Oct, 29 Update

Hi guys,

Oh, I have been working lots lately. But I have played golf. I took the guys that helped me with roofing our house. They did help me save a lot of money. It was a nice day. Sunny. I did make a game plan. What I found was that I ended up trying too hard as the game went on. That is when I made mistakes in my swing. I did go back to being relaxed and played much better again. I shot a 81 , but it could be much better. So What I have seen is that I must check my feelings and body more often so I do not fall into old patterns. I think I need a better preshot routine. Next time I play I will let you know how it goes.

Another thing I have noticed is that when I play with someone better I often think about them and there swing or game. Then I loose my focus on my game plan.

The reason I share my golf progress is because I hope all of you make a plan for your ski race days, and training days. Focus solely on you and what you must do. From when you wake up to after the race. Why after? debrief yourself to how your performance for the race or the training was. How could you make your pre race plan better.

Bye for now.

Doug

Oct, 24 update

Oh, Check out the exchange rate. I have not seen that for years. Great chance for a cheaper camp in Canada! I Look for ward to meeting those of you whom can make it to Sun Peaks.

Bye for now1

Doug

Japanese Yens to 1 CAD (invert,data)

120 days	latest (Oct 23) 77.6267	lowest (Oct 23) 77.6267	highest (May 29) 106.899

Oct, 20 Update

Good morning,

When we went to Alberta we went with Chrissy's sisters family to a place called Trochu. The whole area is prairie land so it is very flat. Except when you come to this area. The road drops down to a river. In this area dinosaurs used to live. So in the cliffs of the river many dinosaur bones remain. And in one day we found some. It was very fun! Makaiya , Logan and Chrissy the found the best ones. Enjoy the pictures!

Bye for now.

Doug

Oct, 19 Upate

Hi again,

So time is getting close to the beginning of the season. I have noticed that the exchange rate is the best it has been for a few years for you to come to Canada. Around 20% better. The past few years the exchange rate has been around 104 yen to buy a Canadian $. It is around 85 yen to buy a $ now. NICE! Just so you all know Sun Peaks Out side of Kamloops is the best early season training site we have ever used!! The run we mainly use is long. Around 5 km. And the perfect slope for our basic training. If you have high hopes to improve your basic skill I would highly recommend this camp. A great way to start the season!

We are again using the same Condo as last year. It has a full kitchen for Chrissy to do her home style cooking, and our own private hot tub to relax after our hard training days on the slope.

I hope to see you here!

Bye for now!

Doug

P.S. here are some pictures of our drive from Alberta to Kelowna over the Thanks giving weekend.

Oct, 19 Upate

Hi Every one,

It was a sunny weekend here in Kelowna! Very Nice! On Saturday we went with my brothers family to a corn maze. A farm that offers farm fun. They grow corn and make a section of it into a maze were you have to pick different trails to find your way out. It took us around 20 minutes to do that. We also bought our pumpkins for Halloween.

On Sunday I went golfing with my dad. It was sunny again. I shot 6 over par. Pretty good. I am down to 8.8 for my handi cap now. I think the way I am striking the ball it could go even lower before he season is over. I know the things that have helped me most have been goal setting and having high expectations of my end results! this one is a big point too. Not to try to hard to make a shot. Just like not trying to hard to make a fast run. I image the shot I want to make. A slight draw because it is a dog leg left. I picture the ball flight, I set my stance to change the swing plain. Take a few swings in rythme. Set up and make the shot. Almost letting it happen. Not gripping the club harder, swinging harder. Swinging with good rythme and timing my body movements together. Same in ski racing. Make a game plan, imagine what you must do, keep your body relaxed. Ski the timing of each course. The thing we must try the hardest is to look ahead and see the line of the course so we can time our movements properly.

I am looking forward to see you all this winter and increasing all of your ablitities to new higher levels!

Enjoy the pictures!

Doug

Oct, 12 Update

Hi!

I just have a few more pictures of our trip to Vancouver. we went for a hike above the ocean. It took about 40 minutes to get to the view point. I guess it it very popular for people to do. The area is called Deep Cove.

Bye for now.

Doug

Oct, 11 Update

Hi Guys,

We are still in Red Deer and had our Thanks Giving Dinner toonight.

When we were in Vancouver we did go to Stanely Park. Here are some Pictures of What is in the Park.

Oct, 10 Update

Good evening,

So we left for Red Deer on Thursday. It takes 8 hours and we drove from 5 pm till 2 am. it is Canadian Thanks giving this Monday so it is a holiday. it is cold out here. It was 4 C . Not very good for Golf. Too cold. We went Dinosaur bone hunting on a huge river bank. We found some bones and a tooth. it was so fun!

So back to my trip in Vancouver. I went to my Aunts house. She is full Japanese and has a great garden my Ogi Chan made.

Bye for now.

Doug

Oct, 7 Update

Good morning,

So as I said before I drove The family down to Vancouver. We went to Take Tajanna and Sebastien. They already left last week and arrived safely. Tajanna has e-mailed us and said it has been great but finding it hard to understand every one in Sebastien's family. They speak so fast.
They went to some local castles and I guess they are amazing. She said she is a little tired with all of the traveling but is happy.

We took a few family pictures at Stanley park in Vancouver. Hope you like them.

Bye for now.

Doug

OCt, 5 Update

Hello everyone,

So I was invited to play in a scramble golf tournament. I this style 4 people are a team. Everyone hits then we choose which is the best ball to use. Then we all hit again from that spot. Same for putting. My team ended up scoring -13. Good enough o win by 4 strokes. We each won 2 rounds of free golf with carts. Before the match we talked about our game plan. What we wanted to do during the match. Our goals! I did keep my own performance game plan. Again swinging relaxed and easy. I did hit the ball very well.

I love looking at human performance! And how we can be better. We all need to set goals of what we want. Good goals. Not only goals ! Expect these things to happen! Believe!!

Bye for now.

Doug

October, Update

Hello everyone,

So I have been busy lately. We drove down to Vancouver last weekend. Tajanna and Sebastien are leaving for France, then Norway. They are both very excited. Chrissy also stayed there. She will leave on Sunday for home. So Makaiya and I are on our own this week. My parents have been helping out. Taking Makaiya to school and picking her up.

I played golf about a week and a half ago. It was great I will tell you how it goes next time.

Bye for now.

Doug

Chrissy has the camera right now so you will have to wait for some good pictures.

Sept, 24 update

hello

So here is a picture of Makaiya and Taya. Taya is my brothers little girl. The grass that I planted has come in nicely.

It sure is cooling own here.

Last night we had a dessert party for Tajanna and Sebastien! Family and friends came. The kids loved it.

We are leaving tomorrow for Vancouver. They leave for France next week. They want to spend a few days sight seeing.

I have been busy doing some very big homes. Installing the cabinets for them that is. Not much time for play. Not much time for anything. To be honest I have not had alot of time put towards excercise. I really need to organize my life so I can do that.

Well, bye for now.

More soon!

Doug

Sept, 15 Update

Good morning,

We have had some great weather recently! Nice clear day days.

Since Makaiya started school she has also started gymnastics. Kelowna has a club so they are very organized and do a great job with he kids. I they just got a Japanese coach recently which they are excited about. Not sure what his name is .

Bye for now.

Doug

Sept , 13 Update

Hello,

It has been an exciting weekend! Chrissy has joined a dragon boat racing team this summer. They practiced once a week. There are 20 members on a team. 18 row , one steers and one calls and sets the rhythm. Any way this weekend is the race. Chrissy has had so much fun competing in a team sport. It was very thrilling for her. They placed fairly fast today so they are in the top group tomorrow. Last night we went to a concert for the teams. It was fun. Yes, I had a few beers! Almost too many. Chrissy said I was a little bit on the crazy side! HA HA!! Must break loose sometimes.

Enjoy the pictures!

Doug

Sept, 10 Update

Hi!

So I went to the Kelowna city dump yesterday and stepped on a nail that went right in my foot. It bleed very much. I went to a clinic and the doctor saw it was already infected. he then sent me to emergency at the hospital. They ended up giving me IV antibiotics and painkillers. I had to return tonight for another IV. My foot is better today so they are putting me on oral antibiodics. It is still a little soar but hopefully it heels fast.

Bye for now.

Doug

Sept ,7 Update

Hello,

It was a great day! Played golf at 7:10 am. I did play to my planned game plan. I struck the ball very well. I felt very relaxed with most shots and trusted my swing. On some shots I did try to swing a little hard and that is when I miss hit shots. Again trying to hard to hit the ball with more power. My short fall was definitely my putting. I did not have a very good feel for speed. So I ended up shooting a 90 again. I had 10 3 putts. That really stank!

After golf, Chrissy , Makaiya, Tajanna, and Sabastien went up to Big White. That is the ski hill where my mom lives. I made some counter tops for a friend of Chrissy's who is renewing her condo. I installed them , we went for a hike, and had dinner after.

Bye for now.

Doug

Sept, 6 Update

Hello Everyone,

So today I picked up my new Dell XPS note book. Finally. Last ski season I had a Dell Latitude that broke part way through the season. Well finally Dell came htrough and replaced. With 3 year World wide warranty. That will be nice to have while I am Japan.

I am playing golf tomorrow at the the Okanagan club on the Quail course. Yes, this is the game I bought for $ 9.30 per person, with a cart. It was a misprint, but the golf course honoured the price. So I have been practising golf this summer and have improved my game. What I feel is important in improved performance is trusting your technique and play relaxed. If I try too hard to make a shot I feel tight and often miss the shot. If I feel relaxed and loose I often make the shot I visualize. My goal tomorrow is to play loose and let the shot I see happen without trying too hard and feeling tight. I will let you know how it goes. Last week I shot a 89. Not quite what I wanted.

Bye for now.

Doug

Sept, 2 Update

Hi everyone,

Well, I played golf on Sunday and Monday for free!!!!! It was great! I did not play that well but made some good shots. Shot 90 on Sunday. 89 on Monday. Like I said not so good. This Sunday I also got a cheap rate. Yes, $9.70 per person. Nice!

The weather is starting to get cool here. In the evening getting down to around 2 degrees C. I feel this is going to be a good season for early snow! That is my dream anyway!

I am working on a huge house now. I will probably be working on this one all week.

Tajanna's boy friend is staying with us now. He had to move out of his place so we invited him to stay with us. They are leaving for Norway at the beginning of October. Tajanna is excited.

More soon.

Doug

August 29 Update

Good Morning!

Well it was my birthday yesterday. Yup, 25 years old!! I had my family over for dinner. It was nice. We had steak , prawns, and scallops. With a spinach salad ,and yummy potatoes.

I was so grateful for the gifts I received. I got a new pair of golf shoes and a new 3 wood. A Talormade burner! Looks Nice. I will tell you how it works for me. I have been using a web site called Golf B.C. to book tee times. This weekend I found one that cost $9.30 per person with a cart. Unbelievable!!!! The course is a high end course. One of the best in Kelowna. It is called the Okanagan club. There are 2, 18 hole courses there. I will let you know how I shoot.

Bye for now.

Doug

August 24 Update

Hello!!

So Tajanna has a boy friend. They met at her place of work. A French Bakery. He is from France and bakes delicious bread and croissants. He has a job starting in Oslo , Norway. Tajanna is going with him. She will also work there and save money for her schooling next year. It will be great for her to be on her own and make her place in the world. Sabestien is his name. I likwe him very much. He is a hard worker and kind.

he made dinner with me the other night. I made pasta. He made avocado with smoke salmon and a lemon cream sauce. I made a prawn and smoke salmon cream sauce. Sabestien also made dessert ! He made chocolate covered Pear, and strawberries, with ice cream and home made caramel.

Bye for now.


Doug