Hello, Spring in Kelowna has still been cool and unsettled weather. Not a lot of sun yet. I have been quite busy doing my summer work. Installing kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I have had to do work on my house as usual. It is an older house so it does need continual updates. The back yard sun deck is top of the list this summer. Parts of the deck are rotting, very dangerous for any one to fall through! UHHHG! The following pictures are of the tear down. Have a good day. Oh, how is the dry land training going? Doug

Hanami at the Ito house in Canada

Hello all, The blossoms are finally starting to come out in Kelowna. Much later than Japan. We have been working on the yard at our house. Weeding and preparing the lawn. I have also been busy coaching Makaiya's soccer team. We have had 4 games so far. We lost our first game, but we won the next 3. Makaiya scored her first goal of the year yesterday. It is suppose to warm up from Monday in Kelowna. In the 20's! Bye for now. Doug

Hi Every one, Looking back on this season, I must say it was an exciting one. I am very proud of your efforts! Big improvements in many areas. Now That the ski season is pretty much over for most of you it is time for preparation for next season. Increase our level of fitness. If we are stronger and quicker we of course will be faster ski racers. NO DOUBT! Areas to focus on. Core strength ( stomach and back ) , Increased foot speed, And strength! All of these exercises can be done at home! I will follow up with more information in days to come. I am pretty much settled into my life here in Canada. Over my jet lag, re connected with family, started coaching Makaiya's soccer team,organized my summer work, and basic clean up around our house. My cousin and a friend from Vancouver came to visit us. His Name is Russ Nomura. His friend Dave also stayed. They are going on a golf holiday. For a gift they brought a lemon meringue pie. Very tasty. Makaiya also took part in the Kony 2012 event last week. We are proud of her! Bye for now. Doug

Last Weekend at Big White

Hello Everyone,

It was the last weekend at Big Ski Resort this past weekend. My home ski area.

Makaiaya had a soccer game to play on Saturday morning. I am coaching her team. We went up to the ski hill that afternoon. We had time to go to the tube park. We stayed there till it closed at 9 pm. We were all tired.

Skied the next day for around 4 hours. I was thrilled to ski with Makaiya. She had fun too. Very tired at the end of the day though.

Arrived at home!

Made it back to Kelowna safe and sound. Of course Chrissy and Makaiya were at the Airport to meet me. We were all very excited to see each other after 4 long months!

We went out for dinner. Sushi! We just love that Japanese food!

Easter is coming up so we all prepared some treats for the Easter egg hunt on Sunday!

I hope you are all doing well. I hope for those of you that have races this weekend have good luck. Work the ski!

Bye of for now.

Doug

Arrived safe in Vancouver

Hi all!

I arrived safe in Vancouver. Waiting for my flight to Kelowna.

Will Update again from Kelowna!

Bye for now.

Doug

Visiting Tokyo

Oh my Ge,

Life in Tokyo is definitely fast paced! I am happy to be coaching in Nagano during my time in Japan. I like the fresh mountain air!

I spent one night with my cousin in Saitama. Tuesday night! It was super stormy! I enjoyed my time with them. Machiko, Haruki and their sons Akira and Yuichi! They were the first ones to introduce nato to me.

I am staying at Ono San's house now. We are going out for Yaki niku tonight.

I leave tomorrow. I am excited to see my family , but sad to leave my many friends! I have a strong connection with you because of our united effort to improve in ski racing and enhance our lives. Please do your very best to improve your strength during the off season.

Bye for now.

Doug

Double take!

Yesterday I went into Ueda. I took 2 juniors to Ueda station and picked Manami up at 5 pm. I had a hour of free time so I went to Donki Hote to buy a new brush bag. I also saw some Scotch for sale. I bought it thinking Takasawa San and I could sip it now and then. So happens he had the same idea and bought the same one. We are definitely not short of Scotch now.

Hina Doll Gift

I was very fortunate to receive a gift from Ishizaki San. A pair of Hina Dolls. Actually Tachibina! They are very Beautiful! Thank you very much. Makaiya and Tajanna will enjoy them very much!

Doug's core work out

After video we all did a work out together. Stomach back and legs. In my plank position Shohei made it harder on me by sitting on my back. Good work out though. Thanks Shohei

Congratulations To Kasumi

We are all very proud of Kasumi Ito for her performance at the All Japan Jr. high school race. 6th in SL, tied for 3rd in GS. Great Job!

I am very proud of all Accel customers pressing for new personal bests! Keep it up! Great race results will follow!

Bye for now.

Doug

Hi From Doug

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been a long time since my last update! Busy, Busy! I am grateful for that! So thank you all for your continual visits to train at Accel!

So far in the early races results have been solid. Great Job to all! From what I have seen in our training, all have been pushing hard for new personal bests! Perfect! That is all we can do is push for a new personal bests. No worry about any other racers. Focus on what we can do to improve in all areas of preparation.

I have been doing some basic drills mixed in with our normal gate training. From what I have seen, we definitely need to do more of those drills. Another weak point is strength and power in lacking. Ski racing is a power sport! If you can work hard in the summer to improve in that area you would have a big advantage over others!

Snow conditions are great up here. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Doug

First day at Tsubakuro

Hello Everyone!

It was our first day of free skiing at Tsubakuro! Only the short lift on the the flats is open. It was ok for doing some basic training. Tomorrow we are able to ski at Omatsu yama though. That will be better. Longer run and slightly steeper!! Tsubakuro and Omastsu yama have done a great job to prepare the man made snow.

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Bye for now.

Doug

Arrival in Japan

Hi everybody,

I am happy to say I have arrived in Japan!!!!!!!! I am actually already in Sugadaira. It is cooling down. -2 Celsius! Hopefully the ski resorts will make snow tonight.

I look forward to seeing every one!

Bye for now!

Doug

Last Day in Canada with family

Hi !

It is always stressful this time of year. Leaving my family for 4 months. We spent the whole day with each other.

We went ice skating at a free city of Kelowna rink. We also made a ginger bread house and started to eat it. Chrissy and Makaiya just beat me in a game of soccer too.

See you soon.

Christmas decorating

Hi all!

The first of December! Chrissy, Makaiya , and I decorated our Christmas tree. Chrissy of course had to keep going with the Christmas spirit and dress the rest of the house up too. I think it looks great!

I am on my way to Japan soon. I am looking forward to seeing you all again! And watch you all ski well balanced and fast! It is going to be a great season! Remember to always come to the ski hill with your body warmed up before you start skiing. To have the best chance to ski your best and to prevent injury.

See you soon.

Doug

New DVD'S

Hi All,

This season new DVD's arrived today. They look good as usual.

Kelowna is getting a dump of snow. Around 6 cm in the city. Unusual for Kelowna. Great for the local ski hills.

Bye for now.

Doug

Happy Halloween!

Hi all!

Happy Halloween! Makaiya is out trick or treating now with Chrissy, Tajanna and some other friends. Free candy yum!

Makaiya dressed up as a Masquerade, ghost, princess ! Chrissy did a great job dressing here up.

She also got way too much candy!

Bye for now.

Doug

More at home work outs!

Hi again,

Getting closer to the season so it is good to do sport specific training. It is good to train your Anaerobic lactic muscle system. That is a work out in duration from 45 to 120 seconds, 3 times per week. Kind of like the length of a ski race. You could do 400m to 600m sprints. 3 to 5 sets. A good way to do it is always warm up jog and stretch first. Have a light sweat going. Then sprint one lap walk a lap to recover and repeat.

Another is try M 100's a great work out in your house again while watching tv. If you have the room to move safely that is. I tried them. Good wok out!

More!

Pulse ups 25 reps.

Back arches 25 reps.

Legs in and out 25 reps.

More !

Hips Roll and up 25 reps.

Scissor legs slowly 25 reps.

Side plank up and down both sides 25 reps.

Core work out pictures

Hi all,

Here area few core exercises I do. Usually while we are watching tv in the evening. It is important to do both sides of your core, stomach and back. Core is something you can train every day or every night. The reps you do will depend on your strength. Do at least 6 sets. More if possible. Push your self!

I do a plank on a wobble board first for 2 minutes to warm up my core.

Twisting side plank 25 reps each side.

Frog crunches 25.

At home work outs

Hi!

To find time to work out is challenging when we have our normal career. I some times do a work out in the am before work. Which includes interval running. ( a 40 minute run. 15 minutes slowly increasing intensity as my body warms up. I then run at 80% of full speed for One and a half minutes to two minutes. Jog till my heart rate drops then 80% again and alternate.

Another good time is after dinner. I do a core work out. I will share photos of what I do next time.

Bye for now.

Doug

Golf Frustration

Hello,

I would like to continue to share my progression in my pursuit of excellence in golf. I have been still practicing fairly often. Played 2 times recently. The first game was with an old ski racing friend of mine. I really wanted to score well and beat him. I ended up trying too hard and not swinging with lag from my shoulders and wrists. I released the club too quickly. I had a really bad game and shot a 90. My worst score of the season!! I was so down because I have been practicing so much. My focus was on the wrong thing though. Just like ski racing I need to focus on my own performance and not worry about my friend or other golfers or racers.

I played this afternoon and thought about a good pre hit set up, and a simple image of my shoulders, arms and wrists being rubbery or like loose hinges. ( so I would have more lag) The image and setup worked well. Solid shots all afternoon. Shot a 76! Best score of the season. I will try the same image when I play with better players. Mental preparation is key in any sport. The more preparation in as many areas as possible is key!!

Push to get strong for the up coming ski season!!!!! Running 800m sprints 6 sets things like that will jump start you.

Bye for now.

Doug