It’s alway’s great to hear from friends who enjoy life. Such is the friend of Sportswave, Nilola Girke who continues to amaze us with her world travels.
This is a note from her letting us know of her travels, post Olympics.
Hi:
So many options, so many opportunities, let’s just say, I haven’t slowed down yet – and it doesn’t look like I will for a while! The transition period post Olympics was and still a bit tough. So much to tell, however, I’ll spare you all the details and just fill you in on the biggies!
I just completed my first term at Royal Roads University for my Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching. It’s been an interesting and enlightening journey for me so far, setting me up for a very rewarding career outside of sailing.
For those that are unfamiliar with what ‘Executive Coaching’ is, the International Coach Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
I also realized shortly after the Olympics that once I finished my formal fitness training plan that it’s not that easy to go to the gym anymore, some days I just lacked motivation.
Thus, I took up doing Cross fit 4 times a week. Not only do I get a great workout, but it’s created a fun community for me and the support and supervision at Studeo55 is phenomenal. I’ve loving it…and for all you Cross fit junkies out there, I believe the term is… I have “drunk the Kool-aid”! With windsurfing having been booted out of the Olympics for Rio back in May came the inevitable choice I was faced with post Olympics – to give kite-boarding a try, go back to sailing or to move on.
Although weighing my options was difficult, it didn’t take long to recognize teaming up with Luke Ramsay (Canadian Olympic 470 skipper) in the Nacra17 (newly introduced Olympic catamaran for a mixed guy/girl crew) was my best bet for another shot at an Olympic medal. However, that meant we had to get the ball rolling:
Luke and I needed to jump-start this process, so we ended up enjoying an incredible week learning how to sail an F18 (catamaran similar to the Nacra – just slightly bigger) in Santa Cruz.
THANK YOU to Philippe Kahn and the Pegasus crew for this opportunity and for hosting such a fantastic experience for us.
For our first two days we had incredible sailing conditions: 18-20 knots with rough seas- which made for some totally awesome fun sailing and a wee tad bit of flailing.
I was impressed with Luke’s skippering ability, sailing style, and how we functioned so harmoniously as a team in testing conditions that could very well ‘rock the boat’ so to speak.
Both trusting in each other’s abilities and loving to push our limits, before we knew it, we pitch-poled (the leeward hull dug into a wave and I got flung around the front as the boat came full stop to end up capsizing). It was pretty funny – and luckily we weren’t hurt. And yes… these things go FAST!
Lessons learned – get better gloves (hands were shredded from the ropes) and wear a helmet when it’s windy!
This training camp was also the first time I was out sailing a small boat until well past sunset (like 1.5hrs after) coming back to the harbour under star light.
Our initial training coincided with the ISAF annual meeting – where they decided/voted on to put windsurfing BACK into the Olympics. Absolutely incredible news for windsurfing but at the same time… Duh!!
That left me very conflicted, just adding to the decisions that I needed to make. However, regardless of this decision – and after much pondering, doing my pros & cons, I’m confident in my decision to move forward with the Nacra17.
It’s not that I don’t love windsurfing – it’s just that with the wind statistics of Rio, I would have another frustrating 4 year battle with my weight, only to still not be light enough to compete with a chance of doing well in those trying conditions for me.
Thus, moving forward with the sailing, we have planned our first official training camp in January in Miami followed by our first World Cup Regatta, also in Miami late January – Nacra’s first debut onto the Olympic scene.
With our sights set on competing at the World Championships in July, we’ve got some training to do before we once again re-evaluate our next steps. I’ve just returned from a 10 day visit with family in Germany which was long overdue and I enjoyed very much.
It was a first, not having to work out everyday and one where I could not only make but eat cookies too! Now home again for Christmas and getting back into training mode… the New Year is coming oh so soon.
Reflecting back on 2012, it’s been a pretty big year for me, one filled with many ups and some downs. I am very fortunate to have you in my life and to share my journey with you.
I am very grateful for your support. I wish each of you all the very best for the holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yours in sailing,
Nikola
