:: ACTON IN ACTION ::

I guess my final count down has started… not only am I a day away, I’m now hours away. Tomorrow at this time I am hoping to have raced well and with the heart of a true Canadian.

We were able to train this morning in some “classic Whistler conditions”…. started off at the top with some rays of sun, through the clouds into some fog and snow falling, then into a mist, and rain!!!! It was tough but the weather isn’t looking great for tomorrow, so whatever the conditions may be, I feel like my whole team and I are ready. We like to say we were born ready…. But at the same time, this is a dream becoming reality, it’s my everyday job. So I am hoping to go out there and ski the best I CAN SKI!!!! Just me, the course and the hill.

I start 25 – Anna starts 23 – she is skiing without an ACL. She tore in January 4th so she is giving it all she’s got! Mitch is starting 33, and she was 21st today in the GS! Erin is making her debut to the games along with everybody but me!!! I can of feel old…. but not really!

THANKS FOR all the emails and comments on here – I can’t describe the feeling. It’s been a very nice journey up to now. You have all been for so supportive. Thanks for cheering!!!

Anna, Mitch, Erin and myself will be out there with our Canadian Olympic pride!!!! Along with my whole coaching staff!!!!

Brigitte

Whistler weather!!! It isn’t supposed to be nice tomorrow but who knows… These Pictures ANNA took!!!

I have been training on the mountain. I have been around the village. I have been sitting in my condo with my teammates glued to the TV screen… Yelling at it! Cheering for so many of our Canadian teammates. From incredible hockey, to bobsled, to an emotional roller coaster with Joannie skating without her biggest fan, all my thoughts and prayers go out to her & her family.

The energy, the support, and how patriotic Canadians are! IT’S AMAZING!!!!! Every time I’m on the hill, taking a rest, somebody is raising his or her arms, waving, GO CANADA GO.

The Whistler Village is just HOPPING with live music, and cheers. The spirit is IN THE AIR!!!! It really does feel like HOME! I LOVE IT!

Even though we are approaching the end of the Olympics, I still have my one and only event left. I can’t wait to be out there in the start gate, feeling my nerves shocked, but also trying to ski my very best on demand. It’s all going to be coming from my heart and I hope to make you all proud!

I have had some great moments with my family.  Wish I could spend more time with them, but I’m not here for a reunion… I have a job to do. And I hope to do it well!

Check in tomorrow for my final prep –

Here are some pictures from the last couple days!

Having some down time with my family. Claire and I playing Jenga!

Sydney showing us how to build a bridge!

VISUALIZING… NOT – just posing that I am!!! hahah! But it looks intense!!!

It wasn’t quite light enough for us to ski so we started taking random shots… Up early for some great training on Whistler!

Anna on the RINGS in the Whistler Village!

A good LAUGH!!!!

Still having a good time!

Loving the hoods! Staying warm & dry!

ANNA BANANA!

The fastest kitty cat on the mountain!!!!!

Lise-Marie just shredded some sweet turns on her Rossi’s!!!!

Brigitte

So after a full day of travelling… which was….

Flying from Calgary to Vancouver, shuttle bus from Vancouver to Whistler Olympic Village, getting our accreditation (which is basically your passport to get EVERYWHERE for the next week), another bus to Creekside Village, then a chair lift… ( I had a duffle bag with me this whole time), then a nice walk through the finish and up to our condo. It was an adventure in itself, but nothing my team doesn’t expect. Maybe you had to be there…. Here are some pictures.

Our condo is great – we are nice and cozy, and atmosphere of Whistler seems great. We all can’t wait to race.

Anna looking BEAUTIFUL as always!

Going up the Chair they added into Creekside – you have to take this chair to access the finish area, or you can walk… but I recommend the chair!

My duffle bag that I dragged around everywhere!!!!

The finish… Left side is the men’s track, Right side is the women’s track!

Claire and Sydney! THANK YOU! Sydney has his helmet on, which has a SHARK COVER! WATCH OUT FOR HIM SKIING WHISTLER! Claire is holding Flat Peyton…. You will find out more about her soon!

I finally got to see my family last night for dinner. It’s amazing we are all together in the same place. It’s been way too long since our last “reunion”. My grandparents on my mom’s side are also here to cheer me on. They flew out with part of some home cooked meals…. YUMMMYYY!!!!!

Brigitte

ALL OF YOU ARE SO THOUGHTFUL FOR THE COMMENTS AND IT ROCKS READING THEM!

I just finished packing… well not fully packed but partially packed for Whistler. We are leaving Nakiska, and flying into Vancouver on Saturday morning. I have 3 duffle bags, a pole bag, and about 3 ski bags!!! Every bag contains important items…. 2 pair of ski boots, extra liners, 4 helmets, gloves, mitts, all my work out gear. Downhill suits (my tight race suit), and a bunch of jackets to make sure I am nice and warm on the hill… (never happens)… haha! The list could continue but I’m sure you get the point.

Yesterday we trained in a “tiny snow storm”. It snowed quite  a bit, which was amazing to wake up too. The “sweet cherry cherry pow pow” on the trees, every snow flake just free falling through the sky. I had to train so I didn’t get to ski much powder. But for some reason I love when I can train in those conditions!!!!

Today I was one of the first ones down the training hill. I slipped the course my coaches were setting up, and then I had basically the whole mountain to myself. The sun was shinning, and there was a nice layer of snow. Every single snow particle was shinning. It was like skiing on diamonds… hahah! I REALLY WISH!!!!! But it was a moment where I wish I had my camera or even my phone to take a picture and I didn’t. Hope next time I can show you all how amazing it was.

But WAIT – before you go. I need to THANK ALL THE MESSAGES I AM GETTING FROM THE SOO. I can feel so much support from my hometown. I am very proud!

My family has sent me some pictures I want to share with you all. It’s sooo exciting for me. Also here are some pictures of adorable kiddo fans!!!

My beautiful best friends! Maman & Lise-Marie

Molly is even in the spirit!!!!

Brady and Katie – GO CANADA GO!

Next time I write I will hopefully be in Whistler, with the real description of the Olympic BUZZ.

Brigitte

Wake up, Eat, Warm-up, Inspection, Train, Eat, Rest, Train, Physio, Video, Eat, Sleep!!!

**** I added some pictures on my Away from the snow page *****

That is pretty much how my day goes – these days…. We are still training in Nakiska and it isn’t easy at all. It’s great training, but tough. I like it tough. I have been able to ski with some of the guys on my team, and it’s been really interesting.  I can watch them and try to copy. I obviously don’t have half of the power they have, but it’s really nice to have a fast set pace. They give me some sweet tips and help me try and go faster. My coaches do that too…. We train everyday with timing.  Sometimes, I wish it wasn’t there…. But it’s a great way to see what works best for skis, different techniques, and most of the time I know when my run was faster or slower.  The days I wish timing wasn’t there, is when I just want to ski and really feel it out. But the timing is what RACING IS ALL ABOUT!!!!

I’m lucky I have an amazing technician who takes great care of my skis. . Actually, my whole team is amazing!!! But Martin is the one who makes sure my skis are sharp and fast. It’s been really icy here in Nakiska!!!! I am currently on my 8^th and 9^th pair of slalom skis.. Can you believe that??? WOW! I can’t – but with attempting to ski down a skating rink every day for a whole lot of runs, and sharpening the edges everyday really wears them out.  Now I am just trying to decide which pair will be my race skis for the games.

Since we are skiing on an injected slope, (which means basically a slanted skating rink), our bodies seem to be taking some beating.  Well mine is…. I go and get treatment from my physio every day.

I am training another 3 days, then flying to Vancouver on Saturday and will be up in Whistler from the 20th and on…….

My boyfriend met this amazing painter a couple of years ago. He has painted many of Mike’s goalie masks.  His name is David Arrigo, and I am so lucky that he has helped me out with making my helmets unique and “flashy”. Here is the new look I have for the games. It’s a crazy beaver wearing a Canada cape. Hahahaha – yes it sounds funny but it’s amazing work and I LOVE IT!!! THANKS GOGO!!!!

He is presently in Vancouver painting through out the games. Check out more of his work, at www.davidarrigo.com

I wanted to thank everybody who has been posting comments. They are awesome to read, and it’s such a surprise to see who has been checking it out. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! The energy through the messages and how positive they are is UNREAL!

I THRIVE AND FEED OFF OF THE SUPPORT – it makes me smile! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!

Bonne nuit

Brigitte xxx

HERE WE GO!! Blue, Yellow, Black, Green and Red!!!!! The rings I have starred at my whole childhood.  I lived this dream in 2006. But this dream is different. WAY DIFFERENT!

The PRIDE to be representing Canada at a home Olympic game is…. Well it’s hard to describe. I’m sure most of you reading this can have a sense of how WE feel. My own soil, my own mountains, my own view, my own fans, all of my own surroundings, and most of all my own SNOW!!!! I have dreamed of doing this, but the wonderful butterflies I get in my tummy, when I hear Canada being announced is something very truly special.

My teammates and I were unable to attend the opening ceremonies because we are training in Nakiska, Alberta till the 20^th.  Yes, our training continues and we are still trying to find ways to go as fast as we can. Till the last mille second we will be trying!!!! We did watch the opening ceremonies and got all dressed up in our “Spirit Wear”. I find it kind of ironic that we are training in Nakiska, the site of the skiing events during the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games.  We are where it was, 22 years ago, on home snow!

Thanks for all the support and keep your cheering LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy the pictures!

Our outfits for the night!

Marie-Pier Prefontaine, Marie-Michele Gagnon, and myself!

Anna and I – no idea about the tape… ha!

I love my gold ski boot necklace….

Anna, Mitch, Myself and MP

Told you I loved it…

Training at Nakiska

My new WHITE olympic gloves, with my favorite skis!!!!

Brigitte

HELLO HELLO!!! To anybody out there who is reading this…. thanks for taking the time to check it out. Nothing too exciting as for a “website”… just my thoughts and moments I get to share with you… (still no pictures but hopefully soon enough… I am frustrated not being able to post them)….

I wanted to share some moments that I have had in the past week. They are some that I will never forget. I was in Tampa last week…. getting some “RELAXING” time at home. Getting treatment on my body for some loving care, cooking some fantastic meals, taking some mid afternoon naps…. and…… enjoying some “warm-ish” weather on the golf course. I never thought I would be at a golf course February 1st. I have some minor back problems so my golf game wasn’t shinning all that bright like the sun, but my boyfriend, Mike’s was!!! ( I didn’t get to play at all). But I got to spend the afternoon on a beautiful golf course, enjoying the peacefulness, the nature, and the sunshine!!!! It wasn’t very warm but I took some amazing pictures. Mike played really well. I was impressed!!! We then headed home to cook a yummy dinner and give our bodies a final rest. I love being on the mountain, but sometimes it’s nice to be doing something out of the ordinary……

…… like today……..

I got to SKYPE my home club ski team. SEARCHMONT!!!!! I have to thank Dan Missere for making all this possible. I don’t know exactly how it worked on his end… but from my understanding, I was put on a tv screen…. and how he set the rest of all this up, (who knows). I was able to answer some questions and try to see how many fans I have back at home. It was special. It warmed my heart. Made me smile to my ears, and as I write this….. I am still smiling. I really have many amazing memories as a kid growing up and skiing, bombing (skiing term ), tucking out at Searchmont. So I hope it was nice for the kids to know that if you dream, and work hard, anything can happen. I never ever thought I would be where I am today, but I’m living a childhood dream, a goal I set for myself in 2006, went through some highs and lows…. and how I am still thinking the same way I did when I was a kid skiing down the “Goulais”.

Thanks to all who support me and make me smile!!! And thanks for taking the time to read this….

All the little moments is what I live for…. those were 2 of them.

::Brigitte::

Here are a couple pictures of the day. If you click on them, they will enlarge.

This is what I could see when I “Skyped” with the Searchmont Ski Runners. They had this awesome banner… too bad you can’t really see it. I think my dad is in the top left corner with his white and black hat…. SNEAKY!