Olympic Games Thank You!

Last day of the Olympic Games. This has been an experience I will never forget. It was such an honor to be sailing on the water with the American Flag and USA. I wanted to thank everyone who has supported me over the years. I was so proud to represent you all, sponsors, my family, friends, federation, country, yacht club and myself at these games. I wanted to give a special thank you out to my coach Luther Carpenter. He has taught me many things in my sailing and life and it was a true pleasure to work with him. He has sacrificed so much of his time to help nurture my sailing abilities and I am forever grateful.

I am extremely disappointed with my results, but your kind words and support have made things much easier. It may not of gone how I wanted, but I am proud of everything I have achieved in the last 4 years and at these Games. I have learned from my past that there are ups and downs in an athletes career. I will not be one to sit in the corner and sulk over this performance. Instead I will stand up, pull my shoulders back, be proud of what I have done and keep moving forward. As my dad always says when things don't go the way you planned, "This is just a toll in the road of life. You pay your dues and keep going forward." There are more Olympic Games and 2016 is definitely in my future.

2012 Laser Radial Worlds Conclusion

Hey Everyone!

I just finished the Laser Radial Worlds in 9th overall and I will be honest and say I am not happy with my results numerically wise. I would of liked to of finished better, but I didn't. On the other hand I actually feel this event was great. I saw so many positive factors that it outweighed the small amount of negatives. I am so happy with many things in my sailing that it gives me great motivation to keep going. My reaches, downwinds, and starts are near to top notch!

Luther has made a short list of things that he wants to work on in the upcoming weeks, but we are both very happy with everything right now! It was an extremely tough event tactically. At times I would feel that I was sailing a near perfect beat, but then factors outside of my hands would change it. It's interesting when you are dealing with the environment! Sometimes you just got to laugh it off and keep going!!!

Now I am off to the Canary Islands with the US Olympic Sailing Team. It's going to be so much fun. We are going there as a team bonding/fitness camp. I can't wait to go! I'll update you later on.

Laser Radial Worlds 2012

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I haven't written for a bit. I have been really focused on my training and trying to get into the best shape my body has ever been in. Life has been really intense lately with all of the traveling, sailing and working out. I have been loving every moment of it, even the days when my body gives out and says, "you are exhausted…no more." I feel like I have embarked on this amazing journey and have been encountering so many experiences. I've been meeting amazing people, accomplishing new feats that I thought I couldn't do and learning new things about myself everyday. It has been so much fun and I am definitely living up to the goal that I presented to myself at the beginning of the quad: To enjoy the ROAD to the Olympic Games.

Currently, I am in Weymouth, England with Claire Dennis, Isabella Bertold, and of course coach Luther Carpenter. The training here has been amazing. We have all worked so hard with long days on the water and sessions in the gym. On the water we have attacked racing where we joined up with many of the girls who will be competing at the Games. We did long races so we could test our fitness and figure out all of the tactical conditions. I feel so confident going to Worlds that I actually can't wait for racing to start. At the training, Luther and I tackled weaknesses, improved on strengths and honestly just had a fun time. Our teamwork has been getting stronger which gives me confidence that at Worlds and the Olympics we will be more then 100% solid and unbeatable. I don't think you can get a stronger radial team than us!

Tomorrow, I leave for Boltenhagen, Germany for the Laser Radial World Championships. The last two Worlds I have placed 3rd overall and I am READY to improve that result. I am 100% determined to make that happen and I know coach will do everything in his power to help me achieve that.  We did a lot of work in Spain on critiquing my technique and tactical thinking. During the racing here in Weymouth, I saw all of the gears starting to fit together so I am pumped to go test it out.

I believe I will have internet in Germany, so I will write with the regatta website and more information.

Until then…Peace

Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Hola! I'm here in Palma de Mallorca, Spain getting ready to sail the Princess Sofia Regatta. I've been here for about a week training and I have learned so much. I can't even describe how happy I am with my sailing. Compared to this time last year, I have improved so much. Luther and I have done a lot of training and I am so excited to see the results. This actually brings me to now…how I'm feeling going into this event: Completely motivated, pumped, focused etc.

In January I sat down with Luther, Leandro, Chris, and Kenneth and completely committed my whole being for the Olympics. We talked about what we thought it would take to achieve my goals. Since that discussion I have based my whole life around what I can do to improve my body, mind, and sailing. I dedicate every day, minute, and second to my commitment to my dream. This is a huge reason as to why I am excited for this event. I am ready to learn new things and see my progression so I know what I need to work on for the future.

Please watch the results at:
http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/

Olivia Lives Benefit

In 2011 I made a pledge that I would donate a percentage of my sailing bonus money to an organization that Olivia's mother designated. She chose the Sarcoma Foundation of America. This was a perfect choice because it will help aid in research for sarcoma. So many children are afflicted with this horrible illness and unfortunately many do not make it through. 

I am extremely fortunate with the life I have. I have a loving family, a great job, amazing friends and most of all I'm healthy. I believe that it is very important to give back to those who aren't as fortunate. Olivia changed me in many ways. She taught me to live, love and appreciate the life I have. She also taught me the lesson on how important it is to help others. Even when Olivia was extremely ill she was still strong for herself, family and friends. She was selfless, courageous and loving. Olivia will always remain in my heart…I sail for many reasons and one of them is for her. 

I find myself looking to Olivia for strength when times are tough, but I also celebrate with her. I sail with OliviaLives.com on my boom and when I am racing I constantly look at that sticker to motivate me. It represents Olivia's strength and love, but it also represents all the children that are battling cancer. I think of them and try to push myself just a little bit harder. I know that every time I podium I will hopefully be helping the Sarcoma Foundation get one step closer to curing this illness. 

Life is short and sweet, but for some its not as long and is filled with hardships. I feel it's important to give a little light for some who's world can be filled with darkness. I will continue my 2011 pledge into 2012 and hopefully I beat my 2011 donation. 

Check out www.olivialives.com for our 2012 programs and perhaps you may find an event that you would like to participate in. If so then the contact information is on the website.

Photos from the Benefit are at:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100688113032811.2751242.5034252&type=1

2011 ISAF World Championships

We did it!!!!!! Zach and I have qualified for the 2012 US Olympic Team! How exciting is this?! My brother and I representing our country, sponsors, family, team, and yacht club together at the same venue! This has been a long time coming for us two.....

So, lets go back about a month. I headed off to Colorado Springs and trained at our Olympic Training Center for over two weeks. The gym training was extremely demanding, but I had hopes of being physically prepared for a breezy event in Perth. I gained some weight, increased my strength and improved my endurance. I wanted to be in a mindset for the month of November of doing all that I could to have a good worlds.

The training turned out to be amazing and as it looks right now, I will be spending a few weeks there in the upcoming year. I had a great time with the trainers and being around like minded people. I arrived in Australia in the best shape of my life and mentally ready to take on anything.

Luther and I have discussed certain goals that he wanted me to try out at the event. I had one of the strongest qualifying series that I have ever opened an event in. I was fifth going into the Gold Series. I had a strong opening series in the Gold Fleet when we were on the outer course...then we changed areas. I unfortunately struggled with our new course area. I was not able to figure out the proper tactics and strategy around a rock jetty that was in the area. Our last two races of the Gold Series and Medal Race were on this course. SO, I never got the hang of this area, but my scores from the previous racing were so strong that it enabled me to finish third overall.

Now I am in Sydney, Australia with my family. We are all on cloud 9 because of the qualification for my brother and I. Our plan is to tour around the city then head off to the Barrier Reef. We thought that we should take the opportunity to see the country!

It's time for a much needed break and....yippeeee, I'm so excited for it!

Here are some photos from the Worlds:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100588242693771.2735736.5034252&type=1

Video that shows the team members who have so far qualified for the 2012 US Sailing Olympic Team  (it includes my brother and I)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZCnHLip15M

Interview of me after the Medal Race...sometimes luck is all you need!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws_xjpB5q8U

Video of a race I won at the 2011 ISAF Worlds
http://freezone.iinet.net.au/channels/freezone/sport/perth-sailing/?player=video/10552

Big news as well! Zach and I have currently made headlines in www.si.com/olympics, Tampa Tribune, www.espn.com/olympics WOW what an honor!

Pan American Games and November

I brought home a Bronze for the USA at the Pan American Games. I am very proud that I was able to win the medal for the States. It is also nice to add this to my resume of things that I have done in my sailing career. As I sit and write this I am thinking back of my 2010 season and I have to say that I am extremely proud of what I have been achieving! Lots of improvements in my sailing/weight, psyche, medals, charity (Olivia Lives) etc.

Well, let me tell you about my trip to Mexico (Pan American Games).....it starts with one word: FUN! I had an amazing time competing at the event. I thought that it was very important to have an event where I was more relaxed and focused more on enjoying myself. It has been a very long year with lots of events and I just wanted to go to Mexico and compete with a different mindset. I believe this has rejuvenated my sailing, thus enabling me to be motivated for my upcoming training in Clearwater and Colorado Springs. 

I thought Florida had the most extreme humidity, but Mexico has taken it to a whole new level. It was incredibly hot and humid down there. I had to focus on staying hydrated which was actually a very difficult task. I felt like every ounce of liquid I consumed wasn't being absorbed!

The sailing conditions in Mexico were very difficult. It was a max of five knots. I kept thinking to myself, "I sure am happy that I gained weight for Perth! haha." That was the opposite of what I needed in Mexico! I was definitely pushed by all of the competitors to step up my speed and thinking (tactics and strategy) in light air. I started off the event just okay, but I quickly changed some things around and started to see an improvement. I feel that at the event I learned a lot about sea breezes. The wind would  begin to fill while we were sailing out and it would not be finished by the time we began racing. This created an unstable racing condition with lots of shifts and changes taking place while racing. Sometimes the changes would be quick or veeerrrryyyy slow! I feel I learned so much and I am very excited to show and talk to Luther about the event. I think we are going to take my sailing to a new level because of the additions that we are going to add to my tactical process. VERY VERY EXCITING!

A third thing that was really fun about Mexico was speaking Spanish. I studied the language for a few years in school and could feel all of my lessons coming back. It has inspired me to become fluent in the language. When I came home I bought some books and audio to aid me in my studies. 

So whats the plan for the future? Isabella Bertold (Canada) and coach Luther are coming to Clearwater tomorrow. We are going to do a training camp for the next week. I hope to get some long hours on the water and work on the things that I noticed in Mexico. Im expecting us to be doing 2-3 sessions of working out and sailing a day. It's time to amp things up because Worlds is approaching quickly. 

On November 7 I am traveling out to Colorado Springs to get pounded by the trainers. I will be living in the Olympic Training Center for 2 weeks. I am worried that there won't be enough wind in Clearwater which would reduce my hiking endurance. So, I feel that focusing on working out and pushing myself beyond my limits on land will have a positive impact on my hiking fitness. I also want to be in a focused atmosphere where all I think about is training, sailing and improvement. Honestly, when Monday comes around I am going to be a focused, robot, extreme, motivated, disciplined Sailor Paige. I have very high goals set for Worlds and I know that to achieve them I need to start buckling down even more. Luther and I have been working very hard for a long time. We have had some very intense training which has prepared me to endure and raise my level of intensity this month in preparation for Worlds.  When the event comes around I will be 100% prepared and confident in the sailor we have created.