are spinning, but you are much more visible and safer on busy roads. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Cycling as an alternative to driving offers so many benefits to peoples’ individual health and society as a whole. How can we expect to transition to a greener and more sustainable city without cooperation between drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and city planners? Generally, drivers DO want to be kind and share the road. It should be a collaborative effort between drivers and cyclists to make our roads safer. Events like Onlia’s, “Light Up The Night” are needed to raise awareness about road safety issues, influence cities within the GTA, remind drivers to support and look out for cyclists, and finally to teach cyclists how to ride safe and be seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Thank you, Onlia, for advocating for a safer community for all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Want to get involved? Learn more about Onlia’s safety movement at <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.onlia.ca/" style="color: #954f72;">Onlia.ca</a> </span>and follow them on </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/onliaca/" style="color: #954f72;">Facebook</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US">, </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/onliaca" style="color: #954f72;">Twitter</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US">and </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/onlia.ca/" style="color: #954f72;">Instagram</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US">!</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-32778623664707692602017-10-12T18:06:00.002-07:002017-10-12T18:06:25.449-07:00Rollercoaster SeasonHere is yet another one of my blog posts, attempting to summarize the busiest and most exciting months of my year without writing a 1000 page book. This one is more of a collection of photos, following a timeline of my summer race season and adventures. <br />
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Overall, my 2017 season went like this: big up, big down, little up, little down, big up. It was quite a rollercoaster of performance, confidence levels, and jet lag from jumping around the globe. <br />
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Here is a brief (ok, as brief as I could make it) explanation of my summer's Who's, What's, Where's, and Why's: <br />
(Exact results are in point form following this summary)<br />
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I had some amazing races at early season Canada Cups with the Trek Canada team in Quebec and Ontario, which really boosted my confidence and I set my goals/hopes high as I embarked on a 2 month journey living out of my bike bags. First, I went to Andorra then Switzerland for 2 World Cup races with Team Canada. I was very disappointed to perform relatively poorly, as I wasn't responding well to these locations at altitude. As always, disappointing races provide opportunity for the best kind of learning. It was straight to Canmore next, where I stayed with family friends for one week, then met up with my Trek family for National Championships. A flat tire on the first lap partnered with feelings of still not being 'on form', made for another upsetting race day at Nationals. But using 'failure' as fuel and staying focused forwards, I set off to Winnipeg with Team Ontario for the Canada Summer Games! Things started to take an upwards turn at the Games. I was selected to be the Flag Bearer for the province of Ontario at the Opening Ceremonies, which was an immense honour and incredible experience. In the XC race, I was beginning to feel a little more like myself, having my strongest race since those Ontario Canada Cups. Directly to Mont. St. Anne, Quebec I flew next, for Canada's World Cup event. The day before the race as I was practicing on the slippery course, I went down and my elbow took the blunt of my weight, hitting a rock. Even with stitches in my swollen elbow, I had hopes of being able to race the next day... but I couldn't hold onto my bars the next day even on road bumps, so racing was out of the plan. Luckily, it was the end of my big trip and time to go home anyways, so I had time for my elbow to heal. A week at my cottage for a family reunion was a perfect mental/physical break from all the travelling and racing over the past several weeks. After the cottage break, I had 2 weeks at home to train (and race Provincial Championships) before leaving to Australia for World Championships! Australia was INCREDIBLE before, during, and after the race with Team Canada. My coach Jeff Ain helped me prep well, and I felt like I was "on it" physically, mentally, and tactically. I didn't have a break through performance by any means at Worlds, but I finally was able to race to my normal potential at the international stage. My World's race was a much needed positive way to end the season, and I got to celebrate with a few days of vacation around the Cairns area post-race before heading back to the reality of University in Ontario. <br />
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Check out a whole wack of photos at the end of this post! <br />
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Results in chronological order (since last blog post):<br />
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<li>Horseshoe Canada Cup: 3rd Elite / 1st U23</li>
<li>Hardwood Canada Cup: 2nd Elite / 1st U23 </li>
<li>Andorra World Cup: 35th (U23)</li>
<li>Switzerland World Cup: 38th (U23) </li>
<li>National Championships: 4th (U23)</li>
<li>Canada Summer Games: 3rd (U23)</li>
<li>Mt. St. Anne World Cup: DNS</li>
<li>Ontario Provincial Championships: 1st Elite </li>
<li>WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 16th </li>
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I have major support networks that helped me get to all these races, be prepared for these races, and have the best equipment for these races. <br />
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Trek Canada MTB Team has been my rock of support for the past 4 years, and I'm continuing onto my 5th year with this group that has become a tight knit community of mine. Equipment is a huge aspect of cycling at a high level, and Trek Toronto Store is always taking the best of care of the team with the highest quality. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbRAdIajG7M2tsqhTboS15gTL9IFMOTIIw5Ux6RourFJ7rFdtL6NLbWXWNorthk7ng6KWcCIOq0J5X3xt4F9TUsGwPq_BoN0FyvnRxggYHPTCEDF06tslPh-unF5Db5MvrvjDnQhLShwi/s1600/DCIB4667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbRAdIajG7M2tsqhTboS15gTL9IFMOTIIw5Ux6RourFJ7rFdtL6NLbWXWNorthk7ng6KWcCIOq0J5X3xt4F9TUsGwPq_BoN0FyvnRxggYHPTCEDF06tslPh-unF5Db5MvrvjDnQhLShwi/s320/DCIB4667.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trek Canada meets the Canadian Rockies (at Nationals)</td></tr>
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A successful race season is created in the off season. For the past year, the NextGen program has helped me every single day in some shape or form. With my coach Jeff Ain and all the other IST services such as nutrition, strength coaching, mental performance, physiology, and physio, the NextGen program has helped it's athletes on the path to international success. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnH3dh6ZByHLRBItLYcOhLQ5l77zgg6j_rxxXE3n4BaHJIhN0DOHdqnlASD4l3NtzVzfweclUQjMs1bZmzIm4S1oTEsOLSqXsW0o5EBMD6pi6nz25_rx-ZR8gkCujSj3hvqIpkkTwApVN/s1600/IMG_4580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnH3dh6ZByHLRBItLYcOhLQ5l77zgg6j_rxxXE3n4BaHJIhN0DOHdqnlASD4l3NtzVzfweclUQjMs1bZmzIm4S1oTEsOLSqXsW0o5EBMD6pi6nz25_rx-ZR8gkCujSj3hvqIpkkTwApVN/s320/IMG_4580.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just finished the dusty race at Worlds, looking quite wrecked, but so happy to see Jeff there at the finish for me!</td></tr>
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This past year I continued to wear Smith Optics on every single training ride and in every race. When I think about it, its ridiculous how much I depend on my riding glasses; feeling completely naked without them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RFE_duTIUTLiHQj4pLX_CMbySsirA7trO3yXGVuLTrJ36YbOZWLX9wOrM12W47hyMCwn9_BD5wWUlnTSL4WtN6h0G2E4cPi_X6yJTfcQioYgKr8yFzp325Pdnf-1fMdxZ3DIMtm4WGfg/s1600/MDGN3754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RFE_duTIUTLiHQj4pLX_CMbySsirA7trO3yXGVuLTrJ36YbOZWLX9wOrM12W47hyMCwn9_BD5wWUlnTSL4WtN6h0G2E4cPi_X6yJTfcQioYgKr8yFzp325Pdnf-1fMdxZ3DIMtm4WGfg/s320/MDGN3754.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently also always wearing my casual Smith Optics (and enjoying my cottage with these awesome ladies)</td></tr>
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OF COURSE I cannot forget about the two most important people of all: my mom and dad with their unwavering support and love. </div>
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I definitely met some major goals this season that I set out for myself a year ago, process and result wise. However there was much I was hoping to accomplish that I didn't. These goals carry over and bring momentum into my off season training which starts now. </div>
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I have been at school for the past month now, in my third year of studies for my Kinesiology degree while dabbling in cyclocross and cross country running races. The school year is always very difficult to maintain a high performance lifestyle while studying full time, volunteering, and keeping sanity. Even though sometimes I feel unstoppable, invincible, and like I can go, go, go.... my body says otherwise and I get sick with my immune system as my weak link. So here's to the next half a year of fall/winter/spring training, midterm/exam studying, and taking time to slow down and smell the roses along the way. </div>
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OK NOW FOR THE PHOTO REEL......<br />
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Helping out with the Trillium Trailblazer's event before the Canada Cups. Love hanging out with these young girls who are so excited to be on their bikes! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing at Hardwood Canada Cup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My results from the Canada Cups in BC, Quebec, and Ontario landed me as the overall Elite Women Canada Cup Series Winner! </td></tr>
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Jumping for joy with other Team Canada teammates because we were in Andorra! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimES64LLryxhyJ1yoD95sLULQAibZu3e1Dzu6ZzSu1kNlWT4WJxxm8Zv-Vn7NA2oEGb61m2p2tC0XkYIsU1rujl6tQbUu2JW_yYnF1bzT5hxZ3N4RSoRkCNwgFM316r1g8M5qTN12GRTXt/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimES64LLryxhyJ1yoD95sLULQAibZu3e1Dzu6ZzSu1kNlWT4WJxxm8Zv-Vn7NA2oEGb61m2p2tC0XkYIsU1rujl6tQbUu2JW_yYnF1bzT5hxZ3N4RSoRkCNwgFM316r1g8M5qTN12GRTXt/s320/IMG_2478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thin air up here... oh wait that's just my breath being taken away from the beautiful views</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTh3YkHK1mZN3VYmUOiGeY3OjGkSwXLAQ02TTzV9rVyUfS8CN__sVUa7VJ6cY_f0668RHxxXpNYw95Doe6eSJbk7aFTX6vSHAxdCRiEW70SbsVELIB0UX72V4wVvyYQ1YpOMi4GNNlJUX-/s1600/IMG_2624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTh3YkHK1mZN3VYmUOiGeY3OjGkSwXLAQ02TTzV9rVyUfS8CN__sVUa7VJ6cY_f0668RHxxXpNYw95Doe6eSJbk7aFTX6vSHAxdCRiEW70SbsVELIB0UX72V4wVvyYQ1YpOMi4GNNlJUX-/s320/IMG_2624.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Fired up</div>
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Suffering during Switzerland World Cup course (zoom in for the full effect)<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you're all alone and have a 15 hour layover in London, England ... you ask strangers (who may not actually speak any English at all) to take "artsy" photos for you</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrived in Canmore, Canada, and happy to be spending some time with family</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting in the zone pre Nationals race</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NAT CHAMPS LEGGGOOOO</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-m3G2f4c43-TZGtjgOY2jjgSgAfdOcXcyexqWTIoxZwnYWCJTjDXe0j7OkpaKUhWnc8NoJflzYf2FSSEv-0crMs85vLVVYxp9dTd1fO6LfSZs48r71tgPFbqmZUul7U27O-dBTcgtak7e/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-m3G2f4c43-TZGtjgOY2jjgSgAfdOcXcyexqWTIoxZwnYWCJTjDXe0j7OkpaKUhWnc8NoJflzYf2FSSEv-0crMs85vLVVYxp9dTd1fO6LfSZs48r71tgPFbqmZUul7U27O-dBTcgtak7e/s320/IMG_3507.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yup shit happens</td></tr>
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OK NOW THIS WAS REAL COOL.... hiked a mountain at sunset, slept outside under the stars, woke up to watch the sunrise. Thanks to this rad chika in the blue hat </div>
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We had a tent, but didn't use it. Except for this awesome photo. So obviously it was worth setting up</div>
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More camping pics... just trying to justify how COOL this was </div>
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Seriously, I could just keep posting photos from this sleepover and never get bored (but this is the last one I swear)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet still more beautiful views with Sarah!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Team Ontario Staff at the Canada Summer Games, trying to figure out how to not look awkward holding a flag everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to enter Opening Ceremonies with the best province </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JUSTIN TRUDEAU TALKED TO ME RIGHT ABOUT NOW</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgthc4vxQjAQjaLV3lQm5sdzJ4OBFKHY5J0KNaxBNJrr-Hx4qWxZpfUvWn4fB8838NLclJm6EgsrcVhSXGLIJEo32rS3ZO0Un-U1uZmxFbiywYtQG4YazPUK-JblKWhUEjsaKuIx7XDbV/s1600/36232446966_d2cc9b1052_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgthc4vxQjAQjaLV3lQm5sdzJ4OBFKHY5J0KNaxBNJrr-Hx4qWxZpfUvWn4fB8838NLclJm6EgsrcVhSXGLIJEo32rS3ZO0Un-U1uZmxFbiywYtQG4YazPUK-JblKWhUEjsaKuIx7XDbV/s320/36232446966_d2cc9b1052_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now it was all business racing at the Canada Summer Games </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVAxyRd6GWlGeMOyHkVwIf_7baTTEbFMs4RUQfe2wCmg3mUkX8Na-Jg3eFX4prr7X5Q5dEiV31-k-EhTaBuo3-YIkGDIsnJGUhvAJISYQZQ7fKF76n4YB7hV3mBaMw2w9SKSTHwV7bxVL/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1334" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVAxyRd6GWlGeMOyHkVwIf_7baTTEbFMs4RUQfe2wCmg3mUkX8Na-Jg3eFX4prr7X5Q5dEiV31-k-EhTaBuo3-YIkGDIsnJGUhvAJISYQZQ7fKF76n4YB7hV3mBaMw2w9SKSTHwV7bxVL/s320/IMG_3680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to that IKEA in the distance for giving us their construction dirt so we had a hill to race on in Winnipeg </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2qpEwlNLNxZpgr8VxwlobLTCUYejo59CGlcSOtapF0ViqfxrOrZhPdxtnJSjc6J4gzb-mUV4uk7WOJBFFIZD_qoi7wWIXO1-_B8VLd6f62KWIWNbfIzk9qCbxVtqac-TGsJcDWyuUvrE/s1600/IMG_3666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2qpEwlNLNxZpgr8VxwlobLTCUYejo59CGlcSOtapF0ViqfxrOrZhPdxtnJSjc6J4gzb-mUV4uk7WOJBFFIZD_qoi7wWIXO1-_B8VLd6f62KWIWNbfIzk9qCbxVtqac-TGsJcDWyuUvrE/s320/IMG_3666.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud of our Team O ladies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXgba5V4turycQTe6f5K5sOePL2EbYKAwSSIR9Qi1vt3hZCT-8hI7b_tphlRxfSd7SYwGoZvhxt7X-UejZR3VgV6vRbCbkp9wOQWFUNBSsGQIP7mCx6AorRYDKBeUqjiCmUoq2UZ76z26/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXgba5V4turycQTe6f5K5sOePL2EbYKAwSSIR9Qi1vt3hZCT-8hI7b_tphlRxfSd7SYwGoZvhxt7X-UejZR3VgV6vRbCbkp9wOQWFUNBSsGQIP7mCx6AorRYDKBeUqjiCmUoq2UZ76z26/s320/IMG_3821.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now in Mt. St. Anne Quebec... wasn't my day with the stupid elbow issue, but THIS ROCKSTAR RIGHT HERE FINISHED 4TH AS A FIRST YEAR U23!!!! Proud girlfriend on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvQ6nic525-tAekpVlx8nGBJIWYAKUu46UJRWXD35ZqXn44nECqY5aycFjcllj7KsLvDd6kzpBcWd_RX_JUI8Rm-v_YSZkkmRIWSt1_zgUCiniQKCCVrRENUjaH8h9Wy5YfG0XvE_UsIL/s1600/DSCF2644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvQ6nic525-tAekpVlx8nGBJIWYAKUu46UJRWXD35ZqXn44nECqY5aycFjcllj7KsLvDd6kzpBcWd_RX_JUI8Rm-v_YSZkkmRIWSt1_zgUCiniQKCCVrRENUjaH8h9Wy5YfG0XvE_UsIL/s320/DSCF2644.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a whirlwind of travelling, so relaxing to be at the cottage with family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMkgpP0mnM7OL1_Wc6nbJxFf25rERczQiwrfp4YkmSXHEu_ODwNutGNymo9k_zL6e8FuUEeQYUtByY6NaaFQYcSMrSVhB__ctZVGeqnThWKKWXmOG1jvQzXdVzh4HhcZD-AxEpAT97SjE/s1600/WTBC3914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMkgpP0mnM7OL1_Wc6nbJxFf25rERczQiwrfp4YkmSXHEu_ODwNutGNymo9k_zL6e8FuUEeQYUtByY6NaaFQYcSMrSVhB__ctZVGeqnThWKKWXmOG1jvQzXdVzh4HhcZD-AxEpAT97SjE/s320/WTBC3914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing quite like the long travel days to get to Australia... but beyond worth it to be there, with Team Canada, and racing at World Champs! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUZ0wyTlabVjrLuOekFZqYeTThQueQhv6OhCqCuXxWVuBuiZUw9CHalOGREMB_BmNB9P5y5azyENKAIEovAn6SOdgRKuOyXwrbd3AcZZoC7-KU27HtizIQv1kQtAtwNilb3EkFwdEjTFe/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUZ0wyTlabVjrLuOekFZqYeTThQueQhv6OhCqCuXxWVuBuiZUw9CHalOGREMB_BmNB9P5y5azyENKAIEovAn6SOdgRKuOyXwrbd3AcZZoC7-KU27HtizIQv1kQtAtwNilb3EkFwdEjTFe/s320/IMG_4449.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPdCEqH2OUEvOAta8tt5rw71dofEw-1buaILVJLsKROpcBXPJWK_qpgZ75LimTjVTU8rHzOtMCvOYcZ8W7Pj3ad5hotWoamJNe-1pnbh6a2Oj86xLOZFPnZfIQNDlM_WR6WYH0w9smPl6/s1600/2017MTBWORLDS_ADSC9104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPdCEqH2OUEvOAta8tt5rw71dofEw-1buaILVJLsKROpcBXPJWK_qpgZ75LimTjVTU8rHzOtMCvOYcZ8W7Pj3ad5hotWoamJNe-1pnbh6a2Oj86xLOZFPnZfIQNDlM_WR6WYH0w9smPl6/s320/2017MTBWORLDS_ADSC9104.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's go time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eXQ1ZBRz1QdQyV5JU3EHHM7w1nKjluw9GG7XXCa1QfrrfG2vHzZ7lLMfflKrM5VhVsNMsVRA5vdHxo9WnSceDzKp4Dnnc31DZTnhruGlJc2NVouU3PDAN9jcoRNvZFsgBsesAbrwbkP7/s1600/IMG_4579+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eXQ1ZBRz1QdQyV5JU3EHHM7w1nKjluw9GG7XXCa1QfrrfG2vHzZ7lLMfflKrM5VhVsNMsVRA5vdHxo9WnSceDzKp4Dnnc31DZTnhruGlJc2NVouU3PDAN9jcoRNvZFsgBsesAbrwbkP7/s320/IMG_4579+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suffering and I love it </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHA2exEtolA3dPJEk41I7ponwV8o-inVccphwZh2XMVi2V90lAzjaXo6w87MQgsWLlnOKFX5prDFFvi_0qqVfiPkaFwl-lctIP9WYgIIB4T4D-BXU-kb6d_nNZgmvTCkTa0AdVStolr9l/s1600/IMG_4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHA2exEtolA3dPJEk41I7ponwV8o-inVccphwZh2XMVi2V90lAzjaXo6w87MQgsWLlnOKFX5prDFFvi_0qqVfiPkaFwl-lctIP9WYgIIB4T4D-BXU-kb6d_nNZgmvTCkTa0AdVStolr9l/s320/IMG_4578.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weehooooo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQfqzREQevn965KfwhC7WOkU4OcV6XT4rZA1LBNDTN7hp7paPeHD_vquaf6IOr2yOEKC5hCyTxVCy6Iwo-asMIr3FXJ1YtDOgpnhgX3Jc5EVYndye4Uv4I9cXs8YiSHILKhm9hqGY7R28/s1600/2017MTBWORLDS_ZDSC4532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQfqzREQevn965KfwhC7WOkU4OcV6XT4rZA1LBNDTN7hp7paPeHD_vquaf6IOr2yOEKC5hCyTxVCy6Iwo-asMIr3FXJ1YtDOgpnhgX3Jc5EVYndye4Uv4I9cXs8YiSHILKhm9hqGY7R28/s320/2017MTBWORLDS_ZDSC4532.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Post race endorphins are so high right here.</div>
<div>
Just one of the many people behind the magic of Team Canada... Thanks to Jenn and the rest of the Team Canada IST!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxupX6WFJ7e9LiSbGc1g450nu0DlyBQjybPVm9WS7OzrJ7nBYHSRgZKk_bXne7HsA5X3ClfZOZRfQrcBDxEoGjlJs8G0i-W3RsbNPcjJHjlBQsV1mdEpdUpPB_36hidSyor_qXb8W3O-95/s1600/XROX8379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxupX6WFJ7e9LiSbGc1g450nu0DlyBQjybPVm9WS7OzrJ7nBYHSRgZKk_bXne7HsA5X3ClfZOZRfQrcBDxEoGjlJs8G0i-W3RsbNPcjJHjlBQsV1mdEpdUpPB_36hidSyor_qXb8W3O-95/s320/XROX8379.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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OFFICIALLY OFF SEASON!!!! (But lets go run up a mountain and see how fast we can do the "2 hour" hike)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2kXh3QH8-AqBE8WyINEBOgpfCPU7TyCCU8JSCwOoGe84P2GssqZTjkELbz9UisdvMGhfhcRkN-WeI79WJ390Nkak2W4POpBSTco3bFvLqafIDOaHp3OvtNQS4J4-Tzxm8seV8M8lHnPS/s1600/IMG_5141+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2kXh3QH8-AqBE8WyINEBOgpfCPU7TyCCU8JSCwOoGe84P2GssqZTjkELbz9UisdvMGhfhcRkN-WeI79WJ390Nkak2W4POpBSTco3bFvLqafIDOaHp3OvtNQS4J4-Tzxm8seV8M8lHnPS/s320/IMG_5141+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You seriously have no idea how much Sidney and I freaked out with happiness when we found turtles </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegUYOQFwz17WIye789XpY6qxsJwJhyDZJ7If9lUAp_stbZH8eeCM8Ab5jPsWKewTHj-Q8CvYQb_obOgTiMgkGMrxViGDBA2fOPrChlba3ONHc5n1fprqTYNuTST5kDiZYWN6LFIOk57n3/s1600/IMG_4776+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegUYOQFwz17WIye789XpY6qxsJwJhyDZJ7If9lUAp_stbZH8eeCM8Ab5jPsWKewTHj-Q8CvYQb_obOgTiMgkGMrxViGDBA2fOPrChlba3ONHc5n1fprqTYNuTST5kDiZYWN6LFIOk57n3/s320/IMG_4776+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hot stuff am I right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4YSV3AE8hPbhYPHWU_L1-KGCpRdkhlq_iENCkTE1m2g46X3Lxr0X1EUi3YQID4NsDeXDLkk2Y8Vg3H2thQQv9RJHAXOHAC77GXGfU16KNkzMDvs0ff4A7w1i2Ct82Fdka0U2u6THpgt7/s1600/IMG_4772+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4YSV3AE8hPbhYPHWU_L1-KGCpRdkhlq_iENCkTE1m2g46X3Lxr0X1EUi3YQID4NsDeXDLkk2Y8Vg3H2thQQv9RJHAXOHAC77GXGfU16KNkzMDvs0ff4A7w1i2Ct82Fdka0U2u6THpgt7/s320/IMG_4772+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just trying to find Nemo. Or was I looking for Dory?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQkRon4zMOszeCYQ-6dOXgy7lEnmXv_qkEYW4VqI0BdENWbv7NJWK2FgtrKN3LbaJhvUwy9WUuA-oPgdqrFWdRJFjsE7w4H6JtQYX9qcmBRuzrRLHyOxHzMx_8njCdVA82_GDWJXTlLKr/s1600/IMG_5232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQkRon4zMOszeCYQ-6dOXgy7lEnmXv_qkEYW4VqI0BdENWbv7NJWK2FgtrKN3LbaJhvUwy9WUuA-oPgdqrFWdRJFjsE7w4H6JtQYX9qcmBRuzrRLHyOxHzMx_8njCdVA82_GDWJXTlLKr/s320/IMG_5232.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harsh reality check coming back to university (& 2 weeks already behind)... but the fact that Erica and Quinton are now at McMaster made it 99% less painful </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOntjxOzH1Tf14wsaraNc1syfZBtvhpkac2i-nbru9AxbvOOOkcqW7PmCvqxWTPovsCtM3e1BC2c-iaH0c9EP273ZwV3Eat5wD2n7vHbg39z3ssSyW3jwv7v3AKExc9fKEyPbF-_sNQ62/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOntjxOzH1Tf14wsaraNc1syfZBtvhpkac2i-nbru9AxbvOOOkcqW7PmCvqxWTPovsCtM3e1BC2c-iaH0c9EP273ZwV3Eat5wD2n7vHbg39z3ssSyW3jwv7v3AKExc9fKEyPbF-_sNQ62/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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AND obviously my face hurts because I've been smiling so much since I'm seeing all my best friends at school again!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RMetnm1IuX6-_mLedJWaElnynwEP0PX1psIwYVlPqixSG1gw8-r5M1jVkiLjFCB6mSDjsuzHhBFhlmNiT7Mv6DVc8W3UaaqCxn9Ysv6spQcQ8AErC8XGfvohuf7rj6tUXX6wPotoVwvF/s1600/IMG_5423%255B2766%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1188" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RMetnm1IuX6-_mLedJWaElnynwEP0PX1psIwYVlPqixSG1gw8-r5M1jVkiLjFCB6mSDjsuzHhBFhlmNiT7Mv6DVc8W3UaaqCxn9Ysv6spQcQ8AErC8XGfvohuf7rj6tUXX6wPotoVwvF/s320/IMG_5423%255B2766%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh ya, there's this other sport I like to do a lot in the fall... XC running! I didn't just forget my bike, don't worry. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQbb10vC_EvHVtl7c-TiTDcnxt-KtoqahfqHiOnqquFMRs6VCJv6TUWQcP2WrtiPFkFNuNHIVktzmNfh0DDDv3Za_qFEtmycnOXDCMQVAutKaTmECYoU6wiVfxkxfI9QJ_j2FwQeCPZj-/s1600/IMG_5522%255B2768%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQbb10vC_EvHVtl7c-TiTDcnxt-KtoqahfqHiOnqquFMRs6VCJv6TUWQcP2WrtiPFkFNuNHIVktzmNfh0DDDv3Za_qFEtmycnOXDCMQVAutKaTmECYoU6wiVfxkxfI9QJ_j2FwQeCPZj-/s320/IMG_5522%255B2768%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Ok I ALSO run a bit WHILE carrying a bike (no its not broken, I will start to race actually riding it again very soon after this photo)</div>
<div>
Catching a bit of CX fever</div>
<div>
(and XC (running) fever... I guess the order of the letters is interchangeable)</div>
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Thanks for reading! Until later... ☮ out</div>
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<br />Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-60867312675198692282017-05-29T17:32:00.000-07:002017-05-29T19:03:28.304-07:00The Early Season<br>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyZbhQmMBBYAZz5hfxrY26p-rL_-mpT7cavx-4xPRRyBOV28_uRASpFPvevzrX1rJLP7jWIQJxgZA5Wlpc8eXdTVC1lVR4v_ZWNtNQ3w1xJHwt3UoqRrnLEVoiXDNKpDNht3tsfu6hyphenhyphenjy/s1600/ghfggf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyZbhQmMBBYAZz5hfxrY26p-rL_-mpT7cavx-4xPRRyBOV28_uRASpFPvevzrX1rJLP7jWIQJxgZA5Wlpc8eXdTVC1lVR4v_ZWNtNQ3w1xJHwt3UoqRrnLEVoiXDNKpDNht3tsfu6hyphenhyphenjy/s320/ghfggf.jpg" width="258"></a>Hellllooooooooo from the summer-vacating,
stress-free Soren! <br>
Can't say I was anything better than stress-ridden just over a month ago during
exam time, finishing up my second year at McMaster University. After coming
back from B.C. mid-semester, I was annihilated by midterms, labs, and then exams
every week. Training was tough with uncooperative weather and I got sick a lot.
It definitely wasn't easy, but with my great friends at school, we were able to
persevere until the end of exams. And in the end, I was very happy with my
final grades and seeing my hard work pay off. During exam weeks I had my first races in Ontario!<br>
<br>
The Ontario cup season began at Woodnewton where we had the full Trek Canada Team together for the first time of 2017! I had a great battle that day with Elyse Nieuwold and played my tactics just right to come away with the win! It felt amazing to be back on my beloved Trek Procaliber for the race season and to look so FAST in our new team kits! <br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3j-VRm5aITwPBndjtyRc-OFcoyacRH66E7kMeo4fW462FIN5MjZvn1LBkdXLWmJG3ZYR6YzL7ENuD2LAdTtmIBXtwwmJFHNHYprzGf__hfKZVM4kXnK3KnfDh56_w6TEH3VLq5O2fI1v/s1600/fast+and+female.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="599" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3j-VRm5aITwPBndjtyRc-OFcoyacRH66E7kMeo4fW462FIN5MjZvn1LBkdXLWmJG3ZYR6YzL7ENuD2LAdTtmIBXtwwmJFHNHYprzGf__hfKZVM4kXnK3KnfDh56_w6TEH3VLq5O2fI1v/s320/fast+and+female.PNG" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><br>That weekend I also did a Fast and a female Champ chat in Dundas, ON! It is
amazing seeing all the young girls faces and attitudes light up as they get
involved, active, and inspired throughout the afternoon. <br>
<br>
After finishing off my last two exams that week, I was racing Paris to
Ancaster. The 70 km spring classic road/cyclocross race definitely had <i>classic</i> spring conditions that's for sure. It was pouring rain before the start (luckily
lightened up for the race), was very cold, and there was STRONG west-ward wind
that made for a nasty head wind 90% of the race. Let me tell you, that was not
a good day to have bad racing legs. After a couple weeks of heavy training and
school, all the physical and mental stress made for a tough race. It was still a fun
time in a masochist type of way, but I was so happy just to be done.
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">But wait, after draining all my energy in that gruesome weather, I ALSO had to
move student houses right after the race. I seriously cannot thank my dad and
Tyler Orschel enough for helping me move houses after they both raced as well. <br>
After moving student houses, I finished off my day driving 2hours home to move
back up North to Orillia for the summer. <br>
<br>
I was so beyond excited for chill time at home - I was desperate for it. After
a good week of physical and mental re-cooperation, I was starting to really
soak in the summer vibes. It is just sooooooo nice to be able to train on my
bike and at the gym, then ACTUALLY have time to do some recovery after!!! What
a novel feeling!!! No more running from classes to training, then back to
classes, then quickly making food, then training, then cramming in
homework..... at least until I'm ready for that crazy busy schedule again in
the fall. I really do love my university life, but a lonnnggg summer is needed
to reset. <br>
<br>
The next weekend was the second Ontario Cup at a new venue in Kingston!
Unfortunately, the insanely rainy weather made for floods that ruined the
course despite the race organizer and local volunteers best efforts to keep it
mostly ridable. After how ridiculous the second Ocup with because of snow last
year at Duntroon, I have deemed this the #CurseOfTheSecondOcup. Both the
past two years at the second Ocup, I have had to run with my bike more than
ride it. The trail could have easily been mistaken for a swamp. Luckily for me,
my XC running background came in handy yet again and I was able to finish with
my second Ontario Cup win! </span><br>
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<br>
After a couple weeks of training, I was driving out East again for Canada Cups
#2 and #3 at Mt. Tremblant and Baie St. Paul. <br>
At the same time as these races, the first two World Cups were happening over
in Czech Republic and Germany. <br>
These are the early season world cups I went to this time last year, but I
decided not to go this year. It was a difficult decision as I always want to
aim for the highest level and represent Canada, but it was in my best interest for overall season
performance and long term development to stay home and get quality training and
recovery for this time of the year. <br>
I definitely felt like I was missing out of all the European action, but I
loved my time in Quebec with Trek Canada as well! Over the long May 2-4 weekend
in Tremblant, I had a decent race and was content with my 4th place finish!
This was my first top 5 result in an Elite Women Canada Cup which was awesome,
but I also didn't feel completely on form during the race... like I just
couldn't tap into my top potential and the legs weren't there. <br>
<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdNl7W05KCFMbtehyphenhyphenml6f1siHygD0USCctjPcHrTQjzpJzP2EzpheWcg7thYxmsKZPmZd_o2Lz8orD7CdZLgae48llDB2w1Nv3btsNnKzgve93gCqNNgnjI43TZVROfBjBkrxkqwmGPgN/s1600/df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdNl7W05KCFMbtehyphenhyphenml6f1siHygD0USCctjPcHrTQjzpJzP2EzpheWcg7thYxmsKZPmZd_o2Lz8orD7CdZLgae48llDB2w1Nv3btsNnKzgve93gCqNNgnjI43TZVROfBjBkrxkqwmGPgN/s320/df.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlomZA1NNA-humsQ3iipnVe4GYHZB9mTTUIT8qB0zuGg3lpHEBCrazYWgYjD_nXSnYFv9c1IH4pWEocTx4fphhabcHk_0zBkAauPnn0U8k4AdZDIzIBlKAMPGlhxTw3OV7E08VLMrF0Vv/s1600/sdfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlomZA1NNA-humsQ3iipnVe4GYHZB9mTTUIT8qB0zuGg3lpHEBCrazYWgYjD_nXSnYFv9c1IH4pWEocTx4fphhabcHk_0zBkAauPnn0U8k4AdZDIzIBlKAMPGlhxTw3OV7E08VLMrF0Vv/s320/sdfd.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320"></a><br>
<br><b>
ALL RESULTS:</b> <i>http://www.cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RESULTATS-CC2-CQ1-r1.pdf</i> <br>
<br>
The next few days I went to Bromont for some training with Peter Glassford and
Molly Hurford. It was great hanging out with these two, and hearing all about
Molly's Shred Girls books! She put her photography skills to use with our team
photo shoot in Tremblant and took some great shots of me in her Shred Girls shirt at Bromont.
<b>You can order the Shred Girls book and order one of these t-shirts here:</b> <i>https://shred-girls.com/</i> </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><br>
I absolutely love staying at the National Cycling Centre and riding the
Bromont trails... it was so hard to make sure I wasn't riding too much so I
would be race ready for that coming Saturday! <br>
The Baie St Paul Canada cup was another late 4pm start on Saturday, and the
course was the most dry I had ever seen it. This highly muscular, rocky, rooty
course was so much fun at the high speeds in the dry conditions. <br>
As soon as the whistle blew, I knew I finally had good race legs. Off the start
I was in second on Maghalie Rochette's wheel and we got a gap. This gap grew
throughout the race, and Mag was able to get a gap on me. For the entire race I
was riding by myself in second position. I was very impressed with myself
during the race and how good I felt ... I kept thinking it was too good to last
and I would blow up soon, but that feeling never came! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">However, things got a bit
exciting on the last lap. I have never experienced cramping during a race
before, and my quads started to twitch on the last lap, threatening to seize up
completely. I wanted to push super hard to the finish, but I knew I had a good gap between myself and 3rd and should find
places to spin easy to avoid completely cramping. I was successful at this, and
1km to go on the last descent I went off the big gap. Every other lap I felt
like I hit this gap really well, but I landed nose heavy
and completely face planted. I was up before I had registered that I was down
but felt heat from my nose. I looked at a guy on the side of the trail and
asked, "Is my nose bleeding?" All I got was a wide-eyed,
shocked face with aggressive nodding. My thought processes started off with: I
need to get to that finish line and not waste this great race on a stupid mess
up. I decided I was good enough to
ride downhill to the finish, so there I rode, with a waterfall of blood pouring
out of my nose. I still haven't seen a picture of this finish line horror scene. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><br><br><br>
I quickly cleaned myself up and headed over for the podium! (Wearing the checkered Quebec Cup Leader's jersey)<br>
</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"><b><br>
ALL RESULTS:</b> <i>http://www.cyclingcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/RESULTATS-CC3-CQ2-R1.pdf</i> <br>
<br>
Congrats to my Trek Canada team mates on their strong races, and a big thank
you from all of us to Taylor Near for coming out to be our trusty mechanic and
race-feeder! We couldn't be doing all this without the support and amazing
equipment from Trek Store Toronto. The Trek Store is hosting the 4th Canada Cup
at Hardwood Ski and Bike on June 18th, so come out and check out this awesome
event! <br>
<br>
Saturday was also an amazing day for Quinton Disera! So proud of him for
winning his first Elite Canada Cup, and as a 1st year U23! Also incredibly
happy for Peter Disera who rode to 3rd place earlier that day at the World Cup
in Germany! <br>
<br><b><u>
UP NEXT:</u></b> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><i>June 10:</i> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">Fast and Female Champ chat at Horseshoe Resort on June 10! ALL girls 8-18 are invited for an afternoon of fun activities and inspiration with elite-level, super inspiring ambassadors. <b>REGISTER NOW</b> at <i>https://www.fastandfemale.com/</i> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><br></span>
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<br><i>
June 11:</i> Canada Cup at Horseshoe Resort <br><i>
June 18</i>: Trek Store Canada Cup at Hardwood </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-82237311656653529732017-03-13T14:02:00.001-07:002017-03-13T14:02:44.022-07:00Winter Base Miles Training has picked up and become a little more focused since the New Year as more specific race preparation is beginning! <br />
<br />
In early January, I was in Thousand Oaks California for a road-riding training camp with MTB NextGen Team! This was my third year coming to California for winter training, and Thousand Oaks is definitely my most favourite spot in Cali yet. I have also been to Santa Barbara area and San Diego area, and they also had incredible riding, but Thousand Oaks was very close to so many mountainous climbs and twisty descents that head right for the PCH and Malibu. All the roads were in pristine condition and there were bike lanes everywhere in the more populated areas. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisty routes </td></tr>
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As many of you probably know, California has been getting hit with some NASTY weather this year! At least they are no longer in a drought... but now they have flooding! Most days were rainy and about 13 degrees, but we never actually got rained out of a ride and we did have a couple sunny, warmer days. I thought we had gotten the worst weather of the year for Cali, but the weather has actually gotten much worse since we left so the NextGen team was actually very lucky. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up in the clouds</td></tr>
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<br />
We were down south for 2 weeks and spent a lot of time in the saddle. It always surprises me how fast time goes by on the bike when you're riding somewhere new with friends. It feels like you're on an adventure, discovering new routes and new mountains, checking out the scenery, and just hanging out with friends. Definitely not hard work at all! Ok, there definitely was some serious time in the pain cave, but that's just a part of the fun. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMm3rV-IUccUOHJJB5d5OvJRcHSbH4eTztlOu602QLhc6aopbjjz4BHm-flbReoSUg6AtRf_qnt2urlDOTuKF8Py6G7Vd7MZ1KJlIlEPEa6PUObPO67o8CPXsc8OeQVIhFH2Rl5Zy9rzE/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMm3rV-IUccUOHJJB5d5OvJRcHSbH4eTztlOu602QLhc6aopbjjz4BHm-flbReoSUg6AtRf_qnt2urlDOTuKF8Py6G7Vd7MZ1KJlIlEPEa6PUObPO67o8CPXsc8OeQVIhFH2Rl5Zy9rzE/s320/IMG_4770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved the isospeed decoupler on the headset and seatstay on my Trek Domane</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8I25STl1q0jtRFL3fREpSwntH92PnvV9w456zxJ-Eb31BXpBPBLuwMR_Cyst5pQ5QFK3vz4HLLfi7VN5uY8IL8rMbtD0sPVUMLKextpq2TjoppclYjX40T7zvnfq6109imt8lhZqtCEx/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8I25STl1q0jtRFL3fREpSwntH92PnvV9w456zxJ-Eb31BXpBPBLuwMR_Cyst5pQ5QFK3vz4HLLfi7VN5uY8IL8rMbtD0sPVUMLKextpq2TjoppclYjX40T7zvnfq6109imt8lhZqtCEx/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found Team Quebec and joined in for a ride!</td></tr>
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NextGen was lucky enough to have our Nutritionist, Ashley Armstrong, come down to guide us through nutrition that would help us fuel up on the bike, stay hydrated, and recover better. Every morning we would test our urine hydration to try to drink accordingly, and we would see the difference between our pre and post ride weight to determine sweat loss. Ashley also brought some amazing recipes that we cooked up for dinner... my favourite has got to be the Black Bean Burritos (recipe below!). I have yet to make them since (it's on my to-do list, trust me), and so I'm not sure if I was just incredibly hungry or they really are as good as my taste buds remember! <br />
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Jeff Ain, the MTB NextGen Coach, was our saviour in a marshmallow. That probably sounds very odd and let me explain: Jeff sat in the big, white van and drove around all day while we got to ride. He gave us a safety net and carried out extra bottles and food in that support van so that we could have quality and quantity training. Now, if that's not the definition of a saviour I don't know what is. <br />
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I missed the first two weeks of my second term of school while in California, so going back home was a slap in the face with reality. It took some hard work to get caught up in school but it wasn't too bad. I was very happy to come back to Hamilton with no snow on the ground too! That only lasted about a week though before I was stuck riding the rollers because of cold, snowy weather. I only had to ride inside a few times a week though, as I was going home every weekend to ski my brains out! Even though there was some snow in Hamilton, it was nothing compared to the amount of snow up north in Oro Medonte! Since I hardly get to go home between September to Christmas, this time of the year I really love it whenever I get to be home. Surrounded by my family and home friends, sleeping in my own bed, and obviously getting dinner cooked for me! I also just LOVE LOVE LOVE Nordic skiing so much, and I really miss being a competitive skier, so whenever I get the chance to ski my day is made. <br />
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This is probably my most favourite term of Kinesiology courses I have had yet! I have Neuromuscular Fitness, Health Pyschology, Chemistry, and my favourite: Cardiovascular Fitness. They are all just so relatable (except for Chem) as an athlete, and I really enjoy what I am learning (except for Chem). Well, Chem isn't THAT bad... it is my elective so I can't complain too much, but it definitely isn't as fun as my Kin courses. After getting through the first round of midterms in all my classes, my spring reading break begun and I was off to Victoria, BC for a training camp with MTB NextGen and the National Team!<br />
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I spent just over 2 weeks in Victoria at Bear Mountain Resort leading into the first Canada Cup race of the 2017 season! The first week was filled with lots of hours training with the NextGen and Elite National Team groups. Hartland is my most favourite place I have ever ridden and I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to train there a lot. My first ride felt very choppy as I had not been on a MTB, let alone ridden challenging trails, for many months... but I soon was able to gain back my flow on those technical trails. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My main gal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Creds: Kevin Light</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rides with views >></td></tr>
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I stayed in a rented house with Sidney McGill and Quinton Disera right by the Bear Mt. race course and hotels - it was a perfect set up! <br />
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The NextGen athletes got to do a VO2max test at PISE to see improvements from the fall test! These tests are very challenging and put you deep into the pain cave, but I always look forwards to them because it is such an incredible opportunity to have high level physiologists monitoring your performance indicators through power, cadence, oxygen inspired, carbon dioxide expired, and lactate.<br />
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The weather was amazing the first week of training, and a little too amazing because then we got hit HARD by snow. Lots of snow. Luckily, it was a Monday and everyone's rest day. All the National Team athletes went down to Victoria city to go bouldering and go out for dinner. I had never been bouldering before and I gained such respect for those bouldering athletes! It was so much fun and a different type of challenge I hadn't encountered before. My forearms and fingers sure felt the different type of exertion! <br />
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Five days later it was race day. The course was insanely muddy and slick leading up to the race, and I was very excited for a mud fest! This race is ridiculously early in the year for a Canadian series and I, like many others, wouldn't exactly say there were "race ready". In the middle of the base-mile season, this race is a good indicator of where you are at and what you can work on for the next race ... over 2 months away. That being said, I went into this race will a fairly chill mind set - for sure wanting to do well to show for all the training I invest year-round, but not focused on huge results this time of the year. <br />
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The course was very old school style! It was a long loop where you can really only see the racers once per lap, and it begun with a 15 min single track. Yup, a 3 min start climb, then essentially no passing for 15 minutes. The course was constantly rattling you around with rocks and roots... but I still fully enjoyed my Trek Superfly hardtail! It was a very fun race course overall, but there was no big exciting technical feature or climb. <br />
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As per usual at Canada Cups, the U23 category starts with the Elite category. Beginning on the second row, I started the race and gave it my all up to the first single track, not wanting to get stuck behind a slower technical rider. I was happy with that first big climb effort then settled into my race pace knowing it was going to be at least another 1.5 hours until the finish! We had 4 laps to do, and I was alone for most of the race. Technical fatigue started to hit on lap 3 as I had many stupid, little mistakes that cost me quite a bit of time, but I had a strong 4th lap and charged for the finish trying to catch 2 girls I could see just ahead. I crossed the line as the 1st U23 and 11th elite! I would say my arms and hands where just as sore as my legs at the finish line from holding onto my bars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc358hugJCewSbGK6uLVKibCLnRDX37GS3E2VwvHQXO5Su387TjooKE9jfdoKSoMj1VZvRHl1NKUaixJxW1oXGxJonPAWAC2BE9KSl7dLHkNKOCb43Mhzj650b6WE2P1m6b62QRNkdx83/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc358hugJCewSbGK6uLVKibCLnRDX37GS3E2VwvHQXO5Su387TjooKE9jfdoKSoMj1VZvRHl1NKUaixJxW1oXGxJonPAWAC2BE9KSl7dLHkNKOCb43Mhzj650b6WE2P1m6b62QRNkdx83/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Creds: Jay Wallace</td></tr>
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Happy with that performance, but more so determined to improve, I am now continuing my winter training blocks with higher aspirations! <br />
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Oh ya... then there is that school thing. I missed school to go to BC so there was lots of catching up to do and midterms to write when I got back to Hamilton. I am currently sitting in my student house, watching a big winter storm hit, dreaming of warmer weather and riding outside...<br />
only 1.5 months left before I am done exams and off for summer! <br />
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Until then,<br />
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Soren Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-85583472971398324002016-12-30T15:46:00.000-08:002016-12-30T15:46:08.927-08:002016; A Catch Up & Look Back<div style="color: #454545; direction: inherit; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 15px;">
I realized that I have really been slacking lately... it's been half a year since my last blog post! What has happened since World Championships?! I'll try to give the important details and not make this a novel about the second half of my 2016.... </div>
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The mountain biking race season continued, and honestly I felt quite burnt out. National Championships was a disappointing race as I just felt like my tank was empty and I couldn't find the leg power, similar to how I felt at Worlds. After riding in around 10th the first couple laps, I begun to ride up through the field and finished in 4th. I was happy with my semi- come back, but still disappointed leaving Quebec. </div>
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<em>First time ever racing a full-suspension bike on the Top Fuel 9.8!</em> </div>
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I then had a MUCH needed rest week and begun my focus for my final race of the season: the Mt. St. Anne World Cup. This was my first World Cup race in front of a home-Canadian crowd and it was super weird staying with my parents pre World Cup race! I was riding in 8th for most of that race, finally feeling like I had my energy back! The St Anne course is definitely the most physically demanding course I had ever ridden.... suffering up long, steep climbs then having to stay focused for very technical sections down. I learned that I have to work on my bike handling while fatigued at the end of a race because I had some pretty major mess ups that cost me a lot of time. I went flying over my handle bars on "The Beatrice" (it was spectacular and I didn't even get a good picture!!!), which caused my tire to burp, leading to other little crashes through the whole last lap. I felt like I was just scrambling to get to the finish. My goal was a top 10 and I was able to nail that with a 10th place! I wasn't ecstatic about that performance but it was a good finish to my race season. </div>
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My body and mind finally got the real break it was needing. August was a month of true care-free summer for me. I LOVED IT. Usually, World Championships is in September so I'm very race focused through to the end of the summer, but this year was different as Worlds was earlier, so I enjoyed August to the max. It was filled with lots of cottage, family, and friend time. My childhood best friend and I went on a camping/ hiking trip in Banff! We wouldn't have been able to do that without all the help from my Uncle Winne and Aunt MB who live out west, thank you both! </div>
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Then it was back to McMaster University... but this time living in a student house! This semester I've been living with 4 awesome girls, most of whom are in Kinesiology with me and some also on the running team with me. I ran this fall again with the Varsity running team! Our ladies team was strong this year and we had some great races. My courses have been Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Growth, Maturation and Physical Activity, Biomechanics, and Chemistry. I worked hard studying and it paid off as I finished with grades I'm really happy with.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Even though I had a 40% midterm the day of the Fast and Female Ontario summit, I was able to make it for half of the event! There were many incredible ladies there as ambassadors - about half had been in Rio competing just months earlier. Fast and Female never ceases to put on anything less than inspiring and super fun events for young girls. </span></div>
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Trek Canada MTB Team has been a never faltering support pillar for me, and I will continue to thank them for all the top-end equipment and race support through 2016 and into the new year! 2017 will be my 4th year on this team, which really feels more like family. Barry Near, owner of Trek Store Toronto, is the hero to us Trek Canada folk, and huge thanks to Taylor Near for the mechanical support year-round! </div>
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We had a team event at the Trek Toronto Store back in earlier December, at the "Saddle, Sore" book launch. The book was was written by Molly Hurford. Trek Canada team member and manager, Peter Glassford, talked along side his wife Molly about coaching and introduced our 2017 Team. Next year, come see Sarah Fabbro, Jon Barnes, Peter Glassford, and I representing Trek at the Canada Cups, Ontario Cups, National Championships, and many local events! </div>
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I also got named to the Next Gen MTB team, based out of Victoria, BC! This is a U23 training team coached by Jeff Ain, with strength coach Adam Keelberger, Nutritionist Ashley Armstrong, physiologist Paula McFadyen, and mental performance coach Danelle Kabush. I am SO grateful to have such incredible team mates and coaches. </div>
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This will be my first year working with Jeff Ain as my full-time coach, as I am no longer being coached by Kevin Simms. Kevin was everything anybody can search for in a development coach and I 110% recommend him to anyone. We had many many successful years together and I owe much of my performances and my physical and mental toughness to him. Thank you Kevin for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012... and for being one of my greatest teachers. </div>
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Jeff as my new coach is the next step of my athletic development. He is an excellent coach and I'm VERY excited for 2017 to travel around the world with him and the Next Gen MTB crew for training camps and racing! #POWERFORWARD </div>
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I want to send out a massive amount of appreciation to Erik Sesbreno, my nutritionist, who has been working closely with me for a year now. He puts so much effort into his athletes and I'm very thankful to have his brain power behind my fueling! </div>
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Thank you to the Ontario Cycling Association, OHPSI, Mike Suraci, and Sean Kelly for the training camps, the healthy athlete weekend, race projects, and other support throughout 2016. </div>
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Morning Glory Cycling Club was a huge help this year with their bursary for developing cyclists. </div>
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As a Hammer Nutrition Ambassador this year I got to learn even more about their amazing products and show others how they fuel my training and racing. </div>
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Thanks to Smith Optics this year I had unbeatable eyewear for every training session and race in any season or weather. </div>
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The National Team, including head coach Dan Proulx, the mechanics, and physiotherapists, made it possible for me to race over seas at world class events with world class support. This was my first year really with the National Team crew, and I look forwards to many more years!</div>
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I had some injuries this year that would have seriously impacted my season had it not been for the magical Larry Bell and Laura Hutchinson, my fantastic chiropractor and physiotherapist! </div>
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AGAIN, enormous shout out to Trek Canada MTB Team, supported by Trek Store Toronto and Trek Store Barrie. </div>
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Am I forgetting anyone?</div>
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Oh! MY PARENTS! Of course, thank you and I love you, I love you, I love you to my mom and dad for supporting my athletic and academic dreams every step of the way. </div>
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So what do I think of 2016? I think I can do better next year - bring in on 2017!</div>
Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-10488681375580133992016-07-11T12:10:00.001-07:002016-07-12T18:12:52.554-07:00World Championships<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Nove Mesto Na Morave: the best race venue I've been to yet! Three hour drive from Prague, this biathlon stadium and open, pine forest made the most fun course with lots of roots, rocks, and jumps! </span><br><div><br></div><div>At Worlds, there is 3 days of XC racing; day 1 is Junior men and women races, day 2 is U23 races, and day 3 is Elite races. However, this year it was different and the U23 men and Elite women raced on day 2, and the U23 girls and Elite men races on day 3. From the past 2 years, I'm used to racing first, so this year I found it difficult to have to wait until the last day to race... especially since my friends were done racing and care-free well before I raced. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2bA-7R1x2_NJFTqL29fBsRB4fB8UH77YaVvK6sHDKbIXiLZLiooW2UfT56mlk0MKPYkPFA0EkF-OKEMZ-t3UyfcHmA3qeeeztwT6S08fwsA_1uRRcTydd98uni2yNkl4PBjyAmWSYzaV/s640/blogger-image-899772412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2bA-7R1x2_NJFTqL29fBsRB4fB8UH77YaVvK6sHDKbIXiLZLiooW2UfT56mlk0MKPYkPFA0EkF-OKEMZ-t3UyfcHmA3qeeeztwT6S08fwsA_1uRRcTydd98uni2yNkl4PBjyAmWSYzaV/s640/blogger-image-899772412.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99KVSTUvOcf2UJLWu9hPsEWPdT0izFYWrf6f8_hhuh79ujgj9wWe_xTNi4T5fAkPioeeG0Pe38BCOvxTnCGs6lQhx_YNiuhqJgG0DrPU7S01uTZpb7RHyRtYphURTblfsJ8BsXToprrmz/s640/blogger-image--2111574753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99KVSTUvOcf2UJLWu9hPsEWPdT0izFYWrf6f8_hhuh79ujgj9wWe_xTNi4T5fAkPioeeG0Pe38BCOvxTnCGs6lQhx_YNiuhqJgG0DrPU7S01uTZpb7RHyRtYphURTblfsJ8BsXToprrmz/s640/blogger-image--2111574753.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div>Team Canada stayed a 40min bike ride away from the course, and we rode to and from the race site each day for training. I have never had so many days between flight arrival and race as I did here... I didn't know what to do with all the time I had to prepare on course! With that extra time, I was really able to recover from jet lag, travel fatigue, and still get enough quality time on course. By race day, I had my lines and the features dialled! I was confident and smooth on the rock gardens, gaps, doubles, and fast flowy single track. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeViPd8JCfwB8U5varF4MWBHSYKR4LK3svtkQcP3jfh-9bsIiQjXMDbr6fPLGtjHw96Mxch6pjq5CyMuLXLfNL4LDqQZ03K-o5-Doi1KYb00aEextiRZsLSya4LFw9k6Q7Ney5r3GBtO3/s640/blogger-image--94777545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeViPd8JCfwB8U5varF4MWBHSYKR4LK3svtkQcP3jfh-9bsIiQjXMDbr6fPLGtjHw96Mxch6pjq5CyMuLXLfNL4LDqQZ03K-o5-Doi1KYb00aEextiRZsLSya4LFw9k6Q7Ney5r3GBtO3/s640/blogger-image--94777545.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMQ2YPtUDFGI2qH9Ih_OovBW_WtqWNcgk5W6MWKkNfP7m1N_iF5i0AdGW5fDPsuj_rQYmZ8gszYEYOBZoCur2aSBhdHdIEKo3lSVWl1g7Wde0b1qXRll4ycGJ3xKNiGQ8hna0Pb9QcwBs/s640/blogger-image--1122332112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMQ2YPtUDFGI2qH9Ih_OovBW_WtqWNcgk5W6MWKkNfP7m1N_iF5i0AdGW5fDPsuj_rQYmZ8gszYEYOBZoCur2aSBhdHdIEKo3lSVWl1g7Wde0b1qXRll4ycGJ3xKNiGQ8hna0Pb9QcwBs/s640/blogger-image--1122332112.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>After watching the first two days of racing on the local live sports TV channel, it was finally my turn to get the action. </div><div>I was the last call up to the start line, starting on the last row. My start was difficult as I got boxed in, so found myself chasing from behind beginning the race. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYC2DIHq4IhIhh8zJVCNPiSuNdzjXpmQzY_LEeFRWxWy-0pozf3YF3Ie9uIQWS105bQ-e-6yZ93-6jEeuO1N3a2ye6NgSvSiOLYnmCNDfWh7Y4cw1WECDyY6aiU45oNEk4MnhgBlfu-xG/s640/blogger-image-1705010950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYC2DIHq4IhIhh8zJVCNPiSuNdzjXpmQzY_LEeFRWxWy-0pozf3YF3Ie9uIQWS105bQ-e-6yZ93-6jEeuO1N3a2ye6NgSvSiOLYnmCNDfWh7Y4cw1WECDyY6aiU45oNEk4MnhgBlfu-xG/s640/blogger-image-1705010950.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Our race was 1 start loop + 4 full laps, and overall, from start to finish, I couldn't find my usual race spark. In the past 2 world cups, I was gaining ground on the climbs with awesome power and spark in my legs. But in Nove Mesto that day, I felt flat. There was nothing in particular that was wrong, and I felt perfectly prepped and trained for this big day, but it was just one of those unfortunate days where your body doesn't quite cooperate. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNeDjRuxz6MezPFShfCowkAcNMzKgFV0xOrr4d9rsrZD7iEVourLNxe8QCtjQzYFesWYXH32zub4i_z7GhMacNDxPA4fYNUISWqRhQP_baEn5cP9fHOZYJlVq2xejfBSH7II1qb5M_52/s640/blogger-image--363804613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNeDjRuxz6MezPFShfCowkAcNMzKgFV0xOrr4d9rsrZD7iEVourLNxe8QCtjQzYFesWYXH32zub4i_z7GhMacNDxPA4fYNUISWqRhQP_baEn5cP9fHOZYJlVq2xejfBSH7II1qb5M_52/s640/blogger-image--363804613.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Despite my body not enjoying the climbs, those climbs were incredible because I was able to really take in the crowd. I have never seen or raced in front of such large and LOUD crowds before! Another bright side is that I felt great technically that day, and I got some air time for those cheerers. This was an insanely fun course, so I did actually have fun in my race despite being disappointed with my performance and result. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cj1Zn5SqR_S3vpPeB-6MO8wyr6JiAttyuVOoTDUMSPAetcbwENv26HcYoPWlkvm6xXszqpT-6nVkAFIgKn3olTSmQgHL6LDuQYCUWhGyDX5es_sKYVl1ZivYkkY_SqBlEZuVRTY-q0J6/s640/blogger-image-2025746470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cj1Zn5SqR_S3vpPeB-6MO8wyr6JiAttyuVOoTDUMSPAetcbwENv26HcYoPWlkvm6xXszqpT-6nVkAFIgKn3olTSmQgHL6LDuQYCUWhGyDX5es_sKYVl1ZivYkkY_SqBlEZuVRTY-q0J6/s640/blogger-image-2025746470.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>Those days happen... but extraordinary good days also happen and I know that will be coming my way soon. Some fellow Canadians did have their amazing race! Congrats to everyone on Team Canada! The highlights would probably be 3 Junior boys in the top 16, Bouchard finishing 20th in Elite men, and Emily Batty sprinting for her first World Champs medal in 3rd. </div><div><br></div><div>I want to send out a massive recognition to my coach, Kevin Simms. He puts so much passion into his athletes and their individual training needs. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you to Trek Store Toronto for a bike that never faltered and rode smoothly on such a bumpy course. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you to Cycling Canada for this incredible experience to represent our country in Czech. The support from this team is world class with the coaches, mechanics, physio, and organization. </div><div><br></div><div>Can't forget about the Smith Optic glasses I wear every single day... Love my Pivlocks. </div><div><br></div><div>Hammer Nutrition Canada has been fueling me through training and racing this year. I rely on their quality products to be properly prepared and recovered nutritionally. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8URzXMQo2t76_Bx9pjwZ9pdCqSBjpuc4hRg2xio3nGikHs1ZMoo256lu0kjcBUzYkq_CD7XGOy42JuAfyjkVXu1apPJis7MoGUWWTPwy4mnJvLSGGlIUeaW-U-ElWmViLsSDJXclvzXw/s640/blogger-image--1299161193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8URzXMQo2t76_Bx9pjwZ9pdCqSBjpuc4hRg2xio3nGikHs1ZMoo256lu0kjcBUzYkq_CD7XGOy42JuAfyjkVXu1apPJis7MoGUWWTPwy4mnJvLSGGlIUeaW-U-ElWmViLsSDJXclvzXw/s640/blogger-image--1299161193.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thank you so much to everyone who donated on my Go Fund Me site, in person at Hardwood, and who personally contributed. Support from family, friends, and the community is something truly special and I'm beyond grateful. </div><div><br></div><div>Instead of flying home the next day as most Canadians did... The Barrie/Orillia crew stayed for 2 extra days in Prague! Quinton, Peter, Erica, Gunnar, and I stayed in a little apartment near Prague 1 and walked around touristing for 12 hours each day! All of our feet and legs were shot by the end of each day. We enjoyed the beautiful buildings, bridges, parks, views, transit system, and the FOOD! I had the delicious, traditional bohemian pastry, Trdlnik, each and every day. It's very important to take time and energy to enjoy the places you travel to for racing, or else you don't get to experience the real culture. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep_Ln5JspA0BB-cnT5vV-XkJLbTDtlx2QtV6z_cfmdrTPvHngIwaodGhWuZXR1RGUsAyAH38qg0aDI165r5x3zCZ_laT-ljVnkGOr6aALkGmGuBLF0S3rpwWIQG8MDM447xy0msg8G1aQ/s640/blogger-image-232200053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep_Ln5JspA0BB-cnT5vV-XkJLbTDtlx2QtV6z_cfmdrTPvHngIwaodGhWuZXR1RGUsAyAH38qg0aDI165r5x3zCZ_laT-ljVnkGOr6aALkGmGuBLF0S3rpwWIQG8MDM447xy0msg8G1aQ/s640/blogger-image-232200053.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7bnYcqr9nXHTFBkxyOanjnXecbLFKzKJyRDQh1bqvvbNZQwL1GiwdH6e7SkbMUQHYbE_P8DILbZdeh1Gx9uACCFqCboFcJ_fhZIOIN0yisO6GQWhNDNukA169GXevwxHjeeluW-llJui/s640/blogger-image--1871982107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7bnYcqr9nXHTFBkxyOanjnXecbLFKzKJyRDQh1bqvvbNZQwL1GiwdH6e7SkbMUQHYbE_P8DILbZdeh1Gx9uACCFqCboFcJ_fhZIOIN0yisO6GQWhNDNukA169GXevwxHjeeluW-llJui/s640/blogger-image--1871982107.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__W6OiiYL5CoOwrGXbcyQcyeNTr6v2c2AwF7LOAd2D58h7ydOO4vA76s-15CYwF-mhniCM4H2AG1YmAQUV257KDPsBXOp3WD8doFdI0QoedfeM5dbNdc86MrcLfUafmsgcNOXvQmEV0ZT/s640/blogger-image-710992956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__W6OiiYL5CoOwrGXbcyQcyeNTr6v2c2AwF7LOAd2D58h7ydOO4vA76s-15CYwF-mhniCM4H2AG1YmAQUV257KDPsBXOp3WD8doFdI0QoedfeM5dbNdc86MrcLfUafmsgcNOXvQmEV0ZT/s640/blogger-image-710992956.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Now I am home for a few days before driving easy to Baie St Paul for Nationals! </div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-84081673897272079762016-06-02T12:40:00.001-07:002016-06-02T13:10:48.295-07:00The World Cup Beginner<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9_LUu1x9PFq4lLSeoYxyQp_vN4tPAZoblsve6aVnJzWVkiRUuTVzlCmkNrI-FTPUC5icOSoeqSHfzauCqa4o8KWefG6BwwJeyOxLwvUmbpquwGJAlZQrND8b18OsoORriINg77uwTNIU/s640/blogger-image-1110682537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9_LUu1x9PFq4lLSeoYxyQp_vN4tPAZoblsve6aVnJzWVkiRUuTVzlCmkNrI-FTPUC5icOSoeqSHfzauCqa4o8KWefG6BwwJeyOxLwvUmbpquwGJAlZQrND8b18OsoORriINg77uwTNIU/s640/blogger-image-1110682537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfNYhSU2VpK4Pjebk7YpFC0-oH2KbB8380hg8dfCC_ENNCt9R2IHBwOfw9wd8pV-MNylEBAntCn5MMZrICBgR0ubp9P_Y6Rluxq7Kpq_TgoDXPaDqZzSTdX7TXPzQr1OVVAghvXdVEDBw/s640/blogger-image-1157343962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfNYhSU2VpK4Pjebk7YpFC0-oH2KbB8380hg8dfCC_ENNCt9R2IHBwOfw9wd8pV-MNylEBAntCn5MMZrICBgR0ubp9P_Y6Rluxq7Kpq_TgoDXPaDqZzSTdX7TXPzQr1OVVAghvXdVEDBw/s640/blogger-image-1157343962.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Monday May 30, 2016</span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Today I am returning home after spending the past two weeks in Germany and France with Team Canada! With the National Team head coach, Dan Proulx, we had a great crew of 11 athletes, 2 bike mechanics, and 1 massage therapist to represent Canada at the Albstadt and La Bresse World Cups. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9_LUu1x9PFq4lLSeoYxyQp_vN4tPAZoblsve6aVnJzWVkiRUuTVzlCmkNrI-FTPUC5icOSoeqSHfzauCqa4o8KWefG6BwwJeyOxLwvUmbpquwGJAlZQrND8b18OsoORriINg77uwTNIU/s640/blogger-image-1110682537.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn95c9MYEtRUXk4qdXmlq-8v760CdQ5gAqqQOXxNmopJvcVacldC5SmNnC7wDza4dbTZS5_YVg-Eq1gIcAzo-orWV1gYh8prb-vXbYwvkL1n94HI9Y_uyKKjdf93j1Gpr_E2k91FweUcaW/s640/blogger-image--983851745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn95c9MYEtRUXk4qdXmlq-8v760CdQ5gAqqQOXxNmopJvcVacldC5SmNnC7wDza4dbTZS5_YVg-Eq1gIcAzo-orWV1gYh8prb-vXbYwvkL1n94HI9Y_uyKKjdf93j1Gpr_E2k91FweUcaW/s640/blogger-image--983851745.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">As the youngest athlete on this National Team Trip, I was surrounded by experienced and inspiring athletes that helped make my first World Cup races seem a little less daunting. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">After arriving in Stuggart, Germany on a Monday, the team assembled and drove to Albstadt to begin a muddy week of preparation for our first race that weekend! The course was not very technically challenging, but with lots of double track climbing it sure was physically demanding. However, days of rain caused the downhills to become VERY slick. The U23 women raced on the Saturday at 1pm, with the other races (U23 men, elite women, & elite men) racing on Sunday. So my race was first, on what turned out to be a perfect race day! The rain had stopped, course slightly dried up, and the sun was out. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">I started on the last row with plate #64, and with a solid start lap I was able to move up to 45th. Throughout the race I slowly picked off girls, and found myself in 32nd on lap 5 of 6. I was feeling very proud of my riding during he race knowing I had good legs and technical skills that day, however it was still disappointing to be pulled by the 80% cut off with one lap to go because of the short course lap. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">I was satisfied with my first World Cup race, but was already focused on recovering, priming, and improving again for the next World Cup one week away! </div><div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CeUiAKd0V8WEqEMhunZYk61YoZyuwpMLYlkMqWoPbyeb59UqOZ9aTHLmGmnGyvomOvyv9p7LDVqs8H0Z_lEPO-CcTnyYhXjkMRiW8CapyJQxRO18BH8Y8w3gQlDIeDvOouS5y5vwm1a9/s640/blogger-image--1114234081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CeUiAKd0V8WEqEMhunZYk61YoZyuwpMLYlkMqWoPbyeb59UqOZ9aTHLmGmnGyvomOvyv9p7LDVqs8H0Z_lEPO-CcTnyYhXjkMRiW8CapyJQxRO18BH8Y8w3gQlDIeDvOouS5y5vwm1a9/s640/blogger-image--1114234081.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefT6kzDAdWOn8sDNxxAy0g9DyzK5Ibpp5Ci7Xo08rJbHPEF4NrDnJTUBWSI8PWOxhPMTqTK5FeldCytZdCShN3kle2-J86ZOXn5fxRY49_9-EbSsSxIBurJbvBuHmRpDSY5Jtdg5GhRp1/s640/blogger-image--796616164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefT6kzDAdWOn8sDNxxAy0g9DyzK5Ibpp5Ci7Xo08rJbHPEF4NrDnJTUBWSI8PWOxhPMTqTK5FeldCytZdCShN3kle2-J86ZOXn5fxRY49_9-EbSsSxIBurJbvBuHmRpDSY5Jtdg5GhRp1/s640/blogger-image--796616164.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5CYKbnx-N5zJS-IHLb5INbJnNhWMMqD4S1CvYTm_nZzDpR4gEb-SLxful79j1x0Ul1umFHOY3RAFGoSRBhODS8gt_o_XWaW1mBYcYUVBED3BUXae-KbEsv5UHwJkyN_ASAqUet2ZRb8B/s640/blogger-image-1610916149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5CYKbnx-N5zJS-IHLb5INbJnNhWMMqD4S1CvYTm_nZzDpR4gEb-SLxful79j1x0Ul1umFHOY3RAFGoSRBhODS8gt_o_XWaW1mBYcYUVBED3BUXae-KbEsv5UHwJkyN_ASAqUet2ZRb8B/s640/blogger-image-1610916149.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">After the Sunday races, we travelled to the beautiful La Bresse. This was my first time in France and I absolutely loved it! It was fun to actually be able to use the little French I know to communicate, whereas in Germany I am completely lost. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">La Bresse was sunny and hot for training and race day! The course was mostly dry, except for one section that was always a mud slide. This course was "old school" style with a slightly longer lap and many natural technical features. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-FjMjXg3mWr3ckwztFG_QG9X69b9wNxqHLZyjc9R5GoO4cB2B8d3ctfG4NPLxjgmqGkwDlyKR4LJjz4jOnXv49oJ-Mhkt0q9u37ta5DUOftFdZCPdI5ll4wgnfmzl7h4JhzIF3cFHpim/s640/blogger-image--1505634576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-FjMjXg3mWr3ckwztFG_QG9X69b9wNxqHLZyjc9R5GoO4cB2B8d3ctfG4NPLxjgmqGkwDlyKR4LJjz4jOnXv49oJ-Mhkt0q9u37ta5DUOftFdZCPdI5ll4wgnfmzl7h4JhzIF3cFHpim/s640/blogger-image--1505634576.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-HDIlFzXKgBSl55fHtk2QRvnAbs1LQHYXD8hwpRk9Xg4giqY0nIvWkQBVT6MjWgFRe4Bsvuh5KbIXJ_3N7DYz8_B2NlC6H9tLo0b4SP8IEsoYjRgGAy6D6cLJX_veWNfzU3n-eeIveLF/s640/blogger-image-1319724011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-HDIlFzXKgBSl55fHtk2QRvnAbs1LQHYXD8hwpRk9Xg4giqY0nIvWkQBVT6MjWgFRe4Bsvuh5KbIXJ_3N7DYz8_B2NlC6H9tLo0b4SP8IEsoYjRgGAy6D6cLJX_veWNfzU3n-eeIveLF/s640/blogger-image-1319724011.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbb7oHWqjvlQK6XiqkkedNVF-aoyGXH1JZ3-x7leXv__dJtzDP6gzytl1nqzHSel7jzyDtQt6LZBnRmqbxeNM4GRyddDMKALbV_cf0VzjFORrzY5QPnGnFL_KhDskpo9A0UMMUfhyphenhyphenw0fo/s640/blogger-image-1174784600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbb7oHWqjvlQK6XiqkkedNVF-aoyGXH1JZ3-x7leXv__dJtzDP6gzytl1nqzHSel7jzyDtQt6LZBnRmqbxeNM4GRyddDMKALbV_cf0VzjFORrzY5QPnGnFL_KhDskpo9A0UMMUfhyphenhyphenw0fo/s640/blogger-image-1174784600.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">Again, I started on the last row but i found it harder to move through the crowd as the course narrowed into trails sooner and there was lots of traffic. Slowly but surely, I moved up the ranks and found myself in 25th starting my last lap of the race! Top 25 was my goal, and I was determined to stay there through to the finish! I felt really solid on the climbs as was able to keep the pace high and finish with a fast last lap... Crossing the line to get my first U23 UCI point in 25th! That's a memorable first of many UCI points to come I'm sure! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px;">Post race, Freddie and I enjoyed some fresh baguettes with baked Brie while the rest of the team prepared for their races the next day. The Sunday races were so fun to watch as we had some fantastic Canadian results! </div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYh7B72tmppN0FHPyEzosriHbloNvMLERpeDlzZSNDeKC7fiHSxxKSgs8JdBoTAJ7bPPtYVnxtcTyumP020DLiJo0S8QPLbvws8NQnJfROSxagt4Qkd7dg5O1a_rOM5IbfMgoqGb-2-Hz/s640/blogger-image--1759921722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYh7B72tmppN0FHPyEzosriHbloNvMLERpeDlzZSNDeKC7fiHSxxKSgs8JdBoTAJ7bPPtYVnxtcTyumP020DLiJo0S8QPLbvws8NQnJfROSxagt4Qkd7dg5O1a_rOM5IbfMgoqGb-2-Hz/s640/blogger-image--1759921722.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zPVl-qy8eLRqbpN50AOFt9e_auIVl_LU8udWbcjUWIWUjFhODFaa5XCl0KIhxqNLC5kmz_oBq03NcBfNmilWLa_WIKDsdlN4FpoXBxmimbSJPccwVpTAAR-1pejm2rD0LTgvIgCFTDtZ/s640/blogger-image--913694400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zPVl-qy8eLRqbpN50AOFt9e_auIVl_LU8udWbcjUWIWUjFhODFaa5XCl0KIhxqNLC5kmz_oBq03NcBfNmilWLa_WIKDsdlN4FpoXBxmimbSJPccwVpTAAR-1pejm2rD0LTgvIgCFTDtZ/s640/blogger-image--913694400.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-2-gpeunJhZ9fA90-O09yNn9qEfKlklNJcrOTtCXDNz-rYgTVEDbSxzXlz-aLrQyUhnQI7MqXg-IXHEdsU-DkVm6pOh3IsV0CNXgyjMtElDHio41f-2v1FklxgMaHvkwsjkIxQJIsUAK/s640/blogger-image-1400121321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-2-gpeunJhZ9fA90-O09yNn9qEfKlklNJcrOTtCXDNz-rYgTVEDbSxzXlz-aLrQyUhnQI7MqXg-IXHEdsU-DkVm6pOh3IsV0CNXgyjMtElDHio41f-2v1FklxgMaHvkwsjkIxQJIsUAK/s640/blogger-image-1400121321.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEMTWbCtbPEbr0BGi4xOret7DSn3TKSP8a5m8DyBWxkcRzOcQQOiON0k1u1EkeRuw0BeXtes6bK_9_IfXiTjvn8QXMeKOjRfttih1QtC9Ls3heZ6jodAv6MmPVFObt4UJvpqbDKuJvRFB/s640/blogger-image-1038444166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEMTWbCtbPEbr0BGi4xOret7DSn3TKSP8a5m8DyBWxkcRzOcQQOiON0k1u1EkeRuw0BeXtes6bK_9_IfXiTjvn8QXMeKOjRfttih1QtC9Ls3heZ6jodAv6MmPVFObt4UJvpqbDKuJvRFB/s640/blogger-image-1038444166.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Interview from Rob Jones with Canadian Cyclist: </b><a href="http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=31212" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=31212</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div>It was a quick pack up Sunday afternoon and long drive back to Stuggart airport hotel to start our travel home. </div><div>This bring us back to my present moment as I'm writing this while flying west over the ocean back to my home. </div><div>I'm excited to come back home for a couple weeks filled with family and friend time, cottage nights, group training with coach Kevin, and a couple Canada Cup races at Horseshoe and Hardwood! </div><div><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Big thanks to the support of the National Team for this experience! Also, Trek Store Toronto along with Trek Canada MTB Team and Barry Near has been a massive help for equipment, team, and moral support. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Thanks to my coach, Kevin Simms, for helping me be the best I can be! He creates fun, engaging, and definitely challenging training environments that result in world class training. You can't be a world class athlete without a world class coach. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Thanks to everyone for following my journey on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Here is a blog I made for Hammer Nutrition website about tips for travelling to Europe for races!</b> <a href="https://hammernutrition.ca/8-tips-for-racing-abroad/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">https://hammernutrition.ca/8-tips-for-racing-abroad/</a></div></div><br></div><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-74378995941534947422016-03-14T09:55:00.001-07:002016-03-14T15:19:24.327-07:00It's a New Game My first race in the Elite field was for sure a whole different game than the Junior races I have grown used to.<div> The First Canada Cup of the season was held at Bear Mt. Resort near Victoria, BC. I was SO excited coming over to this race because 1) I had never ridden in BC before, 2) I got to miss school, 3) I hadn't mountain biked in MONTHS, 4) I was going to spend a week with my best friends, and last but not least 5) I was going to line up on the start line with some of the best riders in Canada and the world! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SMAVOUlx5oSEqVIjkG7i8GMhMJSfExa029k1OUGc5qbRDTsfZk-p6SIHktYy90kz4fCkrpybAJtPSDaapVdp99_aT6VLqld28g5aJ8rhdheI5iTnjJ72tJugE-4e5kwER5KIeqs-EZ5k/s640/blogger-image--1392181364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SMAVOUlx5oSEqVIjkG7i8GMhMJSfExa029k1OUGc5qbRDTsfZk-p6SIHktYy90kz4fCkrpybAJtPSDaapVdp99_aT6VLqld28g5aJ8rhdheI5iTnjJ72tJugE-4e5kwER5KIeqs-EZ5k/s640/blogger-image--1392181364.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to Trek Store Toronto, I had this Trek Superfly race machine ready so early in the year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0QYdAFXqufcmmPJHRou3fHUmUVjfZmSj888l8UrEIRCfmn5ao95Ht79I56_Nb8Ys1ujF8T4TPqstqd9hoTCwmKYdsTJvdmsLh_tcindGup_IvErUsYyGtHns1DpifK_o10jAkcfhATz5/s640/blogger-image--1413153079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0QYdAFXqufcmmPJHRou3fHUmUVjfZmSj888l8UrEIRCfmn5ao95Ht79I56_Nb8Ys1ujF8T4TPqstqd9hoTCwmKYdsTJvdmsLh_tcindGup_IvErUsYyGtHns1DpifK_o10jAkcfhATz5/s640/blogger-image--1413153079.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I stayed with Team Ontario before and during the race, with my Coach, Kevin Simms, leading this group! (Quinton, Brodie, Marc-Antione, Dana, myself, and Tyler) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I arrived very late Wednesday night to mountain bike for my first time on Thursday, and to race Saturday! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0QYdAFXqufcmmPJHRou3fHUmUVjfZmSj888l8UrEIRCfmn5ao95Ht79I56_Nb8Ys1ujF8T4TPqstqd9hoTCwmKYdsTJvdmsLh_tcindGup_IvErUsYyGtHns1DpifK_o10jAkcfhATz5/s640/blogger-image--1413153079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFF-CDVvkKwXmldkrzqrKQEArEnj_e4rjDxiQOhTMhCGqQup_JfNBxIXm-tM65FlGS_boo9p9jCs0hdGj9I9udjueGDjzm1nn6pCQGVjtYrhx9ISe88yg67AeetIllmi64lYCIDGkncZ1/s640/blogger-image-1276705841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFF-CDVvkKwXmldkrzqrKQEArEnj_e4rjDxiQOhTMhCGqQup_JfNBxIXm-tM65FlGS_boo9p9jCs0hdGj9I9udjueGDjzm1nn6pCQGVjtYrhx9ISe88yg67AeetIllmi64lYCIDGkncZ1/s640/blogger-image-1276705841.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are some pre-race nerves (and determination!) hiding behind that smile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were SO insanely lucky that race day was mostly sunny and very warm! I was expecting a mud fest for this race... And although it is always a bit muddy in Victoria, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-JCJXnEuPTULVpN-Q9R2xDWJJsVRqsKKkgHV1zp2FTPvToW-q1vRmsB2DQLVCatFEYRmvbchPztf8TR4eNUjdbAFOclLrBgSASaVnsmS1cWwbpQOZvppKzEqhoREJBbLZWCSYIKmUA8H/s640/blogger-image-1680163654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-JCJXnEuPTULVpN-Q9R2xDWJJsVRqsKKkgHV1zp2FTPvToW-q1vRmsB2DQLVCatFEYRmvbchPztf8TR4eNUjdbAFOclLrBgSASaVnsmS1cWwbpQOZvppKzEqhoREJBbLZWCSYIKmUA8H/s640/blogger-image-1680163654.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A shot from the first kilometre of the race! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I started the race conservative, not knowing where my fitness was at after a long winter and knowing that the race would be much longer than what I'm used to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-0RUHiXkhotPd_RvzVeq4AOa8OIKnYQQ8tvme7Iuegin0Ltvg_bEv85P3R-8AmwXzEllJjWcujjgKMzjhGP0L4sFqWLXgXDL4UcEuStENGZHy8soCwE-bnPqhOeVwNmG86_hIhanL-xm/s640/blogger-image-1611918262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-0RUHiXkhotPd_RvzVeq4AOa8OIKnYQQ8tvme7Iuegin0Ltvg_bEv85P3R-8AmwXzEllJjWcujjgKMzjhGP0L4sFqWLXgXDL4UcEuStENGZHy8soCwE-bnPqhOeVwNmG86_hIhanL-xm/s640/blogger-image-1611918262.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Coming through the feed zone, receiving my bottles and encouraging words from Kevin! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-0RUHiXkhotPd_RvzVeq4AOa8OIKnYQQ8tvme7Iuegin0Ltvg_bEv85P3R-8AmwXzEllJjWcujjgKMzjhGP0L4sFqWLXgXDL4UcEuStENGZHy8soCwE-bnPqhOeVwNmG86_hIhanL-xm/s640/blogger-image-1611918262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCgenKQNU4R43cUDCM8RHIGT9bU7c4lgz6JBZnbzdljZoyFQRXmWXuWd232cKEoXGITbeRHQLLRhPbDKebE4w0uTI3uBFOtqp4dTUryObyz276unF2iyvofphj0fEGe-d0NhZN7q3Eczo/s640/blogger-image-1279139598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCgenKQNU4R43cUDCM8RHIGT9bU7c4lgz6JBZnbzdljZoyFQRXmWXuWd232cKEoXGITbeRHQLLRhPbDKebE4w0uTI3uBFOtqp4dTUryObyz276unF2iyvofphj0fEGe-d0NhZN7q3Eczo/s640/blogger-image-1279139598.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was very impressed with the course. It had everything: sustained, double track power climbs, flow and jump sections, twisty technical single track power ups, open grassy fields, and tricky single track with rocks and roots everywhere. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCgenKQNU4R43cUDCM8RHIGT9bU7c4lgz6JBZnbzdljZoyFQRXmWXuWd232cKEoXGITbeRHQLLRhPbDKebE4w0uTI3uBFOtqp4dTUryObyz276unF2iyvofphj0fEGe-d0NhZN7q3Eczo/s640/blogger-image-1279139598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgbYIaNM6xyLdUoXaXkuN28Wh7wLu-RMl9wv3PceiXUK2Pdh8xI26jb5pephi2b-9GIenJUZl3AiJVVq2t7g4vD0fvNSOs8MBVcj5zVmV2bWxn6XXVl_57LqAL4kfWyri9zIlX-yrgK4w/s640/blogger-image--582456791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgbYIaNM6xyLdUoXaXkuN28Wh7wLu-RMl9wv3PceiXUK2Pdh8xI26jb5pephi2b-9GIenJUZl3AiJVVq2t7g4vD0fvNSOs8MBVcj5zVmV2bWxn6XXVl_57LqAL4kfWyri9zIlX-yrgK4w/s640/blogger-image--582456791.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to Braison Images and Jay Walrus for some of these race action shots! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Overall, my race was very progressive. I had consistent lap times, so I was continuously picking off people throughout the race. I really surprised myself with my race endurance! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My final placement was 3rd U23, and 10th Elite! I am very happy with this result for an early season race, and I'm looking forward to my improvement from here. </div></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDrfxORH3IOxfpkNgHyFcqsxfzMb3J7UuplainDk9919atbQpvKcqFG7HNkA1DKkBs9nPzEdIeMWMBPqgTBhdAhxlEz3fJ-qYkwKShTgRspZhpy39mfOTWXk8qXReyW46u_jbUGRh4XAJ/s640/blogger-image--719210300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDrfxORH3IOxfpkNgHyFcqsxfzMb3J7UuplainDk9919atbQpvKcqFG7HNkA1DKkBs9nPzEdIeMWMBPqgTBhdAhxlEz3fJ-qYkwKShTgRspZhpy39mfOTWXk8qXReyW46u_jbUGRh4XAJ/s640/blogger-image--719210300.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shout out and congrats to Quinton for winning the Junior Ex. race!!! </div><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvGGlUMKa6pgmGxqSxmQ6rYaa0FaR4XxaUZOBTKI-sqYg3ZbUT2yxD0jZe5krb_7NXfnzg4_s-8MMPO_6VgcG7iBCS3csrQ_cG8AWWmG2LlRmrBesVd4eBYIFSj3_Gj4dRICPpDS0a-UM/s640/blogger-image-1731066575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvGGlUMKa6pgmGxqSxmQ6rYaa0FaR4XxaUZOBTKI-sqYg3ZbUT2yxD0jZe5krb_7NXfnzg4_s-8MMPO_6VgcG7iBCS3csrQ_cG8AWWmG2LlRmrBesVd4eBYIFSj3_Gj4dRICPpDS0a-UM/s640/blogger-image-1731066575.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The day after the race I was lucky enough to join the top ladies on an epic MTB ride through Hartland trails! It was so inspiring to actually train with Catherine Pendrel and Emily Batty rather than just cheering for them in races. This ride also included many other rad riders who I've looked up to for many years. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNyp5_4w7sBEDe91UCVS-vOVvlQfpxsbyRTNMhTeh09NcDP6SXHCBJ1diprYGfjVU8nEu4Ayw-2joqiqew_yWe5rU51ooqVRY1Y4LE3cLJ89omaGotBCmONQ-BJjhUg9Fw7lLGUFNhTfo/s640/blogger-image--1454208554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNyp5_4w7sBEDe91UCVS-vOVvlQfpxsbyRTNMhTeh09NcDP6SXHCBJ1diprYGfjVU8nEu4Ayw-2joqiqew_yWe5rU51ooqVRY1Y4LE3cLJ89omaGotBCmONQ-BJjhUg9Fw7lLGUFNhTfo/s640/blogger-image--1454208554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After the race I stayed in the luxurious Bear Mt. Resort thanks to their support and Cycling Canada! Laurie Arsenault and I had a few amazing days together training in Hartland, exploring the hiking trails, and scouting out restaurants! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe5CMEV3f2i_YmvM6HoSBrLat5Tf_LMMQPbUFEZCLVbFZUwAA8LdaH7hbgXOiS9DD2Px6sX51JUt8bA9NUlb6Sm9unGEiLWMPWXDywSK280YVSCJr4u7aeITdkC8cs2vf9BvOyLk3e2AR/s640/blogger-image-296039015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe5CMEV3f2i_YmvM6HoSBrLat5Tf_LMMQPbUFEZCLVbFZUwAA8LdaH7hbgXOiS9DD2Px6sX51JUt8bA9NUlb6Sm9unGEiLWMPWXDywSK280YVSCJr4u7aeITdkC8cs2vf9BvOyLk3e2AR/s640/blogger-image-296039015.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3rSKlzm6Y0icFK1FZT0e2FV1M6N5K_X6siQlnG074fZIbcNz422BBY6Fg8OCWxGx7mk-39JTlTxaAvOqQmP2eHgz-viMuPXSj4Vn5UGfi6DTzfkvRjRwN9PVJ0F9W_N6l7EbIQMoKlEp/s640/blogger-image-1996692706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3rSKlzm6Y0icFK1FZT0e2FV1M6N5K_X6siQlnG074fZIbcNz422BBY6Fg8OCWxGx7mk-39JTlTxaAvOqQmP2eHgz-viMuPXSj4Vn5UGfi6DTzfkvRjRwN9PVJ0F9W_N6l7EbIQMoKlEp/s640/blogger-image-1996692706.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQaol7I6fG1iEjDpuweD0qvMSkEBLECtv2LlDZEjtA_5MZI1HFv_aL_ak2XOhFRBQsATfV2pF9H4mXDQO4nuwyr8p_1KopjwqhWA5mfMzji6n3oX4UKL391mK2hT6Gatlizv6t8YMoSl3/s640/blogger-image-71192382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQaol7I6fG1iEjDpuweD0qvMSkEBLECtv2LlDZEjtA_5MZI1HFv_aL_ak2XOhFRBQsATfV2pF9H4mXDQO4nuwyr8p_1KopjwqhWA5mfMzji6n3oX4UKL391mK2hT6Gatlizv6t8YMoSl3/s640/blogger-image-71192382.jpg"></a></div><br></div>What's next?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A LOT of school.... Heading back to the second round of university midterms, then one month until exams! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Once I'm done my first year at the end of April, I'm going to be travelling for training and racing all summer long... starting with two World Cups in France and Germany! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Follow me on Instagram for more constant posts: @soren.meeuwisse </div></div><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-89533043073201996082016-02-28T18:56:00.001-08:002016-02-29T19:52:49.697-08:00So Cal<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74JHV42cXtomuWhqtrUbM0MmZ3fE65MGTxy9by3Za5oeBt5ueUPx23_zqoFCSYSdtoryrIUoTxN9ayg0fz4AbDdeTSC10jGYxOX5JhAZschYl8v9QOFDLCssha4JuvVhQs1dtHKXxXs8h/s640/blogger-image-1581040919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to the Ontario Cycling Association, myself along with 15 other developing Ontario cyclists got to escape the cold Canadian weather and retreat to heavenly California! This endurance training camp has always been a highlight of my year and training... LOTS of quality time on the saddle among motivating coaches and athletes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74JHV42cXtomuWhqtrUbM0MmZ3fE65MGTxy9by3Za5oeBt5ueUPx23_zqoFCSYSdtoryrIUoTxN9ayg0fz4AbDdeTSC10jGYxOX5JhAZschYl8v9QOFDLCssha4JuvVhQs1dtHKXxXs8h/s640/blogger-image-1581040919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzdE7s0ZP46VEsnQzsbKhCMb47ajg52YFxPpz8jIbhQyF31ITOkiT2qohH1EUOuxc-TQXOsNonX-9T1lqPYv7Qu6fspd-dwMOzYcxkc9EnzLZuOxv9z_xczjCWs3UheMibHLKgV2SM8Xi/s640/blogger-image--1471732101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzdE7s0ZP46VEsnQzsbKhCMb47ajg52YFxPpz8jIbhQyF31ITOkiT2qohH1EUOuxc-TQXOsNonX-9T1lqPYv7Qu6fspd-dwMOzYcxkc9EnzLZuOxv9z_xczjCWs3UheMibHLKgV2SM8Xi/s640/blogger-image--1471732101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Staying hydrated while flying- with lots of water and my Hammer Fizz electrolyte tablets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to Hammer for fueling my training and recovery! You can get Hammer Nutrition products at a discounted price with my promo code (soren15) at www.hammernutrition.ca</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74JHV42cXtomuWhqtrUbM0MmZ3fE65MGTxy9by3Za5oeBt5ueUPx23_zqoFCSYSdtoryrIUoTxN9ayg0fz4AbDdeTSC10jGYxOX5JhAZschYl8v9QOFDLCssha4JuvVhQs1dtHKXxXs8h/s640/blogger-image-1581040919.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First day- An honorary Simms family member (they wished they were surfing). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXWBwg8uxmu4hct8_j_AU78RKGFSXUFktNQ88IF22F5Dykib-7z8k1lmExfPyu88xJCObFjG0c6bqQjwoxkpSaImu4VE5BUVETJvS8qbaruZbOUVGpNrq51DWMyDjb_VzBdBI7e5NZDwW/s640/blogger-image--1530334076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXWBwg8uxmu4hct8_j_AU78RKGFSXUFktNQ88IF22F5Dykib-7z8k1lmExfPyu88xJCObFjG0c6bqQjwoxkpSaImu4VE5BUVETJvS8qbaruZbOUVGpNrq51DWMyDjb_VzBdBI7e5NZDwW/s640/blogger-image--1530334076.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBLyYEpjf9MXDwuG-Am1RzPoGrClg5Kv6nybY5p8mQM8_2DOzJOmNiTBqltchpvxaeLTSepyzIXerPd_E-BY35DtGIyXgQkkZERrUZpIpA1lA_T84LrfoBlvm6XhxXPHeottP9UrdUAgI/s640/blogger-image--2001355679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBLyYEpjf9MXDwuG-Am1RzPoGrClg5Kv6nybY5p8mQM8_2DOzJOmNiTBqltchpvxaeLTSepyzIXerPd_E-BY35DtGIyXgQkkZERrUZpIpA1lA_T84LrfoBlvm6XhxXPHeottP9UrdUAgI/s640/blogger-image--2001355679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First mountain conquered with the coach - Mt. Palomar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnGtxryWUpHcpUvNjBkjL6MmdY55oqBGrI5ZgKGipUOgMmBcBCfNYQShOc-PR3iRqZ6xUyd8MWky24m6Gd0wb75wqh62mnn8sNNGjbwSlf2eeFCElCLfXAlLAuFJ4dQBgHliG6Jqzwec1/s640/blogger-image-1649890358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnGtxryWUpHcpUvNjBkjL6MmdY55oqBGrI5ZgKGipUOgMmBcBCfNYQShOc-PR3iRqZ6xUyd8MWky24m6Gd0wb75wqh62mnn8sNNGjbwSlf2eeFCElCLfXAlLAuFJ4dQBgHliG6Jqzwec1/s640/blogger-image-1649890358.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loved my Domane isospeed decoupler on those dirt paths! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRmsQiOKv0sbrwR7P5wBAFZRKA2toPFS3xytAb7Ep3zbpqRD2_0i_JBMd2KHmyS5COc3lFLAQa312FxjYgQ1PVjvRcU7Os95lJkTalx_9HeLhagRD0-ohxDvjmahCGayLXGXOJSwhL6eR/s640/blogger-image--1002437212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRmsQiOKv0sbrwR7P5wBAFZRKA2toPFS3xytAb7Ep3zbpqRD2_0i_JBMd2KHmyS5COc3lFLAQa312FxjYgQ1PVjvRcU7Os95lJkTalx_9HeLhagRD0-ohxDvjmahCGayLXGXOJSwhL6eR/s640/blogger-image--1002437212.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beach time mid-ride! - Erica, Dana, myself, Ali, then Sarah</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcIbcw_EYN4uo7rQX0UuExtQ9OngViDwiO5kVfBOc9NA1ippPzQr6igSiTCP1Wq_dfa4QufvBDcGsAo-3rodqGzCo9B6acOEFXjVfuZajG59HZEu_a4fG5gSn4bW7TrEh8CPWGRmalAn3/s640/blogger-image-1983148368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcIbcw_EYN4uo7rQX0UuExtQ9OngViDwiO5kVfBOc9NA1ippPzQr6igSiTCP1Wq_dfa4QufvBDcGsAo-3rodqGzCo9B6acOEFXjVfuZajG59HZEu_a4fG5gSn4bW7TrEh8CPWGRmalAn3/s640/blogger-image-1983148368.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The full crew of athletes -Post 20min TT on Mt Palomar </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4ChKsZICSESK-O_Ks6OxyzhWmUoBjASmLrs0uMvE4Tr1AAQXhKBKL7-Pj14XD7MEtZwGLXM9POlqJVxODzJdmVrBZBkbRjMvS-ELa8mjVJKx6f-DpdkVmx667mUFi92Yy3QGVjZ7oWB5/s640/blogger-image--1863053209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4ChKsZICSESK-O_Ks6OxyzhWmUoBjASmLrs0uMvE4Tr1AAQXhKBKL7-Pj14XD7MEtZwGLXM9POlqJVxODzJdmVrBZBkbRjMvS-ELa8mjVJKx6f-DpdkVmx667mUFi92Yy3QGVjZ7oWB5/s640/blogger-image--1863053209.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It took a MAJOR hike up a mountain for this view! </div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33IA1XfSjhsUmaIMTNfICZcsYTOptbvTH3SOlsMaNSWCkrjdBZEaPimZOda01MASRsNbJzVVI_8vkn0w2M-QzsPnp0_8T83_-15t7V_HL4qyEjxvnW71t6JBcFFBa4BrD6YLu6SIgypp/s640/blogger-image-1761050501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33IA1XfSjhsUmaIMTNfICZcsYTOptbvTH3SOlsMaNSWCkrjdBZEaPimZOda01MASRsNbJzVVI_8vkn0w2M-QzsPnp0_8T83_-15t7V_HL4qyEjxvnW71t6JBcFFBa4BrD6YLu6SIgypp/s640/blogger-image-1761050501.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beautiful views everywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lEWnsTDOvIOdHl06O__mhufa6of08f0lXZjqVhiLfdeSM45DfMfKDxrIjyNzZakPlq-eoNP1_TNuskYQzr9BQDj365X_lxRNw3cfzqQYDPMnpTQeKBTx37vqZpSXhP8af2VI-gcKGmW4/s640/blogger-image-340604766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lEWnsTDOvIOdHl06O__mhufa6of08f0lXZjqVhiLfdeSM45DfMfKDxrIjyNzZakPlq-eoNP1_TNuskYQzr9BQDj365X_lxRNw3cfzqQYDPMnpTQeKBTx37vqZpSXhP8af2VI-gcKGmW4/s640/blogger-image-340604766.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is me almost crashing out Pete and Sarah (ft. Malcolm) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to Trek Canada MTB Team and Trek Store Toronto for my amazing road bike and bike fit so I could maximize my time and training down south! I have never felt so comfortable on a road bike before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfkp6VeUsuTr11h-kII1A8MCTwT1A5_aojlyicCkCXRrIYJVX6BY9aD_vPjOFuCwNMhAk1OU796IQLbaVKlYzYVSAm8550-WmaZh5GEl45o9xAFnsgW9HAQSqyCfMDarSj3wdJU45CgfC/s640/blogger-image-996070169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfkp6VeUsuTr11h-kII1A8MCTwT1A5_aojlyicCkCXRrIYJVX6BY9aD_vPjOFuCwNMhAk1OU796IQLbaVKlYzYVSAm8550-WmaZh5GEl45o9xAFnsgW9HAQSqyCfMDarSj3wdJU45CgfC/s640/blogger-image-996070169.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am back at school now for one week, then I fly out to Victoria, BC on Wednesday for the first Canada Cup of the season! That's right... A mountain bike Canada Cup on March 5. The venue at Bear Mt Resort should be fantastic though, I've heard great things! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I just can't wait to get back on the dirt... now as a U23! It will be so exciting starting in the elite field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">BRING IT ON 2016</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMXEv4-_8LuJUfQYloAsBFdbREizZ8k6gd2_9uwrEGUlYlg5NJo1AbYlsBeXHWzZ6xCq4PajptPQ0Ft4vOtCDA8V6o6zklqKamVgTPNrpA-SgYfmqGeYjcdnc-FVZMhBj6RTj_-OGvXkN/s640/blogger-image--54184572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMXEv4-_8LuJUfQYloAsBFdbREizZ8k6gd2_9uwrEGUlYlg5NJo1AbYlsBeXHWzZ6xCq4PajptPQ0Ft4vOtCDA8V6o6zklqKamVgTPNrpA-SgYfmqGeYjcdnc-FVZMhBj6RTj_-OGvXkN/s640/blogger-image--54184572.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-29847490909894279752015-12-27T07:47:00.001-08:002015-12-29T15:50:23.081-08:00Thank you 2015Thank you 2015.<div><br></div><div>Thank you for the ups, the downs, and the lessons along the way. </div><div>Thank you for new friends, and the memories with old friends. </div><div>Thank you for the exciting travels, and for the relaxing days at home. </div><div>Thank you for pulling me out of my comfort zone, and then for giving me confidence. </div><div><br></div><div>It seems unbelievable that every year that passes, I can continue to say, "Wow, this year has been my best one yet!". </div><div>This year, I travelled to Austria, Germany, Spain, California, North Carolina, Alberta, Quebec, and around Ontario; all to train or compete. I had my most successful Nordic Skiing season yet, and ironically since I actually (finally) decided to focus more on cycling now. I had my most successful Canada Cup season for mountain biking, and although my bigger races of the season ended unfortunately, they too have helped me in other ways. </div><div>Much to even my own surprise, I also ran cross country more competitively than ever, as I raced with McMaster's varsity team. </div><div>This year, I graduated high school with high grades that I was proud of, and so was able to begin university in the fall, studying kinesiology at McMaster. I've lived away from home longer than ever, and no longer had my parents there to nag (I mean take care of) me. I had to leave all my closest friends for months at a time, but I also got to make many new, amazing friends. </div><div><br></div><div>These monumentous events in my life are the direct or indirect result of many people who have supported and believed in me throughout the year. </div><div>So I thank 2015, but really, I am thanking all of my supporters. But, what exactly is a supporter to me? Most obviously, a supporter is someone who has helped me train or compete with financial, equipment, or coaching aid. These people have really made massive differences that have helped me reach my next level of athletic pursuit, but there are so many more supporters that generally go unrecognized, and these people provide many little aids which result in a big difference.</div><div> A supporter is the person who wished me good luck or pumped me up before a race, or even a hard workout. The person who coached me, or gave me advice. The person who offered to help with my bike perhaps, or accepted my offer to train with me. A supporter is someone who gave me confidence when I didn't believe in myself, or even just smiled at me strengthening my feelings of a friendly, supporting community. A supportive family who invites me into their house for food or to warm up after training. </div><div><br></div><div>Barry Near, the owner of my amazing team, Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team, has always been there to help me reach my important races with the best equipment, race/tech support, and encouraging vibes. My team mates are fantastic athletes to spend race weekends with, always lightening the pre-race tension with constant humour. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn_N7WYqwg_TXRIGQ_cw-wQuiLSWPfZq3isJDKAi8DgrGL5XuOgKCIln2M8w5x2gXoQ4uWHoeQvZwvlrLWgd8oNXxPk74IepZCwEdQeqJbcqUbrJoChcoWI4JmG4wHiI1t2pS8r2tc8X0/s640/blogger-image--540799156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn_N7WYqwg_TXRIGQ_cw-wQuiLSWPfZq3isJDKAi8DgrGL5XuOgKCIln2M8w5x2gXoQ4uWHoeQvZwvlrLWgd8oNXxPk74IepZCwEdQeqJbcqUbrJoChcoWI4JmG4wHiI1t2pS8r2tc8X0/s640/blogger-image--540799156.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I never have to worry about proper fueling with Hammer Nutritiom Canada support in my back pocket (literally, always have a bar in my jersey). </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykfwasZd5icKsRWATx3e2qGAPHmOebZtmMJA0eVL3mv3_fdJKWZSmOM8gJ46eQyOq_Jgql-SyriWXP6b7-yisaHaZ_ctOV_yLL9EstcD3p25QFj_Z-tSbIMw-t8ZOq795OTc3NvRUvxjz/s640/blogger-image-518030827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykfwasZd5icKsRWATx3e2qGAPHmOebZtmMJA0eVL3mv3_fdJKWZSmOM8gJ46eQyOq_Jgql-SyriWXP6b7-yisaHaZ_ctOV_yLL9EstcD3p25QFj_Z-tSbIMw-t8ZOq795OTc3NvRUvxjz/s640/blogger-image-518030827.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Smith Optics is always keeping me looking fast and fresh with their performance glasses. The high quality glasses make me forget that I'm even wearing glasses! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6pO_zSYPnuTLmH2xpVt_hj9fd3j4H03OjPicvK4XATHOJHex0aVje9gq3BKmixoCLF_U4XvTOg99eA8s2kwYQp10Md4xp23BQwISP5T_t5HCwmDQ-1cEOwG0fewkTo4e8x3G9HeswZsm/s640/blogger-image-743843872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6pO_zSYPnuTLmH2xpVt_hj9fd3j4H03OjPicvK4XATHOJHex0aVje9gq3BKmixoCLF_U4XvTOg99eA8s2kwYQp10Md4xp23BQwISP5T_t5HCwmDQ-1cEOwG0fewkTo4e8x3G9HeswZsm/s640/blogger-image-743843872.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The OCA continues to support so many athletes, including myself, in so many ways with training camps and race projects. This allows for a great base to be built in the winter months down south, and race/tech/coaching/travel/food/entertainment support at races!! </div><div><br></div><div>Back to Function in Orillia always finds time to help me with any injury that pops up over the year, or to help me with injury prevention. </div><div><br></div><div>Being on Team Hardwood for skiing, along with coach Ron Howden and the parent helpers, is always a highlight of my year. Training and race weekends never cease to be anything less than amazing with such an incredible team. </div><div><br></div><div>McMaster varsity trainers have helped me a ton throughout the fall during my running season, as I tried to go from not running in 10 months to running almost every day.</div><div><br></div><div>World gym in Orillia has provided an amazing training facility for my strength days with all new equipment!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWgiSge9ub_4tQ7i1XKdqOf_FJkuQ1fMAVpvVH1wGahyphenhyphen2js65i5qmXOwjXruVpljOdn_VWzOXdUWWeMSm6uurT9bWHYCaTkNZe71HZjwLlsGus5gHQmjUv_-p9KAb52S7DbH1ZUclyz5Q/s640/blogger-image-1345843501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWgiSge9ub_4tQ7i1XKdqOf_FJkuQ1fMAVpvVH1wGahyphenhyphen2js65i5qmXOwjXruVpljOdn_VWzOXdUWWeMSm6uurT9bWHYCaTkNZe71HZjwLlsGus5gHQmjUv_-p9KAb52S7DbH1ZUclyz5Q/s640/blogger-image-1345843501.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thank you to Quest for Gold and OHPSI for outstanding support programs for progressing Ontario athletes. </div><div><br></div><div>A huge round of applause to Kevin Simms for proving yet again to be one of Canada's best coaches yet again with his plethora of successful athletes who, thanks to him, have a fun training year round while making GAINZ. </div><div><br></div><div>Team Canada coaches, physio, and support staff have also been there through the year for outstanding race trips to Europe, training camps, and injury rehab. </div><div><br></div><div>And last but certainly not least, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to my never faltering family and close friends for always being there for me. No matter if I'm crying from happiness, or because of an injury or sickness, they are there to help me celebrate, see the bigger picture, and reassure me that they care for me. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpeRlXQVzoWaCiBgX9aLj8uTMq7nxif1rhqsy7dr5zYdQmFQTGJduW7XAyjWn7yunwbZDhRavwkXzrHEnM5I3F9kBhdANH-E6Rw2uyNxso5GfdlBdsbbljU8K_u7mi_t-KMED_GjrFdtF/s640/blogger-image-244411827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpeRlXQVzoWaCiBgX9aLj8uTMq7nxif1rhqsy7dr5zYdQmFQTGJduW7XAyjWn7yunwbZDhRavwkXzrHEnM5I3F9kBhdANH-E6Rw2uyNxso5GfdlBdsbbljU8K_u7mi_t-KMED_GjrFdtF/s640/blogger-image-244411827.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, that was a lot of thank you's... And if you've made it this far: *ROUND OF APPLAUSE* </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Don't forget to thank all of the people that have made your life better this year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">See you next year ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(I know that was cheesy) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Soren Meeuwisse </div></div></div><div><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-46861854591203650352015-12-15T09:01:00.001-08:002015-12-24T13:11:49.528-08:00September through to DecemberSince I've arrived at McMcaster for my first year of university, my life has taken many twists and turns and it's about time for a year-end catch up! <div><br></div><div>First off, I'm so excited to announce my new position as a Hammer Nutrition Canada Ambassador for 2016! I've grown up using Hammer Nutrition products and I'm honoured to be able to represent their company. If you haven't tried their array of fantastic products, you can use my personal promo code to order anything with a 15% discount! Even if you have tried Hammer Nutriton products before, take advantage of this deal, you will be impressed with the products! </div><div>Create and log onto your account on hammernutrition.ca and use the code "soren15" when purchasing your goodies! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX4wwQpC76bT0jJWJ8RTN957CnmzTvXl4TrRHBoZfzXvXw7kvxMCKTADBvuZf4BUYA5jLqkQflTAmXh0gqMyIZyoBuiwdo-ijdJ9Bg84seGtcSemugURHeDugFgf4t37MhBSOhq9RMXS0/s640/blogger-image--220231098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX4wwQpC76bT0jJWJ8RTN957CnmzTvXl4TrRHBoZfzXvXw7kvxMCKTADBvuZf4BUYA5jLqkQflTAmXh0gqMyIZyoBuiwdo-ijdJ9Bg84seGtcSemugURHeDugFgf4t37MhBSOhq9RMXS0/s640/blogger-image--220231098.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div>From September to the end of November I was running more than I ever have in my life! I'm so grateful for the Mac running team because I've met some of my best friends through the team, got to travel around Ontario for races, had some amazing training sessions, and I'm a part of a supportive, fun, and tight-knit campus family!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PD9pPbmFW1BDNqeKtPv04Qy5qWWsN3r-VQNwB-Ln6ZYtVVncExZ-AIms21h4txDCbJK-6M9MMoToQ58YyqC7YmoxvghHGW1qCkoKntRjkqUMXPh59RA2Gnp71AbVqbRlYVx5W2i_tAKM/s640/blogger-image-96334878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PD9pPbmFW1BDNqeKtPv04Qy5qWWsN3r-VQNwB-Ln6ZYtVVncExZ-AIms21h4txDCbJK-6M9MMoToQ58YyqC7YmoxvghHGW1qCkoKntRjkqUMXPh59RA2Gnp71AbVqbRlYVx5W2i_tAKM/s640/blogger-image-96334878.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> I started off the racing season at the Kingston Open, where I raced well so was chosen to be on Mac's top 7 girls racing team for OUAs and CIS! Both provincials and nationals went well as both Mac's girl and boys teams finished 3rd at OUAs, and at nationals the boys finished 4th and girls 8th in Guelph! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY40KKIO_zelf17dZ8F-4FyES1thjM0uB_vSr07kG140r515Pqg8XLt7apR3YJGV3qLNR5SuQjZRKrYUKFTuV2s-j3If_tF_R-yOOsAlIoRp6nFcWHAlPTAs3pGPozht9Wm8cK5uMZsSoS/s640/blogger-image--694377506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY40KKIO_zelf17dZ8F-4FyES1thjM0uB_vSr07kG140r515Pqg8XLt7apR3YJGV3qLNR5SuQjZRKrYUKFTuV2s-j3If_tF_R-yOOsAlIoRp6nFcWHAlPTAs3pGPozht9Wm8cK5uMZsSoS/s640/blogger-image--694377506.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC_TTzVlugvvU8PABIzlwT0t9YUr01ZeEGVvgD_HuAdQmVRkiz4yzFBHCw3wHIjNwCWqFjGqLKRifn4SQnZaw0AVLjF6qLpGda8nS13cq0DTOKmVLoGVsbP8JnzaqC9vV3YlOpmyUFMLl/s640/blogger-image--528717900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC_TTzVlugvvU8PABIzlwT0t9YUr01ZeEGVvgD_HuAdQmVRkiz4yzFBHCw3wHIjNwCWqFjGqLKRifn4SQnZaw0AVLjF6qLpGda8nS13cq0DTOKmVLoGVsbP8JnzaqC9vV3YlOpmyUFMLl/s640/blogger-image--528717900.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSoo60y2iWuAONnyTtTzDFAhiSwGHf_vq2x485bfVLHHHvoqQ33uP_mpPB6YiSDddOWKyVr3q8tcj5IHJB3GlkLasnUQroHw_eYVr8ZJs_vLkmjsVsoqPa4MWFkZlpP-L6_tSXYORM-hc/s640/blogger-image-1991105509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSoo60y2iWuAONnyTtTzDFAhiSwGHf_vq2x485bfVLHHHvoqQ33uP_mpPB6YiSDddOWKyVr3q8tcj5IHJB3GlkLasnUQroHw_eYVr8ZJs_vLkmjsVsoqPa4MWFkZlpP-L6_tSXYORM-hc/s640/blogger-image-1991105509.jpg"></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>The team shaved "M"'s into their hair for OUAs and CIS!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfa-C8zExTtP2Bz9ocqekyw9-DYA6bQ2wlWORRIglhRs9rxYpihrjxV-xURiC1kUH7gyhgTWPgHppFt4RHve2Abc3R7noBc6weyErv0hSQ5OuPvX5VYeZtpkLpb98A_OO4FRi7vQcrODM/s640/blogger-image-191027322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfa-C8zExTtP2Bz9ocqekyw9-DYA6bQ2wlWORRIglhRs9rxYpihrjxV-xURiC1kUH7gyhgTWPgHppFt4RHve2Abc3R7noBc6weyErv0hSQ5OuPvX5VYeZtpkLpb98A_OO4FRi7vQcrODM/s640/blogger-image-191027322.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Rookie squad</i></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>After the running season, I found myself on the bike everyday again and started buckling down for exams.</div><div>In November, I had a super interesting and beneficial testing camp at the CSIO building with the support of OHPSI! The OHPSI athletes got do to bike testing, physio screening, nutrition consultation, mental performances talks, concussion screening, use the DEXUS machine, and use the gym facility! All of these components provide marginal gains which all athletes are striving for to be even 0.5% better than before. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr-r-4z8W5oufGJvLmSUxkeTLODx3WdzgBEiJE8vWrUsIxcOE-oU8Y-mLWniN36FRzv-wq0kG1_1VAHAQ2G9NmySBXcJKZdaGLGndnhxYg4rEUyfHUL2Tx51PcjYgXPgPQy2fk1Vhlq1V/s640/blogger-image--462078203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr-r-4z8W5oufGJvLmSUxkeTLODx3WdzgBEiJE8vWrUsIxcOE-oU8Y-mLWniN36FRzv-wq0kG1_1VAHAQ2G9NmySBXcJKZdaGLGndnhxYg4rEUyfHUL2Tx51PcjYgXPgPQy2fk1Vhlq1V/s640/blogger-image--462078203.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOzvoHNUsFdW1o55JcLpPxlLCdMNSevZseo6jIVPZ0t5rdFkHWEzvYfF4_aFSuuajulGx6Z-q9LD4aCChQlZQhichmt6A6qGo_bd6VbgAUD4qnTQgyqAoTFYugZK1Yd832AUMC9VpvRqH/s640/blogger-image--192713556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOzvoHNUsFdW1o55JcLpPxlLCdMNSevZseo6jIVPZ0t5rdFkHWEzvYfF4_aFSuuajulGx6Z-q9LD4aCChQlZQhichmt6A6qGo_bd6VbgAUD4qnTQgyqAoTFYugZK1Yd832AUMC9VpvRqH/s640/blogger-image--192713556.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>As a Fast and Female Ambassador, I went to the Oakville Summit Event and spent the day having a blast with young girl athletes, other inspiring Fast and Female Ambassaodrs, and the Olympic Gold Medalist, organization founder Chandra Crawford! If you don't know what Fast and Female is, it's a non-profit organization that motivates and inspires young girls to stay in sport, spreading the importance of girl power! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivylX9M62RX2v7sWzCcEJSah22FBhiHC-Tot-Peg_qCpZE6RZ1SDOaHnT8kJGSzPUbJz-LGPTBRrQnHrTxHLrN8bVr9FuBMRaKct66wA6kvAkcKyK1O22ZHe52kamJDCQc98Ps1DvmiyZ_/s640/blogger-image--496214853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivylX9M62RX2v7sWzCcEJSah22FBhiHC-Tot-Peg_qCpZE6RZ1SDOaHnT8kJGSzPUbJz-LGPTBRrQnHrTxHLrN8bVr9FuBMRaKct66wA6kvAkcKyK1O22ZHe52kamJDCQc98Ps1DvmiyZ_/s640/blogger-image--496214853.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Training in the Hamilton area has been fantastic, and my training partners are to thank for that!! I rarely find myself riding alone, on the road or MTB trails. I'm very thankful for these people who have made training simply awesome over the past few months. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMPs7Bk5KwFxxZgDxejLdeEB2ea9YXWSTL83x41EDTFVotV4vYYZXhJgo0t-yIxtk4Q_eUY_IaCNXuzDssRjw-4Q9wja7pb0N_2_ZBreFNVBlRtz1zmUj83R4j4S-kiG-lFDfV3jv5W8R/s640/blogger-image-2104748079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMPs7Bk5KwFxxZgDxejLdeEB2ea9YXWSTL83x41EDTFVotV4vYYZXhJgo0t-yIxtk4Q_eUY_IaCNXuzDssRjw-4Q9wja7pb0N_2_ZBreFNVBlRtz1zmUj83R4j4S-kiG-lFDfV3jv5W8R/s640/blogger-image-2104748079.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA85kbr8p4PmAZQufCUSlQ7a710I5xKXWj4aBzS6mA6GkKh26iEAHUF4gxyZ5cq0AlATETXddMASt3KXNuKaDUXzSmP6EiFZ_yyb19npmAB_dL62f_vWpcbnyDlydrpgj7cnyu5o3lqHJx/s640/blogger-image--1786701412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA85kbr8p4PmAZQufCUSlQ7a710I5xKXWj4aBzS6mA6GkKh26iEAHUF4gxyZ5cq0AlATETXddMASt3KXNuKaDUXzSmP6EiFZ_yyb19npmAB_dL62f_vWpcbnyDlydrpgj7cnyu5o3lqHJx/s640/blogger-image--1786701412.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKm5HePUs8uRuyXQVmrLs8wqhLjymYN5ZZ5-UmrWMUpkm8_1DDO-FuC6mbTvxMjNNUD_QRBQqaxiQXexUTBiU33V7VFcQHeQMWvuP2NNb3ouHjdai4O2CanXlHKh3OVZ8hqrY-ujAwBPN/s640/blogger-image-1999909575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKm5HePUs8uRuyXQVmrLs8wqhLjymYN5ZZ5-UmrWMUpkm8_1DDO-FuC6mbTvxMjNNUD_QRBQqaxiQXexUTBiU33V7VFcQHeQMWvuP2NNb3ouHjdai4O2CanXlHKh3OVZ8hqrY-ujAwBPN/s640/blogger-image-1999909575.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcHZpMbRkh8Dr-2LogE7TJGR5YZMzjN3sKaJeGEWcxXuXiWihalalL9gZOqmPisrPmrtTXhG7b8L5kQWfl8WHnA0wSelZsy-A9HKzMLja3WV4wGltA9FsUdcEcuk7d6L1gPFbX27ky2dJ/s640/blogger-image-1433582247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcHZpMbRkh8Dr-2LogE7TJGR5YZMzjN3sKaJeGEWcxXuXiWihalalL9gZOqmPisrPmrtTXhG7b8L5kQWfl8WHnA0wSelZsy-A9HKzMLja3WV4wGltA9FsUdcEcuk7d6L1gPFbX27ky2dJ/s640/blogger-image-1433582247.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>OCA banquet!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLp44vnF1sp1BXgGbc1sUHiYgbDvF0g9MzbiPN7eVdzoZyqxp4vtM1MtuHcFbXavkj-piBUwdVB9CRPrkVIi8bCD5Hj_HXJ0N_uLqRQAOLrOiIdl6Zx68JyhfMhuxQZzAWDcSjdxQ9K3n/s640/blogger-image--1066651794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLp44vnF1sp1BXgGbc1sUHiYgbDvF0g9MzbiPN7eVdzoZyqxp4vtM1MtuHcFbXavkj-piBUwdVB9CRPrkVIi8bCD5Hj_HXJ0N_uLqRQAOLrOiIdl6Zx68JyhfMhuxQZzAWDcSjdxQ9K3n/s640/blogger-image--1066651794.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Day at Joyride with OCA!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwEz4wwPQu5Kw2ViEpzZSwX-4yH9a9bLaXF0bgf7ZHYUEJZAfeYYba1Kte1wMdKp9OeXzQdt8xpsv3N6riVwh51ucpNOfnPaiy9QPevphr3pH6zU9siZ45SmG8YTrszXEmTj7rT_8hnr-/s640/blogger-image--1385424937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwEz4wwPQu5Kw2ViEpzZSwX-4yH9a9bLaXF0bgf7ZHYUEJZAfeYYba1Kte1wMdKp9OeXzQdt8xpsv3N6riVwh51ucpNOfnPaiy9QPevphr3pH6zU9siZ45SmG8YTrszXEmTj7rT_8hnr-/s640/blogger-image--1385424937.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So now I am done my first term of university! Exams went well and I am very happy with my marks in my classes. I absolutely love McMaster and kinesiology is definitely the program that I want to be in! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now it's time to enjoy the 2 week break before heading back for term two. I'm looking forward to being out in Canmore Nordic skiing with my family! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! </i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-15502115687245528792015-10-27T07:28:00.001-07:002015-10-27T07:28:59.102-07:00FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAMI just got an Instagram account for athletic blogging! I will be using it frequently for shorter posts, but will still be using Blogger just the same for longer posts. <div>My username is @soren.meeuwisse on Instagram! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWD6YXRUolxan9UPp7jZdFfrD_e9aM_ymbdJ_O6SFHtDRYDuOJh7ciE2Q8seAYWUuDatINwKRJ3i6z_EHLfGf8g1Kr2pCaV-J7pITPNbqKonQrB99LLLMHD-tQpsBaSsTWf_lKPJN85Xp6/s640/blogger-image--1674621988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWD6YXRUolxan9UPp7jZdFfrD_e9aM_ymbdJ_O6SFHtDRYDuOJh7ciE2Q8seAYWUuDatINwKRJ3i6z_EHLfGf8g1Kr2pCaV-J7pITPNbqKonQrB99LLLMHD-tQpsBaSsTWf_lKPJN85Xp6/s640/blogger-image--1674621988.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-39562622246155071532015-09-12T05:51:00.001-07:002015-09-13T17:54:46.929-07:00Andorra World ChampionshipsTravelling over to Europe with Team Canada was yet another amazing and unforgettable learning experience. These trips never seize to surprise me with a curve ball with their ups and downs. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuUpxmd_IACdFZu0_cmXpP1MIdT35vA7RcybKdJt4-lcaBCD_lrLrP1BaABsi-OcM2hG7jPCxdm0Gbq-8KVKLDd0w3Be5KNbRWlquym4mrJWKVFCsXNjXUyubHN4IEWQsBLX06wYABZHJ/s640/blogger-image-299691472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuUpxmd_IACdFZu0_cmXpP1MIdT35vA7RcybKdJt4-lcaBCD_lrLrP1BaABsi-OcM2hG7jPCxdm0Gbq-8KVKLDd0w3Be5KNbRWlquym4mrJWKVFCsXNjXUyubHN4IEWQsBLX06wYABZHJ/s640/blogger-image-299691472.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>First of all, Vallnord, Andorra is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to! The race venue was on top of a mountain with a 360* view of enormous mountains. It felt like we were riding in the clouds... and we actually were a lot of the time! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCz5N6IPeuD56B8Ns8OwgVYenxE9bckn9QRrUEP9o3pII4aNmN7LDGVIJKxUBkCfodRJ-wu510KRN2rg7ejj27oSQ4uAY4gfDF3ngVnsQ5G8qYiFCYLrx_MiP5budYF6SUTYZpFKCu3jfc/s640/blogger-image-1052529316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCz5N6IPeuD56B8Ns8OwgVYenxE9bckn9QRrUEP9o3pII4aNmN7LDGVIJKxUBkCfodRJ-wu510KRN2rg7ejj27oSQ4uAY4gfDF3ngVnsQ5G8qYiFCYLrx_MiP5budYF6SUTYZpFKCu3jfc/s640/blogger-image-1052529316.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Heading into race day, I was feeling on top of my game. I quickly felt confident on the hilly, hard-tail favourable course and I felt on form... Ready to have a killer race!</div><div>But, race day morning that was the exact opposite of how I felt. </div><div>I woke up with awful stomach pains, and once I headed to the washroom I begun to feel like I was blacking out. The next thing I remember is waking up on the bathroom floor in a cold sweat, ears ringing, head spinning, and more pain in my stomach. Freaking out, I got up to go back to my bedroom, only to wake up again from being passed out on the hallway floor. It took me a while to gather myself to go find a coach for help. </div><div>For the next 2.5 hours leading up to the time when I had to depart for the race site with the team, I was under coach supervision. I couldn't stand up for more than 1 minute without passing out, causing my ears to ring and cold sweat to begin. I eventually took an Advil which helped the stomach pain, and my fainting slowly started to go away. I rushed up to my room, got kitted up in 5min, and left to race site with the girls. </div><div>At the race site, I was allowed to start a warm up on the rollers under coach supervision. I wasn't blacking out anymore, but I felt very dizzy and not "with it". The national team coaches were telling me to make a decision if I was going to race or not, and they made it clear they didn't want me to start. After talking to my parents, and they gave the coaches permission to let me race, I got into the starting gate just as they begin to call people up to the line. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7LdTET3XLyrKujvpJUqdHDM7twxXFi-KqpJqVfHdwB2JeMA4LXyFqO9s5jStlX0lzvvSNi96wMkjXC8u-L_UwGGve4nq85P4SCC28uiQDSY5hRq1tlurWaKnSUTX57R7J-vNEC250SE/s640/blogger-image--145928255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7LdTET3XLyrKujvpJUqdHDM7twxXFi-KqpJqVfHdwB2JeMA4LXyFqO9s5jStlX0lzvvSNi96wMkjXC8u-L_UwGGve4nq85P4SCC28uiQDSY5hRq1tlurWaKnSUTX57R7J-vNEC250SE/s640/blogger-image--145928255.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Despite feeling awful, I tried to refocus on the line to still stay in the game for my maximum race potential. However, once the race was underway, I really started to feel my sickness. I felt myself almost pass out and vomit several times before I pulled out at the feed zone, almost done one lap.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLc89iBEQVKn0bDKgfxtD4OTpPgCTESJhVqVDyshbGjXbGauRE7llbXugM1MFaD05kQp-sIieSmWC0sK2FUebw3K5sx2YlvDNf8AA4Q-mXH3Sv2Uh7X4udvGsaICFCCBQFJR_e3JOqYB6/s640/blogger-image-2015461134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLc89iBEQVKn0bDKgfxtD4OTpPgCTESJhVqVDyshbGjXbGauRE7llbXugM1MFaD05kQp-sIieSmWC0sK2FUebw3K5sx2YlvDNf8AA4Q-mXH3Sv2Uh7X4udvGsaICFCCBQFJR_e3JOqYB6/s640/blogger-image-2015461134.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> I sat there for 30min unable to move without feeling like barfing, just trying to grasp the idea that all I've trained for this year got flushed down the drain by things I can't control. </div><div>Of all the days of the year, the day of World Championships would be the worst time of the year for me to get the stomach flu. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nobody else got sick, I ate all my usual food, and I was more than prepared to race my best.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">t's easy to sulk around asking, "Why me? Why now?" but the reality is that</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> bad luck happens. However, my disappointment definitely isn't going to impede my motivation! You have to able to move on from whatever is getting you down or trying to hold you back, in order to maintain focus and comittment. May it be an uncontrollable stomach flu, a controllable mid-race face plant, or anything else. </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>The Juniors of team Canada had some outstanding results!! I was so proud of my team mates, as well as the U23 and Elite Canadian riders. #CanadianTough <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvh25Agc3QTes27gOrLEtgxNFKnYf0XkE6RcyP8xlhyykmIqVCkczDPYlwzAblc-deVk0eAFbF2CfoMpHsIJZY7xwwk3FAvu0AFQEFNsQDcgexupkv-VDnr-0iKTykUPtkdjAtGz_wmP1/s640/blogger-image--1323627956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvh25Agc3QTes27gOrLEtgxNFKnYf0XkE6RcyP8xlhyykmIqVCkczDPYlwzAblc-deVk0eAFbF2CfoMpHsIJZY7xwwk3FAvu0AFQEFNsQDcgexupkv-VDnr-0iKTykUPtkdjAtGz_wmP1/s640/blogger-image--1323627956.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvh25Agc3QTes27gOrLEtgxNFKnYf0XkE6RcyP8xlhyykmIqVCkczDPYlwzAblc-deVk0eAFbF2CfoMpHsIJZY7xwwk3FAvu0AFQEFNsQDcgexupkv-VDnr-0iKTykUPtkdjAtGz_wmP1/s640/blogger-image--1323627956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TlY5lxMNvF0iuUn8RIZWWKaC-Sil2kiPlr38p_wAr2BChuHoeRD3Z5TSynv0ggd2oUJXpR9XQguSjDeogi3RMPPIVL1yhobTVlQs2OGer-eyKB21iN-Syud7rb2vjWQ6QfqaAUf43Ac6/s640/blogger-image--624343476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TlY5lxMNvF0iuUn8RIZWWKaC-Sil2kiPlr38p_wAr2BChuHoeRD3Z5TSynv0ggd2oUJXpR9XQguSjDeogi3RMPPIVL1yhobTVlQs2OGer-eyKB21iN-Syud7rb2vjWQ6QfqaAUf43Ac6/s640/blogger-image--624343476.jpg"></a></div></div></i></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That night I finally hit the vomiting stage of my sickness, and for the next few days I couldn't eat anything without feeling sick. </span></div><div>One day later, I had to leave Andorra early to head back to Canada for university at McMaster! It was really great to see my family when they picked me up from the airport, and we celebrated my dads, Carter's, and my own birthday in Hamilton. (Fun fact: my dads birthday is Sept. 5, Carter's is Sept 6, & mine is Sept 7! And my moms is Sept 11!) It's also crazy to think that I am officially an adult now as well... But not like I'm going to act like one!</div><div> </div><div>Going straight to university from Andorra was quite the whirlwind, but after one week I'm starting to get comfortable at McMaster. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><u>Exciting news:</u></b></div><div><b><u>I'm on the McMaster varsity xc running team! </u></b></div><div>I will be focusing on running, along with my cross season training for the next couple months. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeuOth94gGSQLSaJyOk3pCmUuIvsWwSaLmDZvpoQkl3bdWYoAPh9ZzJIXok-_DrO6-OA3UnoHIFJsfLOat-xDby5DZqVUyYuGeasmJSfI40-I5gdpZPdSk2KTLw39r60GtugI2rjw5tls/s640/blogger-image-1996112093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeuOth94gGSQLSaJyOk3pCmUuIvsWwSaLmDZvpoQkl3bdWYoAPh9ZzJIXok-_DrO6-OA3UnoHIFJsfLOat-xDby5DZqVUyYuGeasmJSfI40-I5gdpZPdSk2KTLw39r60GtugI2rjw5tls/s640/blogger-image-1996112093.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I already can't wait for next season!!! As of now, I am officially a U23! Wow I feel old... </div><div><br></div><div><u><b>MASSIVE THANK YOU's</b></u></div><div><br></div><div>I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me this season! I have had some of my best races this season, and have had some unfortunate races due to crashes and bad luck. Those great races along with the bad races have given me so much to learn and improve from, while I fall in love with my sport of mountain biking more and more every day. </div><div>My second year on the Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team was even better than the first with such a strong Trek family with Barry Near as our hero! </div><div>My training with coach Kevin Simms was outstanding as he puts so much time and effort into his athletes improvement and enjoyment of racing. </div><div>Thank you to Hammer Nutrition for fueling me all year, Back to Function in Orillia for physio treatment, Smith Optics for my favourite glasses, World Gym in Orillia for an outstanding training facility, and all my family and friends for being there with me every step of the way!<br><div><br></div></div></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-38636419052959478772015-08-04T08:43:00.000-07:002019-06-28T07:05:17.922-07:00Quebec in July: Nationals, Team Canada Camp + more I<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> feel like Quebec has become my new home since I've been here for most of July racing and training! Yet, I still fail to be able to hold a conversation in French... I'm working on that! </span><br />
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The Baie St Paul Canada Cup kicked off the expedition, where I had a solid race winning the Junior Girls category. This win was a relief because I had now met the criteria to be selected to the World Championships Canadian team! </div>
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Going into Nationals, it's nice to have that as a safety net in case the Nationals race doesn't go well... And thank god I had that safety net...<br />
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On the cold, rainy morning of National Championships, I didn't get the National Champion jersey.... But I got a smashed helmet and a gnarly looking face instead. </div>
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The race was going well for the first 2 laps as I was leading, yet only by 15 seconds. On lap 3, 2nd place found my wheel and we begun to battle it out as the anticipation of the finish line drew nearer. </div>
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About half way through that last lap, I aimed wrong coming around a corner onto a rock bridge over a little river ditch and I went over the bars into the rocky ditch. My head took most of the fall as I smashed my helmet, got a swollen/bit lip, swollen/scraped cheek bone, and bruised eye, nose, and forehead... Oh plus a swollen knee, shoulder, wrist, and two thighs. Just close your eyes and picture a mangled peach; yup that was me. </div>
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It's definitely race instinct to get up and keep going after a crash, and believe me; I tried. However, I felt really shaken up in the head from the impact, I was bleeding a lot from my face, and my whole body felt beaten. It was a minute or two before someone found where I was lying and I was given help to walk to the first aid. There, they tended to my wounds and did a lot of concussion testing.</div>
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I had never DNF'd a race before, and all the pressure and hype around Nationals made it very difficult to mentally accept that bitter ending to my Canada Cup season. Although, it's an important part of the pursuit of athletic excellence to learn how to deal with disappointment and use it as motivational fuel while maintaining focus and confidence. </div>
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I was told I had a minor concussion and that's when my concussion recovery protocol began. That next week was pretty brutal. I have a new understanding empathy for anyone who has ever had to deal with concussions now. I did recover well, and felt normal again after a week or so, but I know it's not that easy for many people's recovery. It's just so awful not being able to do ANYTHING, just waiting for brain recovery. </div>
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I got a lot of amazing help from Back to Function in Orillia, Dr. Bell, and Tara Lazarski from Team Canada, and so I was able to travel back to Quebec for a training camp with Team Canada this past week! </div>
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The World Cup was in Mont St Anne this past weekend, and since there is no Junior age category, the juniors had a training camp and cheered on everyone else in the downhill and XC races! It was a fantastic week with tons of climbing up mountains, descending rad downhilling trails, and team bonding.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u>I HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN SELECTED FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH TEAM CANADA IN ANDORRA!!!</u></i></b></span></div>
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Putting nationals behind me, I'm focusing on performing my best for the rest of the season. World's has always been my main focus for this year and I'm going to continue to train hard for the high altitude race in Andorra! I can't wait to travel back to beautiful Europe in one month :) </div>
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I also have to prepare myself for Univeristy! I'll have to travel straight from Worlds to university as I'll be getting back the first day of classes. I'm going to McMaster for Kinesiology, and I couldn't be more excited to learn about topics I read on anyways in my spare time! I'm quite a nerd for exercise science....<br />
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So this next month will be focused on quality training, preparing for Uni, and of course enjoying some relaxing cottage time! </div>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-68525131614997939922015-06-16T06:05:00.001-07:002015-06-16T06:05:41.215-07:00Hardwood & Horseshoe Canada CupThis past week has been non-stop action with the Pan-Am and COF events, school events/assignments as my senior year wraps up, and the past 2 weekends of Canada Cup races! <div><br></div><div>I am ecstatic to have won both Canada Cup races with a strong lead on my Trek Superfly SL! I couldn't have had this success without the support of the Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team, Barry Near, Kevin Simms, and my family! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB-kS1485h4NPw_5cd64QN6yt1xvNh-8Kc2_1Vw_AaFR60sT0FzXZz7mWmKAT4Ks5n67e3q9bCKR9o7o_yKRVK8S1kG710QOjAw5QPB1lty7s6ZQ11nat4UQXa3b9cmf4bwod-BzwbUBe/s640/blogger-image-979083864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB-kS1485h4NPw_5cd64QN6yt1xvNh-8Kc2_1Vw_AaFR60sT0FzXZz7mWmKAT4Ks5n67e3q9bCKR9o7o_yKRVK8S1kG710QOjAw5QPB1lty7s6ZQ11nat4UQXa3b9cmf4bwod-BzwbUBe/s640/blogger-image-979083864.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Horseshoe was a very hot and dusty race, polar opposite from race day at the Trek Store Canada Cup at Hardwood.... </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwd5IKnxmgbSMCQXknUUVzpI9Galcz_7fxMTOzMy-FKrXSM9vdGMrlQKaXpkRwtluP_zQVYd5k3JeRHbKGh9m8uNL2l33QJcdEzbiWT1ketqP5935SmBWV9Erw32_XV3sUv16nDrWWZVk/s640/blogger-image-2075399725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwd5IKnxmgbSMCQXknUUVzpI9Galcz_7fxMTOzMy-FKrXSM9vdGMrlQKaXpkRwtluP_zQVYd5k3JeRHbKGh9m8uNL2l33QJcdEzbiWT1ketqP5935SmBWV9Erw32_XV3sUv16nDrWWZVk/s640/blogger-image-2075399725.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>It absolutely POURED rain during this race, but muddy races are always a blast!!! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiidba9sjPO6fgRkD9nGSP47pvnII96gU3gUL2OLUMHOzlJ2lt55neGWu1uwwLasxFxLPLz2p5s0qSV-QGFwbgpk5ueq6j_VOVo55KIZFTL8S6o5sidyhPws_gbQzsnDM5mUiUfWn4cWD/s640/blogger-image-684895170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiidba9sjPO6fgRkD9nGSP47pvnII96gU3gUL2OLUMHOzlJ2lt55neGWu1uwwLasxFxLPLz2p5s0qSV-QGFwbgpk5ueq6j_VOVo55KIZFTL8S6o5sidyhPws_gbQzsnDM5mUiUfWn4cWD/s640/blogger-image-684895170.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPy1v6d6zZ8jWx2sApiVP2BUkWBytXhbvN5hhbL3Y4F6qIfV26V5IanBr8PWGkeiD0M8TbMnuPRiIESertSNvJ2BQBVp-2ci77DHEEPxDVLwKfbdfECoDi7roKzI4wExoCTkvaAd3hdyU/s640/blogger-image--653377564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPy1v6d6zZ8jWx2sApiVP2BUkWBytXhbvN5hhbL3Y4F6qIfV26V5IanBr8PWGkeiD0M8TbMnuPRiIESertSNvJ2BQBVp-2ci77DHEEPxDVLwKfbdfECoDi7roKzI4wExoCTkvaAd3hdyU/s640/blogger-image--653377564.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNXzsIwaU2Ar31fsomYzhYL1JNUTK-xfZIwyEGB1SNbHtwhPwZZcOCOyv8efmDEveJGTdiO-RCtgDPWMzEMMop7TnthzFIASeYLoG26C7gmGezoONRnggL10nyodpk2pNx4v1xPEiXvKc/s640/blogger-image--2127490993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNXzsIwaU2Ar31fsomYzhYL1JNUTK-xfZIwyEGB1SNbHtwhPwZZcOCOyv8efmDEveJGTdiO-RCtgDPWMzEMMop7TnthzFIASeYLoG26C7gmGezoONRnggL10nyodpk2pNx4v1xPEiXvKc/s640/blogger-image--2127490993.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Congrats to my team members who also had strong races! Jon rode to another win, Tyler had his best race yet this year with a 4th in Junior Men, and our Elite Men, Peter and Mitch, endured the slippery conditions to finish with a 9th and 12th position finish! </div><br></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now that the early season races are over, we are a few weeks away from the next big race: Baie St. Paul Canada Cup, where I can continue to wear the Leader's jersey! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV0Slbj2EenCsUn9kRYI0yx5ucPt0P5tfMi2JgdqgruPLHPH6DX0hm806bsGnjXFwj7YSIxlNXerBYDqTFGBEBgjaGaTLgm7Aw58O-EbInjJDmUI_njQaW9BR_8ipf5i_QdJg0gqO8yDS/s640/blogger-image-35885284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV0Slbj2EenCsUn9kRYI0yx5ucPt0P5tfMi2JgdqgruPLHPH6DX0hm806bsGnjXFwj7YSIxlNXerBYDqTFGBEBgjaGaTLgm7Aw58O-EbInjJDmUI_njQaW9BR_8ipf5i_QdJg0gqO8yDS/s640/blogger-image-35885284.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Being the podium girls with the Trek Canada Team for the 10:30 start awards! </div><br></span></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-6465432087506112932015-06-14T05:53:00.002-07:002015-06-14T05:56:40.997-07:00#NowOrNever Starting back in March I began working with the Canadian Olympic Foundation for the creation of their #NowOrNever Campaign for the Pan Am 2015 Games in Toronto! A few months ago I spent a day down in Toronto filming shots for the commercial and my short documentary... and both of these have now been released! <br />
I was on live CBC television on the Heather Hiscox morning show this past Friday for the debut of the campaign and the release of my short documentary video. Getting interviewed on live TV was nerve-racking to say the least, yet such a crazy cool experience! I even got the whole makeup crew and everything! <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">LINK TO MY LIVE CBC INTERVIEW </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/player/Sports/ID/2669371091/" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">HERE</span></a></h3>
It was so great to meet Heather Hiscox.... despite my nerves, she made it super easy to be on live TV. <br />
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(Notice how wrong the description of the video is... I am not competing in the Pan Am Games for anyone who was unsure. I am a next generation athlete, so hopefully the next Pan Am Games!)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Here is the link to the Canadian Olympic Team Press Website with my version of the campaign:</span> </h3>
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<a href="http://press.olympic.ca/building-olympians-nowornever"><span style="color: purple;">http://press.olympic.ca/building-olympians-nowornever</span></a> </h3>
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<img alt="" class="img-responsive img-header img-rounded" src="http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/storage.prezly.com/7c/f719a010b211e58d034757e9bb9478/COC_Track_02_140717.jpg" height="425" width="640" /><br />
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<em>Here is my short documentary video:</em> <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bt_vUps5WXY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bt_vUps5WXY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<em>Here is the #NowOrNever commercial (See me for half a second at 0:27 seconds!)</em><br />
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I am so honoured to have been involved with this campaign as a Next Generation athlete! As a result of this campaign I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing Olympic athletes, CBC broadcasters, and members of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. This whole experience has inspired me so much to continue to strive for my goals.</div>
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<em><u>THANK YOU COF</u></em></div>
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<strong>This past week I was also a Torchbearer in Orillia!!!</strong> </div>
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(S/O to Carter for being an Oro Torchbearer!) </div>
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I cannot thank my parents enough for all of their support so I can be as involved in athletics as I am. </div>
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Also THANK YOU to the <strong>Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team, Barry Near, and Kevin Simms</strong> for making all of my success so far possible! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meeting Marni McBean with the other Next Gen Athletes that were featured in the #NowOrNever Campaign!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I got to HOLD one of her 3 Olympic Gold medals in Rowing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After my CBC interview I spent the day at the COF kids fun day event signing autographs along side Olympians, Marni and Julia Wilkinson, CBC Sports Broadcaster, Scott Russell, and my new Next Gen friend, Mariam Abdul Rashid who is a CRAZY good track sprinter!</span> </td></tr>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-8979897961490648512015-06-07T17:37:00.001-07:002015-06-07T17:37:20.538-07:00HAMMER TIME BANNEGGS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ol-uaK88e6Y/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ol-uaK88e6Y?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
I made a Youtube video sharing my favourite breakfast with a special Hammer Nutrition touch!<br />
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Thank you to Hammer Nutrition Canada for all the amazing support and yummy training food/powders/gels! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcqSI8D98W9YH-9gyBCoPiTYRrSlE-3i6drDy1T9yTf3uGB_7k2ZUIHTZ2GB73F0nlEHtaGyFZqeUJoS3yWV00OSejwoRwldxVSpcDJASQW6l5735OePpB650K1hHWpe9VgSP0c-WlUcR/s1600/Hammer-Badge_Canada1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcqSI8D98W9YH-9gyBCoPiTYRrSlE-3i6drDy1T9yTf3uGB_7k2ZUIHTZ2GB73F0nlEHtaGyFZqeUJoS3yWV00OSejwoRwldxVSpcDJASQW6l5735OePpB650K1hHWpe9VgSP0c-WlUcR/s1600/Hammer-Badge_Canada1.png" /></a></div>
Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-16910544170763670102015-05-20T10:20:00.001-07:002015-05-20T10:20:48.816-07:00Tremblant Canada Cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ND8OcmmwuQwnkGY7Cguwnn9arysHqJV0KW30iH9rXy_AVnH1-VZUL3vt9Tk2YRUEDMjbsP28_q5sngYCKy6RzoB_CZf4-lHOEzvQt-x9dTjY6Gp-HGHS3MzbFXuUJB-9TkTkVH-eioVL/s640/blogger-image-212682346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tremblant was, yet again, one of the most fun race weekends of the year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The party never ended in the Trek Canada condo, just kidding, we are very serious people (especially Jon Barnes). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Race day was a huge success! Jon Barnes kicked it off with a win in his race, then Peter, Tyler, and I had a later start. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I felt fresh on race day and went for a European style race, full gas start to finish. I managed to form a gap off the start, and keep it growing throughout the race. It felt great to take the win in the first Canada Cup of the season! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ND8OcmmwuQwnkGY7Cguwnn9arysHqJV0KW30iH9rXy_AVnH1-VZUL3vt9Tk2YRUEDMjbsP28_q5sngYCKy6RzoB_CZf4-lHOEzvQt-x9dTjY6Gp-HGHS3MzbFXuUJB-9TkTkVH-eioVL/s640/blogger-image-212682346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zfjfyWEHPvdpwjgVIcG-aw6j8Y-sbb24TzIkGqI76dM1EqkpHsb0JpqbaAJ1uzIafWF0ltRqEU7lo33HQDC2X7KRXJ8yax88x2baZD9uIjiAXNJ26ccMB6O9bWsczSjrYnd03pN9NxE7/s640/blogger-image-440138004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zfjfyWEHPvdpwjgVIcG-aw6j8Y-sbb24TzIkGqI76dM1EqkpHsb0JpqbaAJ1uzIafWF0ltRqEU7lo33HQDC2X7KRXJ8yax88x2baZD9uIjiAXNJ26ccMB6O9bWsczSjrYnd03pN9NxE7/s640/blogger-image-440138004.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bTSwN5pM5Ilfmo8pyr7PgEcbvZz225Lne8DDbiPMg8zpiLm8QAkeVXpPya1hj_Xnheci19w9DF9hARuOQeggy_uko-qoMoJTwhNsvn-9SqT_uoV28YsVFBFeXlsMC_whMijuWb98-24b/s640/blogger-image--1155914235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bTSwN5pM5Ilfmo8pyr7PgEcbvZz225Lne8DDbiPMg8zpiLm8QAkeVXpPya1hj_Xnheci19w9DF9hARuOQeggy_uko-qoMoJTwhNsvn-9SqT_uoV28YsVFBFeXlsMC_whMijuWb98-24b/s640/blogger-image--1155914235.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ND8OcmmwuQwnkGY7Cguwnn9arysHqJV0KW30iH9rXy_AVnH1-VZUL3vt9Tk2YRUEDMjbsP28_q5sngYCKy6RzoB_CZf4-lHOEzvQt-x9dTjY6Gp-HGHS3MzbFXuUJB-9TkTkVH-eioVL/s640/blogger-image-212682346.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tyler's race was going great before a hard crash, and he persevered to the finish. Peter finished with a solid 18th in the Elite Men, and he was very nice when he caught me in the race. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">After the race, Tyler and I went with Team Ontario to Bromont for a couple great days of downhill training! <br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UteDeoBNqvqittNkv_CW-gQ2E_ylKAcPNH5_rHwuPeVkLMErFPPqsCNumycqWYRxE0uoBf__q_lLKc1QG7LeM_vCWLzd07ccZ3SHKlgEMUGt8UGI8C5MteJK8i3r5rg_8QpSDCQmNFIZ/s640/blogger-image-1558688877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UteDeoBNqvqittNkv_CW-gQ2E_ylKAcPNH5_rHwuPeVkLMErFPPqsCNumycqWYRxE0uoBf__q_lLKc1QG7LeM_vCWLzd07ccZ3SHKlgEMUGt8UGI8C5MteJK8i3r5rg_8QpSDCQmNFIZ/s640/blogger-image-1558688877.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxb1r1pzGq3Zd2Wf492W_0kviIocM0EQe2c2qFTMcBbKRuGWp2ILaBgDvW0pYiTsnY1C7X7yMgt1jJPV4smCbyhg3f3eAq4nmWCusvvaTNjEhr-Pnn804_87u9tH6c5KbNgkjmloIKWX_/s640/blogger-image--300999882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxb1r1pzGq3Zd2Wf492W_0kviIocM0EQe2c2qFTMcBbKRuGWp2ILaBgDvW0pYiTsnY1C7X7yMgt1jJPV4smCbyhg3f3eAq4nmWCusvvaTNjEhr-Pnn804_87u9tH6c5KbNgkjmloIKWX_/s640/blogger-image--300999882.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>My favourite Hammer energy bars were much needed to keep me going during the long training days! </i></div><br></div></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-83733667123361200902015-05-15T18:01:00.001-07:002015-05-16T17:20:17.439-07:00European Adventures<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">So it's been almost two weeks since I returned from Europe! I had planned to make a post about my trip earlier, but school has taken over my life since I've been home... </span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Overall, Europe was absolutely INCREDIBLE: The people, the towns, the biking, the racing, the weather; it all made for a truly unforgettable time. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This project consisted of 4 Junior National Team Athletes (Erica Leonard, Quinton Disera, Laurie Arsenault, and myself) and The Junior National Team Developmental Coach, Ian Hughes. Our adventures begin in Stuggart, Germany where we departed the planes and stayed one night before driving to Oetz, Austria.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpYRyjDUd0vQl2GV2zzt1eyNduDbe4OdYuzf0V0vRHvJyRo-1R0GT2e0uy8Tc1dhJTW-UIw-f41DNJRDcaCa2DEkNWq2oWHqX5fEgCyvnk3sRwmJeVx1qD7B3ripZeeRVeN4YGUZuLH25/s640/blogger-image--1787687172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpYRyjDUd0vQl2GV2zzt1eyNduDbe4OdYuzf0V0vRHvJyRo-1R0GT2e0uy8Tc1dhJTW-UIw-f41DNJRDcaCa2DEkNWq2oWHqX5fEgCyvnk3sRwmJeVx1qD7B3ripZeeRVeN4YGUZuLH25/s640/blogger-image--1787687172.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyUDPq0388UH8hB-a2zcV-i8upFMjl8heCKYNVjO22iShOUvY8-zPq3xmDWFpPP7fYuQAtA8mHytV4yr8gCn7ieSOL9pSa4POm7FsiIkGjX0JJDJlxKtJcO3R5a5UfnunepXmwNKSbH41/s640/blogger-image-1837818289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyUDPq0388UH8hB-a2zcV-i8upFMjl8heCKYNVjO22iShOUvY8-zPq3xmDWFpPP7fYuQAtA8mHytV4yr8gCn7ieSOL9pSa4POm7FsiIkGjX0JJDJlxKtJcO3R5a5UfnunepXmwNKSbH41/s640/blogger-image-1837818289.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">My breath was taken away by beautiful Austria from start to finish. We were constantly surrounded by green hills and fields with blossoming flowers while snow peaked mountains towered over. The race course was very difficult physically and technically with steep climbs and many elements. Leading up to race day, we spent our time previewing the course, ice bathing in the river, exploring town, and much more to avoid our school work. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EveTDFS9VhIkn2nyjTD1yYx3raif6jOCi882M8azrXC_P8FQK8K_wQEVOQUmHGpOpz1eN8ZghN4eKdSbBQVFXkPIPEjTbBQAA28-HYWVTovj8TKwv4ZsG6byF9DBOn7jAr3FQZGPMUFy/s640/blogger-image-124504531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EveTDFS9VhIkn2nyjTD1yYx3raif6jOCi882M8azrXC_P8FQK8K_wQEVOQUmHGpOpz1eN8ZghN4eKdSbBQVFXkPIPEjTbBQAA28-HYWVTovj8TKwv4ZsG6byF9DBOn7jAr3FQZGPMUFy/s640/blogger-image-124504531.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Come race time, it was hot and dusty, especially at my 2:00pm start. It was very cool to be wearing the Canadian Champion jersey on the start line, surrounded by girls from all around the World. With a lack of UCI points, us Canadian girls had awful start positions in the mass start. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The race begun and I found myself mid-pack, elbow to elbow, trying to channel my inner aggressive tiger. I rode well for the first lap and a half, not totally enthralled with my position but also not totally upset about it. Then the combination of the energy-sucking heat, my jet lag, and early-season legs created a wall, and I hit the wall like never before. It took every last ounce of my energy to actually make it up the climbs, and it felt as though someone had put a 50lbs weight in my back. Heading into the fourth and final lap, it was a shameful relief when I got pulled by the 80% rule. I was very disappointed, since I've never even come close to being pulled before, but I seriously don't know if I could have physically finished another lap of that course! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NcB9TzUECHygHCOaJEvNXYJ6XF2LqPSh6AaafkVtg2WcvCGzhzb3ANELhFCOUjZJpdFUG-A4l2qi4BQZzcjiOujT1-OTjNRpqfJE8OqiWsVM5hX8CK0H_lvGpKeOwBlQ0lLQQuLjXUz3/s640/blogger-image--609333448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NcB9TzUECHygHCOaJEvNXYJ6XF2LqPSh6AaafkVtg2WcvCGzhzb3ANELhFCOUjZJpdFUG-A4l2qi4BQZzcjiOujT1-OTjNRpqfJE8OqiWsVM5hX8CK0H_lvGpKeOwBlQ0lLQQuLjXUz3/s640/blogger-image--609333448.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NcB9TzUECHygHCOaJEvNXYJ6XF2LqPSh6AaafkVtg2WcvCGzhzb3ANELhFCOUjZJpdFUG-A4l2qi4BQZzcjiOujT1-OTjNRpqfJE8OqiWsVM5hX8CK0H_lvGpKeOwBlQ0lLQQuLjXUz3/s640/blogger-image--609333448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98OsEhazxaIHu9SNWv7qp8golsrwA0b2gk_qm5XhsHM9JmBSVzHWLzKWSmRcDeZLNDQ3Vr_93i2GCEWsMNatl3NapFxtFmArVlgJ5tbNHvkdXSDgoEtTxoUe_pv5CGgXly742E6nyc7hm/s640/blogger-image-1453298343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98OsEhazxaIHu9SNWv7qp8golsrwA0b2gk_qm5XhsHM9JmBSVzHWLzKWSmRcDeZLNDQ3Vr_93i2GCEWsMNatl3NapFxtFmArVlgJ5tbNHvkdXSDgoEtTxoUe_pv5CGgXly742E6nyc7hm/s640/blogger-image-1453298343.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">After that race, Erica's positivity kept me smiling while I tried to turn my feelings of failure into motivation to take my game to the next level. One of my favourite quotes, from my ski coach, Ron Howden, helped me a lot after this race. It goes something like this:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Without failure, you can never be a success. Failure is NOT an indication that you are less of an athlete. Failure should never be a stick that you beat yourself up with. Instead, failure is simply feedback, and FEEDBACK IS THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS. Remember, if you're afraid to fail, then you won't take risks. Failure should always make you CURIOUS, rather than FURIOUS. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">With that, I was mentally set to go risk it all again the next week in the Germany race! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60iZVUJUSkB4VSaImP-Yo2wElX0iVw2vNuqxp7fPjPriw1VdMjsQE54a5_wQ2GubdfQcQUKf-Uhk-3TVwisdxKtvUSDGg5gRqYd6KAiUvEpPL2xyGk1frarodOWXn_S6yxRznUcksrAXj/s640/blogger-image-1601661060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60iZVUJUSkB4VSaImP-Yo2wElX0iVw2vNuqxp7fPjPriw1VdMjsQE54a5_wQ2GubdfQcQUKf-Uhk-3TVwisdxKtvUSDGg5gRqYd6KAiUvEpPL2xyGk1frarodOWXn_S6yxRznUcksrAXj/s640/blogger-image-1601661060.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>My precious Superfly</i></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The next day was probably my favourite day of the trip. It begun with a 3 hour adventure ride through Austrian towns and hiking trails with waterfalls. Next, we drove up as high as we could on the mountains to get some killer view points and to pass the tree line with snow. Then we went to Innsbruck... I swear I'm going to go back there in my life. It was the most beautiful city I've ever been in and the culture was outstanding. We acted as tourists, ate a great dinner, then happily headed back to Oetz. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R-2JNpKKeUcM42jiqGdqHhy981T1qDeuLrtAZhTTbVqkvNoCHjpyo_46V58b71Cl7dS8cx_jUeUA2-h2Dc4gly2MqwfMXo9QG8yRwaBNtOWi5yKbuUBHXzf58fcL01N8_AUY83SsHYW6/s640/blogger-image-1611207585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R-2JNpKKeUcM42jiqGdqHhy981T1qDeuLrtAZhTTbVqkvNoCHjpyo_46V58b71Cl7dS8cx_jUeUA2-h2Dc4gly2MqwfMXo9QG8yRwaBNtOWi5yKbuUBHXzf58fcL01N8_AUY83SsHYW6/s640/blogger-image-1611207585.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4md6vGj1swKzNhXjOm7oTeAbtdyLsa8hlR8bvddydXGarZhYFZJRBoRQ9ZMc-DnBbCgCyvdwpcSG-nSoSI2jJ0VtoJk8AiTut0hk_eYeKijxzhIQCgRwbL3R_60aIGIR2C4jCLdVoqyO/s640/blogger-image-1245594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4md6vGj1swKzNhXjOm7oTeAbtdyLsa8hlR8bvddydXGarZhYFZJRBoRQ9ZMc-DnBbCgCyvdwpcSG-nSoSI2jJ0VtoJk8AiTut0hk_eYeKijxzhIQCgRwbL3R_60aIGIR2C4jCLdVoqyO/s640/blogger-image-1245594.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Innsbruck</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuBB9lNvTRUcl0lv3SrZsh8D1NdTuqUZpAM15_SgOJnH7ywBeEJiX1BMdDN0PGkaRlqUi-LDjCRrxenl263nf4OKT3ytosQRfy-6z1nQ9ixeuBU8MvqqieaU20okn3WFiRnQsKgblq9p6/s640/blogger-image-1936872449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuBB9lNvTRUcl0lv3SrZsh8D1NdTuqUZpAM15_SgOJnH7ywBeEJiX1BMdDN0PGkaRlqUi-LDjCRrxenl263nf4OKT3ytosQRfy-6z1nQ9ixeuBU8MvqqieaU20okn3WFiRnQsKgblq9p6/s640/blogger-image-1936872449.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Now comes the Germany chapter of this (long, I know) story/ blog post. (& if you've made it this far and are still reading... Keep up the good work!)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Germany didn't have the mountains like Austria but there was still lots of elevation to be made. It was raining pretty much every day, which didn't make it great for off-bike exploration, but it made the rides SUPER MUDDY and that's exactly what I love! The race course was one up hill, and one downhill. That may sound easy, but HA nope. It was about an 18 minute steep, loose, rocky double track climb, then a 3 minute fast, technical decent. For the type of riding that I had been doing early season on the road, this course actually suited me very well. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(Side note: Absalon stayed RIGHT across the hall from us at our hotel! All us Junior Canadian were star struck. )</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxk26AAWnfIBdUMaND-bBFONTHjKYm8WfivcTxjpMoKV2vGX63A5KxMhG-qJyiUPd1q20rmNAVNoe3JwskBKSPpLN5mLrmnH3gg3Xy-V0lnREpNENZgyZgbKMo2Kdu1xH5QIdqi5BfB6k/s640/blogger-image-168869589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxk26AAWnfIBdUMaND-bBFONTHjKYm8WfivcTxjpMoKV2vGX63A5KxMhG-qJyiUPd1q20rmNAVNoe3JwskBKSPpLN5mLrmnH3gg3Xy-V0lnREpNENZgyZgbKMo2Kdu1xH5QIdqi5BfB6k/s640/blogger-image-168869589.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Day before race with Quinton!</i></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Race day was the muddiest day yet as racers were coming across the line covered head to toe. Again, with awful start positions and a bottle neck 100m from the start line, I was close to last heading up the climb. However, I felt really good that day and was actually passing lots of girls on the climbs! Once the descent came I was making up even more ground on my competitors as I attacked downhill, feeling confident and smooth in the slippery conditions. On the final lap, I was in the lower twenties heading into the descent, right on the tail of a pack of 3. I quickly caught the pack and knew I had to make a pass soon if I was ever going to get by before the finish 1km away. Ripping around a corner, my tires slipped and I fell, getting even more covered in mud. I quickly got back on my bike, but then quickly fell again because of my slippery hands and caked tires!! After this scene and some struggle to get back on my bike because of the difficult terrain, I had been passed by about 5 girls... I was frustrated, but still laughing because of the craziness of the conditions, and road smoothly to the finish! Overall, I was very proud of my performance at that race, putting aside the unfortunate ending, and it felt great to finish a World-Class race happy for the first time. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXJ38Z_6IFp6rpz8QW5tc_cPaSJ1ZFxltvPcULcXUvpg-_MbAfOOq32iGxn10PJSzkgbDCZgIVjViYL81VPMwBfEYu1zg0phHGgfSxW6ZOQycGXU5TzQpa1m88HRofftzmUrto5TNQhR1/s640/blogger-image--1949380206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXJ38Z_6IFp6rpz8QW5tc_cPaSJ1ZFxltvPcULcXUvpg-_MbAfOOq32iGxn10PJSzkgbDCZgIVjViYL81VPMwBfEYu1zg0phHGgfSxW6ZOQycGXU5TzQpa1m88HRofftzmUrto5TNQhR1/s640/blogger-image--1949380206.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Start of the race... Let's play "Find Soren" (hint: green helmet) </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ6B_kYEAZDE3RUErncaxTGe-eN_xLnaotpwEDU-dCs_uZbjF69tu4JM3dga-keRMtbxoXJmdZkb_HI1gD2IgLJaSIPG5upSpNWMurLZxOm4kNMFhhuywVJujfjfQku3cYtgKNB1ZxWTO/s640/blogger-image--1450365743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ6B_kYEAZDE3RUErncaxTGe-eN_xLnaotpwEDU-dCs_uZbjF69tu4JM3dga-keRMtbxoXJmdZkb_HI1gD2IgLJaSIPG5upSpNWMurLZxOm4kNMFhhuywVJujfjfQku3cYtgKNB1ZxWTO/s640/blogger-image--1450365743.jpg"></a></div><i>Post race</i></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Later that day we got to watch the elite men race, and enjoyed some of the more unhealthy European foods we had been eyeing all week. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Our adventure ended the next day as we boarded our flights back home to Canada. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I owe an enormous thank you to Trek Canada, Cycling Canada, Kevin Simms, Ian Hughes, and my parents. I am so grateful for all of the support, in all different forms, I get from these people, that allow for my development on a World-Class level. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I am currently in Tremblant for the first Canada Cup of the year with the Trek Canada team! After the race I will be with Team Ontario at the National Development Center in Bromont for a few days of downhilling and training! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div>Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-74641123700689222152015-03-25T10:59:00.003-07:002015-03-25T11:03:41.031-07:00OFSAA, California, North Carolina, & Exciting News! So it has been a while since I have posted anything, but so much has been going on! This past month has been a real adventure, and it all begun with XC skiing OFSAA in Sudbury in the middle of February. <br />
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The frigid weather up north caused the race to be shortened and delayed very late into the day, but by nearly 4pm I was out on the race course! I felt really good that day, and ended up winning OFSAA for my second consecutive year! <br />
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The OFSAA banquet was that night, and like always, it was a blast! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OD/Park Secondary Team</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm_oUL-IWlKVyWrk5_h5byjzCH_xX15qDmFrpEbu04AvFzG3Oz7MEhKmbYRRno2TewepDevzj_xVmzLR-meYWD4AASRyUvYA7PBVfSDHo3tGeDNn9V6bygDoMVNDAuQPGSzrhTTfZwS99/s1600/photo+3fgdfg.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm_oUL-IWlKVyWrk5_h5byjzCH_xX15qDmFrpEbu04AvFzG3Oz7MEhKmbYRRno2TewepDevzj_xVmzLR-meYWD4AASRyUvYA7PBVfSDHo3tGeDNn9V6bygDoMVNDAuQPGSzrhTTfZwS99/s1600/photo+3fgdfg.PNG" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior Girls Podium </td></tr>
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I had to leave OFSAA that night of the banquet, because I had a plane to catch early the next morning! I was sad to be missing the team relay races, but I was on my way to California for the OCA training camp in Buellton. It was quite a shock going from -25 to +25 degree weather! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ak1aLoH8LGqNJ1dPy6zn08jKmbnKvv9NRNRKBGtKL8i137lXDb31QTRQVfjE7ZecUU2KpYWfx2-8ELA9uH4TtWXsqqX3jIZGdg3B4hsP7iBXwi1a25fSsyjdenZVe_VM2ON4C7_Lvhbz/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ak1aLoH8LGqNJ1dPy6zn08jKmbnKvv9NRNRKBGtKL8i137lXDb31QTRQVfjE7ZecUU2KpYWfx2-8ELA9uH4TtWXsqqX3jIZGdg3B4hsP7iBXwi1a25fSsyjdenZVe_VM2ON4C7_Lvhbz/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I had never been on a biking training camp before, since I've always been focusing solely on skiing in the winter, and before this camp I had only ever done one 100km ride. Surprisingly, I handled the volume and climbing really well; I even improved my 20min power by over 40 watts! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Trek Canada! <br />
Tyler, Peter, Mitch, and myself</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyEh000fYvKgKg8qeTpD-up2T66dK8-Y1SgQFjudSJDTPnxBwb9OjF1r1Iw9ZzXwm3R5TdtfWqHLSG2To-omdCIJcjxrzBrpFIJJP4pQQTHDqFqi0GJZoAnhMAsWWj0V27xdlY-Xf64tA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyEh000fYvKgKg8qeTpD-up2T66dK8-Y1SgQFjudSJDTPnxBwb9OjF1r1Iw9ZzXwm3R5TdtfWqHLSG2To-omdCIJcjxrzBrpFIJJP4pQQTHDqFqi0GJZoAnhMAsWWj0V27xdlY-Xf64tA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan's pristine selfie skills at the top of Mt. Gibraltar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Trip! We even saw a wild seal come up on shore</td></tr>
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After 8 days, I was very sad to leave the warm California weather and head back to cold reality, with 2 weeks worth of school work waiting for me. But after 2 weeks of drowning in, then getting caught up on school, I was in the OCA van heading down to North Carolina for the March Break! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sKh0QmUR4z7o9cR_Ah0ndScEeeN5Dm-8r8VUZtWSC9vaPAUWWhBqFWlUue-RHIcl4Yy4iOYDtEoa0VqBO6bkMLbU1ZcIu5KiAawuuBj4NRxUNuqcTD6nizSxInNxw92gEHBS-WrLOM_j/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sKh0QmUR4z7o9cR_Ah0ndScEeeN5Dm-8r8VUZtWSC9vaPAUWWhBqFWlUue-RHIcl4Yy4iOYDtEoa0VqBO6bkMLbU1ZcIu5KiAawuuBj4NRxUNuqcTD6nizSxInNxw92gEHBS-WrLOM_j/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved my smooth Trek Domane for all the hours I spend on the saddle<br />
(& fenders are cool right?)</td></tr>
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This camp pushed my limits again, and I topped my California training week as I had my new biggest week ever of miles, climbing, and time on saddle. We stayed on top of Scaly Mountain at the Mountain Retreat Camp, and at the end of every ride we had to climb at least another 1000m just to get back! (We ended up calling this camp the Everest camp because of how much climbing we did). The Ceasar's Head time trial day was also a success as I felt really good and was proud of my time up the climb! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Sassafrass after the Ceasars Head TT<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route 64: The Waterfall Climb </td></tr>
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It was really great to meet and become friends with a lot more cyclists from road and track disciplines on this camp. Since it was March Break with no school work, and for the first time ever the athletes didn't have to cook their own meals (because the camp staff cooked for everyone), us athletes had a lot more time to recover and spend time together! I got used to having an amazing buffet every meal on this camp too... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiked to a river with awesome waterfalls #wtb </td></tr>
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But now I'm home... back to cooking my own meals and spending hours on homework.... </div>
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However, my head is up because the race season is just around the corner!!! </div>
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The Trek Canada new race bike is almost ready for the team and I am so excited to see/ride it! We have added neon into our team colours for this year, so we are probably going to ride even faster just because we will look so cool.... because "look good = feel good= feel good= ride fast" is as true as it gets. </div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: yellow; color: red; font-size: large;"><u><em>!!!EXCITING NEWS!!!</em></u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">Officially, I am now going to Europe with Team Canada in less than a month!!! I am going with Erica Leonard, Quinton Disera, and Laurie Arsenault to Haiming, Austria, and Heubach, Germany for 2 UCI Junior Series races. I cannot wait to be expand my skills on new terrain and race some of the best Junior riders in the world!</span> </span></div>
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<strong><em><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">ALSO........</span></u></em></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">This Friday I am going down to Toronto to be a part of a Pan Am Brand Campaign photo shoot with the Canadian Olympic Committee!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">LIFE IS GOOD :)</span> </span></div>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-46261027409743079342015-02-02T12:19:00.000-08:002015-02-02T17:50:31.129-08:00Easterns <br />
Eastern Canadian Championships was held yet again at Nakkertok, and yet again I travelled to Ottawa to race for the weekend with Team Hardwood. However, this was no ordinary year because I had some of my best ski results yet!<br />
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To be honest, I was really hoping to make a mark at Eastern's this year because I've never been a top contender at national-level ski races before. Knowing that this is the biggest ski race I'll be going to this year, and most likely the biggest ski race I'll be going to in many years ... I wanted to perform my absolute best. <br />
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Team Hardwood sure got pampered this weekend in our HUGE houses that we rented! All of the older athletes got to stay in our own house, and that in itself made the weekend amazing. Not to mention the copious amounts of food that were at our every whim. <br />
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Ok, the races!! <br />
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A 3km interval-start skate race kicked off the weekend on Friday with a fast and fairly flat course. Most skiers say that 3km is one of the hardest distances because it's too short to really pace or get into a rhythm, but it's also too long to treat it like a full out sprint. It's about a 9min race, and every half a second could win or lose a placing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt4517TfKtV28xYEsJX9C3onfmwKKr2vne0QMO3RgSpAY9gLzX85yrEaH8FHgaQ1ltqkdDSsJjx7ew-dtMv6PkihQhw6rWerKRgArNcoSadEPHGhlb78R82U7vrzmtAX5GUgE17Fpplu2/s1600/DSC_9162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt4517TfKtV28xYEsJX9C3onfmwKKr2vne0QMO3RgSpAY9gLzX85yrEaH8FHgaQ1ltqkdDSsJjx7ew-dtMv6PkihQhw6rWerKRgArNcoSadEPHGhlb78R82U7vrzmtAX5GUgE17Fpplu2/s1600/DSC_9162.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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There really isn't much to say about this race aside from the fact that I went, and excuse my profanity, balls to the wall from start to finish. Usually, at the end of a race I try to act somewhat civilized after crossing the line in the midst of hyper-ventilating, adrenaline and hormone raged girls just staying on their feet long enough to dive bomb/spastically fall on the other side of the finish line. But Friday was an embarrassing exception. <br />
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Yup, that was me, arms and legs flailing then crashing to the snow, sprawling there like some invisible person is performing defibrillation on my chest, making noises of a rooster-hyena hybrid. (Not to mention while an official is trying to get the bib off my back and move me out of the way of incoming racers) <br />
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I'd like to believe that this all occurred because of my beyond-normal effort on the trails (which is probably 90% true), but it also feels pretty great to just let loose like that sometimes. What can I say, I'm a reckless kinda girl...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2JixVwgkRHqh8I6MuvbVcb1fu1w7sWy-viGQuoFpRbGlq7g3uqxXz366tosAHUabUriD7KV5JZ_34JT_I8VajUyUWupLLy-mGEFLOJUDgzDEAAkQ6LCmqi8WhHhv44G_wS483rxGx-IZ/s1600/DSC_9482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2JixVwgkRHqh8I6MuvbVcb1fu1w7sWy-viGQuoFpRbGlq7g3uqxXz366tosAHUabUriD7KV5JZ_34JT_I8VajUyUWupLLy-mGEFLOJUDgzDEAAkQ6LCmqi8WhHhv44G_wS483rxGx-IZ/s1600/DSC_9482.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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So after I calmed my systems down, I leaned that I finished 3rd!! Saying I was on top of the moon is an understatement because I'd never won a medal at a ski race bigger than an Ocup before that moment! <br />
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Saturday turned out to be a tad more difficult pre-race because the weather was so cold. Everyone was unsure whether we were going to race at all, or if we did we would only go zone 2 so we don't ruin our lungs while gasping for freezing air. <br />
Thankfully, the temperature warmed up and I was given the a'OK by Ron to go hammer it. <br />
And that's exactly what I did! The race was an extremely hilly 5km interval-start skate race, which is the type of race I train for the most. <br />
I went into it with a good mind set, and also came out with a good mind set (and jello-feeling legs) to finish a strong 2nd! Again, topping my best ski result. <br />
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The final race day was a 10km classic mass start which got shorted to 5km because of the cold temperatures. I was upset about this because mass starts are just a compete scramble zone if the race is too short, and nobody really gets into a pace. <br />
I was ranked 3rd on the chevron start (first time ever being on front line at Eastern's mass start!), and got to wear the Ontario cup series leader bib for the first time ever!! Needless to say, I felt pretty rad on the start line. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioao_Rd08ZqeDvI589c-TkuzfuXY2WwVbjlA5hXZ-o7Y8UVD4DBOcToMlL8jr2TlBT_NqcSEu_6ukkrA1MUGtbLsP26QgIJ1UP2euq6vLBTGaJy-6IBzDWAkDmeoWSZc4CheaJHGY1COnD/s1600/DSC_8834-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioao_Rd08ZqeDvI589c-TkuzfuXY2WwVbjlA5hXZ-o7Y8UVD4DBOcToMlL8jr2TlBT_NqcSEu_6ukkrA1MUGtbLsP26QgIJ1UP2euq6vLBTGaJy-6IBzDWAkDmeoWSZc4CheaJHGY1COnD/s1600/DSC_8834-L.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the gun (green leader bib!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q-WoOUiG02VUCsw77Cglk3_K_njKxFl-QQgiDN2LMHHG2y2Vzlke1_tcA5PtWXZwHsuH6xVq8HuvTcUqe_FHIWe91KrILj71bQfxO22Z8UGdCh0R3DAselHpWEDI9BVFVs7qk9te6fMD/s1600/DSC_9825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q-WoOUiG02VUCsw77Cglk3_K_njKxFl-QQgiDN2LMHHG2y2Vzlke1_tcA5PtWXZwHsuH6xVq8HuvTcUqe_FHIWe91KrILj71bQfxO22Z8UGdCh0R3DAselHpWEDI9BVFVs7qk9te6fMD/s1600/DSC_9825.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I accomplished a goal of staying in front off the start, and was with the lead pack all throughout the race. There was about 8 girls, all switching places throughout the race and battling it out up the MANY climbs. <br />
I found myself in 1st leading into the last climb of the race and was completely mentally freaking out I was so excited. Then I got passed like I was moving still... so there I am in 2nd, on the heels of first place at the top of the last climb just over 100m from the finish... <br />
.... and 10 seconds later there I am face-planted in the snow.<br />
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It was the last downhill/sketchy corner of the course and I could <strong>SEE</strong> the finish line. I scrambled to my feet while being passed by what felt like 50 (really only 3) girls who all had kept their momentum down the hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4vALYRLThoTXgBRs7uC7QfwpBS5zKs8BnwWmdNvxlCMz-r3QCMYzeOrpGwAgFwkiNAN3lwEGkK1Nk0G8XGxDTbi9_W-cW5blZclP_2Ft7e-nphoNbfjmL2i8w5YGnbXGrgEqM5Y8dTvt/s1600/DSC_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4vALYRLThoTXgBRs7uC7QfwpBS5zKs8BnwWmdNvxlCMz-r3QCMYzeOrpGwAgFwkiNAN3lwEGkK1Nk0G8XGxDTbi9_W-cW5blZclP_2Ft7e-nphoNbfjmL2i8w5YGnbXGrgEqM5Y8dTvt/s1600/DSC_9844.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
Climbing mid-race<br />
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Too bad there's no crash photo.... because if you didn't take a picture of it, did it really happen? </td></tr>
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I gave it all I had for the last 20seconds of the race, but I felt very defeated and frustrated crossing the line in 5th. It's not that I'm not happy and proud of my self for finishing 5th (which is still much better than I usually do), I was just disappointed that I blew my chance at a podium finish or having a sprint finish for gold. Also, as I consider myself a mountain biker, my ego was a bit shattered as a result of my poor descending skills. <br />
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But other than my last 100m, that was definitely my best classic mass start race I've had, and I know that's what I should focus on! I'm ecstatic with my race in general, and as for the end: the one who falls and gets up is so much stronger than the one who never fell. <br />
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<u>Coming Up!</u><br />
<ul>
<li>OFSAA: Three weeks in Sudbury</li>
<li>California Cycling Training camp: Three weeks </li>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-51882001274570558832015-01-14T18:38:00.001-08:002015-01-14T18:44:29.755-08:00Duntroon Ontario Cup Races<div>
It finally feels like I'm really in the ski season again since I'm getting used to the -20 degree weather, my shoulders are bigger (getting buff), and I've just finished racing my first Ontario Cup of the season at Duntroon! </div>
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I raced last Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and got to see my skiing friends who I haven't seen in almost a year! It was an amazing weekend seeing all my friends again as well as doing way better than I had expected in the races! </div>
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I'll keep the race stories to a minimum...</div>
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Thursday was a 5km interval start classic race, and I found it tough not knowing the course before hand as I didn't get a chance to pre-ski. In the end, I dealt with this uncertainty well and ended up winning by almost a minute! </div>
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Friday was a classic sprint day, and it begun well as I won the qualifier... In the worst blizzard I've ever been in!!! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture hardly gives the conditions justice...</td></tr>
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The quarter and semi final heats rolled by smoothly and I was ranked first going into the A Final. However, I didn't have a great start then, and since there was only one track as a result of the heavy snow fall, it was almost impossible to pass on the open and twisty 1.1km course. In a failed attempt to pass, I got caught up in deep and slow snow down the final stretch. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP-IzrjDcQl_26ayXVzXuWaTqtMfeNtdYjPq16yVi6kmLlc3vXwk99diUk8be_X5bdI3tE4AhnnMyI9zu6AWu71cRIkh_42gprrLubJjNYW3672pti8YDTON9mwkHk30_LE_WKZFeIHQ7/s640/blogger-image--1271311913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP-IzrjDcQl_26ayXVzXuWaTqtMfeNtdYjPq16yVi6kmLlc3vXwk99diUk8be_X5bdI3tE4AhnnMyI9zu6AWu71cRIkh_42gprrLubJjNYW3672pti8YDTON9mwkHk30_LE_WKZFeIHQ7/s640/blogger-image--1271311913.jpg" /></a></div>
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Even though I didn't race that heat as well as I has hoped, I was still very happy with my result as I finished 3rd! </div>
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Saturday was a day off as the 19+ ages races their sprints, and then Sunday was a 5km interval start skate race! Again, I didn't get to pre-ski the course so didn't really know where I was going and when to push it or recover. Thankfully, my dad was near the top of the last climb to yell, and I quote, "GIVE IT EVERYTHING NOW!!!" </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLpgf_FcVtxmbEQ_sJSjUrFUj8VErxHDc1cO0Xo4Z0PWxFHaIJrt1mBGk2hVtKtE2l8V49OIjDlIx-KXB1Y5vkPjO30oPhu9CIODDC8tPmasTxobKZWMpQiDog7GaUGwc8A9d2lTogU45/s640/blogger-image--240403232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLpgf_FcVtxmbEQ_sJSjUrFUj8VErxHDc1cO0Xo4Z0PWxFHaIJrt1mBGk2hVtKtE2l8V49OIjDlIx-KXB1Y5vkPjO30oPhu9CIODDC8tPmasTxobKZWMpQiDog7GaUGwc8A9d2lTogU45/s640/blogger-image--240403232.jpg" /></a></div>
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I did just that, and ended up winning my last race of the weekend!! </div>
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Now I have only set myself high expectations for the rest of the ski season ... But I am just hoping to have a great time on the snow before getting back on the bike. </div>
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Thanks to Ron and my dad for being amazing coaches this past weekend and Team Hardwood for being stellar wax techs! Next ski race is Eastern Candians at the end of January. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-qsiAX5WHkVYfyB_bIoCx21b5spV5VS4KFu7Qp5Wg2S7snPXPje9QCCz4Ud7oyY91Xz5j14JjI8NWUunV8VzoZTdonuWcH0ZVwXRuiLY_zEMhgiIhytqN6kfDlDiEBJPzk5oot9ZMIPI/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-qsiAX5WHkVYfyB_bIoCx21b5spV5VS4KFu7Qp5Wg2S7snPXPje9QCCz4Ud7oyY91Xz5j14JjI8NWUunV8VzoZTdonuWcH0ZVwXRuiLY_zEMhgiIhytqN6kfDlDiEBJPzk5oot9ZMIPI/s1600/photo.PNG" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-64680735849261972912014-12-30T18:27:00.000-08:002015-01-01T07:58:59.456-08:002014; You Were a Good OneAs 2014 wraps up and everyone thinks back to the big moments in their year, I would like to thank all of my supporters because they helped make my big moments possible. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuiV6rGKah__jvVMG5Lj6iQPb_iuyorMyoc1Morqhpkxjjt1mxvMhyPrOYeKEjt5kQZSurOxhHKBZMT1UunlpP_R9BC6EoFeiun-E_XE00-CEbJHE5Yct-cnSAZOV1Eo3DyykADkuSRhe/s1600/10556473_10152322070188366_4251687166489426445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuiV6rGKah__jvVMG5Lj6iQPb_iuyorMyoc1Morqhpkxjjt1mxvMhyPrOYeKEjt5kQZSurOxhHKBZMT1UunlpP_R9BC6EoFeiun-E_XE00-CEbJHE5Yct-cnSAZOV1Eo3DyykADkuSRhe/s1600/10556473_10152322070188366_4251687166489426445_n.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a>This has been my first year on the Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team, and I already feel as though I have been on it for many years. I am truly honored to be a part of this amazing team, all thanks to Barry Near. Also, Zach Hellreich has been a stellar mechanic all year! <br />
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Kevin Simms, my coach, deserves huge recognition for all of the extra effort he puts into his athletes, including myself. He makes training that much more fun, even on those tough days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraAmVE40GpTwgZn4gVR6sTsYTz2ZgWXzzXhmdJiCBeTszvPwH48tmbXZljj3cfftt-68CC_rNZLGMDTpCPyYe8XQYn_BCeGlLXDgr7FKLS_Rsf4UdX4faPNNpRlbMt9_1SnoaZCO8Tzv1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraAmVE40GpTwgZn4gVR6sTsYTz2ZgWXzzXhmdJiCBeTszvPwH48tmbXZljj3cfftt-68CC_rNZLGMDTpCPyYe8XQYn_BCeGlLXDgr7FKLS_Rsf4UdX4faPNNpRlbMt9_1SnoaZCO8Tzv1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Thank you to everyone from the OCA for running unforgettable training camps and the immense support. <br />
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Thank you to Salomon and Team Ontario Skiing for the support during my ski season! <br />
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Shout out to Morning Glory Cycling Club and Smith Optics for further enhancing my cycling season. <br />
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<strong><em><u>HUGE </u></em></strong>thank you to everyone who donated and helped me on my journey to World Championships in Norway! <br />
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And last, but <em>definitely</em> not least, thank you to my family and friends for being there for me on and off the bike. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Here are a few pictures of my 2014 highlights!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwna_00bg06zY8dq-CWhyLKlHeJjgGVoMp7TzuOBEV51HYczGyENENbdOa4tu3A2fJtmYKmLt-IkeBvkQk4cOGDpsJgnywDFrA46iomoVCXlHdjzohhZCbEFWxrMIRrWqmQ59LkRIPx7Q3/s1600/sdfahgfdtytr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwna_00bg06zY8dq-CWhyLKlHeJjgGVoMp7TzuOBEV51HYczGyENENbdOa4tu3A2fJtmYKmLt-IkeBvkQk4cOGDpsJgnywDFrA46iomoVCXlHdjzohhZCbEFWxrMIRrWqmQ59LkRIPx7Q3/s1600/sdfahgfdtytr.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski Nationals in Corner Brook, Newfoundland</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High school OFSAA in Timmins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FBL1011JLS5P-jApLzBt-xucqwpyBLTGCZkOtWxjIhgOcoGHFcIxFrDt6xeQHoGDdbHbhLG3GSB15KGJjm9iTKcVXFTH8yOTk3_HtRkNLI8PAqo2val3uWTbPKk0LCERjHIu_zQ7-g9X/s1600/10418393_748466881857520_7899759755997627048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FBL1011JLS5P-jApLzBt-xucqwpyBLTGCZkOtWxjIhgOcoGHFcIxFrDt6xeQHoGDdbHbhLG3GSB15KGJjm9iTKcVXFTH8yOTk3_HtRkNLI8PAqo2val3uWTbPKk0LCERjHIu_zQ7-g9X/s1600/10418393_748466881857520_7899759755997627048_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadian MTB Championships at Hardwood Ski and Bike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC8U9uArH9YPJTqp8ZU4FuwMEdYhWSB1AxAt-kpqnoautTdoVgIFMuVIH9MH1VrySLBaaKLtPH-cSGd9YkwzWnJ9-mxjLo0M4D8ZIRFqD_kw9CuOZV4kbKXw1UwGMLED2Zv7xGGZqSwkV/s1600/f.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC8U9uArH9YPJTqp8ZU4FuwMEdYhWSB1AxAt-kpqnoautTdoVgIFMuVIH9MH1VrySLBaaKLtPH-cSGd9YkwzWnJ9-mxjLo0M4D8ZIRFqD_kw9CuOZV4kbKXw1UwGMLED2Zv7xGGZqSwkV/s1600/f.JPG" height="265" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ontario Summer Games in Windsor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizsleUjPvxBnsT_MH8ZS-0Gv2V4Wmi0Lo7STy7G2ZMjibd6ueg67JgAUxA2SQTsqQwFOzbozHqkhwyDOPDgNDcMAVSHo1RWOcaPMCYkSMoy1Vd7j6FGlxKgwvO_KEJzydqubLDrazfX18/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizsleUjPvxBnsT_MH8ZS-0Gv2V4Wmi0Lo7STy7G2ZMjibd6ueg67JgAUxA2SQTsqQwFOzbozHqkhwyDOPDgNDcMAVSHo1RWOcaPMCYkSMoy1Vd7j6FGlxKgwvO_KEJzydqubLDrazfX18/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sudbury Canada Cup</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuiV6rGKah__jvVMG5Lj6iQPb_iuyorMyoc1Morqhpkxjjt1mxvMhyPrOYeKEjt5kQZSurOxhHKBZMT1UunlpP_R9BC6EoFeiun-E_XE00-CEbJHE5Yct-cnSAZOV1Eo3DyykADkuSRhe/s1600/10556473_10152322070188366_4251687166489426445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Catamount Classic </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World Championships in Norway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Team in Norway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team (missing Jon) at Nationals with Barry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpES1aDO_Qu2NrEZ09GQWRqn6qkIJXzdsWLw2JJWpxtne8zgtMrchtHLIcq6TfRRZ1MuRH4l6IHN1eeGZRFcWgB8hP7pnNFpke9Xw1W1kJM8CqL0Z1mFBd1jKVkPsk_O1d36bWfLrVaZc/s1600/Sudbury+015+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpES1aDO_Qu2NrEZ09GQWRqn6qkIJXzdsWLw2JJWpxtne8zgtMrchtHLIcq6TfRRZ1MuRH4l6IHN1eeGZRFcWgB8hP7pnNFpke9Xw1W1kJM8CqL0Z1mFBd1jKVkPsk_O1d36bWfLrVaZc/s1600/Sudbury+015+-+Copy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team in Sudbury</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2014 BLOG: </span><a href="http://sorenmeeuwisse.tumblr.com/"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://sorenmeeuwisse.tumblr.com/</span></a> </h2>
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<br />Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-61260949322888359192014-12-30T18:02:00.003-08:002014-12-30T18:02:44.828-08:00Vermont US Eastern CupAt the beginning of the holiday break I travelled down to Vermont with Team Hardwood for our first race of the season! We all stayed in absolutely gorgeous cabins and the ski trails were probably one of the most fun trails I've ever been on. Lots of really long climbs dominated the course, but after each climb there was a twisty, icy, fast downhill. The slippery man-made snow on the course made these descents even more nerve-racking (especially on the mass start day). <br />
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The first race was a 5km interval start classic. Like always at the beginning of the season, I feel like an uncoordinated monkey trying to get grip on classic skis. But overall, I was fairly happy with that race! It was hard to get an idea of how I truly did in my races because it was an open women category (16 and above). However, it was pretty cool to be ranked next to some of the fastest US skiers though. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr86IEHUxFNjP7gT2H1deNKcRruIHHLVEbjdktK2s1M4ePFoFxySBgMfdN44FFdfLUgfc6OKMTMK8gY9Z4GdyMIwH262TL9LG2M2x7wImVsEvW5uHAcpZeUDWfx9q56i9XIIlSQk-kY8d6/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr86IEHUxFNjP7gT2H1deNKcRruIHHLVEbjdktK2s1M4ePFoFxySBgMfdN44FFdfLUgfc6OKMTMK8gY9Z4GdyMIwH262TL9LG2M2x7wImVsEvW5uHAcpZeUDWfx9q56i9XIIlSQk-kY8d6/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Jessica Roach (new team member and coolest gal ever) after her first race on Team Hardwood and on classic skis!</em> </div>
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The second day was a 10km mass start skate race, and let me tell ya, THE biggest mass start of my life! About 150 women, 7 skiers wide on the start grid. I was wearing the 99 bib, so being so far back, it was my goal to work on my passing skills. But this race was not without its crashes. About 50 metres from the start line, the field had to funnel into the trail where it dipped and made a right turn. As you have may already guessed, yes, there was a domino effect from one front skier that fell and took out the rest of the pack. Dan Kerr took a video of this and you can see it below! Look for the girl in the pink headband that falls right in front of the camera (me). <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrmwEL00SCk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The race went really well after this actually, and I felt really fresh up the climbs.</div>
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Thanks to Ron Howden for being such a great coach! And thanks to the waxers for fast skis! </div>
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Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5605365824589511075.post-31095954766936562702014-12-30T17:04:00.001-08:002014-12-30T17:04:02.888-08:00NEW BLOG!So I've made the big switch from Tumblr to Blogger! I had to breakup with my other blog gently, but I am no longer using my Tumblr blog anymore. <br />
However, I am leaving it up as a summary of my 2014 year! ( <a href="http://sorenmeeuwisse.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">CLICK FOR OLD TUMBLR BLOG HERE</a> ) Soren Meeuwissehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293830678968481815noreply@blogger.com0