Blogging & Bowling

On my second blogger blog, #yegbowling I rarely post, but when it comes to the annual major national tournament for team trials, I write as much as I can. Today I realized that I'm 2 weeks away from leaving for it, so I posted what I've been up to, beginning to prepare for it.

Then I went back and read all my past posts. It's interesting to read what I've dealt with from year to year at this tournament, what my expectations were and how I made my way through the 3 days of bowling.

I'm really glad for that blog, because it gives me a bit of a head start for this year. I can read about what shots were giving me trouble and what I did to correct it. Like last year. It was maybe my worst showing, but it was the first year that I came at it in a logical way and could actually analyze what I was doing and attempt to fix it. Clearly, after reading those posts, my head just wasn't in it, I wanted it too bad. Basically that was my biggest problem last year I think.

So pretty much that's the game plan, DON'T want it too bad. Just go out with a have fun demeanor, and enjoy the opportunity that I nearly didn't get. But even before realizing this through the blog, I wasn't making any expectations, besides a wish to make top 20 that I can't take too seriously.

I realized I prepared very seriously last year for this tournament, practicing with the youth national team twice a week for two weeks leading up. This year not so much. I don't want to say I'm over it, but just so many things have happened this year that I don't approach anything the same way anymore, I just want the easy route for now.

That being said, I'm still planning on practicing. I've been twice since the end of league, but on dried up lanes, not ideal conditions, but still good practice (check out #yegbowling to read about that experience). I'm also trying to get Dan, the proshop guy to set something up for me on Monday, but hopefully for a few times before we leave. Ideally maybe one day on each shot (short, medium, long). Also, my friend who is out in Vancouver for YBC nationals right now works at the West Ed bowling alley and he's going to try and set something up once he gets back. He's also going to CNCs so it will be good for us to practice together. There are the other regular participants of CNCs that will be practicing too so I should look into what they're doing.

But more than anything, practicing is just something to look forward to and is also a good time killer/gets me out of the house since I don't have a job yet. I actually would practice everyday just because I am so bored, but in the long run, knowing me, I'd end up injuring myself.. That would definitely not be cool.

Updates

I just came off a blogging spree on wordpress. I want people to read it and to spread it to more people, and I think twitter is the way to go. But at the same time, I talk about bowling a lot, and about certain people involved in the sport, and I have them on twitter. If they were to check out the blog, I think it would be weird, and would they have a problem with it? I also talk about things like I know 100% what's going on, but it's usually just my opinion and in reality they could read it and be like, uh you're totally wrong about this; and frankly that would be embarrassing, I don't need to bring up how much I may not know about the sport.

The idea of it is it to share with other people who know next to nothing, and at least I can give them a little glimpse of what my world is about, and the info I have is sufficient. Maybe bloggers would say that if I didn't want to be embarrassed, I shouldn't have written it, or write it in a more protective space..? Oh well. I'll stick to labels helping me get my blog out there.. I actually have 4 followers and I have NO idea who they are!!

And really, at the end of the day, it's just me wanting to write about my sport that no one will listen to/I don't want to seem like I'm being repetitive or bragging.

Well at any rate, there's a little rant for you, while I try to tire my brain out; I have to be up in 7 hours.. not bad I guess.. I honestly thought it was later..!!

Anywho feel free to check my out at wordpress (link provided above). It's not all about bowling, but the last 2 months or so seem to have been pretty heavy in that area, aka that's all I wanted to talk about!

Day of the month?

This could very well be the best day of the month. I don't want to go as far and say best of the year because, well, it hasn't been. And I very much hope that it won't be the best till the end of the year! This is one, pretty amazing day though.

The day started ordinarily enough, alarm going off, me not wanting to get out of bed, finally rolling out of bed and rushing out the door to catch the bus to the bowling alley (that's right, I bowl!). The only difference is, it's a Sunday and this is a tournament unlike most tournaments. I'm in this tournament for fun, for the practice for my upcoming provincial tourney next weekend. The day involves 3 games for teams, 3 for doubles and 3 for singles. There are winners for overall scores, either scratch or handicap. (For those of you out there who have no idea what I'm talking about, scratch would be the "face" value of your games, your total will be compared to everyone else's. Handicap means comparing your game to average and then giving you a new score for that game and then comparing it to everyone else's.)

The day is going by well enough, I'm above average (177) so I'm fairly happy. But I'm getting really tired and losing consistency. Then my coach comes over and tells me that I'm sitting in second scratch and that I'll probably stay there (there aren't many game left). Then he goes on to say that these top two get to go to Vancouver for Team Canada Trials!!

Bam! This hits me just all of a sudden, no pressure to keep bowling well, right? Man! I was just trying to convince myself that he was mixed up with a different tournament, but no, just before the last 3 games, they announce exactly what he says.

I manage to keep my energy up and I finish strong. So......

I'M GOING TO VANCOUVER TO TRY OUT FOR TEAM CANADA!!!

How exciting! I've only ever left Alberta for bowling once; two years ago when I made it to a tournament in Detroit. Going home, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face, which I normally don't have... haha.

Man, I'm just so stoked, it's going to be awesome, no matter how I do. I'm so proud!

Oh by the way, another reason this day is awesome: Pi day! So I'm going to go get some pie and watch the tight race in the Western Conference to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I'm cheering on my Flames tonight!