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Greetings from Landgraaf, in the Netherlands! -yes, I was just here for a training camp in September; and now we had 2 back to back Banked Slalom races, a World Cup! My goals were: not get disqualified (like I had in Dubai on my very 1st race with zero experience and the wrong prosthetic leg) and not get last place (so I would get points). Mission accomplished on both goals! Another Brazilian athlete & I were here with a great coach from...
Hello all, Two weeks back from the Netherlands and I’m still buzzing about it. I had such a good time and learned valuable lessons and tricks from my coach. Came back in top shape —wish there was a race right after! It was at times challenging, like I thought “why am I doin this? Do I even belong in this sport racing with those guys at that level?” But the more I train the more the confidence grew, and that’s exactly the...
Hello folks, it’s been a lovely “season” here in Landgraaf, 2 weeks of fun and also hard work at this indoor snow dome. I say fun because this place is beautiful, coaching has been superb, accommodations are great, the food is awesome and it’s always there ready for you. I don’t have to worry about anything besides working on my technique, fitness and getting enough rest. But I’ll tell you, it’s not a vacation! (a lot of people wished me happy...
SnowWorld, Netherlands Guys, I’m super excited to share fantastic news: I’m going to a training camp in the Netherlands, the biggest indoor snow facility in the world, in Landgraaf! So happy it’s finally happening… at first team Brazil was going to send me to Mount Hood in Oregon (the only snowy mountain in US that stays open year round with a servicing lift to go up the mountain); I would be the only Brazilian bc their athletes can’t really get into...
Greetings folks; I’ve been thinking, constantly, now that the Tokyo Paralympics are upon us (I possibly could have been there had my category in triathlon was not cut off) how difficult it will be for me to make the 2022 Winter Paralympics. Truth to be told, the odds have never been stacked higher against me. If you compare to triathlon days: I had no kids; work was part time so I could focus on training (had a $ scholarship that...
Hi guys, As I’m watching one of my favorite Netflix shows “Drive to Survive,” again I thought of the similarities between my current racing sport and F1. First I thought, “no, I’m out of my mind to even compare myself to them,” but some things are true. Those guys train a lot, they’re some of the fittest athletes on earth actually. I would love to be on that level, but even though I train, it is different. They’re paid to do only...
Greetings fellow friends of PossAbilities, hope everyone is doing well! Excited with the news that Covid is slowly letting go… it’s still not a won battle but we’re inching closer. With that said, hopefully frontiers will be opening up. I had a really good Zoom call with the Brazilian snow sports Federation, they believe and want to invest in me. It was great and reassuring to hear that! My concern is where I’m at right now, it’s like a...
Hey guys, About this time is when the mountains in the north do their summer slumber. Unless I had extra free time (and money!) to follow the snow in the south hemisphere, it’s now time to work on my base fitness. In planning now (together with the Brazilian snow federation) is that training camp which never happened last year —on this Argentinian mountain in the very south, but with Covid apparently that place isn’t going to open. The talk now...
Hey guys, I had this plan all set up for the 2020/2021 season. I would do 3 races then would be home in a timely manner for the birth of our baby. Covid had other plans and those races were all canceled. Baby Maile was born on a very special day and thankfully it all went well. There would be 2 more races in the calendar that I was not going to be able to participate. Of course, as luck...
Folks, I’m stopping by to share some monumental news: wife Karina had a record time delivery and we welcomed baby Maile to the world! What’s amazing is that Maile came on the exact same day as my 10 year ampuversary! Because of minor complications Maile had to go straight to the NICU. Imagine that: I had my snowboard accident and went to the ICU. Now, exactly 10 years after, our baby is born and also goes to the NICU. Talk about...
