Dear Interweb,
During these last few months, I have been so busy with school, dryland training and friends that I haven’t been on the blogging-train. As ski season approaches, I hope to once again become a more consistent blogger. As my friend Joel pointed out, recently I’ve been referring to everything in Top 5s. So, here is:
My Top 5 List of Favourites for Quest Fall 2009:
1. My roommate Adrienne and the events that went on in our room. Adrienne is one of the most caring and lovely people I know. Our room hosted the Cheese and Wine Society, Girls Night, Cosmo Club Meetings, movie nights, floor meetings, and a lot of tea drinking.
Adrienne and I on her 19th Birthday
Adrienne, a farmer and I, Spinelli from the cartoon Recess, doing our best impersonations of our characters on Halloween. (An event that almost could have made my top 5)
2. Dance parties of epic proportions.. These songs were always sung at the top of our lungs with dramatic dance moves:
Wolf Like Me, TV on the Radio
Paper Planes, MIA
Deceptacon, Le Tigre
Great DJ, The Tings Tings
3. Neuroscience (October block) with a fabulous professor,Megan Bulloch. I was challenged by the course and fascinated by so many aspects of the huge field of neuroscience so it has further expanded my future career list which is much longer than “top 5”. My final paper was on psychophysiological aspects of psychopathy. Though researching and thinking about psychopaths for a month was slightly disturbing, it was the most fascinating subject I have ever written about. (If you are interested in the pychophysiological differences in repeat violent criminals or people that just lack empathy, we can talk about it!)
4. Cross country mountain biking in Squamish. The rush of adrenaline surrounded by beautiful, lush forests is one of the best feelings ever. The strength in my legs for the upcoming ski season is pretty great too! If you’re ever biking in Squamish, check out Roller Coaster and Psuga Tsuga.
5. Purple Pants Sunday Games Nights. It somehow evolved over the semester to a weekly event consisting of four of us wearing purple long underwear/spandex/tights playing Bananagrams and card games. As silly as it sounds, it really was an integral part of my fall.
As I wrote this list, I realize I could have made it my “top 10 or 20” list as I tried to fit a few things into each point and ended up leaving out some other favourite things, courses, and friends. So I’ve realized that I only mention “top 5” as a point of reference but I likely have way more than five on any “top list of things”!
Sincerely,
RozG
P.S. My brother, Luke, came to visit and stayed with us at Quest. That should have been on my list but, along with several other things, I couldn’t figure out how to fit it into the other top 5s.
P.P.S. Having my truck towed because of illegal parking when we went to Vancouver for a girl’s day was NOT a favourite thing, even though the day itself and the friends I went with, could easily have been on this list.
My favourite girls: Becca, Adrienne, Olenka, myself and Michaela on Granville Island in Vancouver
I missed a few days of my chemistry block to fly down to Boulder for the Spyder Annual Sales meeting, a quick photo shoot and a large Spyder party. It was awesome to meet the great people at Spyder as well as to see Boulder for the first time. But, the most special event was to see that my previous team manager, Chad Buckridge, has come back to Spyder. hoorah!
A bug on a Spyder coat in the salesroom...ha
Rob is a sweet designer for Spyder who might be working on an epic Roz suit...
The one man Jamaica Ski team, Errol and I modeling the same jacket. I think it looks better on me...
Delicious king crab straight off the NorthWestern fishing boat, made famous by the Discovery Channel's show "The Deadliest Catch". It was amazing!
The Spyder team: Errol Kerr, Julian Carr, Colby West and me plus two models in speed suits at the Spyder party
I am happy to be part of such an amazing group of people! Thank you to Grant, Chad and Rob for making my trip excellent!
I decided to get Twitter! Follow me at roz_g (not rozg or roz-g). I was anti-Twitter for awhile, but I have actually enjoyed “Tweeting” as well as following my friends’ updates and thoughts. Hopefully, I will figure out how to connect it to this blog soon!
I decided that if LOST could summarize 3 seasons in 8 minutes, then I could summarize my June/July in a few paragraphs.
In mid-June, The Field Ecology course ended brilliantly with a 3-day hike on Flores Island through the “Wild Side Trail” to explore its biodiversity. I highly recommended going there if you’re in the Tofino, BC area.
My classmate, Bryn and I, hiking through the forest
Late June to mid-July, I was in Whistler, contracted to coach tramp for Momentum Ski Camps. The plan was to do intense dryland training plus ski the glacier. (A few days into it, COC asked me to coach at the tramp at water ramp which helped cover some living expenses in Whistler.) I had several awesome ski days on the glacier, did a fill-in ski coaching day, felt some progress in some things I was working on and then… had a speed issue on the 80-90 foot step-up jump, ending with my SI joint jammed. I felt lucky that it was just a 3 week recovery period. I was also bummed because there was only 3 weeks left for Momentum. Instead of heading home, I finished my tramp coaching commitments (which I love to do especially when a camper gets a trick for the first time!), did some rehab, spent some fun time socializing with Justin, ski friends and Luke G (who was there as the assistant video guy for Momentum), and left Whistler feeling almost healed and relaxed, ready to get strong again.
One of my favourite trampoline campers, Noah, and I at the water ramp trampolines. (Check out my sweet Voleurz Hoodie!)
All around awesome camper/friend Megan Clinton and I at a party!
Stretching before a big day on the Glacier!
Time in Calgary with family and friends is always so good for my soul. I went to the Calgary International Folk Fest as I always do (since I was 6 years old) seeing some favourites, hearing some new music and doing some serious all night dancing at the volunteer after party (as a guest of my Quest friends, Samahdi, Anna, Britanny and Carmen, who were volunteers this year).
Dancing at the Folk Fest!
Brit, Samadhi and I watching some bands on the grass
And now I’m almost up to date. Next blog: trip to Cook Islands with Justin before heading to New Zealand to shred!
Roz G
P.S. I really admired how Justin dealt with not being able to go and kill it on the glacier all summer (because of his healing collarbone). He was enthusiastically coaching for Momentum but carefully waiting for his wing to heal. He cheered on his campers and friends’ accomplishments and never complained even though I know he was dying to hit it all. Seeing him take it in stride was a lesson for me in how to deal with my own disappointment this summer.
During the ski season, music is very important to me even though I can rarely manage to attend concerts. My ipod and skullcandies are always with me.
Before I travelled so much for skiing, I went to all the live concerts I could. (I used my first ski comp winnings to travel to Montreal–where my sister, Veronique, lived–to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, back when they were edgy.) So after ski season, I seek out concerts, quenching my thirst for live performances and new music. Sasquatch Music Festival was exactly what I needed! I headed down to Washington state with a friend from school for three days packed with a huge variety of bands/musicians. I listened, sang, crowd surfed, swayed, danced, and clapped to favourites and new musical finds.
Hanging out in some of the only shade at the festival between bands
Through new friends and random occurrences, I received an all access wrist band. Oh, the freedom of the “I’m-someone-or-I-just-know-someone” pass! I spent the rest of the festival on the stages.
(The camera that we took all of our pictures with is currently MIA. I will post sweet backstage pics once I find them!)
Sasquatch was worth the drive (6 hours each way), the expense, lack of sleep, and even having to catch up on missed classes and lots of assignments through a haze of semi-exhaustion.
Post-script: Here are my Sasquatch quick-picks:
Favourite performance(s): Of Montreal, Explosions In The Sky
Favourite new musical discovery(ies): Fleet Foxes, Devotchka, The Builders and the Butchers
Favourite band(s) to dance to: Santigold, Girl Talk
Most Surreal Experience: Being backstage watching TV on the Radio play and looking out into the audience to see 30,000 people watching back
Favourite people I hung out with at Sasquatch: Sam, Chrevor, Steven and Julia!
I’m back at Quest University for two spring blocks, Statistics and Ecology. I’m a self-confessed nerd because I love academic challenges so this is a good thing. Quest University offers the block program, much like Colorado College, so I don’t have to give up school or give up skiing. Each course is intense, just the way I like it. A few other athletes have chosen Quest for the same reason (Olympic luger, Sam Edney; US team sport climber, Elise Ebner; among others). I’ve heard rumours that a few other Canadian freeride skiers are joining me here in the fall…
My entire Statistics class eating dinner on top of our residences cooked by our university president and staff members
The other great advantage of Quest is its location, perching itself at the top of Squamish (Garabaldi Heights to the locals). When I’m done class, I can grab a bike and ride some of the most awesome trails in the world right outside my door. (I have to buy a new bike because my brother sold my cross country bike so he could upgrade his DH bike…oh Luke!) Or I can go with my friend, Elise, climbing or bouldering as Squamish is a prime destination for climbers. Last time Justin visited, we took a few hours to hike to the top of The Chief, for fun, fitness and vistas. The lakes around Squamish are also amazing, though super cold as they’re glacier fed, which are a nice way to cool off from a trail run.
2nd peak on the Chief (massive rock face that can be seen from anywhere in Squamish)
The view from the Chief!
Climbing with Samuel and Elise!
The view from the Quest cafeteria is spectacular, so much so that the locals often come to have breakfast or lunch with us. Three of my teamies have houses in Squamish—Sarah, Trennon & Mike—so I’m looking forward to going to the skatepark and jumping on tramps with them this spring and in the fall. In addition to some awesome friends I have at Quest, I’m meeting other Squamish outdoor athletes (DH bikers, Skiercross, climbers, kitesurfers, etc.) plus I have my favourite cafes and restaurants so it feels more and more like home. The sea-to-sky highway should be finished soon (por fin!), making the drive to Vancouver and to Whistler/Blackcomb that much easier & faster which will make life here practically perfect. Come visit!
Hanging out at Brohm Lake with Riddle, Elise and Samuel.
P.S For my ecology block, we are spending half a week camping/studying an old-growth forest near Whistler and then the final week on Vancouver Island, near Tofino, studying the marine restoration and forest sustainability. What a life!
Just finished a week in Park City for Queen’s Cup Open! Click here for the freeskier article!
Just so you know, the yellow group, my group!, was the most awesome. Perhaps other coaches would disagree but I’m sticking to this opinion. My girls were rocking yellow bandannas, pushing themselves all day, going for new tricks, and loving skiing. Megan, Mel, Keni, Becca and Eli all rocked! They made me smile all day and exemplified the love of skiing!
Up top: Becca and Eli. Sitting: Me! Keni, Mel and Megan
I was a little apprehensive of this event because I hadn’t really enjoyed my first experience at Queen’s Cup as a competitor. I had been really excited about getting to know more female skiers and instead there were too many girly rules and a lot of insincerity. It was a different experience this year–there was none of that attitude with the yellow team—and I enjoyed the camaraderie with all the female coaches/judges/organizers.
After the competition day, we hung out sharing our ski stories and ideas for future events, partied in our little black dresses (looking sassy!), and went out to GTS (get the shot) with some photographers for four day for the inaugural My Super Sweet Park (MSSP). I left Queen’s Cup/MSSP with so many positive memories and ideas this time. MSSP was my first editorial photo shoot. I was nervous about it all but I learned a lot. Though the weather didn’t totally cooperate, I think we all still GTS! (I’ll post shots when I get them)
Getting ready at Ashley's house
Looking sassy at Harry-Os
Thank you to Anna and Nancy Demasi for organizing a progressive week for female skiers!
Post-Script: And…thank you to Ashley and her family for letting me stay at their beautiful home!
I accomplished a lot away from the halfpipe while I was in Summit County for the US Open. I opened my first American bank account (in order to stop losing $$ with the current Canadian exchange rate), skied a pretty fun jumping day at Breckenridge, made this website of mine far more attractive (thanks to some assistance from Jeff Cedeno!) and killed it at the Silverthorne gym. If you ever find yourself at the gym in Silverthorne, I recommend you jump on one of the stationery bikes with the dragon-chasing video game attached. It’s the greatest invention ever: you can chase dragons and earn points by cycling, resulting in the time passing way faster than it normally would and you work way harder.
Also, I have begun an independent study university course, Political Economy, which will be occupying all my time that was otherwise reserved for facebook, newschoolers and youtube. Thank you to everyone at Quest University who has helped me organize this!
The most entertaining thing I did off the ski hill was visit the newly built Woodwards training facility at Copper. Check the pics!
I heart Trampolines
Snow flex ramps: A contraption that combines my two worst fears of water ramps and foam pits
Skate Bowl! There's also a pretty sick mini ramp on the other side of the gym
I am writing this on a flight from Denver to LA that we caught right after the event. We’ll go on to Tokyo tomorrow to compete at World Championships in Inawashiro!
Mr. Macgregor
For the last few weeks I have been hanging out at home in Calgary after an injury sustained during the World Cup in Park City. I needed some downtime so I spent a lot of time with my dog, Dante MacGregor (border collie).Dante, who also answers to Mr. MacGregor, is a killer companion: very smart, very affectionate, funny and protective.
Dante's favourite 'work'...
While I was home, I snapped a few pictures of my pro-model glove prototype that I had designed for Kombi in the fall (with help from my brother who has those computer graphics skills). I recently found out that the glove was well-received by buyers and will be mass-produced for next season!
Tops of the hand
Palm of the glove
My original design was purple but the glove will be produced in various colours, including this red and an aqua blue (though for me, it’s all about the purple!) Roses mean a lot to me: my name comes from Rosalinda, meaning ‘beautiful rose’ in Spanish plus my beloved Grandma has a lifetime passion for roses. The zebra print started as a random inspiration because I love black-and-white (border collies, for example). When I thought about it during the process I remember that zebras are cool because no two zebras have the same stripe pattern—they recognize each other by their individuality or unique ‘style’, much like how I recognize skiers.
Glove Love!
Peace out!
The ski industry is a big family with too many boys so I have a lot of “bros” who treat me like their little sister. They tease me and make me laugh and/or squirm….and sometimes they find out my secret and tell the www …
http://kevinkruse.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/busiest-girl-in-the-industry/
Kevin Kruse, the Scott Team Manager, is definitely one of my loving ‘bros’, enhanced by the fact that I’m dating one of his ‘children’. But, how did he figure it out? I was so sneaky, even claiming to not like pop music. I’m blaming the red lipstick! Ha!
Post-Script: No, I’m not sponsored by Scott—my goggles are Electric, baby!
