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Then there's my type
Canadian Veronica Brenner, 26, is considered a veteran in the sport of freestyle skiing. The aerialist was a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team and won the 1997 World Cup title. Brenner, a native of Scarborough, Ontario, missed the past World Cup season after tearing her ACL but is back on track to make the 2002 Olympic team. Check out Brenner's diary on CNNSI.com as she prepares for Salt Lake City.
October 16, 2001 It's crunch time ... Aerials is a very unique sport. Unlike other sports such as diving, football, alpine skiing, etc., we have a limited period of time to learn new tricks and perfect older ones. Sure, we have until February to work out all the kinks on snow before the Olympics, but as far as actually learning and trying new techniques -- well, that will all be over in a week or two.
You see, since we train by jumping into a swimming pool, most facilities close soon after the first snowfall (which in Lake Placid came last week). Unfortunately, there are no year-round or indoor training facilities. Usually by the time the jump site closes, most athletes are prepared for the winter and anxious to start jumping on snow. However, many of us still feel that flurry of panic in our gut when we realize that -- unlike a gymnast who has trouble with a skill during a competition and can go back to the gym and work that trick into a crash pad or foam pit -- after we leave the water ramp, an important part of our training is over. When we move to training on snow (early November in Alberta), the landing hill is not as forgiving as water and being unprepared can be dangerous and season-ending. Athletes respond to this time of year in different ways. Some try to crank out as many jumps as possible in the hope that all of their flaws will be fixed in a week. Some get lethargic and bored with jumping and just bide their time until the coach says they can go home. Others feel they've accomplished all of the goals they set out for themselves at the beginning of the summer and leave before the ramps close. A few of my teammates are fortunate enough to fall into this category. They've already packed up and gone home. Then there's my type. It wouldn't matter if the ramps were open for another week or two more months. When closing time draws near, I always feel the same way. Unless I'm jumping perfectly, I feel anxious. Of course, I've never been perfect. I have, however, been at this long enough to realize that I must ask myself not "Am I ready?" but "Am I close enough?" Otherwise, I'd be a complete mess come winter. I'm not quite there yet. Things are starting to come together and my coach is happy. However, if you're wondering what I'll be up to in the next week or so, just look for the girl jumping into the pool out in the snow. "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault." --John Henry Cardinal Newman More answers to your questions:
Did you play with Barbies when you were growing up? Do you think playing with Barbies further pigeonholes little girls and inhibits their interest in sports? What do you think of the Olympic Barbie? Is there a freestyle skiing Barbie?
Randy, I know you're being a little facetious, but I like the question anyway. I was a pretty big Barbie fan when I was growing up. My Barbies flew their Barbie plane, drove fast in their Barbie Corvette, and took their Barbie motor home to gymnastics competitions. Not only did Barbies not inhibit my interest in sports, they motivated me to train to do the splits over my head. Unfortunately, my knees don't bend that way. I haven't seen Olympic Barbie, but I think it's great that kids now have more to aspire to than ball gowns and a date with a guy with plastic hair. No sign yet of a freestyle skiing Barbie. Probably because none of us have the right measurements. -- Veronica
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