Ian Mortimer

Gold!

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:01:00 +0000

Congratulations to Alexandre Bilodeau, who just won the Moguls event at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver. Alex's run was amazing, and has launched him instantly to hero status, as the first Canadian athlete to win an Olympic Gold medal on home soil!

Tragedy in Whistler.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:36:00 +0000

I was completely shocked and saddened by the tragic crash today in Whistler on the Luge track that took the life of young Nodar Kamaritashvili. My thoughts are with Team Georgia and Mr. Kamaritashvili's family.

Photo Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Click on any of the photos for better quality and to enlarge.

The new Rideau Canoe Club was framed out this week. It looks amazing!

Mark and I had a solid ski on Thursday morning....80 minutes hard and still smiling

This afternoon I went for a classic/backcountry ski with my dear mom,
it was a perfect day to be out in Gatineau Park. This is the sun sinking
over a frozen beaver pond.

Beautiful Ridge Road

Decked out for a fun ski on the big planks.

Mom super stoked she made it to the top of Penguin.

Ottawa from the top of Penguin, beautiful day.

Ottawa Sport Awards

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Last night, I had the privileged of receiving the award for Ottawa Male Athlete of the year at the Ottawa Sport Awards. For the last 6 years I have attended the awards held annually at Algonquin College, and every year I have left the evenings festivities with a deep desire to one day win the over all athlete of the year award. I was taken by surprise last evening when my name was called for the award. As is common with many athletes, I am often guilty of looking critically at my own performances and trying to find ways to improve, instead of patting my self on the back. When they started reading out the description of the winner and I realized that I had won, I was pretty emotional. I know it is a strange 'dream' goal to have, to win an award that is decided to by a selection committee, but it really was one of the things I wanted to do before I hung up my paddle. There is no one else I would have rather received the trophy from than Mike Scott and there he was with the serious hardware on stage. When I looked down at the trophy I immediately saw my plaque right next to Angus' name from last year. It made me immensely proud to see our two names side by side, I doubt that our mathematician parents ever dreamed their two sons would both end up winning Ottawa Athlete of the year back to back! After a moments emotion up at the podium, I realized that my brief speech was a chance for thank you's that rarely comes along in life. I let Mikey hang on to the trophy while I made a quick speech, trying to get my thoughts together. I wanted to thank all of those who have been 100% supporters of me since the day I took my first stroke on the Rideau. During the 2 years I missed due to injury my family, freinds and teammates never once even let me consider not coming back full strength, and I will always remember that feeling of confidence they lent me. I ended my speech pointing out that Mikey, who was still holding the trophy, truly deserved the honour not me. After 60 years pouring his heart into the RCC he really is the reason there was such a great club for my brother and I to join and grown up in. Thank you Mike, and thank you to everyone who has called, emailed, texted and tweeted me today.

Mike Scott and I

Rideau has held down this award the last two years.....who is going to make it a three peat?

Nakkertok Race Day

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:14:00 +0000

This morning Johnny, Corey and I roused ourselves from our peaceful Sunday morning slumbers to take part in a 6km Time Trial at Nakkertok Ski Club in Cantley. We were joined by hundreds of local young skiers and by fellow Rideau paddlers Matt Raymond and Rhys Hill. It was a beautiful day up at there property and, as always, I was super stoked on the fun, warm vibe that Nakkertok always has for these events. I also always feel that I am enjoying a somewhat unique Canadian experience up at Nakkertok. This feeling could possibly be narrowed down to the experience of using Nakkertok's new and improved outdoor, 'naturally cooled and ventilated' washrooms pre-race. It could probably be more accuratley attributed to the fun, welcoming atmosphere that the club creates allowing so many people to enjoy beautiful Canadian winter weather.

Corey, Johnny, Matt Raymond and Sue Holloway

The race itself was a tough 3 x 2km loop, 6km effort. We started in a big pack and the first lap was mostly jockeying for position with the big group of skiers. I lost a little bit of ground in the first 500m and was stuck a bit behind after one lap. I felt I was skiing well, but could not make up all the ground to catch Johnny (who skied his best race ever) or Corey who finished ahead with the front two packs. I did however end up locked in a heated head to head battle with young Rideau canoer (sometimes he pretends to be a kayaker.) Zach Cameron. I reeled Zach in on the second lap and on the first climb of the third I made my move. Alas, it was too early and Zach's superior downhilling skills proved to much for me on the back stretch and he passed me on the final tight, downhill turn. I felt I had the wheels for a strong kick to take the win over this young buck, but it was not to be. My tired legs betrayed me and I took a nasty spill in the last 150m to the crowds delight. To my dismay Rhys took the opurtunity to pass me as I collected the items I had laid out in my yard sale and I was left in 5th place in the Padderls race-within-the-race, with Matt Raymond picking up the 6th spot. Hats off to Zach who won our head to head the battle this day with a great ski, to give him his due here is the victory shot.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Another busy holiday season has passed, and a new year is upon us. It was an amazing Christmas and New Year for me, spending time with all of my friends and family and having ALOT of fun. We just completed a 5 day stint at Mont Saint Anne near Quebec city where we had a cross country ski camp. The conditions were great, and as a group we got in some high intensity km's on the skis. We also had a lot of fun hanging out at the chalet and doing a little downhill one evening in the middle of a blizzard. After missing the fall Florida camp, it was great to be back in a training camp setting with a lot of the senior team. It made me anxious to get to Florida and into the main camp of our year down south. Before I head south however, I have a lot of training and school to get to (and enjoy) so it is time to reset for the new year and plunge in. Back to school this week and a new cycle of weights. HERE WE GO 2010!

How cold is it?

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Well today is my last day of school for the semester, just finishing off a research proposal that has owned me this week. Anders Gustaffson is in town for a visit and I will be glad to finally get to hang out with the big swede tonight and show him around town a bit. Check out the weather map that greeted me this morning! The coldest place, in all of Canada....Ottawa. A 16 degree difference between here and Toronto and it is 2 above in Iqaluit. I hope Anders brought his Toque.

My New Hero

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:01:00 +0000

From the Ottawa Citizen - -

The flame got off to an early start Sunday, leaving Ben Franklin Place at 7:30 a.m. on its way west to Pembroke.

Among the early-morning torchbearers was 1948 Olympic gold-medallist Barbara Ann Scott-King, who finished her 300-metre run on Baseline Road saying "Is that all?"

The 81-year-old said she'd been training for the past two months in her neighbourhood on Amelia Island, Florida.

"I had to have something that was 3-1/2 pounds to practice with," she said. "The only thing I could find was my big long garden shears, and I had to tell my neighbours I wasn't attacking them, that I was only practicing."

Scott-King, who also carried the Olympic flame into the House of Commons on Thursday, said it was an honour to be a torchbearer.

"This is the greatest thrill anyone could have. For a little old lady to be remembered and have the privilege to carry the torch is great."

Her husband Tom King, who waited in a nearby car as friends and fans wished his wife well and snapped photos, noted that their hometown newspaper had been closely following her training regimen.

"She's a big star there," he said.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Torch+training+pays+1948+gold+medallist/2336296/story.html

Beautiful Day

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:50:00 +0000

It was a great day here in Ottawa today. The crisp winter weather froze up the ski tracks beautifully in Gatineau and the sun was shinning on us as we headed out for a rip after our weights were polished off this morning. Adam V is up and he came out for the ski, along with a gang of usual suspects. We had a great time taking advantage of the fast conditions. Ridge Road was in great condition and we had a blast ripping it down Penguin.

The boys at the Top of Penguin Hill

Johnny, Vank, Jamie, Cory and Angus

On the way home from the park Angus and I stopped of at city hall to be part of the celebraiton of the Olmypic flame coming to Ottawa. It was a great event with local athletes, politicians and just lots of regular folks out to share in the joy and excitement that the flame brings. I was cheering like a little kid on Christmas when I saw the flame come down Laurier across the canal. Here is a shot of the first torch bearer I saw, an Aboriginal Veteran who brought the flame to the beautiful Aboriginal monument which sits on Elgin Street in Confederation Park. The flame was then brought back around the park and into what is now known as Marion Dewar Plaza in front of city hall. It was a really specially moment for the city and everyone there to see a special cauldron lit on the steps of city hall, I personally was very moved and excited to see the flame and watch the Vancouver Olympic flag be raised. As you might expect Rideau was very well represented in the crowd and on the stage. Sue Holloway and Greg Joy were honoured along with other Olympians including the real darling of this weeks festivities in Ottawa, Barbra Anne Scott. (My new hero) Here are Sue and Greg along with great friend of the club, former mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson, with the flame.

Here is a whole gang from the RCC and some of our biggest supporters.

Greg Joy, Me, Sue Holloway, Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa - Center MPP), Mike Chambers (Former Commodore and COC President), Alexandra Joy, Angus Mortimer and Jim Watson (former Mayor of Ottawa and Ottawa West Nepean MPP)

It was a great day, and with a couple Christmas parties on the docket, tonight dosen't look to bad either.

Olympic Magic In Ottawa

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:59:00 +0000

The tense and adversarial atmosphere of the House of Commons melted away today in an instant, when an 81 year old Canadian Olympic hero brought the hope, excitement and tradition of the Olympic flame into the heart of Canada's seat of Government.

Watch the video below of Ottawa native and 1948 Olympic Champion Barbra Anne Scott carrying the Vancouver Torch into the House of Commons. The usually snippy and guarded MP's are almost child-like in their excitement and exuberance in the presence of the flame in the hands of this truly amazing woman. Check out the video and get excited for the Games!

First ski, and a much needed W for the Whitewater Team

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:34:00 +0000

After a big dump yesterday I was chomping at the bit to get up to the Gatineau Hills to get my first ski of the season. I dutifully got my core weights in this morning and rounded up Jamie and Johnny and headed to P10 for a ski session this afternoon. The fresh snow was still soft which made it a bit of a slow ski, but compared to the asphalt of two days before the parkways were perfect! We had a great rip up to the top of Champlain Lookout and just enjoyed getting back out in the beautiful park. As is usual when we start at P10, we raced down the final big hill at fortune lake. I am proud to tell you that Johnny has finally scored a win for the whitewater column with a convincing downhill effort. John and I were neck and neck going into the last big corner, but John got and held the inside, leaving me no choice but to attempt a difficult skate around his flying poles. His power was too daunting and the soft snow no help and I took a big spill, leaving Johnny the cruise to victory. Well done Hastings, rematch tomorrow on Penguin.

Johnny claims victory.

The Hills Round 4.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

The tradition of Tuesday morning hills continued for our Whitewater/Sprint training group here in Ottawa. Matching the intensity of the boys and girls ripping up the Causeway in Florida, we switch up locations this morning for some variety. We tackled the vicious Hog's Back Switch Back Stream to Lookout Hill, 6 times on 5 minutes. It was a good change, with a different rhythm to the pitch on this hill, but a similar distance to the top. Mark continued to exhibit his new found form on the hills capturing 4 of the 6 efforts, Johnny once again displayed his stoic consistency and I had a couple really fast laps but still could not find the rhythm to battle Mark on every repeat. It has become a fun and very challenging component of our week, and I hope it will transfer well when its time to strap on the ski's and head for the Gatineau Hills.

Here is a pic of the three warriors from this morning. We are exhibiting some refined starting positioning for the sprint up the hill that Johnny has been working on with CKC staff member and former GeeGees cross country star Peter Neidre. How do we look Pete?

Run it out.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:22:00 +0000

This morning I was up at it early brewing up some coffee and kicking myself out the door to get a hard run in before we went to do weights. I have been trying to get my self back into sharp running shape and decided that I needed one more effort in the sneakers this week. I went out to the canal at ran the classic (those of you who have done a Turkey Bowl know it well) 6km course. I wanted to try and do an evenly split hard paced 6km, and picked a pace time of 3:36 for the KM's. It was a hard pace for me to hold on the way home and I got a couple shocks when I looked down at the GPS when my pace was slipping a bit. I held on alright, but a weak 4/5 km cost me the pace I was looking for. I wanted to hit 21:36, but i got back 21:54...and apparently the course is a bit short. (I did have to go around some construction which cut a corner.) Overall, I was happy with the effort, but the time leaves me with some room to pick up. I hope to nail another 6km before the snow and ice show up.

After a needed POW, it was strait to the gym for a heavy weight session with my boys: Gab, Mark and Angus. We subbed in squats for one of the pulls to mix it up and that plus the run has left my legs toasted. I am feeling strong in the gym, which is a great improvement over some rough experience with heavier weights I have had the last couple years. It was a good session, and a good training day.

Sadly, we were unable to meet our whitewater cousins for a clash of the titans III today. We will be making an effort to pick an event for next weekend and through down the Gauntlet once more. If any C4C fans have any suggestions of training competitions they would like to see us go for, send them out way!

The Cold Honest Truth c/o GPS

Brookfield Blues

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:39:00 +0000

BROOKFIELD

With the Canoe Club torn down, and the building of the new club house underway the clubs training groups have been forced to move to temporary facilities for our weight sessions. The younger athletes have found a new training base at my dear Alma mater just down the road, Brookfield High School. The administration of the school and the board have very generously allowed us to use the facilities over the winter, a big thank you to my great friend Rob Ladaroute who really helped us get use of the great old gym at BHS. I dropped in tonight to do my physio weights while the development and performance groups were working out with Coach Graeme, it was great to be back in the hallowed halls where we had some serious fun in our day.

I am not sure if all the kids will be thanking us for bringing them to the school as much by the end of the winter after they have to listen to Graeme, Corey, Angus and Myself regal them with stories of our past glories at Brookfield. Here the trip down memory (and bragging) lane has begun, with Greame and I pointing out our plaques in the BHS Sports Wall of Fame. In all seriousness, it is an honour that a picture of me hangs in the Rads at the school that I really loved when I was there and that still holds a special place in my heart.

Some Proud Blues!

Pining for the Firs.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:39:00 +0000

Pines at Last Light

I snapped this on the way home from school on Wednesday. I always say November is one of my least favorite months, but this year I have with out a doubt learned to love it.

If The Hills Had Eyes.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Our Friend This Morning.

This morning John, Mark and Myself completed the third week of our cycle of Tuesday morning hill runs started by Daddy-o on his visit here. We attacked the perilous driveway of doom this morning and had to deal with the new treacherous addition of ice patches as the temperatures over night here in Ottawa are starting to dip. Our teammates in Florida have been hammering out there own hills on the Causeway near our training base in Indian Harbour Beach, but I don't think they are worried about traction on the ice there bud!! Tom Hall is the champ so far in Florida I have heard, and today Mark again showed his form in the sprint events winning the majority of the 10 repeats up the hill. Johnny showed excellent consistency, staying between 75 and 85 seconds for all of the sets. I myself was feeling pretty sluggish today, my legs are a little tired from there hard kicking in 300m swim test we did on Sunday I think (excuses). I was not as fast or consistent as I wanted to be, but still had some really good runs up the perilous pitch, got a really good work out.....and took a strong victory in the all important hill #10. Great work boys......

Careful there's an icy patch ^

This is view around the corner...then all the way to the road boys!

400m Showdown

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:56:00 +0000

The last two weekends Michal Staniszewski, national whitewater head coach, has invited us to join in for some of there teams testing. It has been a blast to join in with a group and have some fun running hard and getting the competitive juices flowing again. Last Saturday was the 4km and yesterday was the hotly contested 400m challenge.

The format was a preliminary heat, then two semi's, the best time from these races ranks the competitors and the top 4 go to and A final the nest 3 to a B final.

All competitors raced in the heat head to head. The competitors from the whitewater side where; Cam Smedley, Bed Hayward, John Hastings, Sarah Boudens (did her own time control then helped time and video). On the sprint side was Morty, Mark Oldershaw, Corey Hamilton and Colin O'Neil.

Preliminary Heat

The Semi's were split off the heat times Semi 1: Mark, Cam, Colin

Semi 2: Corey, Johnny (in matching uniforms, "Sandwalk team"), Ian, Ben Hayward

Intense B final - Johnny, Ben, Cam. Watch for the kick from Cam and Johnny's unmatched intensity.

The glory, A final. - Mark, Ian, Corey, Colin. Watch for Corey's eye of the tiger on the start line, then a swift move to the front. The jostling for position on the back stretch and the battle around the turn. Colin seem like the heat MAY have taken its toll. Check it out.

Official Results

For The Grand Fianle and all the marbles, Sprint and Whitewater squared off in a 4 x 100 m relay with Coach Michal taking a leg for the Whitewater team. Check out the action, special mention goes to Ben's technique for making a quick exchange after his opening leg.

The Pure Intensity of Competition

John Hastings - a image of perfect form, poised to blast off the start line in Semi 2 of the 400m.
Follow Johnny's exploits at supportjohn.ca

Park Life

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:13:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today we were up and at it pretty early, hitting the gym for some endurance weights. Its fun after doing a bunch of heavy sessions in the gym this week, to push up the tempo an crank of some reps. After an interlude for some school work Angus, Corey, Rhys and Myself packed up some boats and headed up to Meech Lake in Gatineau Park to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather we are having.

Corey, Angus and Rhys took there K-1's out for a lap of the lake, which was glassy and absolutely pristine in the late fall sunshine. I went for a great trail run, and then snuck out in Corey's folks wood canoe for a little spin to meet up with the boys on there way back in.

It was one of those amazing afternoon's when the warm sun seems to trick the land back a few months. When the sun seems to just hang on a few more minutes above the hills, just long enough to let us enjoy the fleeting final moments of the on-water season in Canada.

Here is a shot Angus got of one of my favorite spots dans la monde.

Hill Run Fun.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:43:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

This morning we continued the program started last week with Tomas Sr. of a hard Tuesday hill running session. For a tough incline we needed look no further than our own driveway. The same pitch which can foil many an all-weather tired car, provides a tough challenge if you are willing to run the length of our road out to the mail box.

This morning we stepped it up for 6 to 8 times the full hill starting every 5 minutes. The rest seemed ample at the start, but by the end it was seeming pretty short. We all had good kicks in different pieces: with Corey taking the glory of fastest trip up with a blazing 1:05 in the first one. Mark showed serious explosive power pulling out a win in the all important final trip up with a 1:07, Johnny was the hero of the final trip up though with a (Usain) bolt to the first check point that left everyone in his dust. I was happy with the effort keeping all of my 8 at or under 1:11. Goose was the most aggressive runner of the day pushing it the whole way and coming back each time with his trademark fight.

Thanks to coach Graeme who braved the cool early morning to get our times and encourage us up at the top.

Warriors

Goose, Corey, Coach Graeme (with Time Sheet), Morty, Up-gate Agent J (darkened to hid his true identity), Mark-0.

(Not pictured, Mom, who was out for a cruise on the river in our house kayak checking out the Otter family that has moved in around the corner.)

Flaming Afternoon.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:25:00 +0000

After a solid heavy weight session this morning, and a equally satisfying trip to POW for Bacon and Eggs, I headed out with the one and only John Hastings to hook up with the Whitewater gang for a little run test. I have been trying to get back into a bit better running shape, and decided to go with the Johnny for there 4 km timed test to work on my high speed pacing.

Michal Staniszewski, whitewater national team coach was kind enough to let me join in his group at the old track at Notre Dame High School. (Alma Matter of Kristi Gautier). It was a beautiful fall after noon, and John and I both had solid runs. I tried to pace out a 14 min 4km, which amounts to 1:24 seconds a lap for ten trips around. I was able to stay on pace for most of the effort, but slipped up a bit at the end finishing in 14:13. Johnny PB'ed snapping off a 15:12 and to his pleasure breaking Coach Michal's all time record by a couple seconds. I was happy with it, and am getting motivated to try and push my run times down a bit.

This is Johnny and I post run rocking home in the Vibe!

It was a great day and I had a blast working hard with our whitewater cousins. Here is a perfect pictorial representation of the bond between our disciplines and the shared drive to exemplify the Olympic Spirit!

The Vancouver Olympic excitement is building to point that people are building inukshuks to copy the official symbol of the games all over the place.

Breakfast of Champions

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Up and fueling for a big weight session with all the boys.

Me and Gab getting pumped, not as serious early-birds as our east coast friends...but who likes worms for breakfast anyway.

Pan Am Games coming to Toronto!

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Toronto has been awarded the 2015 Pan American Games.

This is truly great news for all Canadian sports fans, and will be a fantastic goal for the summer athletes to keep the public's support and momentum going after this winter's home Olympics in Vancouver.

I personally had the privilege of competing in the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo and had an unforgettable experience. It will be an amazing opportunity for our athletes to compete at home in out nations biggest city. I am sure paddlers will, as they were during the last Pan Am's in Canada in Winnipeg 1999, be counted on for a big contribution to the medal haul, a challenge that I am sure we are more than up for as a sport.

Great news, read more reaction from my Brother on his website.

Read about the vote in the Globe.

Mehak, you can take your bag off your head, Toronto won something!

Maui...Maui...Maui.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:13:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Preparation for the big race this Sunday is going well here in Maui. We are all staying up on the slopes of Mount Haleakalā with Kai and Lauren Bartlett at there amazing farm. It has been great hanging here and going on trips down to the beach for training. The crew is all here and we have been out practicing our exchanges and getting used to the Outrigger stroke.

Today Lauren took a bunch of us up to the top of the mountain to Haleakalā Crater National Park. It is a massive volcanic crater that caps this beautiful 10 000 foot mountain. We drove up to the summit on a seriously windy road this morning, and set out for a 14 km hike down into the crater and back out. It was an intense hike, with a drop down to 6000 ft. and then a steep hike out of the crater on switch backs back up to 8000 ft. where we got picked up. It was a beautiful day and the crater itself was the most unique geographic area I have ever seen. Check out some pics from the hike!

The boys pre-hike on the edge of the crater.

Sam carries Frodo up Mount Doom.

Strolling through the Crater.

Mark on a switch back, long way down.

Hawaii Bound.

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:25:00 +0000

I am currently chilling out in LAX waiting for my flight out to Maui. I am joining up with the other members of C4C and the extended Canoe Team family to get ready for the big Molokai Outrigger race. Stay Tuned to C4C for updates all week as we prepare for the challenging 72 km race between Molokai and Oahu islands.

Wiley Coyotes'

noreply@blogger.com (C4C) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Check out C4C head quarters featured on a riveting story on the CBC about the dangers of Coyotes.

CBC VIDEO

Just as long as we can keep them away from an ACME mail order catalog we are safe for now.