Had the pleasure of listening to the great Dr. Frank founder of the special Olympics speak this past Wednesday evening, and was really inspired by his message. The baron van Koeverden was also in attendance, and spoke very well, big ups.

Training has been going quite well here in balmy Dartmouth. We have really begun to pump in the weights circuits, and are gearing up for a very hard week before some needed recovery and then Florida on the 14th. The overall atmosphere of th

e training group has been very positive, and I think we are all seeing some positive improvements. I'm looking forward now to getting back on the water though. Gabriel and I spoke at length recently about this past season, and I think we will enter this season with a fair bit more determination to improve, and I think that will really help us to make strides forward.

In other news, the golden Greek himself Al Hal son of the legendary Costas the voice of CBC is a finalist for the Axe summer dream job position. I would encourage all to help Al by voting each day. I have attached the links below so you can get caught up with Al's quest for gainful employment, and I hope he is able to eventual

ly fill this hysterical posting.

This is Al aka "the Golden Greek"

Here are the sites:

As per usual, keep it very real, and all the best.

Cheers,

Andrew

Hey and greetings all,

Just a quick few words before practice, Olympic lifting is on the schedule, so it's time to get in form. I am aiming to do the exercises somewhat resembling a Buday. That way I'll know I am getting there. Easier said than done.

Thought you guys might enjoy this video, while I disagree with the result being possible, it is a pretty cool video nonetheless. Good work Liam.

Keep it real,

Andrew

First of all let me wish you a happy 2010, I hope everyone rang in the new year in fine fashion. I know that I enjoyed myself at the annual Banook New Year's Eve party where some 200 participated in the countdown.

It's been a while since my last post, and it's time to get back into the groove. As those who know me well, they can attest that I am a big sports fan. I've enjoyed watching the Raptors surge to .500, while my beloved San Diego Chargers look very dangerous for this year's NFL playoffs. You see I'm one of those that say stuff like "we've" got to prepare ourselves for this big game, as if by some increased intensity in fandom I have some sort of influence on the outcome. Ah well, I'm still a hopeless addict, keeping up on all the sports rumours and staying in tune with what's going on, which leads me to some very big news.

Remember you heard it here first! This just in, the one and only Connor Taras is a freshly minted member of the Banook Canoe Club, I received the surprising and exciting news while finishing a training session at the new annex training centre behind the judge's tower on Lake Banook. Warm wishes to Connor, affectionately known as "Connor Bomb".

Training is now in full force again and I am looking forward to making some positive changes in 2010. It's a new season, and with it come new challenges and exciting races. While Gab and I had some great results in 2009, I think we both feel it is time to try and make another big step forward. After all, in a sport that has infinite possibilities for speed, you always need to be pushing your limits as somewhere someone else is. That comes to you via a basketball t-shirt I owned and wore proudly during St. Mary's University basketball camps, back when I thought I was going to the NBA and would have a full head of hair till death. Oh the times change!

Anyway, after an "easier" week getting back into things, it looks like 4 hard weeks of training here in Nova Scotia, and then on the Florida. I am scheduled to get into the Pines on the 14th of February, for my romantic re-encounter with Indian Harbour Beach. It seems this season there is a strong resolve amongst my teammates on the canoe team to get better, and I think it's going to be a very exciting season for Canada.

All the best, and keep it real!

Andrew

p.s. Go Bolts! A week from Sunday I will be glued to the screen.