Finding a Way to Prepare for the Provincial Games

With less than one month to go now to the Provincial Games at Sun Peaks, Cory is faced with a real challenge as he tries to prepare to defend his status as Provincial Champion.  His regular training grounds - Cypress Mountain in North Vancouver - has more brown areas than white, marginal conditions would be an improvement we'd say!

But even under less than ideal conditions, it's always worth stopping to enjoy the view of the city below.

YAY, SNOW!

And a chance to practice his starts.  Special Olympics race courses tend to be rather flat so Cory is working on building speed as quickly as possible by improving his starts.  Using both his arms and his legs to power out of the start gate, and in some cases getting lower to the ground to gain leverage on his poles, and using the skate technique whenever possible.










Cory participated in a Building Our Best camp with BC Adaptive, also at Sun Peaks.  It was a great opportunity to get in some substantial GS training over 4 days earlier this month, including two races.  He will also be working to improve his tuck position, holding his hands higher in front of his face to deflect the wind, as well as getting down into a more compact position in order to be more aerodynamic.

In race action in those great-looking BOB bibs:

A second place finish in both races, behind a non-Special Olympics racer brings a smile to Cory's face.

So then we were off to Whistler for what we thought would be a good day of GS training in their Gatebusters program....it turned out to be Super G training, which was even better since Cory had not yet trained Super G this year.

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Faced with even warmer and wetter weather over the last few days, Cory hopes to return to Whistler's Gatebusters program for some Slalom training this coming week.  The training at Sun Peaks and Whistler has boosted his confidence and Slalom training will only add to his technical and mental preparation for his most important races since the National Games 3 years ago.