The honor that was bestowed upon me by being one of the "5 dream team" has created memories that will never die. I am honored to be able to share this past winter with the world. Athletes Tugba and Robel, the gold blogger, Aaron, and Yoko, Michi, and Yutaka from Panasonic were so much fun, I wish that I could spend more time with them. Tomoko, you are the best.

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This whole thing started with a crazy snow storm in October, and I built a jump. And what do you know...it's ending with a crazy snow storm, and I'm building a jump. How perfect. (Yes, I am shaping it with a bucket.) I wish all of you could come over for some "Clyde's Chickin".

 

 

 

This past winter I competed in Chanchun, China, Calgary, Alberta, Deer Valley, Utah, Lake Placid, New York and Mt Gabriel, Quebec. It was some of the most content that I have ever been. I had such a purpose, and a journey to tell everyone about. The world was listening.

My passion for skiing is immense and flying through the air on skis, even more so. There is just something about being this type of athlete that I cannot give up. It is such a mental game, yet you must be physically tough too. (one good crash can make you looney). 

I am so lucky to be doing this crazy sport for so long and still be "walking away...fuzzy side up, facing the lodge". (see my "first triples" video). I am so lucky to have competed in World Cup Freestyle events since 1989 including two Olympic games, and so honored to represent Argentina. Remember, age is in the mind. Plus remember to drink more yerbamate.

Most of all, I am lucky to have shared this short segment of my life with you. All of you, thank you.

Thank you Panasonic! See you in Sochi!

 

 

 

 The journey still is evolving. Winter is not over, and there is still jumping to be had.

Yesterday, when it was 75 degrees (21 celcius), I thought spring was here. I was thinking...

Not yet. No, no, please don't let the snow go away.

Well, my wish came true. Now there is 40+ cm of snow right behind my house. Looks like I will be building a home jump soon! 

 

Anyone that knows me knows that when I like something I really like it. Every year it's the same thing. It's so tough to give up winter, then spring is awesome and beautiful (that is when all the ski areas are closed and I can focus on home). Spring flies by and next thing you know it's summer training and shows. (I expect to see Leilani in Park City).

So, the journey still is. It continues. Vancouver was a stop along the way. It was a goal, and yes, a disappointment to not compete.  If I said I was not disappointed at one point, it would not be true. However, it is what it is, and it is part of the journey. It is what I get out of it that matters. As in so many sports, you have to take the shot to make the goal, right?. You will never make a shot that you don't take. 

However, I got sooooo much from the experience. I am honored to be one of the five dream team. I have had the chance to speak to a world that is "listening" and cares, and I have had support from those people. I have had a chance to represent Argentina like no other athlete, and bring the country one step closer to being on the Olympic ski map. 

One more day for me to say...

Thank you Panasonic!

Well, according to the novel, Dr. Jekyll is the mellow one, the scientist, and Mr. Hyde is the wild one. So, I guess for me it is back to Dr. Jekyll, back to work, and back to paying the bills. There were certainly plenty of bills waiting for me when I arrived back from Vancouver. Yes, I still train in the gym and on the slopes, but the only competition left is in two weeks in Squaw Valley...U.S. Nationals. 

Needless to say, (but I will), I haven't had that much time to "work" in the past several months due to my "following my dreams" and craving for the incredible feeling of being in the Olympics again. It is absolutely consuming. ...and by the way, yes...priceless.

So for now it is back to seeking new contracts for my business, and maintaining relationships with the clients I already have.

That is the short term thing. However, this may be the perfect opportunity to branch into a different area, and utilize my other "muscles".

I would like to be able to combine my passion for skiing, my knowledge of technology, and my multi-cultural capabilities to provide myself with a "job" which does more than pay the bills. It would not really be a "job" in a "grindstone" sort of way, it would be a job in an enjoyable and challenging sort of way.

I know that it is out there and coming my way. Who knows? I believe that someone is going to help me land that sweet job of skiing, blogging, technology, and of course, plenty of air time.

 

Bills... 

 

No Bills... 

Remember, it's only 3 years and 11 months until the Sochi Games, which is really only 3 years from now, because you can qualify the year before. That, is only really two years from world championships which are next year. At the end of this summer, it will be next season and world championships are in Deer Valley!  Summer is just around the corner...Wow.

Speaking of "air time"... I've got some good footage coming up.

Stay tuned to see what perspires. :-{)

 

 

It seems really that time IS a constant. It goes the same speed regardless of what is happening, good or bad. So here I am looking forward to, of course...

the next competition!

I don't recall ever saying "I'm done". I am the same person (physically) that I was a month ago. I have changed however, somehow, in a good way. Yes it IS nice to be home, but like I said in the video...I can't relax :-{) Well, I guess that "relaxing" for me is hiking with the dogs, playing music, or working on the house. I'm simply not a "sit stiller".  U.S. nationals is coming up next, (FIS event), Argentina ski season starts, World championships are next year, and don't forget, I still have my license for skeleton :-{)

As requested, here are a couple of videos (slow and fast) of a Getty k.a.blaster,and of course more Vancouver photos.

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If a picture is worth a thousand words, look below and do the math.

The result cannot compare for the great feelings I have for the people that have touched me during this CRAZY time. Life is certainly a journey, and if my journey is freestyle skiing, then I am taking jumps and skiing bumps right at the envelope of control and hope to land fuzzy side up and facing the lodge.

 

Without looking it up, what are the colors of the five Olympic rings (in order), and what do they stand for?

How lucky am I ?  I would say EXTREMELY.

OK, so I didn't get to compete (this time). But, regardless of the fifteen seconds that I wanted to have for myself, I had hours of quality time with awesome people.  I spent an evening with team Argentina and I again realize how much I love Argentina and its people. In the future, the rest of the world will realize this, and Argentina will become the "destination of choice".  I believe that this can and will turn the country's economy around as the government moves on to the next generation.

I will not forget the people who motivate me toward the next phase of my life...(i.e. the next Olympic games). In Salt Lake, it was the face of Pavel (one of my coaches at the time) chanting To-ri-no, To-ri-no at the closing ceremonies. In Torino, it was the faces of Christian and Claudio chanting Van-cou-ver, Van-cou-ver. Now in Vancouver, it is Maria Belen Simari, the people of Argentina and the rest of world's support for me to never stop until I say I am done.

Again 48 is just a number, and age has nothing to do with it. If I want to continue, (which I do), I will. My only problem...choices...I am like a kid in a candy store. I feel that I can have whatever I want, but have so many choices. I love skiing, adrenaline, and of course ARGENTINA and its people.

 

My Canadian friends (and lucky looney and tooney givers...I still have them)  

 

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What an experience! Wow! HD-3D is awesome. Talk about feeling the passion. When I visited the "Live City" pavillion and went to the Panasonic House, I felt like Olympic royalty. I met Tugba, Robel and Aaron "the gold blogger" for the first time. I felt honored to be in their presence, and even more honor to be part of the Five Dreams Team. 

I got to see myself on HD-3D TV, and truly relive part of my experience from Torino in 2006. I swear, I could see and feel the snow falling, and all over my face...(I can't forget that).  At the root of a great company are its people, and the people of Panasonic are truly wonderful. To them, it is not so much about the medal as it is about the people and their passion. You can see that so clearly in their support of the Olympic games for all the years that television has existed!

It was great to be in the company of Tugba, Robel, and Aaron. We hit it off immediately, and it totally felt like family. Totally. We have bonded for life in a very short amount of time. It is experiences like these that fuel me for four more years. (did I really say that?)

Super cool...

When we were there, we were each presented with a golden chain and locket. Inside the locket was a micro chip that contained all the comments to date that all of you put on this site. Re-coolissimo. (as my family in Buenos Aires says).

Something they did not expect was a gift from me which was a Panasonic CPA (Check Printing Accountant). This was a device I bought in 1990. It has a whopping 128kb of memory and keeps track of several checking accounts, and it actually prints the checks for you. The best thing...I still works!

 

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Turkey-tina!

 

Thank you Panasonic!

 

 

 

 

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I am not sure what to say... I am upside down with myself.  I feel that my Vancouver destiny is no longer in my hands, and  I think I hear an overweight person singing in the distance.  I know what song she is singing, but I won't mention it here, because all of you know what it is.

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Just thinking about it...

Everything is a learning experience. Whether you like it or not, things happen for reasons. Learning is at the root of them. At my age, I am still a child in terms of learning life's lessons, and I am learning much about how to deal with things. The most important thing that comes to mind is to be thankful. Even though it is tough to be thankful at various times, the bigger picture is clear. "Look at all you have done...Argentina IS on the map for freestyle, and there IS more to come that is better than you ever imagined." Life has its ups and downs, and that is why I am not only beside myself, but upside down with myself.  Thank you to my great friends and my family for always being there...crash or no crash

 

My ambassador (and better half)

Love is small compared to what I feel for her.

Well, here I am. I can feel the energy. I am cheering on my Argentine teammates, and I am still waiting. But, being here is half the battle. If my prayers get answered, I will be here ready to go. But, as usual, can you believe it. (probably...), my skis didn't make it with me. I really think that TSA cannot figure out how to put my ski tube back together (not too tough), and that is why my skis are seemingly always late. I am waiting here at Denny's where I have wi-fi, waiting for my skis to arrive.

The weather? Warm and wet...not good for aerials, but things can change quickly. Through my years experience in world cup events, they always pull it off. Somehow, everything seems to fall into place for the competition day. I just hope it comes together a bit sooner.

I hope and pray that things go my way. I realize that things happen for a reason, and ANYTHING can happen...ESPECIALLY at the Olympic games. Like I said earlier..no overweight person is singing yet. Vamos!

 

"Always try your best, and never, ever give up"

Words from the opening ceremonies speech.