Vancouver Corona Open - July 18-19, 2009

I love Vancouver. There’s something magical about the nature and mountains and crispness that I feel whenever I visit. This visit was made extra special because I got to spend time with one of my close friends (and first beach partner) who is currently living in North Vancouver while she works for the COA in preparation for the 2010 Olympics.

While in Vancouver, we took an evening to coach a group of awesome beach volleyball hopefulls that my friend Lisa works with on a bi-weekly basis. I was really impressed at how quickly this group of athletes took to the new things we were teaching them. That same day, we had a practice on our own down at Kitsilano beach - the site of the tournament - and then went up to one of my favourite shopping streets, West 4th, where I was reintroduced to my favourite 'healthy cookie' that I found when my sister was living in Vancouver, and I also purchased a Billabong playing hat!

On our Friday off, Liz, Ray and I vi

sited some sites in beautiful North Vancouver. First, we were adventurous and crossed the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge - it was beautiful, and unlike the Capilano Suspension Bridge, it was Free!!! We then drove down to Deep Cove, which reminded me of a little town in cottage country, only with the most beautiful mountains surrounding it. Friday was one of the most oppressive days Vancouver has seen in a while - I truly felt like I was in Brazilian weather, and was happy we didn't have to play until the next day!

We had a chance to visit the beautiful mountains, the outstanding coves, the adventurous suspension bridges, to coach some awesome athletes and we also got to play on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - Kitsilano Beach. Liz and I played the best volleyball we'd played as a team to date, with only a small falter in the semi's and bronze medal matches. Things are shaping up exactly how we want them to leading up to the 2009 National Championships to be held at Ashbridge's Bay in Toronto on Aug 28-30. So, not only did we have an outstanding life experience in the beautiful nature of British Columbia, but we also had a chance to play some of Canada's top teams all in a 5 day span. I can't wait to visit again!

Liz & I on the Lynn Suspension Bridge

Hiking in the Sequoia woods with my Vibram FiveFinger Shoes

Liz, Ray & I at Deep Cove in North Vancouver

Liz with a huge stuff block!

Team Mizara on Serve Receive.

Liz & Kara proud of their play under the mountains at Kits Beach.

Be Inspired!

Playing without Attachment
This past 2 months has been the most rapid personal growth period that I can remember in my life. I went from a place where I was a bit angry, way too serious, and not playing the way I truly wanted to play, to where I am now - which I can only describe as a true calmness (that I will admit I have not yet got down to an art;), within which I can still find my intensity. During this period of personal growth, I was fortunate to be reading 'Oneness with all life' by Ekhart Tolle. This powerful book lead me to a point where one day I woke up without the focus on winning or losing, but instead on being. That's when the amazing things began to happen. (READ MORE)

Ekhart literally called me on the ways my ego had taken over. He challenged me to see my ego and to identify it for what it was. So many times I let my ego get in my way: my need to proove how good I am, to be perfect, to have the last word, and all of this was affecting my ability to play free on the court. I would get defensive, hurt, angry and feel judgment, since my ego was revolting since it was not being validated. Ekhart also offered a solution for ego-ness: to lose my attachment towards results or things, and to focus on my true essence - that I am nothing in particular, nor am I defined by my results or actions . . . I am. In reading more, I began to grasp my attachment to things I owned, people I loved, and especially to winning and losing.

It's not to say that I don't care about winning, because of course I still love to win and it is definitely necessary for us to achive our goal of competing at the Olympics. It's just that the result of winning or losing doesn't seem like a huge dilemma any more. I simply focus on the action I am and enjoy my great fortune of being a gifted athlete, and the rest takes care of itself. If I'm playing free, playing my best and better than the other team, than I will win. If the other team plays better, they will win. But, win or lose, I am so caught up in being my best at any given moment, that the results really don't matter.

If I could give advice to any young athlete coming up the ranks it would be just that: to enjoy the process, to enjoy playing well, to enjoy having a hard day where everything seems difficult but somehow you still work hard and do your best for that moment. Because, in doing such the result will take care of itself. And, if at the end of the day you come up a bit short, what does that mean really? To have lost and have done your best is so much better than having won but having been stressed the whole time, without an opportunity to demonstrate your true gifts to the world. I would choose non-attachment to winning and an awesome match that I lost any day to one where I sell myself short by trying not to lose.

Upcoming Events

Blue Mountain CAN-AM Beach Volleyball Challenge- Aug 1-2, 2009
An estimated 11,000-14,000+ visitors will be in the Blue Mountain Village each day of the August long weekend, many of which are estimated to attend the free Beach Volleyball event that will be held at the centre of the Beach Weekend festivities. With a grandstand, sponsor booths, a DJ, prizes, games, clinics and professional beach volleyball action, the CAN-AM Beach Volleyball Challenge will be the event of the summer. Support Team Mizara en route to the their 2012 Olympic goal, as they take on a top-rated US team to determine the Blue Mountain North American Champion.

When: Sat Aug 1 @ 6pm & Sun Aug 2 @ 4:30pm
Where: Centre of Blue Mountain Village, dockside
Other Events:
- Adult & Youth Clinics on Sat & Sun
- Partner booths including: SIGG bottles, La Roche Posay Sunscreen, Bolle Sunglasses, YoPro frozen yogurt, and more
- Contests, prizes and raffles including: Muskoka Chairs, Bolle Sunglasses & XM satellite radios

Canadian National Championships - Ashbridge's Bay Aug 28-30, 2009
Come one, come all to cheer us on at the National Championships that will mark the 20th Anniversary of a National Beach Volleyball Championship in Canada! Liz and I are right on the cusp of a breakthrough performance, one that will be made a lot easier with the support and cheering from all of you, either in person, via email or via positve thoughts! The competition in Canada is getting tighter and tighter, which means that the games, especially starting on the Saturday, will be top-notch. I can tell you that I am already getting excited to play!

FIVB Open Tournament - Sept 9-13, 2009
After hosting a double gender event in 2008, Barcelona returns to the SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar with a women's stop. Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain with a population over 1.6-million. Located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, Barcelona is a major economic centre, with one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tournament info click here (http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/WorldTour/2009x/Event/Presentation.asp?TournCode=WBCN2009)