Snowboard: Serina quietly pursuing history

Snowboarder hopes to become first female Winter Olympic athlete from Philippines.

by Alan Abrahamson, NBCOlympics.com

Eden Serina is not going to win a medal at the Vancouver Winter Games. She might not even make the 2010 Olympics. She has to qualify, and that’s no sure thing.

But if she does, she would walk in to the Opening Ceremony Feb. 12 as the first female athlete from the Philippines in the Winter Games – ever. A snowboarder, from a nation in the tropics. Eden Serina (second from left) is hoping to become the first female athlete from the Philippines to compete at the Olympic Winter Games.

Eden Serina (second from left) is hoping to become the first female athlete from the Philippines to compete at the Olympic Winter Games.

“The dream of that inspires me,” she says. “I don’t know if I can even describe it. Just pure elation. All the years of hard work, sacrifice, support, family, friends, sponsors – all culminating in that one point in time … I think it would be like walking on air. I don’t know if there is a greater joy I could experience in my life.”

>>>READ COMPLETE ARTICLE>>>

Kenneth made it in France

from Kenneth Carson’s Blog, Philippine Snowboard Team

I got a chance to meet Team Japan tonight and was able to communicate with them much easier than anyone else in the past two days (THANK YOU Sanchez-Sensei and Masuyama-Sensei). Judging by the point numbers on the roster, there are some killer racers here. At least a quarter of the racers are well beyond the 50pt. minimum for World Cup entry. None of that is in my head, I know what I’m here for, and I want to take it. A very good friend reminded me that when it comes time to step in the gates, the guys next to you are just as nerve-racked as you are. When I keep that mindset locked in, I can look down my race line and everything else disappears…

Tomorrow is our official Inspection / Practice day. We aren’t allowed on the course until 230pm, with inspections first followed by an hour of full-speed practice. Tonight, my little seafood couscous dinner will be followed by a huge helping of race waxing, edge tuning / sharpening, and sleep.  >>>READ HIS BLOG HERE>>>

Philippine winter games bet falls short

By Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin

Edin Serina started the race strong but a crucial error in the homestretch blew her chances away and finished only 47th overall under extreme conditions in Kreischberg, Austria, site of the latest event for those not qualified yet for the Winter Olympics set next month in Vancouver, Canada.

“It’s great to have the Philippine press interested in my story. Unfortunately, I did not fare well today. A big mistake at the bottom of the course cost me a lot of time and speed,” the Filipino-American Serina, who is bidding to break the country’s 20-year hiatus in the world’s biggest winter sporting event  >>>READ COMPLETE STORY>>>

Fil-Am Snowboarder Kenenth Carson ready for 1st FIS competition

From Kenneth Carson’s Blog

Photo by KCRA

I’m going into next week with VERY mixed feelings. It’s my first time traveling overseas. It’s my first time attempting to take on an international field of competitors. I’m traveling alone. I’ve learned about 17 French words. What’s really in store out there?

With only a day left before I leave, I also note the brighter side. I may be traveling alone, but I’ve got all of my reservations laid out and printed. The mountain in France is at an equivalent elevation to our mountains here in Tahoe. I’m READY. My new board is READY. My mind is READY. The European teams want these points, but I want them more. The Philippines team has been working hard all over the globe to make this year historical, and it’s my time to contribute.  >>>READ KENNETH CARSON’S BLOG>>>

Fil-Am lass eyes Winter Olympics

by Francis Gerald Santiago (Manila Bulletin)

The snowboarding daredevil strongly believes she can become the first female athlete to represent the Philippines in quadrennial Games set February 12 to 28 in Vancouver, Canada.

“It is a challenging goal but one that I believe I can do. It’s a task that I would love to achieve to bring glory to the Philippines,” the 34-year-old Filipino-American said in an E-mail interview with this writer.

Serina was born to Filipino parents in West Virginia but lived for a few years in the Philippines.

For the past nine years, the New York University graduate has been the team captain of the Philippine Snowboarding team and the only female representative of the country in the Parallel Giant Slalom event of the different tourneys around the world. >>>READ STORY HERE>>>

Snowboard Cross: Kenneth Carson on KCRA Channel 3

Snowboard: Jondre Mina | Racing to the finish

…What’s next you ask? Even I don’t even know the answer right at this moment. As I still try to catch my breath from the last race, I know that one can only try so many times to shoot that half-court shot, blindfolded and backwards until it’s time to pack things up and go home. I love the sport of snowboarding. I love racing. I love the Philippines and the opportunities that I’ve had to literally fly my country’s flag down courses around the globe. It’s been a great journey – and it’s been a great mission. Mission Impossible? READ FULL BLOG>>>

Snowboarder Eden Serina | Exorcism

…After a long drive of tears and mini-meltdowns, an overnight stay solo in the middle of nowhere where I could just be, seemed to be what I needed.  The next morning I felt miraculously refreshed and motivated again. I think the emotional outpouring gave me the chance to exercise a few demons that have been plaguing me for the past few weeks, and to dig deep down to figure out what my heart and spirit really want. And after peeling back and ridding myself of all those layers of fear and self-doubt, what my heart and spirit really want is to get to the Olympics. READ FULL BLOG>>>

Eden Serina: Finally A Good Race!

by Eden Roa Serina, member of Philippine National Snowboard Team

My start number was in the thirties, a wonderful welcome from the usual high sixties and seventies that I’ve been accustomed to in Europe. My qualification run was against a World Cup rider that I’ve known for many years and has been consistently a few seconds faster than me. It’s always great to race against someone that is faster because it pushes you. I knew that I really had to go for it/go all out/let it all hang out/go for the gusto/put the pedal to the medal/flip the switch/be all in yada yada yada if I wanted to get into the finals and have a chance at those points. Read Complete Blog >>>

Winter Olympics: Snowboarder has Vancouver hopes

from KCRA 3 Sacramento

Kenneth Carson who from Elk Grove in Sacramento Valley  hopes to qualify for the2010 Olympic Winter Games on representing the Philippines.  Read Full Article>>>

Photo from KCRA

Jondre Mina: Olympic sized prelude

by Jondre Reyes Mina, member of Philippine National Snowboard Team

What a wicked field it was during the first North American races of the season! The caliber of the other racers were no less than the best of the best in the world with the reigning World Champion, previous 2006 and 2002 Olympic medal winners, and the unlimited talent in depth with the US, Swiss, Japanese, and Canadian teams. This was truly a ‘world-cup’ like turn out. Sixty-seven men and forty or so women started the first day. It was, however, not the smoothest race. A Parallel Giant Slalom, the Olympic discipline, was on tap for the day, but there would be a change of program. Read Complete Blog >>>

Snowboard: Slopes Bring Satisfaction

by A. Hazard, The State Hornet (Sacramento, California).

With 86 days until the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Kenneth Carson is looking to earn Olympic gold as a part of the Republic of the Philippines’ snowboard cross team Read Full Article>>>.

Winter Olympics a possibility for snowboarder

What makes the story even more intriguing is that Carson won’t compete for the USA team. His dad is a citizen of the Phillipines so through a loophole in the rules, he’ll be a representative of that country.

“This past season was my best, placing first in all of my amateur regional events as well as taking home silver from the USASA Nationals in Colorado,” he added.  “With my acceptance onto the Philippines National Team, I was invited to participate in the FIS World Cup for my discipline. The next stop is in Colorado in December, followed by stops in Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland to name a few.” READ FULL ARTICLE>>>