Bummer

December has come and gone, and with it I have lost my chance at reaching my Olympic goal.  The real bummer about it is that I skied well, just not well enough to make the team.  I suspect that if they were able to take one more person it would be me. 

There’s something extra disappointing about being on the ‘bubble’.  If my results were terrible in every race I would completely understand why I wouldn’t be selected to the team.  But, in this position it almost feels like they have substantial reason to select me, but they choose not to.  I know there is more to it than that, but it's hard not to think that way.  It is also extra frustrating to watch the powers that be select a team with more men than women, knowing that if the numbers were even I would be there.  In saying this I don’t want to make it seem like anyone who was selected doesn’t deserve to be there.  Everyone who was selected definitely deserves to be there, I just feel disappointed.  Ah well.

My last update was after the skate race, which was not a good day for me, but my hopes were high for the next three races. 

First Sprint Day – I came into the day with a great feeling about how it was going to turn out.  I wasn’t nervous, just excited and had a great qualifying round, unfortunately followed by some frustrating heats.  I think I made a big mistake in selecting skis for the day.  I used some new ones that felt great on the up hills but I don’t think they were as fast as my older skis.  I got dusted on every downhill section and had to work twice as hard to get around the course.   I qualified in 2^nd, but finished the day in 5^th.

Second Sprint Day – I felt so tired physically and was mentally exhausted from the disappointment of day one, that I wasn’t sure I would make it through the day.   But interestingly enough it went very well.  I wasn’t as fast in the qualifier as I was on day 1, but skied great in the heats.  I was strong, consistent and my skis were gliding much better too!  I was in a photo finish for 2nd with Peri Jones (who had already qualified for the team, and was just racing for fun).  After looking at the photo finish I ended up 3^rd for the day.

30 km Day - I knew that today was my last shot to really secure myself a place on the team.  This race was an individual start, which is unusual for a long distance race.  I was the first of the 'favourites' to start (sounds goofy, but i'm not sure how else to say that).  I managed to fend off the others until about 25ish km, but was caught by Madeleine Williams and Brittany Webster who finished the race 1^st, and 2^nd.    I had run out of steam and couldn’t stay with them on the last lap.  I ended up 4^th. 

It will take me a little while to feel ok about this.  I really thought I would be on the team, and it’s disappointing to be sure.  I’ll still be there though - to watch, take in the atmosphere, maybe even party it up ;) and cheer on my teammates.  One of them being Rhonda’s husband Gordon!!  Yippee.

I guess the next big thing I will have to report on is the Pre-Olympic World Cup in Canmore on February 5^th & 6^th.

Happy New Year!  Shayla On Skis.

Me followed by Heidi Widmer of the Alberta World Cup Academy	Sprint Podium from Day two.