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Canada’s Robertson punches Olympic ticket in snowboard cross, women hit podium – Yahoo! Canada News
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Thu Jan 21, 8:07 PM
By Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press
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STONEHAM, Que. – Maelle Ricker and Dominique Maltais hit the snowboard cross podium Thursday, while another Canadian officially punched his ticket to the Vancouver Winter Games.
Ricker, the world No. 1, won gold and third-ranked Maltais captured the bronze in the World Cup final.
The top-ranked Pierre Vaultier of France won the men’s side, giving him four golds and a silver in five starts this season.
But Mike Robertson, of Canmore, Alta., may have been happiest rider on the hill after grabbing fifth place.
Robertson, 24, is headed to his first Olympics after racing to his third top-five finish – the last hurdle he needed to clear, in the last event, to make the Canadian team.
“It feels like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” he said at the bottom of the hill after the race.
“I’ve been working all season to get that and I waited to the last possible minute, but it’s very good to get it.
“I’m a pretty good procrastinator, but I try not to with my snowboarding.”
Canadian coaches still have to choose between three men for the last spot on the Olympic boardercross team, to be announced Monday.
Drew Neilson of North Vancouver, B.C., and Kevin Hill of Vernon, B.C., made strong cases for themselves Thursday, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.
“It’s the best result I’ve had this year and it came at the best possible time,” said Neilson, 35, who phoned his wife right after the medal ceremony.
“That’s all I thought about all day – just about how hard I’ve worked and how much my family sacrificed and how much my wife has supported me and I just want to get Vancouver.”
Tom Velisek of Squamish, B.C., who could have secured a spot on the team with a top-five finish, came 18th.
Ricker of West Vancouver, B.C., and Maltais of Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., are the only Canadian women going to the Olympics in the rough-and-tumble snowboard discipline.
The women have climbed the podium together four of the last five World Cup races this season, but in Thursday’s wild final, Maltais barely finished.
A few berms into the race, she caught an edge while trying to avoid Ricker as the Canadian riders were leading their two opponents.
“We were fighting for the first spot pretty much on the first bank and then Maelle and I we were totally far ahead,” Maltais said afterwards.
The next thing she remembers is flying into a safety fence and bouncing back towards the course.
Then, Sandra Frei of Switzerland slammed into her, breaking her board.
Maltais missed a gate in the fall, so she had to climb back up the track to finish the race.
“Just crazy,” she added.
Ricker, who cruised past the finish line way ahead of the other racers, had no idea what happened behind her.
“Usually you can hear noise on your shoulder or you hear the riders behind you … all of a sudden there was just this eerie silence,” Ricker said.
“You like don’t want to look back, but you’re like, ‘What the heck happened?”‘
Norway’s Helene Olafsen took the women’s silver, vaulting her past Maltais to second place in the World Cup snowboard cross standings.
In the men’s final, Americans Graham Watanabe (silver) and 41-year-old snowboarding legend Shaun Palmer (bronze) also made the podium.
Palmer, one of snowboarding’s pioneers, needed at least a second-place result to make the U.S. Olympic squad – an accomplishment that has always eluded him.
Among his many awards in several sports are five world snowboarding championships and six X-Games titles.
Palmer even has his own video game.
The veteran rider wore shades, a white vest and white leather shoes on the podium, where he stood out from his competitors who were still wearing their racing gear.
Disappointment was written all over his face as he hung his head low for the ceremony.
“I so wanted to see him there,” said Neilson, Palmer’s longtime friend.
“It’s heartbreaking for him.”
Rob Fagan of Squamish, B.C., ranked No. 4 in the world, and Francois Boivin of Jonquiere, Que., are also heading to the Games. On Thursday, Boivin came eighth, while Fagan finished 17th.
Meanwhile, Derek Wintermans of Burnaby, B.C., finished 12th and Simon Bonenfant of Mont-Tremblant, Que., came 24th.
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Marital Arts are Not Just for Children
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Many people come in contact with martial arts first as children, and it can be hard for them to shake the feeling that martial arts is just for kids. Nothing could be further from the truth, however, and as an adult, there are plenty of benefits that you can gain from stepping on the mat and taking a shot at something like kung fu, aikido or karate. Plenty of adults take advantage of martial arts classes in their area and you will find that these classes have plenty to offer you. -
A Little History on Kung Fu
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Kung Fu a generic label used to describe the martial arts that come from China. Chinese kung fu is not only about fighting but about self discipline, self respect, humbleness and patience. What makes the Chinese martial arts unique is the use of meditation as part of their art. Also the many weapons they have to master is another unique benefit of kung fu. Kung fu really took off in China when they added mind training to their workouts. -
Children On Ritalin Is That the Answer?
[Health-and-Fitness:Mental-Health]
Do you have a preschool-aged (or older) child who has ADHD or ADD? Many times, parents are encouraged to medicate their children to help alleviate the symptoms that can be causing them to have problems both at school and at home. If this is something you’ve been dealing with for a while, you may be at your wits end and willing to try just about anything to help your child handle his or her symptoms and to relieve stress from their lives. -
Is Stress Making You Fat?
[Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss]
It’s true, stress can make you fat. It’s because of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is always present in your body, but your body secretes it at higher levels when it’s under stress. -
7 Steps to Becoming a Master Martial Artist
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
You owe it to yourself to be the very best you can be in everything you do…Why not in the martial arts as well? -
Beating Stress and Learning To Relax With Kung Fu Meditation
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
The mind is the master of the body. If we train and discipline our minds, the body will follow. Once the body and mind become focused and in tune, you will see that your whole life will seem to flow; like you are on the right path. In other words, you will not be fighting with yourself and good things will just seem to happen for you. -
Weight Training and Martial Arts Training- Should You Do Both?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
The first determination of whether or not you should do separate weight training is how it will affect your martial arts training. If weight training will take the place of your martial arts training, then I don’t recommend it (especially for beginners). Advanced martial arts students can make the determination depending on their personal goals. -
SAD and How to Kick It With Martial Arts
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Well, it’s that time of year again when seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is starting to affect us. Even though SAD has been noted as early as the late 1800′s it wasn’t actually given a name until the 1980′s. That doesn’t mean people haven’t been suffering from it, however. -
Cyber-Bullying Is Your Child a Victim – Would You Know
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Cyber-bullying uses technology to spread rumors, hateful messages, excessive teasing or even disturbing digital photos (taken on camera phones). It’s a dreadfully harmful form of bullying and can be debilitating for its victims. As adults, we can quite easily delete and ignore offending or disturbing email and text messages, but children and teens cannot do this as easily. Children and teens need acceptance and thrive on reputation, so even one harmful message can make them feel horrible about themselves (and it rarely just stops at one message). -
Are You a Master of The Martial Arts? Why Not?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Chances are, you are probably not a martial arts master, but if you think about it, there is no better time than now to start your training. I’m not going to smooth it over and say that it’s an easy journey or that if you start now you can be a full-fledged master in a year or two. -
Children Need More Exercise and Martial Arts Can Help
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “It is recommended that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.” Lack of physical activity can lead to many problems in children such as weight problems, low muscular strength, poor aerobic fitness, lack of bone mass, high anxiety and stress and low self esteem. -
Kung Fu – How to Pick a Kung Fu School
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
What is the best way to select a Kung Fu school? -
Martial Arts Training: More Than Just Self-Defense
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
According to the FBI, four women die everyday as a result of domestic violence and about 130,000 women report that they’ve been victims of rape or attempted rape annually. Because of statistics like this, many women enroll in self-defense classes to learn the skills they need to defend themselves. -
Martial Arts and Your Personality Type
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
I’m sure you’ve heard about the different personality types: Type A’s are those that are very competitive and goal-oriented and Type B’s are the people who are more relaxed and laidback about life. Well, recently in the news, there has been talk about a third personality type, Type D. Type D’s are those who are often negative, hostile, depressed and moody and they are often insecure and tense in social situations. -
Martial Arts: Helping Children Protect Themselves
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Did you know that a child is reported abducted or missing
every 40 seconds in the United States and that most
potential abductors make their first contact with the
children they abduct within one quarter of a mile from
their homes? With the new school year approaching and children having
more time to play with friends, it is now
more important than ever to start (or continue) giving your
children the tools they need to protect themselves. -
5 Rules When Picking a Martial Arts School
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Looking for a martial arts school can be a tricky proposition. I know, because I talk to people everyday who are trying to decide on a martial arts school. They are either looking for marital arts instruction for themselves, their children, or the whole family. What I have noticed in my 20 plus years of teaching, is that many people just don’t know what questions to ask or what to look for when they start seriously looking for marital arts training. This article will help with picking a martial arts school in your area. -
Five Reasons Every Mom Needs Martial Arts
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
You’ve tried every class your gym has to offer: spin,
cardio, yoga and they’re fun for a while, but you find
yourself looking at the clock, thinking about all the
things you need to do. Soon working out is just that,
working out. It’s another chore on your list. If You’re
looking for something that will challenge and inspire you,
you will find it in a good martial arts school. -
Why Martial Arts Is The Best Thing You Can Do To Get Your Child Ready for School This Year
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Have you done everything you can to prepare your children for school this year? You’ve probably bought the items on the list of supplies, bought some new school clothes and taken them to the school’s open house to meet the teachers and find their ways. There is still one more thing you can do to help you children have a successful year, however. -
Martial Arts Breathing Can Lead to Mastery of the Body and Mind
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
We all know how to breathe, but did you know that how you breathe can affect your total body wellness? There are many functions of your body; some are voluntary and others are automatic. Breathing is both. By learning to control your breathing, you can begin to control other parts of your body and well-being that before seemed untouchable. -
How To Eliminate The “After Lunch” Sleepiness & Increase Your Focus at Work
[Health-and-Fitness]
If you’re anything like most people, you get tired and unfocused around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. This causes a loss of focus and productive energy. This letter will give you a few solutions to this problem, helping you increase your productivity and hopefully, income. -
Martial Arts: The Number One Way to Combat Bullying
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children from harm and to provide them with the skills they need to be healthy, successful adults. The problem is, we are not with them all the time. What our kids do at school is sometimes a mystery to us. Are they polite to their teachers? Do they participate in class? Are they bullying other kids? Are they being bullied? -
Martial Arts – It’s All About The Basics
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Ask any professional how they became good at their martial arts skills and they will tell you practice. Ask them what they practiced and you will most likely hear “the fundamentals” or “the basics.” -
Cracking The Martial Arts Code
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Cracking The Martial Arts Code: How You Can Achieve More Focus, Better Confidence and Lasting Discipline with Fun, Safe, and Practical Martial Arts Training -
3 Ways Martial Arts Training Can Give You Higher Levels of Confidence, Energy and Enthusiasm
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Wouldn’t it be great if everyday you had so much energy, so much confidence and so much enthusiasm that you could accomplish anything that you set your mind to do? Below are just three ways martial arts benefits your life: -
Martial Arts and Beating Stress
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Are you a busy executive or mom trying to do everything? Are you getting so stressed out that it seems like you’re not accomplishing anything? If so, you can use martial arts to combat that stress! Many of the skills and techniques used in martial arts training are the same skills and techniques you can use to rid your body of stress. -
Martial Arts and Self-Esteem
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
When most people think about martial arts and self-esteem, they probably think about the benefits for children. It is true that children do show increased self esteem when they train martial arts, but it is also true that adults can experience the same effects. Training martial arts can increase self-esteem in many ways for many people. -
Martial Arts and Adult ADHD: Overcoming The Symptoms
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
The symptoms of ADHD can be devastating for school-aged children, but they can be even more debilitating for adults who feel like they don’t have a place to turn for help. Adult ADHD has the same symptoms as those present in children (including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity). The fast-paced lifestyle that many adults lead also adds stress that can aggravate the symptoms. However, training martial arts is a great way to alleviate these symptoms and overcome the stress they cause. -
Martial Arts – 5 Ways To Build Your Self-Confidence
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
If you appreciate a strong, healthy self confidence that carries you through overwhelming times and drives you to achieving your most far reaching goals, martial arts is for you.A person’s self-confidence is like a muscle, it needs to be exercised in order to grow and develop. In the 20 plus years that I’ve been teaching Martial Arts in our community we have developed a 5 step approach to building self-confidence.
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Think Martial Arts Are Just For Kids? Think Again
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Walk into most martial arts schools and you’ll be likely to see classes full of kids. You might even see classes mixed with kids and adults. Sights like these turn many adults away from the possibility of actually training themselves and even reinforce common misconceptions about martial arts. There are so many great reasons that disprove these misconceptions, and you owe it to yourself and your body to read this article and to open your mind to at least the possibility of training martial arts. -
Martial Arts – 7 Must Ask Questions Before You Start Training
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Thinking of taking Martial Arts? Choosing a Martial Arts school can be intimidating, but not if you do some research first. Knowing these nine questions to ask before you pick any school for yourself or your child will ensure a positive experience. -
Martial Arts -Top 8 Reasons to Train
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts]
Many people want an ‘easy fix’ to improve their mental and physical well-being. Unfortunately, there is no such thing. Fortunately, there are martial arts. While it’s not always easy, training martial arts can improve your mind and body like no other activity. You’ll get definite rewards for every ounce of energy you put into your training. Here are the top eight reasons why you should consider training martial arts as part of your healthy lifestyle.
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