Like I predicted in my previous post, my definition of hard work has now changed.

It seems that being a pro athlete has softened me to the real world, and beginning my MA has been an extremely humbling experience so far. I LOVE IT! It’s just like learning how to bike, surf, or ski. As soon as you start to gain momentum and feel confident in what you’re doing another bump in the trail/wave/snow comes along and reminds you that you aren’t nearly as proficient in your abilities as you thought you were. That’s when you have no choice but to pick yourself up, however bloodied, bruised, or battered your body, ego, or brain is and keep pushing along until you get it right.

Despite the pain that can be involved in brain transformation and expansion, the kind folks at Royal Roads University are making this journey quite a treat. The faculty are brilliant and enthusiastic and my cohorts are equally amazing. It’s going to be a fun two years...capped off by a 3-week field study in Thailand.

I’m still looking for a thesis project and I’m leaning on something that has to do with how sports help generate feelings of liberation, confidence, and contribute to future goal setting in women living in oppressed situations. I plan on making a film, but I need a good story/topic first. Originally I was going to follow a group of female boxers in Afghanistan on their journey to the 2012 Olympics, but due to security reasons, I was forced to let that idea go. If anybody knows of a person/group/community that is film-worthy and doesn’t mind a tidy Canadian hanging out with them for a few months please please please let me know :)

In sports news, the past month has had me swap my bike for my skis and I’ve been really embracing the amazing snow year we’ve had so far. Of the hundreds of days I have skied in Whistler, this Saturday was the most mind-blowing of them all. 40cm of fresh followed by cold blue skies. The first run was so good that I could have gone home happy...but thankfully there were many more to come.

As for biking, two teasers to movies I am in have been released. I will be featured in the “Women of Dirt” film (I filmed for only one day with the crew this summer, but it sure was fun!), as well as DH Productions’ “Here We Go Again” flick. I’m not sure, but my section in “Here We Go Again” is probably only a few shots and a nasty crash I took in Chile last year. We had plan to shoot for 10 days but the crash separated my shoulder and took me out for the rest of the trip. That said, the movie is filled with amazing talent and you should check it out!

I have also been nominated for “personality of the year” from another UK magazine! What is with this? I’m getting quite a kick out of this phenomenon, not so much because it is an honour (although I admit it is an honour!), but because the Brits must actually find me amusing. Finally! Somebody laughs at my jokes! Click below to vote. Oh and yes, I know that Steve Peat is beating me...again. (He won the last poll I was nominated for).

http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/British_Downhill_Series_launched_article_293483.html

As per usual, here are some special interest links for viewing.

The Girl Effect: http://www.girleffect.org/

An inspiring documentary short: http://vimeo.com/1213401

A cool network (that I started blogging for): http://www.womentalksports.com/

Well, that’s all for now. I have many readings to do on intercultural communication and only a few days to prep for a trip to Australia for Ride Guide that I only found out about today. Should be fun!

Until I get home from down under this is my message to you: go read something that has lots of big words. It’s worth the pain.

Adios!