In 2006 I took up the sport of triathlon in earnest, finding cycling as my strength, learning that swimming is very much a get-out-what-you-put-in sport, and garnering a new respect for running. Since then I've ridden across North America on two wheels, taken up bike racing on the road and the grass, and stepped up the endurance focus within triathlon to race competitively at the 70.3 distance and conquered Ironman in 2010. I've also tried my hand a marathon running, self-supported cycle-touring and the past few winters have been transforming nordic skiing from a pastime into a sport. A synopsis of my athletic progression can be viewed in my "Athletic CV" and links directly to blog entries of the various highlights along the way.
I have taken an approach to fitness and training that is more analytical than average. I have years of data collected about myself and computer models showing how I respond to training stress. In 2011 I started using a powermeter on my TT bike. I have found this to be a useful tool for certain applications and a hindrance in other situations. It is always the case that on many occasions the fastest way to ride a TT bike is the smartest application of the energy available, not the one that yields some generic metric. Optimal TTing often varies widely from what the industry's grossly over-simplified metrics would recommend. I am still studying this and write about it occasionally on my blog.
I currently work as an R&D Engineer at Micralyne Inc, in a position that was made possible by the r&D associates program from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. I am the technical lead for a project involving development of next generation MEMS sensor involving wafer level interconnection and packaging utilizing hermetically sealed cavities. Day to day duties are the design and execution of process integration strategies to optimize device performance. If you'd like to get in contact please use my LinkedIn account.
I am a MSc graduate (2011) from the University of Alberta's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. I completed a BSc in Engineering Physics also at the University of Alberta in 2008. My thesis topic was related to the optical properties of nanostructured thin films: spectral filters design and fabrication with electrophoretic switchable functionality; their characterization, in both the wavelength and time domains, combined with modeling of the observed behaviors; and process development of a bulk manufacturing technique for 3D complete bandgap photonic crystals. Some work demonstrating an electrophoretically controlled bandgap was been published in Applied Physics Letters. Other work documenting the shortest wavelength bandgap ever achieved with a square spiral photonic crystal was published in the Journal of Applied Physics.
In 2010 I raced Ironman Canada with a finish time of ten hours and one minute, good for third place in my age group. This was a culmination of 4 years of training in the sport of triathlon. I started out hoping to finish a sprint and have now even won a couple of local races.
I returned in 2011 after qualifying in at Oliver half. After a summer of focussed bike racing devoid of any run training it wasn't unexpected when the wheels came off after running 20 kms and I walked to the finish in a time of 10h58m.
I still dabble in triathlon although I don't think I'll be racing in the forseeable future and continue to coach cycling with the University of Alberta Triathlon Club.
During the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to do a 'once-in-a-lifetime' ride. After looking out to the Pacific Ocean in Seattle I turned east, mounted my bike and began riding for 9 weeks more than 6000 kms across North America. It was a summer of riding each day with hundreds of other cyclists participating in this fundraising bike tour. The complex economic, social and spiritual issues related to poverty demand a comprehensive and multi-pronged response. 220 cyclists rode to support of organizations dedicated to resolving these underlying issues, not band-aid solutions. 2.1 million dollars was collected to support this effort! more...
I currently race for Edmonton Road and Track Club. I am licensed as a Cat 2.
In September 2012 I travelled to the Pyrenees to undertake a 'Cent-Cols-Challenge' with Rapha. During 10 days of riding we climbed in excess of 100 cols, averaging roughly 200 kilometers and 4300m vertical each day.