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 Listen to the episode from the VoiceAmerica.com Business Channel here: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/84598/sports-money-and-marriage
  FULL ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/travel/things-to-do-in-36-hours-in-whistler-british-columbia.html?_r=0  Presented by BY VANCITY BUZZ | 3:04 PM PST, THU NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | SPEAK UP With winter just around the corner and the first snow of the season already falling in Whistler, it’s time to start thinking of hitting the slopes. Ahead of this year’s ski season, we had a chance to chat with Canadian Olympic Champion Ashleigh McIvor (Gold Medallist in Ski Cross at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics) and get her take on the must-do’s when skiing Whistler Blackcomb. What time should you hit the slopes? Typically, if it’s snowing in the evening, I set my alarm for 7 a.m. (earlier on busy weekends) and check the “snow phone” to learn how much snow has fallen. If it’s more than 10 cm, I jump out of bed and get my gear on to make sure I’m across the street at the base of the lift before 8 a.m. If it hasn’t snowed much, I’ll take my time. Where to ski on a powder day? If it’s sunny you can go anywhere! If it’s stormy, I prefer to stick to the tree runs for my powder fix. Trees really help with depth perception in a complete white-out, and the snow can even be deeper in there as it is sheltered from the wind and sun. Favourite run? I will always love the whole Peak to Creek area because you can ski 5,000 vertical feet of incredibly varied terrain with no interruption. Ending up at Dusty’s is always fun too. Where would you take a beginner? It always totally depends on their athletic prowess, especially from what you can see in similar sports like snowboarding, of course, but also things like ice skating, rollerblading, waterskiing, etc. I once took a retired hockey player skiing for his first time ever, and after one run under the Green Chair, ended up taking him all the way out to Symphony, and even ended the day with Lower Dave Murray downhill – a black run! Symphony has an unparalleled combination of terrain, scenery and that adventurous feel for beginners. For little kids who have never been on skis, I usually just start at the very bottom of the mountain and walk them up just past the SLOW signs for a few mini-runs in between my legs before getting on a chair lift. Which runs should you hit early in the season? Get up there as high as you can! The thing that people don’t realize about Whistler Blackcomb is that even early-season, when a lot of the lower mountain isn’t open, there is still more ski-able acreage than most other mountains on this continent. And instead of driving up to the snow line, you get to hop on an enclosed gondola or a chairlift with a bubble to keep you dry. Always best to stick to the groomed-runs early in the season though! How do you make the most of your last run of the day? Well most injuries happen on the last run of the day, or that last run before lunch, when you are tired or hungry, so we always make sure to avoid saying “one more run” – sort of like a ski town superstition. I do love to make the last run of the day a top-to-bottom lap, where we catch the last ride up the Peak Chair on Whistler or 7th Heaven or a glacier t-bar on Blackcomb, and then cruise all the way down to the valley to end up at one of our favorite apres-ski bars. What does a day on the mountain look like for you? I love going for a quick breakfast at Dusty’s Backside (in behind the main Dusty’s Bar), hopping on the Creekside Gondola and then going straight to the deep powder in the trees, solo if it’s any sort of inconvenience meeting up with people. If it’s not a powder day, I’ll take my time and make sure to catch up with some friends right off the bat. Depending on the conditions, I may ski all day and catch that last ride up into the alpine, or call it early to hit après ski. How did Whistler Blackcomb help you win the Gold? Growing up as a Whistler kid I learned every skill I needed to win the Olympic Gold just by having fun. Skicross really is just an organized version of what we Whistler kids have been doing for fun our whole lives. I used to love racing my buddies from the top of the mountain to the bottom, through gullies, off cliffs, over jumps, into the trees and deep snow. With so much vertical and such a wide variety of terrain, there is no better place in the world to develop that kind of endurance, and adaptability — both keys to success as a skicross athlete. Whistler is a really incredible community, and the people running Whistler Blackcomb have always taken very good care of us Whistler kids. Their ongoing support has enabled me to get to the top of my game. Best viewpoint? I think the coolest view of all is off the back of Blackcomb Peak, looking across at Whistler and the Tusk at sunset, but if you’re not feeling quite that adventurous, the view from the top of the Peak over at Black Tusk and the Tantalus Range is a close second. What’s one thing everyone must do when in Whistler? Ski! Well that’s the obvious one, but you’d be amazed how many people come up to shop, enjoy the après ski scene or just to disconnect from city life. The spa scene is really becoming popular, and I have to say the one thing everyone must do (beyond skiing), is go for a float at West Coast Float in the main village. It’s right beside my favorite ski shop, Fanatyk Co., and it is seriously one of the most life-altering discoveries that I’ve made. You are suspended in the most buoyant water, with 600lbs of epsom salt in it, and it’s the closest thing to being back in the womb. It’s technically called sensory deprivation therapy, or floatation therapy, and it’s very powerful in terms of physical recovery and rejuvenation, as well as letting your brain have a complete rest. When to hit chalets for lunch?Definitely not at noon on a busy day! Best après ski? I’m a Dusty’s girl because I live in Creekside. I love the vibe and the patio is nice and sunny in the springtime. I do also love the GLC though, with it’s massive fireplace and huge windows… great bartenders too. Be sure to try the Gold Standard. The nice thing about the GLC is that it turns into our favourite night club most evenings. Best drinks? Nothing beats that Gold Standard! If you’re looking for fancy cocktails and top tier mixology, try the Araxi orBearfoot Bistro lounges. Best food? I’ve always loved the Bearfoot Bistro for fine dining, and the Trat is a favorite too. I did recently stumble upon Creekside’s newest restaurant — The Red Door and that is one I will definitely be frequenting more going forward! Ashleigh’s Gold Medal-winning race:  Backstage meeting for Elton John, Jay DeMerit and Ashleigh McIvor
First published Tuesday 16 September 2014 in News Last updated 05:26 Tuesday 16 September 2014 President of Watford FC Elton John met up with a former fans' favourite, Jay DeMerit, when he played a concert in Vancouver, Canada, at the weekend. The former Hornets defender, who retired this year, used his Instagram site to post a picture of him and his wife Ashleigh McIvor with the rock superstar. DeMerit, who left Watford FC in 2010 to join Vancouver Whitecaps, said: "A lot of people don't know this, but Elton Johnused to own Watford FC, my former team, and is now considered its life president. "Playing for Watford over six seasons, I've been fortunate enough to connect with him on a few occasions, but having him come and play in Vancouver last night, graciously offering tickets and inviting us in his dressing room for a visit, is the icing on the cake. "Always a thoughtful and genuine man, talking football or family, he makes you feel like u aren't talking to one of the biggest music icons on the planet. He even gave us a shout out on stage (blush)! "I have an amazing amount of respect and admiration for this man and I'm so grateful to get to share in these kind of experiences. Rock ON!" To all of you lovely people who are affiliated with the Whitecaps FC, and for the fans:  Today, my husband Jay DeMerit announces his retirement from soccer. I am so proud of Jay and what he has accomplished throughout his career, and I can't wait to see what he will accomplish now that he will be focussing his time and energy on off-pitch life and our other endeavours. From the moment I met Jay, I knew there was something special about him. He has a positive impact on everyone he comes across. I was not surprised when the Whitecaps FC named him captain, and I recognized that it said a lot about who he was off the field as well as on it. I've never met anyone who is so unconditionally positive, optimistic and encouraging. He brings the best out in everyone around him, from family members, to fans, coaches and teammates. Our whole family -- and that includes many of our close friends -- noticed a change in him about a month ago. He just seemed down. And he was grumpy. We all discussed the grumpiness with the utmost shock and terror, as we realized that we had never seen him grumpy, ever. Though this grumpiness only lasted about 2 hours, and hasn't happened again since, I knew that he was losing steam through his second major injury rehabilitation in as many seasons. Jay is the type of person who is either all in, or he's out. If anyone could come back from that sort of injury, twice, it's him. He just decided that it doesn't make sense to push through it with haste, when he had already considered this to be his bonus season. He had continued for "one more season" so that he could play... not so that he could spend most of it on the sidelines. He's not interested in battling back again, only to just be hitting his stride as the season wraps up, instead of stepping back and giving someone else a chance. Jay doesn't want to come back and play at 70 or 80% for the last few months of his career, when he's been giving it 110% his whole life, so he's out. I know from experience that rehabilitating injuries is an incredibly daunting task, and I agree wholeheartedly with his decision to focus that energy on these other projects we are taking on, including his new role with the club as an ambassador and his continued role as a team leader and mentor. We are also thrilled to announce that we will be starting summer camps for elite level athletes in the summer of 2015. The program will be called Rise & Shine Retreats, and will build on the messaging behind the documentary made about Jay's rare path to success as a professional athlete -- Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story. It will be an all-encompassing curriculum aimed to prepare young adults for all aspects of life in sport and beyond. Initially focussing on soccer players, the long-term vision is to expand and include other athletes and talented young individuals, through whatever their passions may be, and to create much more than well-prepared athletes, by providing the necessary tools to become well-rounded, good people. Standby for more info on these retreats, and follow our social media for updates. @D6MERIT & @ashleighmcivor Words cannot express my gratitude toward the Whitecaps FC for bringing Jay here to British Columbia, and of course I have to thank Bell Media for introducing him to me on that one-year anniversary of the Vancouver Olympic Games, at a Canucks game of all places! Our friends -- all the people I've introduced Jay to -- keep asking "Where did you find him?!" and they recently decided that they'd like to write a letter to the Whitecaps and their sponsors that would say "Thanks for Jay". We're keeping him. ;) So on behalf of our entire, extended family, THANK YOU for your unwavering support of our captain, and please accept this as our promise to take care of him just as well as you have, off the pitch through whatever the future holds. With love, Ashleigh McIvor DeMerit & Family |
