Tuesday June 23rd was our last regular practice before the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships in Welland. The water conditions were not ideal, a little wavy and the boat was rocking and tippy. There is always the possibility that weather conditions on race day are also not ideal...in fact they can be down right crummy and that is why we train in all kinds of conditions.
We had the opportunity to have Julia Corrente as a guest in the coach boat during practice and as guest speaker after practice. Julia is currently training and competing to earn her spot in the World Cup and the 2018 Winter Olympics for Bobsled!
Julia is from Chatham, Ontario and the only woman bobsled pilot from Ontario. "Where is the bobsled track around here?" you may be asking. There isn't one, therefore, Julia lives away from home for nine months of the year traveling around the world to train and compete in her sport. It was interesting to learn that she can only practice her sport for 4 minutes per day. This is because of the toll that bobsledding takes on a body. As you can imagine, sliding down a track at speeds over 120km/hour in a "tin can" can really shake you up! Four minutes a day to train for competition at the World level is not much so Julia spends a large part of her days in the gym weight training to improve her strength and power and because she the pilot she also spends a lot of time studying the bobsled tracks she will be competing on. Due to her full training schedule she is unable to work a full time job. As a carded Canadian athlete she does receive funding but otherwise she relies on sponsors and speaking gigs to support herself in one of the most expense sports! It takes real passion to do what Julia does and she has it in spades!
Throughout her talk, Julia told us how she prepares for National competition and tips for us to prepare for our upcoming Canadian Dragon Boat National Championships. Listening to Julia her speak about her journey and goals conjured up inspiration and motivation within the Rowbust team. Not only the team members heading to National competition but all of Rowbust!
Click the link below to learn more about Julia.
Http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/11/03corrente-wins-silver-at-canadian-bobsleigh-championships
Thank you for your inspirational and moving words Julia! We will certainly be watching you on your journey to the 2018 Winter Olympics!
Julia's connection to Rowbust comes through our Coach, Cheryl Mclachlan, who took her own journey toward the 2002 Winter Olympics in women's bobsled. Thank you Cheryl for introducing us to Julia!
Next up....Rowbust competes at the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships!