Chandra's Latest Update

February 12, 2009

"A setback is a set-up for a come back!" - As seen in my new favorite nude calendar (www.boldbeautifulbiathlon.com)

While the Canadian team continues on the Italian-cuisine fueled adventures racing world cups in Val di Dentro and preparing for the upcoming World Champs in the Czech Republic, I have finally swept up and tossed the final crumbs of hope at racing this winter. My injury came on in November, just before I planned to head out on a world-beating tour of skiing glory, and since then I have come to respect the severity of my injuries more with every passing week.

As painful as it is battling compartment syndrome (muscles, nerves and blood vessels in my shins being strangled by the sheath around them), ankle tendon problems and a bone bruise in my foot... none of this comes close to the ache in my chest when I think of all the awesome racing I've missed, am missing, and will miss. Like me, I'm sure you're going to be keen to check out the team's results on www.cccski.com as they race Friday and Saturday in Italy and send them your encouragement as they prep for the big events Feb 18-March 1 in Lieberec, Czech Republic.

Luckily my compartments will be relieved of the pressure by the wonderful Dr. Nick Mohtadi here in Calgary on Tuesday February 17th. I'm really hoping that the opening of these jam-packed areas will enable much better healing of the tendon on the ankle. In the meantime, letting go of the season has enabled me to get on with life without the stress trying to come back while time ticks by about as gently as a sledgehammer hitting a railroad spike. I'm actually ready to start seeing this time as an opportunity. My upper body is getting stronger than ever, and although I don't get a lot of training in in the week, I'm doing as much as my arms can handle and feeling good about it.

Fast and Female (Now Best Buy's Fast and Female through 2009 and 2010) is rockin, and we just announced that the next Ski Festival will be in Calgary March 28th, 2009. Go to zone4.ca to register while spaces last. Fast and Female has joined forces with ex-biathlete Nicky Pacas' organization Girls With Guns and we are pleased to offer biathlon as part of our all day FREE event that includes skiing, target shooting, downhill technique, inspirational talks, yoga, hip hop dancing, healthy snacks and sends everyone home with about $150 dollars in sweet swag from Lululemon, SOS Headwear and Buff Headwear. Our sponsors on that front are fantastic with the mainstay DC Energy holding strong and new sponsors Best Buy (presenting/title sponsor) Cold-FX, and Lululemon bringing much enthusiasm. The best female x-c skiers in the country will be our inspiring instructors and role models, including World Championships and Olympic Medalist/ Mother of Aria Sara Renner.

After Tuesday I have a week of couch time with the legs elevated and a few weeks of recovery building back up, so this week I'm putting lots of energy in the bank by visiting friends in Brooks (Alberta), Vancouver, and Whistler. I'm visiting sponsors along the way and am more available than ever to share my stories and help them with company motivation and exposure. I've been to Jackrabbits in Canmore and Calgary to sign skis and toques and tell a new, fun, "Kid Version" of my story which involves everyone saying "grrr!" when I say Claudia Keunzel (a fierce racer who intimidated me enough that I raced faster than ever just to get away from her and ended up with a gold medal) and "woo!" when I say Olympics. Truly if a kid from Canmore can grow up to win the Olympics, anyone can do anything they set their mind and heart to so DREAM BIG!

Thanks for all the support and well wishes and great comments on the Comment Board. I really appreciate it and am looking forward to coming through this rough winter more determined and excited about skiing than ever.

And if you're out there skiing in the sunshine wherever you are, pound out some skate skiing for me... I haven't done any in over 3 months!

Sincerely,
Chandra

PS More info here http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=5429&lan=0