There is 12 weeks time that World Champs starts. It feels like my heart got somekind of sidetone when I realized this. I would need to fix Finnish jersey for myself. I need to book flights to get back home. It looks like I will skip the Scandinavian Champs for this year. The very same day two my best frienda gets married. Pretty much the only friend to be invited to wedding is me. Pretty tuff, yae? I'm not 100% sure yet.. But there will be Scandinavian Champs every year (hopefully every 4th year in Finland after we get the track). These guys are getting married once, at least together :D I still have few more days time to think before I get money. Talkin about money, one trip less would be music to bank debt officer.

Yesterday I talk with one amazing guy. We talk about values in life.. And what are my targets. What actually means target and what is only dream, fantacy. This lead us to talk about planning. I have had 8 targets for last 5 months before the Worlds. Now I'm gonna do weekly plan for the last 12 weeks. Plan means setting target for each week, 2-3 targets I mean. So then I have a goal (Worlds) and my plan to work my way there. Goal without a plan is a fantacy. I still will ahve those goals I set before, bigger goals. Then I will have smaller weekyl goals. i see that weekly goals actually makes me work more. I can't think that after 3 weeks I have to jump something, I will think this week I will do 5 manuals on the last straight.

I had planned to go to tourist trip to south island after next week. I don't know if I can go anymore. I can be tourist when I'm 70 years old, but I guess I won't be riding BMX. It's not impossible tho. I DON*T KNOW, I DON*T KNOW ANYTHING

One local kid showing out how to manu

What a interesting word. There is some many different kind of charity. Pretty often the one doing charity benefits somehow about it. I might have talk about that some times earlier. What ever. Last week I set myself a goal; to make at leasti one person to smile every day. It can't be that hard. Question why I'm doing it is really good. I don't know what are the values for other people, but I feel quite a few even gets an idea like that. Am I saying that I'm something special? Am I insisting to be better than otherones?

Yes I am. I think I'm better than someone else in many things. My opinion is that everyone should think like that about themselves. I also know I'm not the best in the world. I know I haven't done anything so important that I would be remembered about. Do we all have to do something majour to be remembered for? I think that's a good goal.

This made me think of what could I do. According to a google, everyday 17 000 kids dies for lack of food. I hope, one day I'll something about that. At the moment, it seems like a bottomless swamp. What can I do now? Daily smile don't seem to be enought.

I have an idea! If Strider business keeps on growing the same way it's going now. I could set up a foundation. All my ?? would be transferred to this foundation. The foundation would support low income families to get sports equipment. I could get those families Striders for the money I purchace them. Well, I return to this world. That's just an idea at this stage, not a promise.

Last Wednesday I arranged voluntary work to fix the dirt jumps. I were there 4,5hours. Totally 8 boys came to help. Most diligent kids were there 3 hours! Why they came, I can't tell. But I'm really happy that they have been raised the way they found a reason to come. (Some smart one might think now that they came so they could ride on better jumps, but also the ones who didn't come are getting benefits of our job)

SORRY THIS TEXT HAD BEEN ONLY SAVED, NOT PUBLISHED...THERE YOU GO:

Yo, I might have took this little bit too far. However, I am going to do this in the future. Exercise bike and encoding at the same time. The aim was to ride the exercise bike for 30min. After 60min I forced myself to stop. Sweat were casting down on my nose.. I'm in heaven :)

The morning was also incrediable experience on the BMX track. After two days of rain, as soon as the storm ended, I headed to the track. There were huge pool of water just next to the track. Lately I have got used to start my practice at the dirt jumps. The jumps were just disaster, forms were totally ruined by rain.

I wasn't surprised at all. BMX track looked like there hasn't been any rain. Track were dry, not a single spot were even soft. Concrete on the starting hill was still wet, but not the dirt. Also not a pit of dirt had moved. Like on dirt jumps all dirt had drain down with the water. Track is like some kind of sponge!! There is just no way to explain this.

I got exercise bike to home. I couldn't believe being this happy for spinning and not moving anywhere. But now when it's raining, cold and dark outside. I love to be inside watching movie. Finally I also got myself to watch New Zealander movie called Boy. I have had that movie on my desk for 2 months and but simply haven't got my self to watch tv. Until now!! Perfect :)

Last weekend I worked as flaggy in local MX race. Walkers had arranged people to work there and all money was given for Matt's Europian trip. Awesome, I wanted to be part of that ofcourse. Also I can tell that I'm 95% sure, I will buy MX bike when I get back to Finland. Cool aye!!

Okey, Thursday morning, I got myself together and head to East City BMX track. First when I saw the track I were gonna make the U-turn. I catch my ass up and went to the track. (Obs! Steve, sorry for my language if Nick is reading) I were suprised; the track were really good to ride. Shapes weren't high and starting hill looked more flat than hill, but enjoyed it! There is my high class photoshop work ;)

Bike back in the car and to the next track. 20min drive (pretty much that long was the way between all tracks in Auckland) and I hit the new Mountain raiders track. Starting hill looked out promising. The jumps were pretty low and long on the first straight. The second straight were terrible. Atleast there was enough space between the jumps so it didn't screw up the track. Third straight were perfect for me!! Fourth were just wan.

Next I planned to go to see the only SX track in NZ. I followed the navigator and were close to the place. I just couldn't find the track. I should see the 8meter starting hill above the houses. Local people showed me the place. You just were supposed to take the course between the houses 76 and 78 to find the track. I did find it, but it was not SX track. I had set a wrong address to my navigator and come to Papakura BMX track. But the track looked good. It look fun with plenty things I wanted to try. After couple rounds I were ready to leave. The track were just in bad condition. I wish someone would look after it.. it could be awesome!!

I packed the bike in car one more time and set the address for Puni's track (Sunset Coast) in my navigator. One hour drive and a found the track. I had been told that there is fence around the track, but I had also been told that you can go over the fence. Altought on the way back I decided to go under the gate than get over 2 fences! :) The track were nice. I would like to practice there again. It wasn't my favorite, but riding there day time would be great. Pretty much the whole track had 2 lines going. So again, something for everyone! :)

Wuhuu! I had few days trip to Auckland. It was wonderful; sun was shining and simply beautiful. Wednesday morning I woke up, packet my car and started driving. At 11am I were already in Auckland. I had bought exercise bike and new seat from trademe. So reason for the trip was covered. At 1.08pm I had got "work" done, so it was time to have fun. Plan was to hit 6 tracks in 2 days. First heading to North Harbour track.

!I got gear on and saw Rico's falmilys car turning to the parking lot. (Rico is that 10 years old, 3 times world champion who I mention in some other story). Rico had just got out of hospital (he had infection in his foot) and he wanted to get to ride BMX. So we rode :) Track were super good. You couldn't ride the first straight so we were mostly doing the 2 last ones. Jumping and manualing ;) small ones, but fun! People working on the track close also the last straight. So we were left only with 3th. But that's good, because it push me try harder. Rico were able to jump the second straight too, but for me it was way too big. My manuals worked just perfect!

It started to rain a bit. Boys wanted to go. They were already in the car. When Rico's dad came back and said: "I wanna see when you jump". So I "jumped". He said: "I see you preloading, but you do it too early, there is too long break between preload and jump. It has to be fast, or you lose the power what you have with preload. Try to do it later." I tried, it was little bit better, but also little bit chicken. I went again and I made the biggest jump I have ever made. It it felt that I look like Rico!! :)
Eli aikaisemmin kaikki aina vaan sanoi preload, preload! No minähän kyykkäsin!! Mutta menin alas, odotin, ja ponnistin. Ei siis näin enää ;)

I noticed that it was night already. I missed two tracks. It doesn't matter coz I hade so much fun! Tomorrow I'll post photos from Thursday, when I rode on 4 different tracks!! Here some photos of North Harbour track. I liked it most from the tracks I have visited this far. Few notes from the track:
+ Long straight after the finish line before riders need to stop for clearing out who were the first etc.
+ Two first straight with bigger jumps. Also proline on 3. straight, small last straight = SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
+ Shapes of the jumps were just perfect. Not too lippy, but defenately not too flat.

Stunning! I feel pure freedom. I deleted my account from facebook and the feeling is comparable to winning in lottery! Now when I don't post anything on facebook, I might post here more personal things. If someone has something to say about that, you can appeal to the supreme court.

Some photos from rafting on my Bday:

At weekend my flatmate had barbeque with friends. She told me about it by saying; "my friends are coming over here. We'll have some small barbeque, nothing big". I were sick, so I didn't really feel like joining them. Around 9pm the house were louder than night clubs. At might night I were crossing my fingers that people would head to bar. They had been dressing all night and doing make up things..like normal bar nights people do. At 1am I had lost my hope, they weren't going anywhere. They just got louder and louder. What for they are screaming all the time?!

I were near to lose my temper. Take it easy. It wouldn't make any difference to go and ask them to turn volume down. There is just no chance to sleep in this house. "Don't get mad, think, what can you do if you can't sleep", I started to think. I could finnish Strider PDF-presentations. And that I did. All night, got them done. Also other good thing were that at the morning I wasn't that angry to my flatmate, coz I hadn't spend the night thinking how stupid she is. She is not stupid. Little barbeque just means here crazy homeparty. And homeparty doesn't mean going to bar, maybe because everyone is living in separate houses so you can party how you want.

Today I got back on track. Three days without BMX. First I thought that I can't do anything anymore. But soon I realized what's it about. Three days and I lose it a bit!! :D

And the last thing. Novadays I'm using english when I'm thinkin. That comes pretty fast when you are in english speaking country. I were thinking something and I told myself to stop using English and think in Finnish. Not a second and I were back on using English. I got little angry, but that just made me to speak in English (in my mind I mean). So I were just irritating myself and I couldn't stop it even that I tryed. Jeesus!

Winter is coming. It has become really cold during this week. My toes are all freezing, and I don't have any wool socks with me. Becoming sick.. But it doesn't matter, coz this week has been so awesome. I have made great proress in practicing.

Manuals are about on the same level whatthey were in the end of last summer. Almost everytime I get them nearly all the way ;) It confuces me how I have been 5 months struggling with them. Just haven't been able to get it not by laughing and not even with cry. Jumps has got better. I should push myself to take next step.

I think that's pretty much what life is based on. To push yourself to try new things when you don't feel comfortable. It doesn't feel good to go and do something what you most likely gonna fail. But that is the step what makes you be better than others.

Meaning when you are learning something the first times feel uncomfortable. You just got to keep on trying and it will become fun. BUT is the uncomfortable feeling of trying new things gonna ever go away, even if you would be trying new things constantly. I'm pushing myself to do new things all the time but still having kind of brakes on. It's inside my head!

This is little bit different but someway the same: Next to dirt jumps is small and lumpy pump track. The worst I have ever seen. Anyway other ones have been able to ride it and do thousand manuals on it. It's small so manuals looks kinda easy. But when I have been just pumping thru it has felt so bad that never want to go again. Yesterday my coach made me to ride it. I rode and it didn't feel good. I sayd to the coach that it just doesn't work, not at all! I tryed make us change the place. Coach made me to go again. I went but came back with noding my head; "what a crap". She told me to go again. I went and came back still noding my head. Coach stopped me: "you have to start to give yourself some credit. You just got manual at the track. You never say anyting good. Give yourself credit that you keep on trying again and again! If you continue pushing yourself down you don't have any reason to be here. You better go back to you home country" Coach was so tortured about me being negative that it made me laugh. I went again and got it, so I did another manual too. It was even better than the first. I came back and said; the first one were good because of... and I'm glad for the other one because of... I went again. It didn't come out as good as the last round. I went back to the coach and said "that was good because I wasn't so stiff". Again and again. It was fun! Everytime I succeed in something. There is always something good so why keep on thinking the bad things?!

I believe that by our own way of thinking we are able to eliminate the negative feelings from trying new things. I just need to practice my mind A LOT! As much as you need physics and skills in sports, your mind can take you from extremity to another!

Weekend passed in a spectator's role. The three-day event, more than 1,000 enrollment (over 900 riders, but some took part in two classes). Race were runned with UCI age groups, but in a slightly different system.

Friday was a warm-up, and experimental group Mighty11 qualifier. I think the group is some sort of BikeNZ development team. In addition to this was the championship battles between the clubs. Every club had signed in 4 girls and 4 boys, who then raced and found out which club is the fastest.

On Saturday began individual champs. Three rounds to get the seating resolved. Meaning the winner would race in same class with the one who became 16th. The one who got 8th would race with the one getting 9th etc, etc.. That is, in its own way the warm up, but on the other hand you are able to influence future competitors. However, the best riders will meet in finals anyways and then you have to have some energy remaining.

Sunday were the race day. Three motos to see who makes the quarter-and semi-finals and all the way up to the finals.

I were kind of happy that I were told that I couldn't take a part. Day before the races I heard that I could have raced. I just would need to have NZ license. Also everyone who wants to race Nationals has to take a part to 4 elimination races. It doesn't matter what place you get, you only have to do those 4 different races. If you miss some you have to pay 100 dollars penalty for each missed race. This weekend would have cost me 300dollars for penalties (I had done 1 elimination race). License 50$ and race fee 85$. If I would like to race eather cruiser or SuperClass it would be another 85 to 100dollars. So I'm glad I didn't even have to think about paying those prices.Melkoiset hippalot! Tavallaan onni, että minulle oli sanottu etten voi kisata.

The best show of the weekend were in 10years old boys final. Rico Bearman hit the gate and almost went over the handlebars. After this he were the very last one on the first jump. It looked like the first one is too much in head. But it was totally absurb when Rico came to pump section. Won the race! Looking forward to see that kid in World Champs!!

During the weekend I got pretty clear image what it is to be Olympian; everyone has something to say to you, or something to ask, at least the autograph. I'm hoping that I don't ask any questions anymore or tell any funny things.. I don't know, looks unbelievable hard to be the role model and top athletic. I don't believe that I can hold myself from asking a questions, because Sarah's answers are unbeatable. Ofcourse she could deal things the way that no-one wants to ask a questions.. after that her reputation would be so bad that it could be hard to get sponsors etc. I'm hoping she could be little bit mean, so her role wouldn't be as burdensome as it is!!