Tonight, I am going to show myself to the world.
Tonight, I am finally going to put out my real intention.
My goal is to be the fastest man on ice.
My name is Ryley, and on the following pages, I'm gonna take you with me every step of the way. Here's my story.
I was born on a snowy day in february, 1990, in Calgary, AB, Canada to a loving mom and dad. I grew up near the university with my 18 months younger sister. We hated each other. I don't know why. But we did. Anyways.
I had an awesome childhood. I loved drawing things, and playing with my toy excavators in the sandbox. My dad built this great swing that hung from the giant poplar tree in our yard. I did well in school - always the keener, always looking to impress my teachers and parents. I don't know why. But that's just how I was. My strong subjects were math and music. Boy did that ever change....
Junior High brought about new friends, new classes, and new passions. I started playing the saxophone. I loved its velvety tone. I loved the way that the keys felt under my fingers. Then and there, I discovered the next six years of my life. The saxophone quickly became a massive part of my life. Band was all I could think about. All I did. I played in every band I could, and had so much fun with it! I started my own jazz band in grade 10 called "Guys With Ties". It was a quartet - myself, a guitar player, bassist, and drummer. We somehow all had developed a passion for the jazz music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. We played together for three years, starting off with little performances at local schools, building to corporate gigs in office towers, and finally culminating with our performance on the Juno Awards 2008 in Calgary. We somehow scored a 60 second spot in front of 3.5 million people. I have never experienced anything like it!
Then, slowly, as the summer of grade 12 came along, and I was getting ready to head into music school at Mount Royal College, I fell out of love with music. What was once a creative outlet for me, had become an obsessive bunch of math and scales. The music had disappeared. I hung up the horn, and began looking for another outlet.
My father was a film-maker. 30 years into his career, he has worked as everything from a Genny-op to a Gaffer, to a Camera-op, to a Director. He was making a short film, and was desperate for someone to do sound for him. Nobody in town could do it, so he asked me. I had no idea what I was doing. I barely even knew what a boom was. And then and there, I found another passion. Film-making is a rush like no other. No matter what department you are working in, you get high-intensity work, mixed with lots of different personalities, and a frick-load of money. I scored the Trainee position on Heartland Season 3 (a locally made CBC family series), which showed me that I would love to dedicate a large portion of my life to this business.
When the show ended in december, I had a chance to really consider my situation. I took two weeks off on the west coast where I was able to spend lots of time deep in thought, and meditation (something that was totally new to me at the time). I began to realize that I was only 19 years old, barely out of high school, and I was already trying to pursue a career?!?
What I needed was freedom. Something fun that I could dedicate myself to - just as I dedicated myself to music. To be as good at something as I wanted, and to be good at it because I love it. To practice for the joy of practicing.
To finally please myself instead of constantly trying to please others - a nasty habit I've been trying to break for three years now.
And that's when I happened to stumble upon the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Speed skating has interested me for a long time. I have played hockey since I was young, so I've always known how to skate, but I'd always wanted to try speed skating. My girlfriend in grade 11 and 12 was a former speed skater, and answered the few questions I had about it. But, due to my heavy involvement in music, I never pursued it.
And here I am, watching these athletes from around the world, and I thought - dang - what a perfect opportunity!
I headed straight to the Calgary Olympic Oval - home of the worlds fastest ice - interestingly enough - located pretty much in my back yard.
I skated on hockey skates. I knew that I wanted to be a sprinter. On TV I had noted all the markings on the ice, and what races they were used for. I would skate my heart out during the public skate. Then I decided to rent speed skates.
For years I've looked at those things, and always wondered to myself: "How do you not fall flat on your face with those things?"
My question was answered very quickly as I first stepped out onto the ice with them - you do.
I must save myself some dignity here and mention that I never fell that first time, but I assure you there were many near total face-plants... You wouldn't think that it would be THAT different from hockey skates, but yes, yes, very different.
But I got the hang of it, and it is truly amazing the difference in the speed that you can generate with the longer blades. I found that I had a 16 second difference around 500m between hockey skates and speed skates.
Ever since that day, I was hooked. I rented speed skates until the end of the season, when I finally broke out the cash to buy a pair - and they will sit in my closet collecting dust until the season starts up again. Nuts.
My last time on the ice I laid down a 500m time of 59.00 seconds. The timer - an iPhone. The time keeper - the guy who constantly pushes me to work harder, my good friend, and ex-biathlete - Andrew.
Now. Most of you are probably looking at that time and laughing. If you know anything about the world record - well... lets just say I'm a looooooong ways away from it.
So now begins the journey. From here to whenever it happens.
I intend to prove to myself that I am capable of anything - so long as I always know what I want, and where I am headed.
Above all else, I want to have a tonne of fun in this experience, meet a lot of really cool people, and finally fall in love with something again!
Until my next post,
-Ryley
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