Breakthrough!

Cory continues to train in the Gatebusters program and race in the Kokanee race series at Whistler Blackcomb in preparation for Special Olympics' National Winter Games that begin in 28 days. And at last Saturday's Gatebusters, his coach - Chris Kent - called it a "breakthrough" day for Cory. And what great timing to breakthrough, with just over a month to race day.

The Kokanee race was held in pleasantly clear conditions a couple of days earlier.




Here's Cory and his Blue Streak teammate Christie taking some course inspection advice from Whistler legend Rob Boyd...




Then it's time to prepare to race:



And into his first run of the 2 runs for the day:





He has worked hard to improve his technical skills and a couple of weeks ago, his coaches suggested he now put those skills to work - that he forget about thinking of his body position and technical skills as he trains and focus on just finding a way to go faster in a race course. Taking a more aggressive line, tucking more often, just attacking the race course. And on Saturday, there was a noticeable improvement and that's what prompted Coach Chris to call it a "breakthrough day, a big step up".

In fact, when we compared Cory's times to those of another racer he often trains with, a racer who has always been up to 5 seconds faster in a race course, we saw that Cory was now the faster racer - by 2 seconds for each run! That is indeed a big step up, a breakthrough day.

Some early runs through the Gatebusters course:




and then as the day progesses, his increased speed is noticeable here as he cuts in closer to a gate and hits it harder than he's ever hit a gate before...




So now it's off to Gatebusters for another GS training day on February 1, then a short training break as Cory takes a well-earned 4 day long weekend with no ski training. He''ll return to snow next week at Cypress with his Special Olympics Provincial Coach - Randy Scott - and then onto more Gatebusters sessions and one more Kokanee race at Whistler.

Here he is with Coach Randy at Cypress on a foggy night of training:




During his training break, we are expecting he will receive his Team BC uniform and gear so we'll update soon with photos of that.

39 Days To Go!

With 39 days to go until the Opening Ceremonies of Special Olympics' National Games in St. Albert, Alberta, Cory's training is in high gear. Monday nights at Cypress with his Special Olympics Team BC teammates and Coaches Tom Advocaat and Randy Scott, then Wednesdays in the Gatebusters program at Whistler working with Coach Ken Pedersen, Thursdays in the Kokanee Race Series and Saturdays back in the Gatebusters program, both at Whistler.


Kokanee GS, January 5

This was the second Kokanee race of the season, and as always with a Kokanee race, we joke that Cory's goal is to not finish last. And in this race, he is successful - finishing 5th out of 11 racers in his age category, with the 25th best time of the 40 male racers.

First though, a little TLC for those GS race skis...




Then it's race time, on Ptarmigan - now the National Training Centre - on Whistler:




Gatebusters GS, January 7

Back into Giant Slalom training with Gatebusters, again on Ptarmigan. Cory is working on maintaining a dynamic body movement throughout the race course, and trying to keep his weight more over his downhill ski




Gatebusters GS, January 11

Staying on Ptarmigan for the next GS training session where Cory now is working on holding his turns just a bit longer to maintain a higher line in the steep sections. Otherwise he skis more directly at the next gate resulting in a lower and lower line through the course which usually results in a braking motion in order to make a gate. By maintaining a higher line from turn to turn, he can maintain his speed until the course flattens out and then go more directly at gates with speed. It's a difficult concept for him since he instinctely wants to go as fast as possible.





Kokanee GS, January 12

In this Kokanee race, his VASS Blue Streak colleague joins in, and it's a beautiful day for a race.





Cory continues to use these races as a training exercise and in his first run it is clear he is holding his turns longer and managing his speed well, though it likely results in a slower race. For the second run, we talk about using his new skill of holding his turns only when he feels it is necessary as he races through the course, and once again he does not finish last, 4th out of 9 racers in his age group.




Gatebusters SL, January 14

Now a switch into Slalom training, still on Ptarmigan, the National Training Centre at Whistler.

Here in Cory's first slalom training since November, Cory is working on taking a more aggressive line and instead of skiing around the gates, learning how to ski through them. He got arm and shin guards for his birthday and for Christmas, now it's time to put them to good use.



Gatebusters SL, January 18

And then there was this Gatebusters session...the coldest day we've ever experienced on skis. It was -21C, with high humidity, and strong winds. A couple of weeks ago, Cory skied with his Special Olympics Provincial Coach who was impressed enough with Cory's skiing to say that he was ready to compete and the National level now, and it would be OK for Cory to reduce his training if he wished. But Cory would have none of it. He said he's trained too hard and too long to ease off now, with just over a month to go. So let's keep at it he said. So in spite of the weather, he insisted we get out of our warm beds at 5am for the drive to Whistler.

Even his first experience with frostbite didn't stop him. He got 8 runs in, with 4 stops in the warm-up hut in between, and by the last run he was skiing slalom better than ever, and the Gatebusters coach told him so.





He has another Gatebusters Slalom session planned for this Saturday at Whistler, and then a GS Kokanee race on January 26 and a Super G Kokanee race on February 16. There are Gatebusters sessions at Whistler every Wednesday and Saturday, but he'll likely be selective with those. He certainly wants to be in peak condition but not over-trained by his departure from Vancouver Airport for Edmonton on February 27.

We'll update again before then, that's for sure. And then it will be 2 days of racing at Marmot Basin in Jasper for the opportunity to represent Canada at Special Olympics' World Games in Pyeongchang, Korea in 2013. Our fingers are already crossed. We do know that no other athlete there could possibly be better prepared, but we also know that anything can happen on race day.