Inspiration and my Opa during the battle of Ortona on Christmas day, 1943

I sit here in the comfort of my home next to my amazing sister and parents and am extra thankful. I am thankful for many things but after taking an interest in my Opa’s war stories, I am grateful for his bravery, character and selflessness. 

My grandfather fought in World War II as a Seaforth in the 4^th infantry division of signals and later as a Battle Adjudant in the Royal Infactra Corps, Canadian Infantry Corps. He was involved in the Hitler line battle, Savio River battle, Issel River battle and the San Leonardo battle but it was in the battle of Ortona that he left his mark.

It was on Christmas day in 1943 that the quarter master, Captain Cameron, decided to serve the Canadian men Christmas dinner in the church, which was one of the first and most important objectives in Ortona.

Here is my Opa, Wilfred Gildersleeve sharing his day as he played the Organ for the troops – “We had a couple of fellows able to pump the organ on a couple of planks. They stood on the plank, you know, and one, two, three, alternately. And I still had my little book with some music in it, of carols and hymns and what not. And I used to get stuck for church parades playing for them all, in England. And so we were able to sing some carols, led by Roy Durnford, padre. That was very heavy, very heavy, to see those men come in, have their dinner, which consisted of roast pork, potatoes, carrots, all scrounged from the countryside and Christmas pudding a couple of chocolate bars, a bottle of beer and an orange. And for many of those men, it was the last meal they ever had on this earth because it was company after company.”

I imagine my grandfather, 68 years ago singing hymns and playing the organ filling men with what may have been their last peaceful and joyous moments. Sitting here writing from the comfort of my home, I do my best to fathom their appreciation for life and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the sacrifices they made for you and me; for our nation.

I send my love and gratitude to my Opa Wilfred as well as his lovely bride Marguerite who met in Amsterdam on May 8^th !945 in celebration of World War II ending. You have both created a wonderful legacy and your spirits are shining in your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Your family is strong and we will lift you up tomorrow as we all gather to celebrate Dutch Christmas in your honor.

To my Opa, your spirit, fearlessness, integrity and height live on. You were a standout man and your grandchildren may not have had much time with you but we fondly remember your chivalry, high moral standard and sense of humor. In fact I am frequently reminded of you when Matt, myself and Jordan grow our moustaches in Movember and I am confident we all have your funny bone.

I leave you with my Opa’s final message to future generations in the family interview conducted by my uncle Steve.

“Hold in your heart a love of Canada, your home land, maybe your adopted home land, and serve Canada as best you can in whatever way the country needs you. Be it business or in the services or in the government, bearing in mind the fact Canada’s forces now are a peace-keeping force and we will never be an offensive nation and we should certainly honor our service men in today’s forces because they act as aid to the civil power. And try to lead our lives in ways that will never again lead to war. Maybe the simplest message is that we need to learn to love and respect our fellow man and to work together for the common good.”

Gratitude

A few weeks ago I was walking to brunch with Jordan (roommate/cuz/ape/stallion) and we high fived over life. Not our first high five, however, this one spurred a train of thoughts and emotions that rushed through me like an avalanche in the Alaskan backcountry.

Gratitude, appreciation, love, joy, humility. Gratitude.

My life is amazing. That isn't a "my life is better than yours" statement, it is a pure, friendly epiphany driven affirmation. It is entirely a "holy shit, I love my life and get to live my passion everyday" thought and I haven't been able to genuinely stop to be thankful for my life path since it went into overdrive late 2011.

I had been in Toronto since I herniated 2 disks in my back mid summer, and was spinning my pedals and reaching for something I couldn't see clearly. But on October 1^st the gears of my life began to catch; I moved downtown Toronto with my cousin Jordan. Without getting into the details, it wasn't until I got my own place that everything started coming together. My health, energy, excitement and pure "joie de vivre" exponentially increased and my essential flame has been burning bright like the Olympic torch since!

I haven't had my own space for a long time and it was neve a big deal, I just called it the “21^st Century Nomad style” and dealt with it. I made the most of every situation, couch, hotel room, single bed, floor or spare bedroom and stayed in a positive mental space because I had to. As a matter of adaptation I made each unique setup an opportunity for growth but without knowing it I was never truly able to completely relax. Now with the independence of an apartment and a year contract keeping me committed, I have flourished in my own space (and king size bed) where I can now rest, recover, create and explore my creative side. It has been a launching pad for my social life, a sanctuary for my physical recovery and a zen garden for my mental health.

Back to brunch. Jordan and I (as always) rolled in aggressive style and arrived to find a medley of amazing people, one of whom was a University friend I hadn't seen for years! We all had rich conversations about life and it was through this inspiring gathering that I was drawn to a place of reflection. I came to a deeper place of appreciation for my path I and the social, physical and mental dividends being created through my diligent pursuit.

Toronto has been a social and life experiment. I had never sunk my emotional roots in the city (a side from one relationship) and was therefore recluse and hesitant to commit to anything that lasted more than an hour. I have since embraced Toronto with my entire being and celebrated it as my home. This change in tune immediately opened amazing opportunities, influenced incredible connections and has shot me into a deeper understanding of myself.

I have adapted to the fast paced lifestyle of Toronto and am thoroughly enjoying it. Leading my life via my passion has naturally attracted people that dare to be great and challenge their own reasons for existence. From artists to business men to DJ's to fellow athletes I am continuously reminded that I am here to be the best I can be and share that empowering energy with those who cross my path.

I believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life and I thank everyone who has supported and cheered for me. You are all an inspiration in your own way and have all been integral in me arriving where I am today.

Happy holiday,

Martin

My partner for 2012

I am very pleased to announce to that I will be competing on the 2012 FIVB tour as well as qualify for the Olympic games with Sir Josh Binstock. This is a move that may surprise some of you, especially after winning the 2011 Continental Cup with Chaim Schalk. To those skeptics, Chaim and I definitely had a good run but over the span of 2 seasons we weren't able to put together our best performances at more than a few events. Granted we both dealt with injuries (the most recent and severe being my back) but there were plenty of opportunities to step up and we never found a strong enough rhythm to consistently improve our results. I thank Chaim for a very memorable 2 years but this isn't a blog about the past, it is about the exciting future for a team that has been destined to happen for a long time!

After a frustrating end to my season in July 2011 with a back injury, I began looking at my options for a partner to pursue the 2012 Olympics with. There were a few top ranked teams playing really well and it just so happened Josh Binstock was splitting with Rich Vanhuizen. Josh and I have been solid friends for quite a long time and no stranger to each other on the court. We have always gotten along famously and from the first time I watched him play I admired his intensity and desire for the ball. He was a devastating blocker for most and with his recent transition to defender he has brought those attributes to the back court and built on them. In my opinion he became the best shot defender in Canada over the 2011 season and then went down to some late season USA events and earned more respect against some of the top athletes in the world.

It being my decision to play with Josh gives a sense of confidence I haven't had for a while. One of the main factors for my excitement is that Josh hand sets over bump setting and that is something I haven't had the luxury of since master hand setter Ray Sewell. I love hitting off a hand set and Josh's hands are fast enough for him to consistently set internationally; I look forward to crushing his butter!

So what is the next step you ask? We are currently residing full time in Toronto and training daily. We are working out like pre season College football players and starting our beach reps in a new indoor 3 court facility our national team built. We plan on going hard until christmas and then we are looking at a training camp in LA come the new year.

Our Olympic qualification is not a guarantee as the ranking going into the Canadian trials will be the two teams with the best results in the first tournaments of 2012. Those two top FIVB teams go to the NORCECA continental cup and will fight to win our nation a direct birth. Then another canadian trials will be held to narrow our best teams down to one final Olympic bound team! Lots of tournaments and high pressure situations to come but I have never felt more up for the challenge.

The road will be intense as all our tournaments run April through late June. They are closing in on us quickly making every day an important opportunity to improve and strive for our best as soon as possible.


Keep in touch for big things, I can feel it!

Beach video production

JokWear Campaign

Here is my spoof video I made for my new clothing sponsor JokWear which will be launching February 2012! Here is what JokWear has to say about the competition, the guidelines and the prizes!!!

Each contestant is asked to submit a 1 minute video that shares with others why they think they should be the next JokGirl or JokBoy?  They are to focus their 1 minute video on areas that exemplify the 4 Pillars in JokWear and the newly established JokWear Foundation; 1.Sports, 2.Arts, 3. Academics and 4. Community.  The end result: a $1000 Bursary for Post Secondary, a Trade School, an Arts Program, a Community Endeavor or Sport Competition. Also a full suited JokWear kit of apparel, along with being a part of the JokWear Board of Athlete's for the Year as the Youth Ambassador Athlete's and lastly having the opporunity to be a part of the first JokWear Apparel Catologue Shoot!

I am looking forward to being a part of this experience as a JokWear board member and athlete ambassador! I am going to be a part of the video voting process and I am sure it is going to be an outrageously fun and challenging experience. Looking forward to the entries and meeting the two athletes who win the competition! 


All the best!

Delicious paleolithic pancakes with a twist

Over the last week I have felt incredibly inspired to cook in my new pad! I have had moments of creative brilliance and while on the subway I have been scheming ways to combine routine foods with highly nutritious and easily accessible ingredients. With a fresh space, newly inspired ideas from recent reading and some of the best produce in the city at my new front door I began to create.

My first recipe in a series of self proclaimed amazing meals will be a new spin on a classic "The Paleo Pancake" from when I was staying with Paleo enthused health nuts on Grand Cayman Island! The following recipe was free-styled with no specific ratios but a certain consistency in mind. They turned out great and will now become a staple in my morning routine as they are easy, quick and rapidly digestible. Enjoy! 

1 - Grab half a cup to a cup of almonds and throw them in the blender. Mince them finely

2 - Add a few eggs into the ground almonds stir until they are well mixed

3 - Add two to three scoops of protein powder (preferably Kaizen Whey isolate) 

4 - Throw in some Glutamine for improved immune function and lean muscle retention

5 - Sprinkle pinches cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and cardamon 

6 - Add a teaspoon of vanilla bean extract

7 - Stir in Vanilla Almond Breeze until you have a nice thick consistency 

8 - Heat a pan with coconut oil and pour out a few pancakes 

9 - Cook the pancakes until there are one or two bubbles them flip them. Be careful not to cook them too quickly or with too high of a temperature because they can dry out easily. 

And there you have the first step of this feast! Now for the added goodies. 

I poured yogurt on top of the pancakes and then topped them with craisins and chia seeds. Then I sliced up a banana and poured a light serving of maple syrup on top of the entire goodness because I have a serious weakness for it! 

Voila, in about 20 minutes you have a highly nutritious meal with few carbs, high protein, good fats which will leave you feeling light and energized for your morning of taking over the world. 

Back to my west coast longboard roots

Today was one of the best Sunday Fundays I have had in a very long time. Granted it was a late start due to an amazing Saturday evening dinner party but better late than never!

My trainer and I had planned on doing a public sparring session in a park down in the Kensington Market area. We met up there at 5 and it turned out to be a zoo!!! Kensington on Sundays apparently goes off with a mixture of hipsters, free spirits and fun loving earthy folk interested in vintage fashion, grass roots music and un-flashy yet highly touted restaurants and cafes. We strolled around people watching for a bit and then Kriston came up with the idea of throwing 20 tennis balls to people in the park to see how they responded. Super neat idea and it was our first experiment in our joint mission to interact, challenge and inspire people to become more active. 

We strolled up to the full park and started throwing the balls to kids playing on the jungle gyms and sand boxes. They had no idea what to do with them but they had no choice but to catch the balls after I made eye contact with them. We started throwing them back and forth, making games and I focused in on the kids who saw this as a challenge and unique opportunity. Other people in the park got into it and kids began playing games with strangers (in a good way) they had never met before. It was such a joyful experiment challenging the kids with tosses, teaching them how to throw and causing social interaction through a simple game of hot potato. Even more hilarious when I rolled a ball to a kid who wasn't looking. Seeing their faces light up when a tennis ball appeared at their feet was priceless. 

We then left the kids with the balls and hung out with some pretty funky individuals hanging around the multi level chin up bars. These guys were there doing a form of Parkour and Kriston being a specialist and lover of the sport got along famously with them. He threw down a couple impressive moves and I got in there for some hanging funzies for some street cred; good times!

We then went over to the longboard crew and started mingling with them. Kriston had met one of the owners of the Longboard living shop. He hung out over some longboarding sessions around a large concrete circle and discussed the longboarding movement in Toronto and where Longboard Living was looking to positively influence it. 

As some of you may know, I come from a boarding background and I rode a stylie Sector 9 original pintail longboard all the way through college in Victoria and University in Vancouver. In my opinion it is the most efficient mode of transportation and also the most fluent and graceful as it requires long pushes and arcing carves to get from A to B. I also believe it is more sophisticated than the short board and attracts a mellower more well spoken demographic. I haven't boarded in a while but had been yearning for the freedom, creativeness and balance of the sport as of late. We rolled to the shop and Ryan hooked me up with a Skulls skates loaner then we hit the town. 

Our path took us to a large parkade where we hiked 5 flights of stairs and cruised in circles all the way down! It was amazing, like riding a mountain with chair lifts in the form of stairs and on the top we had an amazing view of the CN tower and the downtown core. We then commuted to Dundas square through downtown streets. I had really missed the speed on flats and propelling myself with balance and grace but most of all I missed passing the bicyclists! They are always surprised when a long boarder cruises past then rips a couple turns in front of them before taking off again. Beautiful. 

We arrived at Dundas square to find a massive event taking place. Ryan of longboard living was aware of the situation and took us to the breakdancing section where he introduced us to a pivotal player in the TO break scene. The event was called Manifesto and was the 5 year anniversary. Manifesto is a non-profit grassroots organization working to unite, energize, support and celebrate Toronto’s vibrant and diverse music and arts community, and find innovative ways of working together towards common goals. Such an amazing initiative and felt fitting that we found ourselves there to network with some integral people in different Toronto scenes.

We left there and returned to the Kensington market to end our evening but parted on a few thoughts. I realized I haven't been adventurous in the big city because I have been restricted and dependent on transit. With the use of a long board I was able to explore, experience and acquaint myself with some of the smaller streets and areas hidden in the shadows of mainstream places. I felt like I was able to connect with the city and experience an event I wouldn't have even known about had I not gone for a cruise. I was exposed to new stores, restaurants and businesses in passing as well as being introduced to very key characters in different TO scenes. I was able to take out a four wheeled paint brush and carve creative lines throughout a city I would normally experience from the seat of a bus, street car or underground subway. The session energized, elevated and pumped me up while connecting me with people who believe in green transportation, social responsibility and community.

The lifestyle of longboarding in Toronto is definitely different than in BC but it still attracts the same people. Without flowing hills Ryan and his posse at Longboard Lifestyle have catalyzed a scene based around community cruise sessions, leadership, learning, green transport and physical activity. Ryan brought up a great point that he believes longboarding is a life skill, something that should be learnt at a young age and he plans on integrating it into society. They are socially aware, safety conscious and highly organized and after the wonderful boost back into the sport tonight, I can't wait to get after more riding and exploration with this quality group of people. 

With a new light on Toronto, I can't help but become even more excited fully commit my life to the big smoke. Slowly I am finding ways to bring out the west coast and the more I embrace it, the more I meet incredible people who seek to inspire and ignite Canadians in their communities. 

Camp Madawaska

After the 2011 national championships and Canadian team trials I was invited by Josh Binstock to roll up with him to a volleyball camp called “Madawaska”. I had heard of the camp before through Mark Heese and a few other athletes but had no Idea what I was getting into when I accepted the invitation!

Beach Courts in the middle of nowhere

Josh and I drove North East for 3 hours and arrived to camp late Wednesday evening. It was spectacular timing because it was Casino night with free drinks and hilarious auction after with the proceeds going to charity! I played poker for the entire evening without getting dealt a single hand but it wasn’t a problem because I’m not a gambler and I had no interest in taking any of the auction items. Overkill and Beach Blast had donated a bunch of swag and I have enough beach clothes to last me a lifetime! It was highly entertaining watching an array of moderately desirable clothing go for silly prices! Bidding wars happened over scarfs, shorts, undies and all kinds of hilarious stuff and people were getting vicious! It was a fun first night with the adults but we were pretty tired from driving up and had to go to bed in our luxurious accommodation!

First class lodging!

Field of dreams at 6 AM

Before we knew it the 6 AM wake up call was upon us. Camp Madawaska runs their own time zone to utilize more daylight so 6 was actually 5. They run an incredible amount of programming throughout the day and it is only made possible by the super early start. The entire camp rolled to the tennis courts for a morning session called “Togetherness” which activates, motivates and brings everyone together to start the day off right. Once all the kids had arrived I realized the magnitude of camp Madawaska. There were over 700 people involved in the warmup!!! Such a cool place to be and I couldn’t have been more excited to be a guest of honor with Josh.

We cuised to breakfast and we were then introduced to the dual nature of the camp. I knew I was going to help with beach but the “court” component was MASSIVE. The kids were divided into court and beach which caused quite a bit of animosity and chirping between tables! It was such a great energy as tables chanted beach and sang songs proclaiming their superiority. A table would erupt in banging and a team would stand up, chant a rhyme and then the whole room would erupt with either support or disapproval depending on how good it was. Such a great initiative and I had such a great time watching!

After breakfast we took a quick nap and then hit up the sand courts for the first morning session. We coached a bit, enjoyed watching the kids play and then did a really fun question and answer period to close it out. The kids were so interactive, interested and keen to learn from our experiences playing beach around the world. The questions were all fantastic so we were able to share volley experiences and sporting knowledge with them for 25 minutes.

Beach VS Court coaches

The second session of the day started with the indoor vs court coaches match! Josh threw his shoes on and played but I stayed off cause I am still working through my back injury and didn’t want to jeopardize me recovery. The game wasn’t short of action and the beach boys absolutely demolished the court guys. The court ladies beat the beach ladies so the 3^rd set changed to co-ed 6’s and the court team won. It was an unfortunate loss for beach but with such a dominant performance from the men the coaches challenged the male court team to a rematch for the following day. (Court accepted and got pumped the next day!)

Dinner was tasty and the chanting between volley realms was spicy! The kids still had energy and had one more session to complete that day! We ended the 3^rd session with game play and Josh and I walked around helping, encouraging and coaching. With such an array of talented athletes there was no lack of action and I was thoroughly entertained by the U14 men’s division. These young boys were super talented, understood the game and were employing an effective blocking defense! They were ripping balls line, showing finesse, tearing jump serves and playing magnificent defense. Needless to say we have some stellar athletes coming up through the Ontario volleyball system and I can’t wait for them to start challenging me!

The rest of our time there was spent coaching, exploring and connecting throughout the camp. We scoped out the leaderships activities on their low ropes course, swam in the lake, watched competitive court games and overheard some of the tryouts for their final evening of “Madawaska has talent” which was promising to be the best show ever. As we were about to leave we got caught up in the Madawaska Olympic ceremonies. Each cabin represented a different country and had to come up with a dance, cheer, poster and present it in front of everyone! Such a great idea and all the kids were so involved!

Opening ceremonies at Madawaska Olympics

One thing I cherished was being able to select athletes I thought showed exemplary skill, desire and hustle. Josh and I went to all the groups and handed our jerseys and autographed cards to kids we felt deserved a pat on the back. One of the girls had never even played volleyball but managed to adapt, learn and stay positive!  

Between the owners, organizers, coaches and athletes we got to know some fantastic people in the volleyball world and connect with the next generation of volleyball stars in our country. It was such a great experience for me personally and I can’t wait to go back to the best volleyball camp in Canada next summer!!! 

http://www.madawaskacamps.com/

Photo we took for Volleywood with all the beach athletes

The start of Grand Cayman

For the last three months my partner and I have been training indoors in Toronto with the beach national team program. I moved here in the middle of January to fulfill my duties with the team and focus my entirety on winning on in sand boxes around the world. With months of training and focus behind us, the Grand Cayman is officially the first international competition of the year where we can try out new strategies, offences and judge our advancement. It is a highly anticipated trip in my personal calendar as the sun, people and venue are so magnificent. I can honestly say I was looking forward to this event more than any other in my life because I was DYING to get out of the old airport hanger where we train in Toronto! I welcomed the thought of sun, beach sand, turquoise water and excellent people I met the following year while playing and winning the event with Ray!

We purchased some CHEAP direct flights from West Jet and within 4 hours of leaving Toronto, we had landed and passed immigration! Waiting for us was our local hero and solid friend Carl Brenton. I was actually expecting his wife to be there to pick us up but she was nearly popping with her pregnancy so I guess Carl switched up the roster! 

After such a quick and easy flight we were dinning on tacos and burgers a few blocks from the beach before we knew it! We got to hang on a great pool patio while I informed Chaim that Carl has been a driving force for the NORCECA beach event as well as a few other international beach ideas. He hosted Ray and I last year and adopted us like family before and after the event. Such a great memory and he certainly picked up where we left off the year before! We filled our faces with foodies and then rolled to the beach. Here is our first look

Not bad, not bad at all!!! After caught a few beams of sun on our albino bodies we then went to Duncan and Dipisha's place to drop our stuff off and hang with them. Turns out we had a full bedroom at their place with two queen size beds! Chaim volunteered to take the air mattress (thanks bro) and I got the actual bed. It was a perfect room and the fan on the ceiling was icing on the cake cause it was far hotter than we were accustomed to. We were happy to be in a great spot with such core people. Duncan and Dipisha even volunteered to let us use their vehicles while they were at work so we had soooo much freedom!!!

After we unpacked a bit we went and hit up happy hour at one of the special beer places on the island. We shared some laughs and got to know our roomies a little better over some tasty exotic ales and a beautiful view. Then I am pretty sure we retired and went to bed under our thin sheets and a fan but clearly not before swimming in their pool! Such a wonderful first day on the Island.

Avocado yogurt recipe for Duncan's Paleo ROD (recipe of the day)

During our stay on Grand Cayman we stayed with a wonderful couple believe in the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet is essentially an ancient "hunter gatherer" nutrition plan where the focus is lean protein, vegetables, fruit and healthy fats.

One of the amazing recipes we were exposed to is described in the following video. It consists of an Avocado, a piece of fruit, almonds, water, cinnamon and we added some Kaizen protein powder for extra power.

It is such a delicious recipe and one that provides quickly absorbed nutrients for immediate use. It is tasty, high in fat and a wonderful addition to breakfast or any meal of the day, especially pre or post workout!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

A Day in my life for the kids at UHill Elementary school

In my last email with the class that has Adopted me for fundraising, they asked me a few questions about my life. I decided to put together a little video describing what I do every day! I take them through a few of my routines, workouts and let them in on a few secrets about my nutrition and planning.

Enjoy what my pre-season life looks like!

Water Blocking photoshoot in India

This is a little video I threw together of my photo shoot with the extremely talented India photographer Arjun Mark in Chennai, India.

Arjun came to us on the beach one evening before training with his laptop and asked us if we wanted to get shot. Clearly this sounds odd but he immediately demonstrated his talents by showing us his website www.arjunmark.com  and then he showed us the style of shots he intended to shoot. WOW!!! Amazing inspirations and what an opportunity to get photos taken by one of India's most forward thinking and talented photographers!

His studio was opposite the beach volleyball tournament site just off the beach so over the span of a couple weeks I did multiple shoots. Arjun was super keen to work with me and a few other of the beach teams and he dedicated a lot of time to our projects. He was such a solid guy as he drove me back to my hotel a few times and he even had a couple assistants working with him whenever he needed it!

I videotaped the one session where I got blasted with buckets of water. It is pretty neat how it all turned out and even though I have no idea what I will use the photo for, it is still a wicked photo to have in my portfolio!

Win vs Turkey #1 in Holland

Here is the highlight video of Chaim and I playing Turkey #1 in the second round of the CEV Satellite in Aalsmeer, Holland.

It was a great game with loads of rallies and we took the match 15-13 in the third. Chaim and I really connected after not training together for 4 months and we were pleasantly surprised at our sideout and transition games!

Winning this match took us to the winner semi-final where we played Schuill/Steikma from Holland who were the eventual winners of the event.

Adopt an Athlete class visit

After being adopted by an elementary school class in Vancouver, I swung by and visited the kids.

I spent an afternoon with them and got to take them through a few competitions for prizes as well as sign an autograph for each student!

Such a fun day and I can't wait to do it again!

GQ Man of the year Polar Bear swim!

For the last 20 odd years there has been a family tradition on my mother's side to go for a dip in the ocean on January 1st. This family polar bear swim has progressively become more popular and the younger generation of family members have invited close friends to this essential new years dip at Ambleside park in West Vancouver.

This year was definitely special as it was my 4th consecutive year and boasted a speedo and bowtie theme! An impressive group of friends and family dared enter the frigid waters and below is a nice compilation of the experience.

Things to look out for. My uncle Rod has a classic move where he enters the water before anyone else at his own pace. This pace, is excruciating to watch as he calmly glides into the 4 degree water with grace and composure. Secondly we have made it a habit to enter the water multiple times in a row. For whatever reason it becomes a feat of strength (common in our family) to double or triple dip and then stay in for as long as possible in those dips. As you will see, I was weak but a few brave souls stayed in for a while!!!

Enjoy, this is one of my faves!

The Grinch Christmas workout

This a festive workout called "The Grinch" we did over the Christmas break

Saturday explosiveness

Here is a dynamic workout to end a hard week of training!

Strength and Explosiveness

Here is a vid of my strength and explosiveness progression this December

The Chief Workout Video

Here is a Christmas themed workout video a few days before the 25th. It was bomber, enjoy!!!