The Crew

My first trip to the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid was almost exactly one year ago. I still remember driving up to the "Olympic Training Center" sign, with my heart pounding, and my palms sweaty. Knowing I'd be living among elite athletes was a BIG DEAL! What if they talk creatine and power cleans the whole time? Should I change out of my winter (barn) boots, and into my new sneakers, to look the part?

Two weeks before my first 'sliding' experience, I went out and bought an "UnderArmour" shirt, and new spandex pants... I figured everyone would be wearing their high-priced athletic gear at the OTC, and didn't want to be an immediate eye-sore upon entrance. I gotta be coo'

But...honestly, to my surprise, the people here are REAL people! Who knew? And even better yet, they are nice, sincere, helpful, and a ton of fun! Granted, my exposure to the World Cup athletes has been somewhat minimal, but even in that limited amount of time, those athletes have also been extremely generous and helpful. Everyone's 'friendly' personalities may not strike most people as odd, but you need to remember that we are each other's competition. This is not a team sport, and in order to be ranked top in the field, you have to out-compete your friends...err...your enemies...



There are about 25 of us 'developmental' skeleton athletes living at the training center at the current time. Most athletes were past sprinters, football players, gymnasts, wrestlers, etc. We all come from very different backgrounds. Chase, from Texas, just got to make his first Snow Angel ever... and Ron and Morgan both graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, and Megan is in the Army Reserves, and Derek was a professional soccer player, and Charmaine is actually a Canadian skeleton athlete. Get the picture?

So, for all of us to get along... well, that would be crazy right???

Ok, so things aren't perfect. I'd like to close my eyes and ears at certain moments and picture they are, but for the most part we truly are a group of athletes who genuinely enjoy one-anothers company. Which is EXTREMELY important when you live in a town of 2600, a small community of 50 at the OTC, and have about 6 hours per day of "I'm bored...whatcha doin?"



Last wednesday, nearly all 25 of us went to watch a Holiday Ice Skating Performance, and then went ice skating ourselves afterwards. Yesterday, about 15 of us went bowling, and this afternoon most people went to the movie theatre. I stayed in my room tonight to get my sled's runners all shiny and to write this blog, but most of the athletes are playing a little volleyball right now.

How did we get so lucky?

So, here's a "Cheers!" to my fellow athletes, and may this honeymoon phase last all the way through April!