OUTDOOR NATIONALS

(i'm still living in colorado and I'm usually tired enough from training that I can't think when I write. Sorry it took a week to get out)



Ahhh World Team Tryouts. 9 races in 5 days. U spend something like 2hrs actually skating and 20hrs trying to figure out how the points are working out. It's the most mentally draining meet of the season b/c you have to be consistent the entire week. You can't get to high if you win one race, or too low if you lose one race. It seems like every year someone messes up on the first day and then their head is so messed up they don't' skate well the rest of the competition. Just like every other year the last few spots all came down to the last day of racing. I always like tryouts b/c everyone brings their A game, so the racing is so close.

For me this years was the best tryouts I've skated. I stayed consistent for most of the races(even did well in the 300m, YEAAAAAAAAH), I won both points races, and I was sitting in a good position to be on team after the 2nd day. I made a few stupid mistakes, but like I talked about earlier, I was able to put them behind me and not let them effect the next race. Hard to believe this is my 5th straight year going to worlds, and since i've never been to Spain so i'm pretty pumped.

The racing as a whole was great as usual. Soo many people skated better than i have seen them skate before. Dane skated stupid fast, Keith Carrol too. Erin Jackson and sophi webb were super impressive in Jr girls(all the girls were but i just didn't realize how well they were skating). It seemed like the whole Jr men division was skating fast. Chelsea Crevling looked better than i've seen her before. Kaitlyn looked like a whole new person that the girl at clinics a month ago. Harry skated half the meet with a broken collar bone, and made the team(even if i still think he's stupid for doing it). Josh was strong as hell, and Joey was Joey winning like 4 races. Jonathan Blair really struggled on the track(that'll get fixed at residency), but looked super strong on the road. I was really impressed at how he pulled it together the last 2 days. There were sooo many people skating well, and it was great to see.(if i left you off, and you thought u were skating fast, I prolly agree, I just can't think right now)

Congrats to my guys from home. Jake, Harry, Hank, and Mariah all made the team. Also Kimani skated great as a first year Sr. Harry made a sick come back for like 8months back on skates to make the team. For those guys to skate as well as they did after having to change teams and lose 2 super coaches. Also gotta give tons of credit to Tony Smith for helping everyone get ready this year. It's almost impossible for A) skaters to completely change a program they've been using for several years... and B) A coach to pick up that group of talent and ego and keep it all under control. I think I was happier for Jake to make the team and skate as well as he did than i was for myself making the team. I know how hard he worked this year and it was great to see him make his first world team.

Just to address one that thing that was kinda embarrassing looking back at it. Anyone who happened to see a bunch of us older skaters looking like fools at like Midnight on the last night, I'm sooooo sorry. I'm not going into details or anything, and I know nothing serious happened, but we looked like idiots. And it was completely unacceptable for anyone to act like that, especially with teenagers around.

OK with that said and done.. Next stop indoor nat's. That should be interesting b/c the last time I've been indoors was ummm regionals. But I hope everyone is excited about it, it's always my favorite meet of the year. See you guys there. Train hard.