This summer has been one of adventure, freedom, reconnecting with friends and family and above and beyond all, a time to relax, refocus and reflect; I have had the summer of my life.  As my time as “lady of leisure” comes to an end I realize that one, I can’t “leisure” and two, this summer was truly a gift.

What started out as almost panic by idleness, I realize now was the transitioning from a life fully planned, scheduled and analysed.  How could I not sort of panic? How could I not feel guilty for not going to the gym? How could I not feel a little bit unfettered by the lack of daily emails checking up on my heart rates, rpm on the bike and what I squatted that day in the gym? Once I realized that all of these anxieties were “normal” I started being able to move on and leave that old life behind me.

Everyone is quick to tell you that the transition from athlete to layman is difficult but because it is such an individual journey no one has the magic key to unlock the next door in the journey called life. No one told me that deadlines for school are more often than not in January, which would explain the exacerbated looks when I applied in JUNE! I think that the information about admissions, school hunting and transcripts got lost in the mail.  I had the honour of typing in “mature” student on my application for the University of Calgary and the slightly humiliating experience of handing out the sport awards in Fernie to my up and coming classmates!  Looking over my high school transcripts was like going back in time and boy did it feel like eons ago but all in all it has been an inspiring experience and one that reassures me of my decision to finish my undergrad degree.

Having mastered the application process, I set my mind to resume writing; much easier said than done.  My Second Cup barista experience in 2002 did not turn out to be the highlight of my resume which at the time I thought would! How do you eloquently describe being an Olympic athlete and the multi faceted life experience it was? Oh, six pages is a bit too long?  Thank goodness for good friends and amazing editors.  My resume was complete; check. Next was my “personal letter” which I needed for my application at LSE in London.  I have to write my personal letter in under 500 words? What, that is just my intro.  I started learning quickly that less is more and no need for all the frosting on the cake; so much for my blogging style.

Next came the GMATs! Yes, you read that right. I decided to skip a couple steps and try out the GMAT. My first day with my lovely new best friend, the GMAT book for dummies was a little rough.  I honestly thought that I had bought the Chinese version.  The simple grade 12 math looked like high level calculus and the simple algebra was about as simple as the abacus.  The good news is that through all my writing and reading over the years, the English part was actually doable and made me feel that I wasn’t a long lost cause! One may ask, why the GMATs without an undergrad and my answer, why not! I am putting a lot of options out there into the universe and hoping that one of them will work out. I truly believe that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket and you need to give an honest effort to all your little baskets.

This was all while trying to raise money for the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation and organize our annual golf tournament for September 18^th.  With TECK’s amazing $50,000 donation and Canadian Pacific’s $5000, I am off to a great start.  The golf tournament is shaping up nicely although we are always looking for more willing and daring participants.  Go check out www.emilybrydonyouthfoundation.com

So here we are, mid August and I can proudly say that I am going to be a student at the U of C starting this fall.  I am happier than a hound dog that I get to spend a winter close to Fernie where I can experience a “real” winter with “real” skiing!! Thank you to all who have made this transition so much easier and a great adventure.  Thanks to London, Portugal, Fernie, Calgary, Osoyoos, Kelowna, Portland, Vancouver, the West Coast Trail, Charlottetown, Digby, New York, Montreal, Quebec City, Charlevoix and Sutton for allowing me to come and play!!

One would think that retirement would lead to routine, relaxation, reflection and reading.  Well, this summer I am out to it to prove that all wrong.  Since retiring in April I have been to Mexico, England, Portugal, PEI, Nova Scotia, the Okanagan, Portland, Fernie and Calgary. Right on track to having my ultimate goal of maintaining my “elite” status with Air Canada accomplished in no time at all.  I know that the day will arrive when upgrading to first class and those amazing hub seats will be a thing of the past and waiting in the waiting rooms will replace the ever alluring lounges.  In short, I suppose that I am just trying to hold on to every little last bit of glamour and luxury before my life as a student starts in September. Yes, you read that right. I have decided to fully embrace the title “mature student” and I have enrolled myself into classes at the University of Calgary for this fall.

It has been quite an amazing journey over the last couple of months trying to figure out which way my life was going to take me.  I almost feel as if I am at the mercy of the ever cliché, “fate”.   I travelled to London, England to not only experience Wimbledon and all its greatness but to also look into schools and work. It has always been a powerful ambition of mine to live in London at some point in my life so I figured that there is no better time than the present.  Unfortunately, in the real world there are things called deadlines of which I missed by a mere 9 months. So although I fell in love with London, it will have to go on the back burner until I figure out if school and a job can be more than a dream one day. 

 There I was in lovely London, having a great time when all of a sudden that antsy, been a place for more than 2 weeks kicked in.  Next thing I knew, I was on a plane heading to Portugal to meet up with a friend who was traveling Europe.  Apparently I needed a vacation from my vacation.  The Algarve coast was spectacular but I must admit that it didn’t quite live up to my beach exceptions following Mexico!! I risked my life in order to experience a day of “scootering” along the coast in gale force winds and a helmet that was so large so it acted like a parachute off the back of my head instead of protecting my head.  Nothing like embracing the elements and honestly it was nice to feel the wind on my face!!  I visited a local organic winery where they truly just let the earth and nature grow their vines which was inspiring to see and even more amazing was how good the wine actually tasted.   Although the trip was only 3 days long it was the perfect vacation from a vacation and exactly what I needed knowing what was to come upon my return to Canada.

The day after landing back in Calgary, I boarded a plane for Charlottetown, PEI where I was to take part in two amazing golf tournaments, a music festival and the fund raising for two important organizations; the Boys and Girls Club and Nova Scotian Sport.  I kick started the tour with two rounds of golf in Charlotte town, which was followed by the Cavendish music Festival and concluded with two rounds of golf in Digby, Nova Scotia.  These tournaments are legendary in themselves and it is a true honour to be invited to take part in them each and every year.  They bring together people and celebrities from all walks of life and it is truly an event filled with a lot of passion, inspiration and good times.  There were some amazing musical performances which alone were awe inspiring.

After one sleep in my own bed I headed off to the Okanagan for a couple days of mother-daughter bonding and an event at the Mission Hill winery.  I enjoyed a couple rounds of golf in Osoyoos, some phenomenal wine tasting at the ever more popular wineries stretching along the Okanagan corridor (I think that there are actually more wineries than fast food joints and gas stations combined!) and the trip was concluded with a beautiful event at the Mission Hill winery in benefit of the Kelowna Symphony Orchestra. 

Although I am doing very well in my mission to see a different side of the world and Canada, away from the mountains and snow, it is truly all about balance.  After living a life that was dictated by schedules, programs and self discipline it is a freeing experience to be only at the mercy of my own schedule and my own desires.  Rejuvenation is all about restoring your mind, body and soul to its original state; to find that base from which anything is possible.  This is my time to do that.

I hope that everyone is having a great summer.

Emily

A day…named after me….check that off the bucket list!!

May 12^th 2010 in beautiful Fernie, BC was Emily Brydon Day.

An honour beyond my wildest dreams.  An honour that made me speechless.  An honour that I was proud to share with my Mom, friends and supporters.

Fernie is a little town nestled in the southeast corner of British Columbia; a place that I am proud to call my roots.  What once was just a tiny blip on the radar has grown into an international destination and a much sought after ski resort. It is a community that honours its citizens, lends a helping hand when need calls and inspirations beyond words.

So there I was, Mommy and me riding in the back of a 1950’s Studebaker fire truck, being escorted by a police car, 4 huge Olympic sport mascots, and two Mounties. Trailing behind us were the kids that the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation had helped and the people who were instrumental in my life and career thus far.  It was the ever growing parade as we picked up kids along the way like a giant “swiffer picker upper”. The only complaint to date was the lack of candy – next time!   People actually showed up and people actually cheered.  It was one of those occasions where I dreaded the worst (no one being there) and was blown away by the people whom I saw in the crowd.  It was so important for me to see this and to experience it.  It was a private showing to what happened during the games and a little taste of how the Olympics united this tiny village in the Kootenay’s.    It reinforced my belief that the Olympic Games can be so much more than podiums and results; the power of sport is one of the most unrecognized and underestimated forces of the world.  It grounded me and gave me what I needed to heal my disappointed Olympic heart.

From the fire truck, I was lead in by two local bagpipers (one of whom is a ski racer!) to the local community center.  The people in the crowd were all there because they were somehow connected to my life as a Fernite, ski racer, friend or supporter.  It was the most diverse, inspiration and thought provoking group of people.  Speeches followed and awards and presentations were given.  I kept the tears at bay but the dreaded clenched jaw was in effect. My speech at the end of it all was definitely one that was emotional and difficult; rarely am I at a loss of words, but I was.  How do you thank all these people who have already given you so much?  It is something that I will forever be indebted to the community, my friends, my family and my supporters for.

For all you ski fans, you can now enjoy Emily’s run at the Fernie Alpine Resort.  You can go for a lovely little jog or stroll along the Emily Brydon trail and if you ever get locked out the city just give me a call……I have the key!!!

Thanks for all the recognition, support and inspiration.

Emily

Photos taken by Henry Georgi

Paradise by definition is a place of extreme beauty, delight or happiness. Puerto Escondido just might be added to that definition one of these days.

I just recently returned home from a trip of a life time.  It was a dream vacation in so many ways, living up to each and every expectation I had.  At the end of every ski season, my goal first and foremost is to find a beach.  A beautiful beach where I can swim and play without a wetsuit, “bronze” beside crashing waves, relax and drink and eat as much and of whatever I want. A place of calm.  A place of rejuvenation. A place just like Casa Rubia.

It has been a dream of mine to bring together my closest friends and family to rekindle friendships, relax on calm soil, reminisce about fond memories and good times, and to simply be surrounded by people that I love who love me back.  I have always said that my career was never a solo adventure; there were many people who gave me the tools, the support and the inspiration to keep trying and keep achieving.  Now was my time to thank them for all that they have done.

So off to Casa Rubia it was.  Casa Rubia is a gem hidden on the beautiful pacific coast in southern Mexico.  It is a quintessential beach getaway.  It’s a place that you only ever see in pictures and a place that I was so happy to call home.  A place where friendships we made tighter, new ones where made and lifelong bonds were established.

Casa Rubia welcomed us with open doors, a wonderful staff and an awe inspiring onyx table that sits 12.  One of the highlights of my trip was the night that we filled 11 of those seats.  I have never eaten so well on a holiday and knowing that the food was fresh each and every day from the market made you really savour the taste and the appreciate luxury of it all.  I arrived late at night so on the first night it was a nice dinner, a couple beers and then off to bed.  The sound of the waves crashing on the beach only meters away was impressive but like the train that rolls through Fernie on a regular basis, the sound became calming and soothing. I slept with my doors open and the fan above my bed made the sleeping conditions ideal. I didn’t have to worry about a lonely bear coming to say hi. I didn’t have to worry that I might get cold in the middle of the night.  I placed my head on the pillow that night and fell into a deep “Zenfull” sleep.

The next 2 weeks were nothing short of amazing.  Almost every day someone was either coming or going, like the tide of the ocean.  Adventures were a daily ritual and open to whoever, whatever, whenever. Surfing was definitely the activity of choice as we were in one of the surf mecca’s of the world but deep sea fishing, beach volleyball, wakeboarding and hiking were also on the list.

I will honestly admit that surfing will never be in my cards as I have yet to figure out the art of patience but it sure was a blast giving it a whirl.  I can credit my ski crashes to helping me crash as gracefully and ably as possible in the waves but having said that I did manage to leave a piece of my front tooth on the beautiful ocean floor. The wakeboarding in the lagoon was an experience never to be forgotten.  The calm waters, the mangroves and the bathtub like temperatures made for an amazing experience.  Once again, my competitive and I am invincible train of thought led me to some spectacular crashes and a mild case of whiplash; one day I will learn that there are other gears apart from 5^th! The deep sea fishing was a first for me and I am happy to announce that I did not catch a thing. Yes you read it right.  I was happy to not have to deal with the “catch a fish and kill” idea so the sea safari was a great option.  We saw dolphins, dancing stingray (they get serious vertical out of the water with hilarious flapping “wings”), and many turtles.   We even manage to pet a turtle….not too sure if that it was you would call it, rather patting might be the better verb.  Back on shore we saw a turtle making her nest and laying her eggs which was such a special moment; real life “planet earth”.  The sunset boogie boarding, the pool volleyball and the soccer game with the local builders from next door were also up there on great moments.  The girls bought me a piñata on my “birthday” night which brought back many memories from my young and reckless years; those who saw, know!!!  The nights were often calm though, as we had wasted most of our energy on our day’s activities and by the time the “party” happens in Puerto we were all gazing at the back of our eyelids.

So here I am home safe and sound, feeding off the memories that this amazing vacation created.  Cary Mullen opened his house to me (Casa Rubia) and I will forever be indebted to him for it.  He has a vision for Puerto Escondido and for people who want Mexico to be part of their lives.  This vision is called VivoResorts. Vivo offers great service and lifestyle in the best weather beachfront place that he could find.  It is place that will forever bring families and friends together. It is place to retreat to and get away from our busy lives at home. It is place that wants to showcase authentic Mexico while supporting and maintaining authentic Mexico. It is a place I hope to return to many times in my life.

To my besties (Mommy, Diana, Krista, Michelle, Gen, Jenny, Anna, Anne-Marie, Shona, Larisa and Kristin)  – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming together on this unique and memorable vacation. I love you all.

This is my life for the next 2 weeks.  www.casarubia.com

I know many of you will feel very sorry for me!!

7 Days in and so far so good.

I am not too sure what I expected but let’s just say it hasn’t been fireworks, epiphanies or anything of the sort.  I think that the problem lays in the fact that I am so exhausted. Every year at this time I am exhausted so it’s a tad tricky to compare one to the next. I still feel guilty if I don’t go for a run or do something active; every dryland trainer’s voice I’ve had turns on in my head when being idle crosses my mind.  I have already started planning sporting events and activities.  The thought of being idle is the scariest of all thoughts. Sure I would love to do the 3 day event at the trans Rockies, sure I would love to do the west coast trail, sure I would love to do a bike trip across BC, sure I would love to train for triathlons…..the list is endless. Apparently I don’t have a tricky time adapting from one person organizing my life to me organizing my life; maybe overbooking will be a problem!

I would say that I am transitioning well in the skiing department.  The other day I went up skiing with a friend and my Mom.  We started skiing at 2:30, skied till 4 with a total of 6 runs and then happily hit up the patio for “après”; nothing like coming home! I can check that off the list of transitions I need to make.

Currently I am in Vancouver for the BC Sport Awards of which I received the Community Championship award last night. It was an honour beyond words and an important pinnacle of my sporting career.   I was flanked by 3 Canadian “cowboys” and was humbled to accept the award amongst my peers.  

Tomorrow I am heading up to Whistler for a ski day and my last day of powpow.  I hear that it is dumping up there so I can’t wait…..no friends on powder days right??

Thanks for all your support over the last couple weeks!! A special thanks out to Britt for supporting me in the grass skirt/coconuts/wig ski program; I think that we have found next season race suit!!!!

Here we are….The Last World Cup of the 2010 season and the last world cup of my long and rewarding career.

On the eve before my last World Cup downhill race, nothing but excitement runs through my veins.  After a challenging, stressful and exhausting Olympic experience I was quite happy to get back on the World Cup tour and finish off the season with a smile on my face.  It is all about soaking up the atmosphere and moment.  It is about the pure passion of ski racing and sport. It’s about living my dreams and acknowledging the journey.

Since the Olympic Games it has been a balance between sleep and coffee.  After a big event there is always a huge “low” I not sure if it is just all the anticipation or a combination of that and effort.  I thought that I enjoyed coffee before but know I truly live for it.  It is funny but when you are so tired you prioritize your day much differently. You don’t have time for stress which makes racing quite fun and you quickly adopt relaxation on all levels.

Crans Montana was officially our “lottery race” of the year and unfortunately I didn’t draw winning numbers on either of the days.  The course was in great condition but the wind and Mother Nature were just too much.  The track there is fairly easy but it has some good terrain and nice jumps but with the serious head wind on race day, those jumps became hops. I was happy with how I raced though and that is all that I can control.

So here I am in Garmisch, Germany which will be home to the World Championships next year.  After racing the Super-G last year here I was a little apprehensive about having such a difficult track to race at the end of the season but due to favourable conditions it is actually quite a fun and chill course.  Tomorrow is going to be a great race and a great way to end.

It is not yet time to sit back and reflect, that will come in April, but a time to live in the moment and appreciate all the opportunities that have been given to me over the years.

Dear Fernieites,

I am so proud to be from Fernie; I always have and always will.  The town and its citizens have truly embraced my dreams, goals and ambitions.  It is town who shares the value of the Olympic spirit, values the importance of sport, and has embraced my career for well over a decade.

The Olympic Games has the power to transcend culture, religion, and diversity. It has the power to unite a nation or a community.  It has the power to change lives and it has the power to bring friends, families, and people together.

The 2010 Olympics have been a dream of mine since they were first announced over 7 years ago.  A seed was planted at the time and even though many ups and downs have occurred over the years, that seed grew and grew.  Today I can say that seed became a flower.  The flower is everything that I have ever dreamed of.  It is a culmination of all the hard work, determination and passion that I put into the sport of ski racing; it represents my dream.

I would be lying if I said that I was not crushed by my “lack” of results at the Games.  I truly believed that I could have stood on that podium.  I not only wanted to stand on that podium for myself but for all the people that have supported me over the years; I have always believed that the best way to thank people is by showing them a great race.  Unfortunately that great race didn’t happen.  I was heartbroken and devastated but I can honestly say that I have no regrets.  I gave it everything I had each and every day. I just didn’t have “my” day on the day I needed to, in order to stand on that podium.

Although much disappointment and sadness came from my results, I truly believe that it was the most amazing journeys any human can take.  I was given the gift to compete for my country, in my country doing what I absolutely love to do.

After my Super-G race, I met up with my friends and family behind the stands and was absolutely amazed and speechless by the group of people who surrounded me.  All of those people have supported, loved and believed in me from near and far but never without fail. It was the best gift that the Olympics could give to me.  It was the perfect ending to one of the most challenging, exhausting and emotional experiences of my life.  It is moments like that where you realize that there is more to the day and your life than the result on the score board.

Standing in the start gate of each and every race will forever be etched in my memory.  The cheering, the support and inspiration that came from every volunteer and every spectator inspired me beyond words.  Knowing all the support coming from Fernie, inspired me to keep fighting when times were tough and results became my identity.  My friends and family reminded me of the true value of sport and the power it holds above and beyond the medals.

I have been programmed for many years that results are all that matter but thanks to the community of Fernie, you are showing me the bigger picture. I am so humbled by all the well wishes that I received. I am so proud of all the students and teachers for taking the time to embrace the Olympic spirit. I am so inspired by a town that has grown, adapted and evolved while keeping its identity and roots.   

The way that Fernie united for these Games will never be forgotten.  I watched in awe, alongside millions of Canadians, during the morning show on Canada AM the true spirit of our small town in the East Kootenays. I am so proud to be from Fernie and I want to thank you for supporting me over all these years, through thick and thin.

I would like to thank my Mom for her love, belief, support, joie de vive and her humour. I would also like to thank all of my amazing friends from Fernie and afar who have inspired me, driven me and supported me endlessly.

The time is finally upon us.  The World is watching. A new flame will be ignited.

In less than two weeks time, one of the world’s largest sporting events will kick off in Vancouver, the Winter Olympics.   This has been a moment I have been waiting for and anticipating, for many years.  This has been a dream and goal of mine since 2006 when I decided that I wanted to compete at the Vancouver Olympics. This is the time to shine.

Although this season has been filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, anything is possible over the next couple of weeks.  The pressure, the anticipation and the expectations have taken the spirit of the games and put them slightly out of reach of the athletes.  That will end the moment the flame is lit.  I have never been more prepared in my life for an Olympic Games, I have no regrets and I understand that it is an opportunity that I will never again get.

As the world is coming to “our” stomping grounds, it is time to put on our game faces and take them head on.

They say that pressure is a good thing.  It is there because people believe in you.  I believe that it has the power to inspire and the power to debilitate and as an athlete it is a constant balancing act. I have dealt with different levels of pressure throughout my life and sporting career and I think that it has all been in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games.  This year I finally overcame my nemesis, the Lake Louise World Cup. I finally embraced the pressure of competing at home instead of reacting to it.  My results at the beginning of the season were an important building block and accomplishment for my goals this year at the Olympics.

These next two weeks are probably going to be some of the hardest weeks of my life.  I have big goals and big expectations. I know that I need to work hard in order to succeed but I also know that I need to have fun and enjoy it all in order to succeed. It is all too easy to forget to stop and look around and enjoy the atmosphere, mood and environment. One of the benefits of a home Games is all the people on “your” side; all the people rooting for you.  I need to embrace that side of it and enjoy the process.   In the world of sports it is so easy to get fixated on the end result when in reality that is probably the worst thing you can do. Ideally, it should be all about the process, having your best run on that day and having no regrets. My goal is to have a smile on my face when I leave the start gate and to have confidence in my abilities to execute my goals.

There will be many stories of success that will unfold over the next couple of weeks.  There will be many stories of defeat also told.  There will be the underdogs that shined and the favourites who fell short but what we all have in common is the passion, dedication, support and perseverance that got us there.  The Olympic Games is the bringing together of the world’s best athletes and to just be a part of such amazing company is what the Olympic spirit is all about.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Canadian athletes will do us proud.  There is no doubt in my mind that we will live up to the expectations of a nation.  There is no doubt that this will be an experience of a life time and I look forward to sharing my story after the Games come to an end at the end of February.  Until then, watch, cheer, believe and support the athletes, coaches and support staff that have dedicated their lives to this powerful, uniting event; the Winter Olympic Games.

With less than 30 days before the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, it is time to really ….. do nothing different from before!!

I find it so funny how people really think that big changes would happen weeks before a big event. In truth, these changes and hard work happen months and even years in advance.  At the point I am at now, it is all about fine tuning, gaining confidence and setting yourself up mentally and physically for the event to come; not the time to panic or change things

I have three world cup series this month before heading back to Canada and doing the final prep for the Olympic Games.  One series took place last weekend in Haus, Austria where it neither went how I expected or how I wanted: possibly not the most idyllic scenario but definitely not one that is stressing me out. Maybe it is denial but I think that every race experience I have this year is only going to help me be a better athlete and more prepared for what is to come in February.  It could be a good thing that I had a bad weekend. It was another little kick in the butt to really show me what it takes to be on that podium.  A true blessing with the speed disciplines is that when you go to the next race, it is like starting afresh; a clean slate.  The track will be totally different, the snow will be totally different and I know that anything is possible.

The next stop on tour is Cortina, Italy, one of my favourite stops on the circuit.  Cortina is nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, where fashion, food and scenery have given it is notoriety. The track in Cortina is nicely suited to me and the snow is “Emily” friendly which is how I refer to hero snow.  This year my Mom and family friend will be attending the race. I always told her that Cortina was one of the races she needed to experience before my career ended so finally she is making the trip.  There is truly something majestic and special about Cortina and the mountains that surround it.

I kicked off the New Year from a memorable ski hut on Kitzbuhel mountain called Pinkies!!!. I spent the evening with Julia Mancuso and her family up in the truly Austrian ski hut where I enjoyed a traditional Austrian New Year’s Eve meal, amazing fireworks and debilitating “mountain water”.  The New Year has proved to be all that a new year is set up to be; exciting and unpredictable.  I look forward to how the next couple months unfold.