Lately:

In August I underwent a shoulder stabilization surgery. In the following months I experienced the biggest changes in myself since I finished high school and moved away from home. The initial two months after my surgery didn't go as planned. I was slapped in the face with reality; beyond using my body I didn't have much going for me. I became angry from confusion and wouldn't leave the house for days at a time. One night I found myself in a club with a sling on, which in retrospect is a total loser move. I was the most depressed I'd ever been.

I managed to get a job a two months later once my sling was off. I put out 25 in person applications and eventually scored a bartending gig. I was starting to train for the season and physio was going extremely well, but I would indulge in the occasional night out and totally fuck up my routine. I justified drinking by thinking that it was my only way to meet girls. The allure was omnipresent though but even if I partied once a month it would compromise the entire next week of training. 

So two months later,  I was a lot physically stronger (and now a competent bartender) but not entirely satisfied. I was moving to Whistler soon and my confidence regarding my ski career and my shoulder just wasn't there, so I made a big change. I quit smoking pot. It was time to see how could go without it, as I had smoked regularly for the last four years. I also quit drinking, which is something I had always wanted to try. I've always been the victim of nasty hangovers. It's going to be hard but the longer I endure this clean lifestyle the better I feel. I don't want to look back when I'm 40 and wonder if I could have done better. 

Now that I've quit pot I can more honest on this blog. Weed was a large part of my life and I wasn't comfortable talking about it, thus there is now one less barrier. Skiing is a sport in which there is rampant pot use amongst athletes but due to the corporate nature of sponsors it is concealed, yet there are sports such as skateboarding that don't hide the lifestyles of their athletes. If you're a talented skateboarder you can do what you want, and that's the way it should be. This way, people from all walks of life can become successful athletes. With these freedoms the more impressionable (myself included) can get the wrong idea, and certainly weed doesn't work for everyone.

I've always to write in this blog much more candidly and this is the first step. I'm going to swear too, no one can stop me.

So all said, I'm stoked at the moment. Expect more frequent posts starting now and skiing content in early January. Bails edit coming soon, too.

No more premonitions. It's time to be in the NOW.

PREMONITIONS

Because you could see this on the Whistler website but I want your views....

Lately:

I finally got my sling off and am now reaping the benefits of physical activity. I've never appreciated being able to run so much, I've also never had such sore legs. It will be a long road though and I don't think I'll be skiing really until around January. Regardless, I'm super happy to ditch the sling and exercise! As soon as I left the hospital I hiked up to the new Sea to Sky Gondola. The whole thing hurt a lot but I finished it off with a dip in a cold creek and my muscle recovery was fast forwarded considerably.

Being back in Squamish and Whistler made me wish that they had cold glacier fed creeks in the city. For my first few years in Whistler I always defined myself as a city kid, citing the lack of cultural diversity. Really though now I'm back in Vancouver I'm spending all my money on sushi and craving for a cold creek to jump in. I just can't find my place.

On a random note I found a bail mixtape that I'm now going to re-do and put up here soon.

Toestanding

I'm pretty sure the Doc said this was OK. 

The Fall Zone

About two weeks ago a windy rainstorm rolled into the PNW and it was ruled that it was no longer summer. I don't have any authority on this but it's really a matter of perspective. All skiers are now thinking forward; they are no longer in the present, laughing about the summer heat. Snow even accumulated on the peak of Whistler.

I don't really even have my winter figured out yet. My plan for the fall is to train and work in Vancouver, then return to Whistler for opening day. This winter is set to be a good one though. I have the money to buy a snowmobile, so once I pull the trigger on that I've taken a big step. Other than that I just want to do as many trips as possible, including one to Japan and some big mountain comps.

The last month since surgery has been kinda. Looking back I realize that being an athlete means more than excelling just when you're at you're best. Just Six more days until I can return to low impact activity. I bought some new runners and I'm super excited to put a bunch of energy into that and get real fast on the concrete, track, and trails. For now though I'm just trying to take it easy, but not too easy.

Lately: On the Wagon

[Intro: Scarface]
I sit alone in my four-cornered room staring at candles
Oh that shit is on?
Let me drop some shit like this here, real smooth

I had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago. In lying around and letting my endorphin levels drop I became less happy. Any sense of purpose is a good one so when I had no work out and no job to wake up to I desperately started to think of other things to do. 

For a little while all the stimulus in a bar or night club can make you feel busy. Going through the motions of a night out is a process. Before even leaving the house you've got to nail an outfit, then consuming alcohol becomes an objective. Then inside the club humans chase each other in chaotic mash of music and lights. After all that whatever happens, happens. The day after we are preoccupied battling a hangover. Alcohol affords us this experience and all parts of it are heavily engrained in youth culture. 

I'm out though. I never really drank a lot but at this point I've been around drinking enough to see the cons outweigh the pros for me. A week in, my world hasn't changed yet however if I keep this up all fall and through the ski season maybe I'll see some changes. It's yet to been seen though.