Maelle Ricker - snowboard cross

Another Olympic athlete, another story, another background, another dream earned a place in my heart and my inspired blog.  i really hope that you aren't getting board of athletes just yet!!
Maelle (love the name by the way), is 31 and just recently won the gold at the 2010 Olympic Games in snowboard cross.  i have watched her gold medal moment a few times, and you might call me crazy for being inspired by how far ahead she is from the rest of the girls.  you see this is what i mean when i am different from the rest.  i look at things with a different perspective.  some may look at her race and say wow she's good.  yeah so do i, but i look at how far ahead she was from the other girls and think right away of her training.  i thought of how much she wanted the gold medal and how many hours she spent in the gym and on the mountain improving.
Maelle had two dream as a young kid.  one, to compete in snowboarding competitively, and two, to compete in snowboarding in the Winter Olympics.
I find it amazing that the dreams you dream of when you are a kid, are the dreams that you normally live out.  look at every Olympic or professional athlete and they will tell you  that they had dreams as a young kid.  and look at them now.
Maelle had two dreams as a kid and followed after her brothers footsteps in boarding.  now she's on top of the world.  that inspires me and reminds me that dreams to come true.  just keep dreaming!

~amy 

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - figure skaters

Off to figure skating!  figure skating is something that i never see myself doing, have no desire in even trying it, and sometimes even get board watching it.  but there are exceptions to the young couple: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.  first, let's get this over and done with: Yes they are so cute together.  does anyone else think of that when they watch them skate???  or is it just me???

as you all probably know Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won gold at the Olympics.  watch this video to see these two skate to gold.  i just watched the video myself and am amazed.  my favorite part is the end when the see their score and realized they won the Olympics! 

what i love about Tessa (20) and Scott Moir(22) is their team work.  i read an interview (read full interview here) and was amazed by how wise these figure skaters are.  just everything they say and do are all beneficial to their lives.  they are hard-core focused on figure skating.  i also love the friendship they have.  these two now know all about trust.  that's a great quality to have and they need it.  i personally would like to go figure skating for one day just to learn how mush trust i need in my partner.  but you won't see me in figure skates!  i will just admire is from afar.

i love their hard work method.  when you look at their performances you learn that figure skating is no easy task.  it takes a long time to master the routines.  that is another thing i love about this young team working on what they love to do.  the sport they love is not easy and takes a lot of time, patience, endurance, and wisdom to pay it off.  but they are doing it and excelling.  what a good life lesson.  how inspiring is it that two people, that young, are learning, performing, and excelling at this level.  i find it inspiring as a 15 year old to go after what i want.  to excel in the things that i desire.  to keep dreaming.  if Scott and Tessa can achieve their dreams at their ages then why can't i??? who's stopping me, really?

above - i think we all should have shirts like these.
below - one of my favorite pictires.

love this picture to!

~amy 

Jon Montgomery - skeleton athlete

here i bring you another skeleton athlete that inspires me.  i watched Jon slide to gold while i was babysitting, watching very closely on their huge fifty inch TV.   it was quite exciting and i just had to share the good news with the parents when they got home.  my favorite part of Jon winning was his face when he realized he had won gold!  it is priceless.  Jon is now a champion.

the 'priceless' winning face!

doing my research on Jon, i discovered and feel like we have the same heart.  let me explain.  do you remember this blog post ??  i explained how my heart breaks for kids around the world who don't have the opportunities to play sports like i do.  well, Jon Montgomery pledged 2,010 dollars to Right to Play to help give children the opportunity to learn through sport and play.  (by the way, i love the name of the organization, because those children really do have the right to play).  on his website he was asking people to donate $20.10 in honor of the Olympic year.  that money will enable a child to sport and play programs for six months.  "I know that together we can make a real impact and affect the lives of some of the most disadvantaged children in the world who have never realized the power of sport, something we as North Americans take for granted." - Jon Montgomery.  if you don't find that inspiring then i don't know what does.  here is a man blessed and gifted with the opportunity to play sports and go to the Olympics.  with all that, he still wants to reach out to kids in need.  to kids who don't have the same opportunities he does.  that is what i love because i want to do the same thing.  here is how are hearts are  the same.  thinking about kids in places around the world who will never be able to show of their talent and true potential makes me want to give 110% in every practice, workout, and game.  i have the ability to play sports, to be coached, to go to a gym, to further my talent...so i have a reason and purpose to be happy about what i do, to do my best, giving my best effort all the time.


Jon's trip to Uganda with Right to Play.

Jon Montgomery is a pretty amazing guy because of his hard working attitude, winning gold, his personality which anyone can fall in love with, and his love for reaching out to kids with nothing. again another incredible athlete who notices needs in others on top of his incredible and blessed life!

~amy

Vermont ~ with pictures!

I know this blog post doesn't really have to do with being inspired or anything, but while i was going up this mountain...


I was thinking about this role model:


Honestly, call me strage, but it motivated me to go on the bigger hills, to do wider turns, pretending i was racing in a race that Lindsey would.

Vermont was seriously, without a doubt one of the best trips i have ever been on. it was 3 jam-packed days of fun and doing one of my favorite sports - skiing! i was worried about the driving. 12 hours is a pretty long time, but because we drove through the night i slept. yes i got a good a sleep! it sure didn't feel like 12 hours and we were there before i knew it. we would wake up throw on some sweatpants and brush our teeth and then walk over to breakfast. after breakfast we would come back and get ready, then hit the slopes until around noon. then come and eat lunch, get ready again, and back on the slopes until it closed. the downer was that the mountain closed at four because there were no lights on the mountain, we would hang out until dinner, go to dinner at the same place breakfast was, and then hang out some more. the best part about the skiing was that the hills were huge! they beat bolar by a land slide. if you have ever been to bolar, in London, it is a good beginner hill,  then it gets boring. in Vermont it takes you about 10 minutes just to get up the chairlift, but the best part is that it takes you about the same amount of time to go down. you can literally  go all over the mountain. we also went bush whacking or off trailing. that's when you don't stay on the path you go into the bushes and stuff. there are little hills made and you have to duck because you are literally in the trees. so sometimes you get hit by small tree branches and stuff. your legs burn when you get out of there but it is so worth it! it is so much fun! now the worst part about the skiing is when you go down a hill that is just ice. it is really slippery so you have to take it slower. if anyone is wondering.....yes i did wipe out. and more than one. mine were worse than others and were talked about quite often always ending in a good laugh. i didn't get hurt. i was laughing when i fell. it is all a part of the fun. you have to wipe out at least once! i actually hit a tree after a fell. like full on, ran into it. and another time we were skiing in a pack (not a good idea). i almost hit another guy from our group and then pretty much did like a flip.
we were staying in houses literally on the mountain. that was a great view and was great because we could walk with our skis to the mountain and jump on the lift. our houses were all next to each other, so that was bonus because we would just run from house to house to do different things, and if we ever forgot or needed something, it was only 100 meters away. hanging out was especially a lot of fun because there was so many people to hang out with. we would play cards, watch  movie, we played charades one night, and of course food! there was plenty to go around. and there was never a dull moment. there was always something to laugh about and always something to do. the 3 days went by fast, and everyone was dreading leaving. we all wish we could have stayed for the weekend.
the ride home was entertaining. until we got to Montréal which is about 3 hours, two brothers in the back were singing. more like yelling. it was crazy and very, very funny. we ate in Montréal which was good. beautiful city i noticed as we were just driving through. i sort of felt out of place wearing my sweatpants. it looks so nice and high class! :P after a good meal...we all slept! and now it is back to school with a million stories to share!! :)
AND good news! i kept my promise!!! i have pictures to share! there are a lot.....just warning you... and you might be a little jealous!!! :) 

pretty bad conditions that morning. we couldn't see anything!


the loooong chair lift!


the top of the mountin.


no, that's not me. but i just had to show you some of the bush wacking! ;)


beautiful veiws! i would be skiing and looking out at this!


If you can notice...we have the same coats! :P


the view from our house...we were literally staying on the mountin! and every morning for breakfast and every night for dinner we would walk to that building. so close, and handy!


it was sunny that afternoon! :)


Jay Peak!


Just one more of the view....just to rub it in! :)



great trip. can not wait until next year (hopefully wrestling won't interfere again!!!!)

~amy

Mellisa Hollingsworth - skeleton athlete

I continue my research on the Olympic athletes that i wrote down while watching the Olympic anniversary. i came across this video that i just had to share. although, things didn't go as shared in the video. Mellisa was not standing on the podium.

Canada had high hopes for Mellisa. they were thinking gold. she left the last race in second place so she needed to be flawless. the race didn't go as planned. she bumped two walls which slid her into 5th. she was heartbroken. she felt like she let her country down. she was apologizing. that was not the race anyone was hoping to see. at the end of the race she grabbed the Canadian flag and held it up high to show Canada that she did try her best and that she did believe. she was thinking who would be proud of her?
until tons of emails came in. all of them explained that she didn’t let Canada down. we are proud of you. that was repeated throughout all of the letters and emails.
Melissa shared the story on the Olympic anniversary about a handwritten letter she got on construction paper from a 5 year old girl named Margo, along with another letter from Margo’s mom. her mom explained that ever since Margo saw you in Italy she loves to go down playground slides head first. Margo couldn't wait to see Mellisa race, and when she didn't get a medal Margo cried. she thought that you deserved one and made you one. Margo sent that hand made medal to Mellisa. Mellisa explained that it warmed her heart and it gave her a good perspective that this is what athletes can do for this country - inspire and create motion. Mellisa also said that maybe we will see Margo in ten years sliding head first down the ice instead of a playground slide.

This story, more than most, touched me. you think that only athletes who win inspire me...that is so wrong and the complete opposite. the medals are only there to show you what you have done, what you have accomplished. they encourage you to do your best because winning is possible and winning is there for you. apolo ohno keeps his Olympic medals in his sock drawer to make it seem like he hasn't won anything which makes him work even harder. sure everyone loves to win, and can always use another medal, but a wise member of the v. family once told me that not everyone can win. not even in the Olympics. what inspires me about Olympic athletes are their stories and where they came from. the things that keep them motivated. if you pay attention, they are pretty wise people. they have been through a lot. they have experience. athletes are hard working people who each have a different story. they were each inspired by something and now they are inspiring young people, like me and Margo, to be athletes and to go after what we desire and dream.

So thank you Mellisa Hollingsworth for inspiring me and Margo. sure you came in 5th in the 2010 Olympics. you are still 3rd in the world. i hope to see you at the next Olympics. and Margo from B.C., keep dreaming big. i will be watching for you!! and as for me, my dream is still there, and my goals are still as big. just wait! :)

~amy

The Amazing Joannie Rochette

last night was the Olympic anniversary.  it is hard to imagine that just one short year ago my but was planted on our pink leather couch watching TV for 17 days.  i knew who i wanted to see, and saw some new faces that i fell in love with.  last night the anniversary made me miss the Olympics.  those 17 days were inspiring, and made me proud to be an Canadian.  last night i saw some new faces that i just had to do some research on.  it turns out i am inspired, and just have to write about it.  i am sure you get by now that i am inspired by many, many athletes.  pretty much only athletes.  that's because i am an athlete.  i understand a bit of what they go through, and how they feel.  i am  not as hard core as them, but still understand what it takes to be an athlete.  i understand the commitment and dedication.  these Olympic athletes inspire me because of how strong headed they are.  nothing could tear them apart.  especially who i am about to tell you about...

you might know the name Joannie Rochette.  what an amazing girl.  her story is incredible.  she is a figure skater, and pretty good at it to.  two days before she was supposed to compete, she got word that her mom passed away of a heart attack.  her life was over, and she was at the Olympics.  the Olympics.  the Games that she has trained for four years for.  yeah those ones.  the amazing part is that she did skate.  after she announced that she was going to skate, that was all she said to the press.  from then on her life was private.  she didn't go around the press or anything.  could you imagine people asking you all these questions about your mom and what happened?  she needed to stay focused. focused on her performance and winning, of course.  she had enough distractions already.  Joannie did skate, and came in 3rd  in honor of her mom.  how amazing is that.  she explained that her mom taught her to be strong and brave in these situations.  i believe she was nothing but.  she was brave, strong, and determined.  she came to the Olympics to skate, and that's what she was going to do.  she came to win and she did - for her mom.  amazing, strong headed girl.  another of my favorite athletes, Jon Montgomery described Joannie as having shown "so much heart and determination at the 2010 Winter Games".  She was chosen as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies and was voted female athlete of the year by the Canadian Press.  Well deserved I’d say!
That is what the Olympics are all about.
Another woman Olympic athlete to fall in love with.  to be inspired by...

~amy 

go after 'it'

back from vermont!  amazing trip!  stay tuned for a blog post about the trip and  hopefully pictures..for now...back to the videos of athletes, back to being inspired.

“If you work hard, it will pay off in the end. - When you fall down, just get up again. - In
the meantime if you fall, get up stronger, hungrier, more ambitious. - Setbacks help you to concentrate. - When successes fall into your lap, you lose sight of your goals.” ~Lindsey Vonn

this video proves it.

love this girl...

love this girl...

~amy 



a new love

well packing is on the 'to do list' over in the bennett household.  8pm i am leaving for vermont with my school for a ski trip.  we will be driving for 12 hours.  yes - half a day!!!!  thank goodness we are going to be driving through the night so i can sleep  hopefully get some sleep because we are going to get there and hit the slopes!  we are going to ski for 3 days straight.  i am pumped!
there is something about skiing that makes you feel like you are free?!  it is just so joyful, and somewhat peaceful?!  i love wearing my mask that covers half of my face, then ski goggles, and then my helmet.  you are so warm, no snow is getting into your face, and no one knows who you are.  it is just you and the slope.  (not a good place to meet a guy - just saying!!  haha!  i am not planning on it!  picture taking and skiing are my priorities! :P)
i want to try downhill skiing.  not just skiing for fun, like competition.  racing. like linsey vonn.  YES, i am inspired by her to try it out.  it is so much fun to ski just for fun, so i think it would be even funner to ski while competing against others.  i'm in.  i am willing to try it!  she is an awesome girl and a great example. 
well short post today.  bottom line: i am in for 3 amazing, free, and fun-filled days.  i will hopefully (no promises) try and get some pictures posted when i get back.  there are going to be breathtaking veiws.  back to packing!!!

~amy

the athlete i am

i am an athlete.  i. am. an. athlete.  i work hard.  i work my butt off every workout and practice.  i am determined to finish everything i start.  determined to finish every workout to the best of my ability and then some.  i am the kind of girl who likes to cross all of her t's and dot all of her i's.  i am committed.  i commit myself to sports.  i go to every practice ready to work hard.  i am dedicated.  there is no stopping me.  i put 110% into every sport that i participate in.  i push myself past my limits because i prepare myself - mentally and psysically.  when my body is tired and ready to give up, that doesn't matter, my mind is a lot stronger than my body.  i am an athlete.  this is what i live for.  these are the kind of things that i think about.  these are the sentences i describe myself with.  these are the things that i remind myself  when i work out.   i am an athlete.  this is what i think about.  do i sound like an Olympic athlete???  good!  i have been watching a lot of Olympic athlete videos latly.  no joke though - the paragraph up above is real.
people don't understand that when you deside to be an athlete - when you have a love and a passion as big as mine, when you have a dream that you know you can and want to achieve - this is what you live for.  even at the age of 15.  my parents always taught me to go after what i want and to go after the dream not the competition, or in some cases - friends.  sure, i am only 15.   some may say i'm too young, or that who cares if you eat unhealthy now, you will burn it off, you're skinny.  wrong, wrong, wrong.  it does start now.  i can't become who i am dreaming of now when i am 26 and need a good work out trainer because i am not in shape.  it does start now.  that's why i have decided not to drink pop - it dehydrates you and there is not one good thing in that 'can' at all.  that's why i choose not to eat pizza.  too much fat and grease.  sure, sometimes i do have chocolate, sure sometimes i have chips, and juice.  they are bad for you too.  it's not like i am going on a diet or anything, just cutting some things down to stay healthier.  i am not an Olympic athlete, i am not eating just enough every day to gain muscle but lose weight.  don't worry.  i am not that nuts....yet!
there is something about working out that is 'fun' (?) ya, enjoyable.  some may think that it can be draining and nothing but pain and suffering, thinking in their head "what am i doing here!"  while i am having fun, enjoying every minute, knowing that it is nothing but rewarding!  it pays off, you just need to see the bigger picture.  the reward down the road.
i realize that there are a lot of girls out there with the same goals i do.   that doesn't stop me...they don't have the same perspective i do.   instead of going on facebook, i spend my computer time watching videos of athletes like lindsey vonn and apolo ohno.  videos such as this , this, this , and this .  (don't feel like you have to watch them all! :) ) seeing their workouts, sacrifices, and hearing how they love what they are doing inspires me.  i spend friday nights playing soccer and working out with my team, getting ready for the season - instead of going to parties.  it inspires me to hear that lindsey vonn literally has no social life because in the summer she goes to the gym about 9am and stays there until it closes.  dedication.   for apolo ohno just read this blog post to see his commitment.  before mike weir became who he was today, he would of course practice, but instead of going to parties he would be out on the course practicing and furthering his skills.  not everyone can be an athlete.
being an athlete, and being 'this into the game' can be a sacrifice.  your time, all of your energy, and your diet.  good choices.  but it's all a part of the game, and i wouldn't change the game for anything.  this is where my life is.  this is what i see myself doing down the road.  this is what i want to continue with my life.  my goal is to be the best athlete i can be, whether achieving my own personal goals or literally being on top for everyone to know my name.  as for now, i will enjoy working out pretty much every day.  going to soccer practice and wrestling practice. training with the senior girls at my school just for the experience, more time with the ball, and of course the exercise (hopefully that all works out with the coach!).  like i said,  i am an athlete full of commitment, dedication, passion, love, and determination.  there is no stopping me.  i love what i'm doing.  i love every day of my living life because if involves sports.  because i get to live everyday doing what i love the most.  i am an athlete.  i am in love!

~amy