April 17 update

Hi everyone,

I made it to Sun Peaks today. I did ski on the slope the Austrian team trains on . It had a varity of slopes and angles. Very good for variation training. I was told the hill usually opens around the 16th of November so it maybe a new great location for our early season training. One slope that they have snow making on was long with flat to medium terrian. Great for what we need! I am very excited about the possibility of skiing there this upcoming Fall. I just have to find suitable accomidations for us. There is also a flight that goes from Vancouver to Kamloops. It is around a 45 minute drive from Kamloops to the ski hill. I will give you more information once I fet more details. Enjoy the pictures! Again the ski Hill name is Sun Peaks. The owner is from Japan. Nippon Cable.

Bye for now.

Doug

More pictures

April 16 Update

Hello everyone,

Happy Easter! I had a few days up at Big White. My home ski hill! We had winter like conditions. New snow and cold temperatures. Great way to finish the season! It was great to ski with Makaiya and Chrissy! As well as with the rest ofmy family!

Yes, we celerbrated Easter at Big White. Easter is the day that Christ came back to earth. Or came back from death. In Canada we also have easter sunday the day the easter rabbit comes and hides chocolate and candy for all of the childeren. Hope you enjoy the pictures. I also made a slide tunnel for the kids to play in. It took some work but was fun for the kids.

I hoope the weather is good so I can go to Sun Peaks tomorrow.

Bye for now!

Doug

April 12 Update

Hello!!

Here is some exciting news I am not sure if all of you are aware of. Before I left for Canada I did a radio shbow on a local FM station in Tokyo. FM 72.9 mhz. A very successfull man Named Kouno San asked me to speak with him. It was for 1 hour and was a grat way to Promote , Accel Ski, Hotel Zonntaggu, Sugadaira, Team Rush, And Seikei University. It was a great experience. Taka Kurosaki Translated for me. Thanks for helping!

Actually a big thank you to all of you that help Accel!!! By helping set courses, side sslipping courses, carrying gates, wrenches, drills bags and so on! All things that I notice and appreciate from those of you that put in suchb an effort to work as a team!! Thanks again!

Bye for now!

Doug

April 11 Update

Hi Everyone,

Day 2 in Kelowna and already getting ready for my next work. Had a busy day getting things prepared.

I am going to Sun Peaks tomorrow to see how the ski hill, runs are layed out. It is around 2.5 hours from Kelowna. It maybe the next place we try for the Fall camps. Hope we can have better training and have a better chance to prepare for the next season. It would be great to watch the Austrians train . The Austrian National ski will be there before the World Cup races in North America. I will let you kow how it goes tomorrow.

Check the pictures out and see if you reckonize where it is taken.

Bye for now!

Doug

April 10 Update

Hello Everyone,

I have made it back to Kelowna safely. Chrissy picked me up from Vancouver airport. Just Chrissy, the Kids stayed in Kelowna or up at my home ski hill. Chrissy and I had a weekend in Vancouver just the 2 of us.

I am in Kelowna now. I am so happy to see my girls!!! I have a little time off before I start my cabinetry installs. I will prepare this week. Prepare my tools and do many other things that have been neglected.

I do plan to do a little skiing before the upcoming weekend. My whole family planning to come up to the ski hill to stay at my moms place. I think 16 of us or so.

I feel we all had a great year in many different areas. Great job you guys! Great results from races, improvements in training, basic skill, skiing more aggressive line, race preparation and so on.

I know we can all do more to improve in many areas though and in my next blog I will show you some different ones.

Bye for now!

All the Best

Doug

Feb,20 update

Hi Everyone,

So far the season has gone by so fast! It has been very busy here at Sugadaira. I am very happy about that cause I get to see you all so often!

I feel the biggest change this year has been in how we are skiing our line! Many of you have had big break throughs in that area. Of course our technique is also vital to ski such a line. Which brings me to the next point. It is great to see some of you taking time to do free skiing to work on basic areas. I wish more of you would take time to do that for yourselves. Doing a varity of different skiing would help your overall performance. Powder skiing , bump skiing jumping. Please be carefull though if it is a first time trying any of these. Doing the varity of skiing will help you adapt when you have to during training or in a race.

I hope to see you soon!

Best Regards

Doug

Jan, 23 update

Hello everyone,

Another busy weekend has come and gone. The training that we covered was a mix of 1st phase, 3rd phase training and line. Many of you have been catching bits and pieces of all and are getting that much closer to your full potential!

Today we trained 1st phase and line on # 3. The line that we skied seemed very low to the people that skied but found thye were able to stay in the course. We of course need to maintain a good position to ski such a line but I feel many of you are ready to do so.

I am enjoying this season very much! I am so impressed with how you are all so dedicate. I will strive to do my best to help you all!

Bye for now

Doug

Jan, 3 update

Hello !!

Sorry for the passing between messages!! It has been very busy here from Christmas through the New year. I willl have more time from now to update my blog.

I feel it has been a good start to the season because I have seen good increases in basic skill from many of our ski racers! I am still as conmitted as ever to help all of you reach your goals in ski racing. I am sorry sometimes that some of you find it hard to understand me because of how I word my advice. I will do my best to help all of you understand what it is you need to immagine and to do.

I hope to see you all very soon!

Bye for now !

Doug

Jan, 3 update

Hello !!

Sorry for the passing between messages!! It has been very busy here from Christmas through the New year. I willl have more time from now to update my blog.

I feel it has been a good start to the season because I have seen good increases in basic skill from many of our ski racers! I am still as conmitted as ever to help all of you reach your goals in ski racing. I am sorry sometimes that some of you find it hard to understand me because of how I word my advice. I will do my best to help all of you understand what it is you need to immagine and to do.

I hope to see you all very soon!

Bye for now !

Doug

Dec, 9 Update

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been so ong since my last message. I have ben so sick with a cold and trying to ready myself for my trip to Japan.

Oh, I am in Japan and Will see you all soon at Zonntaggu. Of course this weekend we will work on the basics. Stance, alignment , and balance!

See you soon!

Doug

Nov, 27 Update

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I have not updated in a while! It has been a busy Camp here in Banff. I have not hada PC to use as well.

The main point we have been working on here is of course basic skills. Stance, position and knee drive. I am looking forward to doing the same in Japan with all of you.

Hopefully more soon!

Doug

November 9 update

Hi everyone,

The new Accel GS panels look great! We will ahve them on both. #7 and #3 !!

More soon!

Doug

Nov, 6 update

Hello everyone,

It was a good weekend! Still very cool! Snow is still flying in the hills.

The photo is of a large sleeper truck. Many trucks are of this size in Canada ans the US! Truckers can pull over and sleep anywhere. Much ,much larger than trucks in Japan. Of course the roads are much wider here. In the counrty and cities.

Makaiya was eating a Maki roll. Maki was eating a Maki. Ha HA!

More soon!

Doug

Nov,3 Update

Hello Everyone,

Winter is here!!!!!! It has been snowing in the mountains and the forcast is for more!

Great news for those of you that are coming for the Canada camp this year!

More soon!

Best Regards

Doug

Oct, 31 Update

It's Hallowenn!!!

Most kids go out dressed up and say "trick or treat" at each house and the people give the kids some kind of candy or Chocolate. We have too much ! TJ and Makaiya both dressed up! It was fun.

Enjoy the photos!

Doug

October, 30 Update

Hi everyone,

I was working at a local ski hill at the end of last week. Big White! Of course it snowed when I was up there. My work van is old and of course the heater is breaken. Yes it was cold.

I played golf on Saturday with my dad. We have not played so much this year so it was funto play with him. I shot a 89! Not the best score.

I had to work on Sunday back at Big White for a few hours. For dinner we had BBQ burgers. Yummmmm!!! They tasted so good! Even in the winter we BBQ here!

Bye for now!

Doug

October 25 Update

Hello Everyone,

I had a long day most of it driving. Chrissy and I went to Bannf just for the day to check out what Hotel we are going to use for the Canada Camp. It was well worth the trip! 12 hours of driving, 2 hours or so in Bannf. It was a warm day today but I guess just 2 days ago there was arounf 4 cm on the ground in Banff. I have heard it is suppose to snow in a few days.

I will keep you all updated to how the camp is coming along!

More soon!

Best Regards

Doug

October 23 Update

Hello!!!

It was a great weekend here. All the leaves are changing colours and are falling off. Saturday, I took the kids to a play ground and in the afternoon I played golf. I shot a 86. Not bad. Still no gomes in the 70's this year.

Today, We prepared for the cold winter. FIRE WOOD! I borrowed my btothers truck and I chopped 3 truck loads. The whole family helped out it was perfect! I hope you enjoy the pictures.

More soon!

Best Regards

Doug

October 21 Update

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a good week! Mine was busy with work! The picture I am attaching is from today. This house I did started and completed today. I am getting faster all the time at installing kitchens. It is fun to see the finish product at the end!

Kelowna is growing very fast. There is so much new home building going on.

The weather here is getting cooler all the time! It has snowed at many local ski areas.

I am looking forward to going to The Canadian Ski Coaches Federation update soon. I will send pictures of that for sure.

More soon!

Have a great week end !

Doug

Pictures

Oct,16 update

Hi Every one,

Chrissy Had the best trip a little while ago. She Got a free ticket from her sister to go to New York. Actually from Her sisters boy friend. He travels alot and Has tonnes of airmile travel points. They stayed with a friend in New York so it was a very in expensive trip. She has never been therre before. Me too! I guess I will have to wait.

More soon!

Doug

More pictures

Oct, 12 update

Hi!,

This past weekend was the Canadaian Thanks Giving celebration. My parents and brother with his family came to our house to have the Famous Turkey dinner. Everybody brought a dish to add to the meal. My brother Rick's wife Michelle's mom made 3 pies. Pumpkin, prune and lemon marange. Chrissy made lemon cheese cake! We all ate too much.

Other good news is my brother Rick and Michelle have a new baby boy. Michelle gave birth last thursday! I bought Rick some cigars. It is a custom to smoke a cigar when a baby boy is born. I am not sure why? Rick , my dad and myself went for a walk after dinner and smoked one each. I bought chocolate flavored ones, so they were sweet when we smoked them. After we all had that smokey taste in our mouths that lasted till the next day. Yuck!!!!!

It is raining here and is cool. No snow but cool!

I hope you are all doing well.

More later!

Doug

Fire truck pictures

Oct, 8 Update

Hello !!!!

It is Canadian Thanks givinng weekend! So we have Monday off work. I drove with my btother Rick to Vernon. He wanted to look for a truck at the Toyota dealership there. No luck for what he was looking for though.

We stopped for a hotdog at lunch time. There were Fire men showing kids the fore trucks and so on. My daugther and Ricks had fun.

More later

Doug

Oct,8 update

Hi Everyone,

My dad helped me on Friday install a kitchen so I took him and my family out for authentic Italian food. Home made pasta ! It was very good! And the portions were very large!

We have snow in the hills around Kelowna. I heard Apex got 22cm ythis past week. Looks like it is going to be a great year for the early season camp!

More later!

Doug

October 3 Update

Hello Everyone,

Here is Gary Whittakers Pysical test results,

Date of Birth-1955
Weight- 79 kg
Hieght- 175.5 cm
Vertical jump- Left- 55cm, right-61 cm
Five jumps trial 1 Both legs 12.94 right 10.73 left 10.68 cm
trial 2 Both legs 13.49 right 10.74 left 10.99 cm

Illinois run 20.02

Box jump 0-30 seconds 35 jumps, 30-60 seconds 35 jumps, 60-90 seconds 32 jumps!

That is all he was able to do. He had a meeting.

I hope this information helps you all!

Best Regards

Doug

PS How do you like my vertical jump! We finally bought a new car. A Hyundai, Tuscon. We got a great deal on it. Chrissy is very happy as well as the kids!

More Pictures

Hi Again,

I realized Gary's big box score did not show. Sorry! He got 102!

More later!

Doug

More Pictures

September 27 update

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well!

I have heard it is suppose to snow in Calgary tomorrow. I hope it does and it stays so we can have a great Fall camp.

The one test I saw my friend Gary Whittaker do was the big box test over 90 seconds. He did 102 during that time. Very good power. He did not do all the tests because he had other commitments. I believe he missed the endurance beep test.

I hope you are all pushing hard for your goals! You can do it!

Best Regards

Doug

September 25 Update

Hi Everyone,

It was a hot weekend here during the day. Very cool at night sometimes -2C!

The Kelowna ski club had thier physical testing this past weekend. My freind Trevor haaheim is the head coach and I helped him do the tests. Also a good friend of mine Steve Hatch. He was on the Canadian Ski Team as a Down hiller. He just moved back to Kelowna from Victoria, B.C..

One strong master ski racer took part. His name Gary Whittaker. He recieved an award from the Canadian ski Federation as Masters Ski racer of the year! I will give you his results in the next few days.

Makaiya goes to her first day of Ballet tomorrow. She is excited about that!

I hope you are all doing well! I am getting excited about the upcoming ski season!

More later!

Doug

September 21 Upate

Hi Everyone,

I was able to find some skis and boots for Makaiya! They were a very good deal! I was very happy!

I had to work this weekend for Chrissy's dad . I am so tired. More work tomorrow. I am definitly taking next weekend off!

More later!

Doug

September 15 Update

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would show you a more and more common Canadian house hold item. I home water cooler! It has a ice cold water dispencer and a hot water dispencer, for hot tea or cup a noodle. The total cost for the cooler and the water is about 2000 yen per month. We like it! The water is very good and has gone through reverse osmosis. Very convenient!

It is the local ski swap this weekend. People take thier old skis to the organized building and basicly price the ski equipement themslves. It is placed out in order of size. This is for boots and cloths as well. This process is done over 2 evenings. Thursday and Friday. The sale starts Friday night and goes through Saturday. The people that come to buy the skis pay a few dollars to get in to look at the equipement and search through all the equipement. There is alot of very old skis usually, but some newer items. The Kelowna ski club organizes the event. My friend Trevor is the head coach. He is going to look ahead of time for skis for Makaiya.

I will let you know how it goes.

Bye for now!

Doug

September 14 Update

Hello Everyone,

It sure has cooled done here in B.C.. It snowed at the local ski areas the other day! It has been warm during the days so I am not sure if it is still there or not! I am getting so excited about the upcoming season! I know it will be a good one for you all. It seems it will be a good early season camp in Canada and I recomend if possible you come. It is great way to get a jump on the season. I will keep you up to date with how the snow is here.

More soon.

Best Regards

Doug

Sept,5th Update

Hi Eceryone,

This weekend was a long one. Chrissy and I had to go to Red Deer Alberta for a family emergency. One the way back home to Kelowna we had to take a alternate route and saw a Canadian Onsen. It looks more like a pool! Waht do you think?

We also saw alot of snow already in the high Mountains. It was very cool in Alberta, so I hope it will be a great early season camp. It will be be the best one yet! I will keep you posted!

Best Regards

Doug