Really, really home now

Well, after all has been said and done, I'm home after a month in China. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but I did.

Avie comes home laaaaaaaaaaaaate tomorrow night (tonight???) and then we get to start living a normal life again. Looking forward to it.

Thanks for your support and your interest.

Chat soon.
Patrick

Home, sort of...

Well, I've officially returned to Canada. I made my flight from Beijing to Vancouver okay, watching a few movies, reading a book and making some notes on the development of expertise. I've fired up my cell phone (not the one that the Canadian Olympic Committee gave me, and then asked me to return), called my parents and announced my presence. Now, I'm writing while drinking a coffee at Tim Hortons. Life is getting back to normal.

I guess that I have tomorrow off, since it is a holiday. I'm not getting paid for it, since I'm still away without pay. Not the company's fault: I told them that I was gone until then. I'll use it in lieu in a month or two. I still have Ontario's Civic Holiday to use as well. And ouch: going to the Olympics has hurt. I didn't get paid for a week or two, so the bank account is kinda low. Funny that the money still keeps leaving the account, even when my boss isn't putting anything in.

I'm still kinda wiped out and, to be quite honest, somewhat disenchanted with my Olympic experience. Yes, I achieved one of my life's goals. I even managed to do it with someone I love dearly. That's pretty cool. Yet, there's a certain sense of emptiness that I can't seem to explain.

I'm somewhat disappointed about the International Olympic Committee's failure to ensure that internet sites wouldn't be blocked. As we found out early on, China was blocking Amnesty International's website from readers in China. There was a Tibetian friendly "album" released via Apple's iTunes, so China cut all access to the site for a few days. (Avie had given her cousin an iTouch and couldn't update it because of the blockage.)

Also, while there were 'protest pens', it was reported that nobody actually applied to use them. Hmmmmmmm... It was also reported that anybody who did apply was promptly arrested and detained.

While there, I was constantly confronted by decay and poverty. Buildings everywhere are somewhat run down. I was often confused about whether buildings were being demolished or being rebuilt. You'd see pretty good looking new buildings, surrounded by tents or shacks that we legally couldn't house livestock in, that were the living quarters of the poorest people in China. In the countryside, on our way to Taiyuan, I saw caves dug into the hillsides, which were inhabited by people who couldn't afford a shack. Also, the country is filled with either children or old people, as the youth flock to the cities for work. You see them getting off trains carrying their belongings in burlap bags.

While the standard of living and conditions were depressing, the people are wonderful. Sure, in a crowd or driving, everybody reverts back to the most basic, instinctive levels, resorting to pushing and shoving, holding on to whatever they can. It isn't a system for the meek. While boarding a bus in Taiyuan, I was aggressively pushing back on a surging crowd, so a woman with a baby could board without getting crushed. Later, I gave my seat to an elderly woman (60s+ ?) and she was pleasantly surprised. One to be given a seat, and again because it was from a foreigner. Within an half hour, other younger people clued in, and started giving their seats up. They all mean well, but in the never-ending struggle to get something, they lose sight of what's important. I don't think that this is a Chinese-thing. I think that it is the inevitable outcome of an impoverished nation trying to make ends meet. People are good, but the system changes their immediate goals.

Back to the people of China: genuinely friendly and giving. I was always made to feel welcome. Whatever they had, they would willingly give me. Whether it was food, lodging, hospitality or knowledge, if you were there, you could have it all, without reservation.

Regardless, I'm not in any rush to return. China is a hard place to live. In Canada, I speak the language, I understand the rules, and I am able to do as I please. I don't need translators, nor do I need to involve others. I can wander off and be alone. The further I go, the nearer that I want to be. Even here in Vancouver, on Terra Firma Canadianna, I'm not home. I just want to get home, switch off the world and shut down for a few days.

Damn: I gotta fill up my bank account. No rest for the wicked, I guess.

Ciao for now.
Patrick

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

Okay, I am officially less than 24 hours away from leaving China for a very long trip home. We returned from Taiyuan this morning, after a 3-4 day training session with the Sanxi Provincial Shooting Team. We were supposed to visit some trees, mountains and relics, but fortune smiled upon us (well, me) and the travel agent refused to sell us (foreigners) tickets. Apparently, we're shifty looking and they need government permission (and five days notice) before they can issue us tickets. So, we stayed and trained with our new friends.


I thought that I'd add a few photos from Taiyuan, now that I have a proper connection (apartment line fixed - hoorah!).




This is taken from the Taiyuan Sports School, with some new recruits, Just like in North America, during/after the Olympics, there is a rush of interested participants. The three little guys in the photo are about 10 years old, and the tall young man is 14. They'll be in the range, between 3 and 5 hours training, everyday.



This photo captures about 2/3rds of the Shanxi Provincial Shooting and Archery Federation training facility. In this, you see the buildings that contain the residences, offices and the ranges (10m, 25m, 50m). The dining hall and archery range are off to the extreme righthand side of the photo. As you might guess, the place is huge.

How huge is it? Its this huge. Avie had the entire 40+ position air range to herself (not including me) . The range had more empty positions as you move deeper into the range. In the winter months, the archers practice shooting into the butts at the far end of the hall.

Here is Jiao Lien (Mandarin for coach) Chen (or as my Chinese hun says "Chen Jiao Lien") watches over her three senior female athletes. I say senior based on their three years experience and the scores that they produce. The girl in the foreground, with her pistol raised, is 14 years old. Qin Qin, at the end, is 20. These three young ladies shot a test match the day after this photo and delivered: 386, 373 and 371. Not too shabby.

Here's a happy group of shooters: Wei Jiao Lien, Qin Qin, Zhao Jing Long (my Chinese name) Jiao Lien, Avie and Chen Jiao Lien. Wei and Chen are married and Qin Qin says that they're just like her parents. They're really a good bunch of people, very free with their information and genuinely willing to help others.

In a nutshell, that describes the people of China. I can't say that I like the system, but the people will bend over backwards to help you out, especially foreigners. Any sign that you are willing to give that you respect their culture, like saying anything in Chinese, is greatly appreciated. They want to be understood by westerners and befriended by us.

The Beijing Olympic slogon was "One World One Dream" (which a family friend put up in his restaurant until he was slapped with the threat of a 30,000 RMB - $4600 CDN- fine). Since I first saw it during the Beijing Good Luck Games (May 2008), I wondered what the dream was. Seeing the opening/closing ceremonies and meeting so many of the people, the official theme's lyrics of "we are family" rings true. They want to get to know us and appreciated for what their culture is and how it has positively impacted our global civilization. They want to be equal partners on the world stage. They want to be seen for the similarities among us, as opposed to our differences. I can buy into that dream, with the Chinese people.

Its been a wonderful experience, one which I am so glad that I had. I am absolutely and unquestionably proud of Avianna's performance at her first Olympics. It came early, but it provides one helluva foundation to build upon. Its time to get home and start pouring concrete.

Visiting the Tiayuan Prov. Shooting Team Training Centre

Yesterday, I was pretty impressed with the shooting sports school. Well, I visited the provincial training centre which goes up several notches. This facility, built in 1999 and handed over to the provincial shooting and archery teams, is big enough to host a world cup. Its not as big as Munich, but certainly about the same size as Milan.

The facility is a bit run down, but it gets back to my comments yesterday: its isn't about the amenities. This facility has EVERYTHING a shooting team needs. The air range has 40 positions set up with electronic returning paper targets, with about another 35-40 empty positions (just benches). The 50m range has approx. 36 bays set with paper targets (changed by staff in butts, on radio command), plus another 24 bays not in use. Well, the bays are closed and there are table tennis tables, plus a pool table and weights in the area. There are about 6-8 25m 5-target bays available, with paper targets scored by staff downrange.

Here's the kicker: 11 athletes in the 40+ position air range, 8 athletes in the 50m range and about 7 athletes in the 25m range. This facility is grossly under utilized.

We spent the day talking with our friend, Coach Li (former director of the facility), plus his proteges, as well as the archery coach and a few other people. Lots of information was exchanged, as well as an invitation.

Next year,I can bring a group of archers and shooters to train here assuming that I can find the right mix of talent and work ethic over the next 6 months. Now, that isn't a knock against anybody, but, these guys are good. And they train hard, anywhere up to 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. As a male AP shooter, you need to be shooting 570/600 for consideration. Also, if you can't dryfire hundreds (not 100 or 200, but 300-400) of shots in a 4-5 hour period, then you won't keep up. Essentially, we need to train our athletes, before we can send them for training with the Chinese provincial team.

By the way, how well do they shoot? There was a test match today. The top four full-time athletes (as opposed to the 7 part-time non-resident athletes) shot 588, 586, 586 and 575 respectively. Their finals weren't as good, because the foreigner (me!!!!) watching sort of rattled them. Note: one of these guys beat Pan Wei (Olympic Gold Medalist a couple of weeks ago) at the Chinese Nationals, but wasn't chosen for the Olympic team due to a lack of national training experience. Yep, shot a 588 and wasn't selected for the National team. So, Canada needs to bring together its best and brightest if we want to put up a good showing and gain from the experience.

So, after two days discussing coaching with the various Jiao Lien (Mandarin for 'coach'), I've got a pile of notes which confirm a lot of my thoughts and answer a lot of questions. Now, I just need to get home and map all of this out. My brain hurts, but I am very pleased.

(And no, Richard, I'm not rejuvenated. I'm currently at a hotel which has reasonable all-you-can -drink coffee. That works for now.)

It Isn't About the Range - Visiting a Chinese Shooting School

Today was pretty damn cool. I'm about 8 hours (by train) south of Beijing, in a city called Taiyuan, in the Province of Sanxie. Taiyuan has a population of about 4 million (Toronto is a runt), and instead of being built up, its spread out. The air and sound pollution is unlike anything I've experienced before and the drivers make Beijing look like Toronto's Sunday drivers. Its a crazy place.

But... it has a regional shooting school.

Actually, it has a sports school which teaches three sports: archery, fencing and shooting (just rifle and pistol - sorry trap and skeet enthusiasts). In Sanxie province, there are 11 regional sports schools and 8 of them feature shooting. As I said, Taiyuan has one of the regional shooting schools, plus it has the provincial shooting school. We'll be hitting the provincial facility tomorrow.

As you could imagine, I was pumped when we had this arranged. Not many people get the full guided tour, as well as having a knowledgable translator asking the staff questions. Avie had some questions, but she was prepared to work her tush off, asking questions and repeating responses. She is as intelligent as she is cute, so I was enthusiastic about the visit.

When we arrived, it didn't look like much. The building is a bit rough around the edges. While its funded by the government, they aren't living a lavish lifestyle. The grounds consist of a long building for the fencers, just wide enough for three fencers abreast to advance and retreat. There were about 4-6 archery butts at 70m, looking a bit run down. And then there were the ranges...

There was one running target range with two bays, which they still train athletes in. Then, there was the 25m range with about 20 positions (gotta check my photos), a 50m range with 22 positions and finally a 10m range with about 15 positions. Each were kinda the same: a little run down, a little dark, a little musty, and all in desperate need of a good scrub and some paint.This is an older facility, from the 1950s, and hasn't been updated lately. Some of the other schools have, but this is still on the waiting list. The equipment they had ranged from rusty FWB C10s, to shiny new Morini 161s. I saw one pupil training with a Margolin. I hate to say it, but in the West, people would turn their nose up and walk away, vowing never to shoot in such a place. Fools...

Upon entering the 25m range, I saw a row of juniors, between 10 and 18, lined up against the wall dryfiring. I was in heaven. These kids were training and training well. Notebook in hand, I started asking questions of the coaches. The coaches knew their stuff. (BTW: They're doing pretty much the same thing we're doing, but they're putting in the time to make it stick.) Each athlete has a gun which is fitted to him/her, and available solely for them all year long (unless they improve and warrant an upgrade).

And they produce shooters. Damn good shooters. Not because they have the prettiest range, the newest guns or electronic targets (all paper in Tiayuan). They have the ranges with the right distances. They have guns that met specs and are always available. Finally, they have coaches who are dedicated to their success.

It isn't the range: its what is inside it. The people and the desire to improve. My old club, the CNRA, was run down, but it had people in it who wanted to go to the Olympics. That's what makes a range great. Any range, especially your own, can experience that greatness. Its just up to you.

Thoughts on the Olympics...

Or How Patrick Alienates the Canadian Shooting Community (well, I hope not.)

I've been in Beijing for about 4 weeks, watching the Olympic Games. I've seen it as an insider, coaching an athlete and living in the Village, as a spectator in the stands, and as part of the television audience. Its been an eye-opener, to say the least.

I've written and deleted this entry a few times now. Maybe instead of being witty and intelligent (well, I've tried: you be the judge), I'll just spit it out?

The Olympics are big. Really big. The Canadian system doesn't adequately support our athletes to get to the podium, neither from the COC level, nor from the SFC level. This isn't meant as an insult: its just a reality. Consequently, Canadian shooting athletes must be prepared to go it alone.

You must be your own source of inspiration, motivation and financial support. If you are waiting for an organization to deliver free high performance services to you, you are wasting your time. Similarly, complaining about not getting any support will get you the same results. Switching provincial or national bodies will just mean that you'll have someone new to be mad at. The answer does not lie in them.

You are your own support system. More than anybody else, you know your strengths and weaknesses. When talking to yourself, if you're honest, you'll know how high you can go. Similarly, you'll know if you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get there. If you can get there and are willing to make sacrifices, you'll find the people who can help you. You'll be able to demonstrate to others that you're the real deal. People will buy into your dream and get on board to help you out. Coaches will supply their time and facilities will open up, because everybody wants to be a part of success.

Quest for Gold Funding or Sport Canada carding (or any grant money for that fact) can't buy a steady hold or a smooth trigger release. Massive amounts of time practicing is the only currency that expertise accepts. (Sorry Visa.) If you're unwilling or unable to find 15-25 hours a week to train with gun in hand(s) all by yourself for several years, then you're not going to make it to the Olympic level. Aspiring provincial or national champs need to put in 10-20 hours over many years, so they haven't got it much easier.

School and work are important aspects of life. If you can't take time away from them, what can you cut back on? I would wager that most of us (including me) could use their time better. Make some choices and cut accordingly. If you can't sacrifice either your social activities, or your other involvements, then perhaps you should rethink your priorities. If you legitimately can't find the time, then you're overextended and must accept that high-performance sport may not be in your future. Accept your priorities and live regret-free with your decisions. That's cool.

Excellence in sport is hard. Coming here has taught me that much. If we want to get to the top of the heap, we need to work as hard as we can and expect to do it alone. In a sense, we're stranded on an island. We can complain about the fact that there is no help, that the captain grounded us here, and that we don't have a GPS. Or we can figure out how to survive the first night and start making a boat. We can take the situation into our own hands and create our own destiny. It may not be the best plan; but, its infinitely better that sitting down and effectively waiting to die. I prefer that challenge and that is what I've taken from these Olympics.

(By the way, if you're a pistol athlete and agree with the above line of thought AND are willing to make those sacrifices, please contact me. I'd be very pleased to speak with you.)

Where Everything is For Sale...

We visited the Silk Street Pearl Market, where everything is for sale and quality is assured. The place is insane.


Despite the madness, Avianna and Lien kept their smiles, as always.

The crowds here are impossible . People crammed in, no prices in sight, and every vendor asking if you want to get a special deal just for you. Ummmmmm, they lacked sincereity.

Clothing for all season was available here. BTW: there were 5-6 floors just like this. Imagine the Downtown Hbc store, but divided up into 5x10 stalls.

All the major brands (Ferrari shown) have outlets here. Polo, Abercombie, etc. You name it, they got it.

Did I mention that everything is for sale here? I don't think that the foreigners chatting them up should open with "Excuse me, miss, but are you free for the evening?" It was a first in China, for me, to see some of the Jarvis Street crowd out, so, like any good tourist, I took a picture. Note: there's another guy on the picture doing the exact same thing.

Ciao.