I arrived to Foz do Iguacu yesterday afternoon AND I made it with my boat in one piece! I'm so relieved! After having a boat trashed en route to Europe last spring I feel even more anxiety as I check in my "surfboard" for a flight. But happily it was all smooth with TAM Airlines and and the boat arrived intact.

I'm here with the Canadian Team and head coach Michal Staniszewski to begin our preparations for the Pan Am Championships being held here in mid March. We've got a three week training camp beginning tomorrow morning after which I'll fly back to Nottingham for two weeks of training before I come back for three weeks leading into the race. It's a busy spring but luckily it's only a two hour time change from England so I don't have massive jet lag to deal with.

Yesterday was a hot day at 37 degrees! We got some relief today with a short thunder storm and I think rain is forecast for the next few days. As far as training goes I think I prefer the rain so I don't really mind.

I'm really looking forward to getting on the water. I was given the go ahead to ditch the goggles a day before I left and managed to get in two sessions on the water without them. It's really quite amazing to be able to see everything so clearly. I imagine my excitement is going to wear off but for now I'm enjoying the new eyes. Thanks again to Optimax for the new eyes!