My dad already edited and posted all the videos he took from this crazy weekend: 2012 Juniors

Summary of the most successful competition of my life

Well, its over, and I could hardly be more proud of myself if I won every race. I battled out there, while keeping my cool. This is something of a novelty (hah) as I've been pretty inconsistent this year. Because I've had such lows recently, I was ready to deal with and quickly overcome that silly fall in the first final when I was sitting in perfect position; that bit of bad luck in the 9lap Time trial, running into the back of my pair, something that should never happen; and then be able to embrace the pressure on the third day of having to skate the best of my life when it counted the most. That strategy in the last 1500m superfinal was one of the bravest decisions Ive made.I Did ITT!!! Whooooooo. The thing is, if I had gotten fourth overall, it would have been great, but I would have been the alternate spot who only skates the relay in Australia. Now I will compete against the rest of the world in every distance plus the relay! That should be really fun. The relay team should be pretty strong, with our leader J.H., who is so strong he actually was finishing relays at the Senior level on the U.S. team this year!
  I really cant be thankful enough to all my coaches over the years. To my parents, grandparents of course and also to all you friends/fans who were watching the live stream - that was sooooooo sweet.

Day Two - Junior Trials

There was good and bad today. I was in prime position in the 1500 final in second with 4/12 laps to go but fell. I managed to place third in the 500m however. Podium finish! wooooot! Feels real good. Sitting pretty in 4th overall after two days. Tomorrow is gonna be great! Getting tons of sleep now and then gonna show everyone what I can really do. Goodnight.

Day One Success!!!!

Day One of Junior Trials is over. I am tied for third overall. This is good. I couldn't ask for better. I skated my best and I'm proud. I was fourth fastest in the 9 lap time trial and then 3rd in the 4 lap. I got to go on the podium and receive an award which was sweet. Im pretty sure I got personal bests in both distances. Soooo psyched! Have to stay calm and focus on tomorrow now. 15oom and 500m...

All or Nothing

I am in Washington D.C. now for the Junior World Team Trials that start tomorrow. The top four overall finishers will go to represent the U.S. at the Junior World Championships in Melbourne Australia in later February. There are 45 guys! Should be good. The time trials are tomorrow - the same scenario as at Senior Trials - the top sixteen times out of the time trials will compete for the four team spots and the rest will compete in the B and, because of how many people there are, C groups. The event will be streaming live!!!!!!! check it out: Live Streaming of Junior Trials  The Time Trials should start at around 11am, and maybe after tonight's meeting I'll have an idea of what time mine will be at. If I do, I'll post it here. Saturday and Sunday the racing starts at 11am. This is the event that though it does not define who I AM, will make or break this season as a success for me. I want to be on that team so badly and its been what Ive been training for since last Junior Trials. I couldn't have asked for a better last session at practice Wednesday morning. I am confident, tautly excited and nervous and ready to go! Lets face it. Its the middle of the winter - its the summer in Australia - and I need a tan... so i have to make that team.  ;)

Friday January 6th - after Time trial

Hey my friends. Once again, I am faced with failure. I literally missed top sixteen by 34hundreths of a second. I was 17th in the 9 lap TT... Dealing with failure really makes one search for what is good in life. I am just happy to be where I am and that I still have Junior Trials to get ready for. This is nothing that a little good food can't fix.
  I hiked up the mountainous hill in my backyard today and spied on some deer below me once i go up there. It was nice. Was able to let things go a little bit. There's always tomorrow. I really wish I had better news...sorry. Junior Team still looks good.

On the Eve of US Champs 2012!

This is it! The second biggest competition of the year for me starts tomorrow. It will be live-streaming here!: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/USSTChamps2012
  Tomorrow is strictly Time Trials - two skaters at once starting on opposite sides of the track racing for purely fastest time. Only the top sixteen times will qualify for group 1 and my goal is really just to make top sixteen at this point. The field is very deep this year! Even if I dont make top sixteen it will be lots of great racing but it would be sweet to mix it up with the best in the country. I will skate the 9lap Time Trial tomorrow I'm guessing around 11am mtn time (two hours behind eastern).

  Wish me luckkK!!!

Tuesday, January 3rd 2012

Hello all, I am now in a house that is almost too nice for comfort. My dad and I are living alone in a two story HOUSE that normally is beaucoup expensive but because there's no snow on the mountains(!!!) is cheaper than a reasonable hotel. Pretty sweet. Training is fun here. There is at least 20 people on the ice every morning and usually closer to thirty and the group of people is real fun.
  My dad and i have been exploring the Utah nature scene and it really is spectacular. Here's a link to the album we have compiled thus far: https://picasaweb.google.com/fredgilb/SaltLakeCity#  I feel like a child again playing in the Wasatch Mountains - climbing round and just lookin at the different views. Its awesome.

  Last practice Time Trial tomorrow before the time trial Friday to see if I make top sixteen. Laters.