Irvine, Calif. -- Former UC Irvine sailor Nick Scandone embarked on his paralympic voyage this week. He is traveling with UCI head coach Mike Pinckney. Here is the first update from their travels.

We're off!  Yesterday the US Paralympic Sailing Team began their journey with a 4:30am wake up call...Nick's Team of Mike Pinckney (Nick's Coach) and Rock (Nick's Sherpa) and Mary Kate were met at the OC airport by a group of Nick's supporters (what a way to start, they were holding a banner inside the terminal, the same banner that was hanging at the club Thursday night). After pictures and hugs, Nick, Mike and I (Mary will meet us in China) then flew from the OC to Colorado Springs to meet with the other US Para Olympic athletes (swimming, judo, cycling, archery, sailing, track and field, basketball and more). Upon arrival at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs we were in awe...from the magnificent backdrop of Pike's Peak to the incredible reception we received from the staff.  Just knowing that we shared the same rooms and went through the same Olympic processing as some of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen was in itself; well unbelievable...Nick was all smiles!

No time for the weary however, to say our schedule over the next 24 hours was busy is well beyond an understatement.  First, it was off to the swag department (everyone's favorite), opening ceremony attire, metal attire, closing ceremony attire, rain jackets, t-shirts, socks, shoes, sweat shirts, shorts, sandals, that white hat the athletes wear during opening ceremonies, they even had a on-site tailor to make sure everything fit just right...so cool. Once you've finished your swaging, they pack everything in a sweet Nike roller and deliver it to your rooms.  Next, shovel some food down in the Olympic cafeteria, pasta (my favorite), prime rib (Nick's fav), ice cream w/toppings (Mike's fav) chicken, fruit, etc. A brief team meeting held by Betsy (Para Olympic Sailing's main Coach) and then off to the rooms for one hour nap.  Then dinner, another briefing, and finally off to bed. 

Now that was a long day one!

As I write this email, it's almost 9pm and we're 40K high on the way to San Francisco where we spend the night.  We all thought Day 1 was crazy until we got about 1/2 way through Day 2.  Up at 7, breakfast at 8, a four hour meeting with the USOC (US Olympic Committee) USPC (US Para Olympic Committee), US Media Relations, US Medical Staff, Past Olympians, videos on how to deal with media questions, some role playing, Olympic flag signing for the athletes (about 38 flags), we were even taught how to hold and where to rest our chop sticks during dinner, and a few more groups that I've already forgotten. Another hour nap and then load the shuttle to Denver Airport.

WOW! I keep pinching Nick and asking him when we're going to wake up. 

Tomorrow.....Off To China!

www.alove4sailing.com

Vin, Nick and Mike