The 2009/10 season is quickly approaching. I am getting very excited, as well as very frustrated. My training is going great. I have been working out with a new trainer at Boston’s Equinox, on Franklin St.

Dan Evangelisto is, by far,one of the best trainers that I have worked with. He has definitely kept me motivated through the summer even with all the other stuff that has been going on in my world. Besides training with Dan, I have been playing Gaelic Football down in Canton at the Irish Cultural Center. SO I have had plenty of working out and am ready to be on snow. I am going to be in Switzerland for a training camp from Sept 7-19. I am so excited to get back on snow.

As for the frustration, the politics that surround sports remains a constant downer but this is something i can’t fight against. It is unbelievable that the US Team cut their funding and team size. Now, mind you this does not mean I am not going to the Olympics. This means that I  need to work harder at finding sponsorship to get me there. I don’t have the luxury to not work and concentrate only on training and I receive no team funding. So just for coaching and my own travel expenses, I am trying to find a minimum of 15,000 to get me through Christmas. This is not including me trying to buy new boards and pay for my trainer. I never expect one person to get me through this but I am hoping to get about 10 people to donate about $2000.00 a piece to get me through.

The fact is that I hate even the thought of even asking people to help me out, as this is something I have always done on my own. I have come to realize that I am trying to get myself on the same playing field as everyone else. The best equipment, coaching, trainer etc. I want to look back know that I did everything I possibly could to get myself to the Olympics. I know I have to go the extra distance because I am not 18 years old, have the team support, nor the sponsors… I am the dark horse in this race so to speak…But by no means does this describe my snowboarding because I know I have what it takes to be good enough to be there.I just want to put myself in a position to do my best, not only to participate in the Olympic games but to have the opportunity to medal.