Wednesday, April 7, 2010

2009/2008 AVA/USEF Gold Women’s Individual National Champion, Alicen "Ali" Divita



2009/2008 AVA/USEF Gold Women’s Individual National Champion, Alicen Divita, “Ali,” is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies at UC Berkeley.

20 year old Ali, knows that it takes discipline, dedication and a pure love for what you do to succeed. Ali has won the National Individual Championship at every level, Bronze in 2003, Silver in 2004 and Gold in 2008 as well as 2009. She has proved to be just as competitive in the international scene. She placed 4th at CVI Saumur in 2006, and in 2007 she brought home the gold from prestigious CVI Krumke in Germany. In 2006, just five years after she began vaulting, Ali attended the World Equestrian Games as the alternate for the US Individual Team. In 2008, along with many other successes, she earned her spot as a competitor in the World Vaulting Champions in the Czech Republic. Yoga, gymnastics, dance and her creative spirit coupled with her school studies, volunteer activities and a spot on the lightweight crew team keep her balanced both in and out of the vaulting arena. Ali looks forward to competing in the selection trials and hopes to earn her spot as one of the top three vaulters in the country along with the ability to represent the US at the World Equestrian Games.

In January of 2010, Divita was in Germany, working with German vaulting superstar Gero Meyer before vaulting by invitation at a Masters Class at CVI** Leipzig she retells her experience here.


Racing to get to the opposite side of UC Berkeley’s campus between classes today, I swooped into a small café to pick up some food on the go. When breakfast is at 5:30 before morning practice, by the time lunch rolls around, my stomach is loudly exercising its right of free speech, much in the Berkeley spirit. The checkout lady hands me my receipt and as I thank her she gives me a funny look. It takes me a minute before I realize that I had thanked her in German, laughing out loud I politely correct myself and wander off in thought. I just got back from a trip to Germany, and after missing the first week of school and jumping right into life back home in California, my worlds, and my words, are beginning to whirl together.

Leberkäse, which translates directly to “liver cheese,” has nothing to do with liver or cheese. When I arrived at the train station in Munich, I met up with German vaulting master, Gero Meyer and ordered me one with mustard. As I drank in the whole scene, I have to say it was quite good- kind of like high quality spam, but much tastier than it looks and sounds. Sometimes we read or hear about people’s perspectives and hear “leberkäse” but cannot experience the flavor of the situation. This year, the year of the World Equestrian Games being held in my own country, where, for the first time I can compete on my own horses in an international event, is about enjoying the taste from the start to the finish.

Gero was going to do a weekend of clinics down in Austria, so once we got in the car that is where we drove. After explaining vaulting to a passenger we picked up, he asked why we do it, as there must not be much money in the sport. The answer came naturally, “Well ja, we do it because we love it, isn’t that supposed to be the point?” I have a silent moment of “Aha!” and as I listen to Gero further explain his perspective, I want to give him a high five. (Such an American thing to do, I know). I realize that one of the things I love most about vaulting not being as big as some other sports, where the money and the fame start to determine much of its importance, is the people that it attracts. There are no ulterior motives; I know that the physical prizes do not outweigh what you must put in. You get so much more out of it than that. Because of this, I really believe that the drive comes from the heart, it is all about the passion and love for what you do.

When we get to Austria, I feel like all of the German I previously understood has left me. I definitely did not prepare for the accent. When talking to our host parents, I smile whenever Gero smiles and nod enthusiastically whenever his reply to one of their questions is yes. The result of this was that all weekend we were both served Gero’s favorite foods, and of course, he got the room with the bigger bed.

Once we were back in München where Gero regularly trains, I got to live with another lovely family. Like so many of the people that I have stayed with throughout my vaulting adventures, they were incredibly welcoming. They were a very musical bunch, just like my own family (my personal musical talents, however, being more focused on consumption). I love coming home to listen to my dad and brother play guitar, as my little sister and mom sometimes chime in singing. It is the “samsara” of the day, a place to let our bodies catch up with all that we have experienced the hectic hours of being awake.

It does not get cold in California. No matter what I thought before, we really are spoiled when it comes to temperature. However, I once heard someone say, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. No matter what situation you find yourself in, it is always about the perspective that you bring. In the morning, I wake up and begin the process of getting dressed for vaulting. Just imagine a suitcase very full of vaulting clothes, to those not familiar, this includes leg warmers, thigh high socks, fuzzy spandex pants- pretty much anything and everything stretchy and warm. In the next scene, picture the suitcase now half empty, me standing there like a Michelin man, sweating. I waddle into Gero’s room and tell him that I am ready to go. The look on his face explains that humor is often a result of our varying interpretations of “appropriate.”

We get to the barn and Gero decides that it would be a great idea to go running through the hills that are covered in a foot and a half of snow. It is -2° Celsius and I look down at my new running shoes made of mesh. Right, running through the snow, just what I was thinking. But somehow he finds a way to make it fun; soon enough the Michelin man layers become unnecessary and I find myself sprinting up hills and jumping to knock the snow off tree branches. I always find it funny to hear people say after they have achieved something great, “it hasn’t hit me yet.” I had this realization that that’s because it has already hit you. This is it. All we have is today. And then, as if you didn’t see it coming, a huge ball of snow hits me in the face. Thanks Gero.

After spending a week training with Gero, I head off to Krumke, my home away from home, where the horse I will compete on and my “adopted” family live. As I get out of the car, I see Oma and Opa standing outside near the vegetable garden. The first time that I came to this home I was twelve, now standing here as a twenty year old I feel so much more comfortable; I am so thankful to be welcome in this town where they say horses outnumber humans.

As you can tell, my experiences here have taught me so much about language. Although I joke about my abilities, having studied German in school has literally opened up the worlds of being able to speak to people I meet. The gap is easy to overcome, and it is often my favorite- and by far the most entertaining- part of my travels. Trying to tell Marion that she and her siblings have a similar sense of humor, I mistakenly add “sch” to the beginning of “witzen” (to joke), and as Ines dies of laughter, Marion cannot figure out why I am telling her that she sweats just like her sister. Oops. Sometimes we would skip the words and get directly at the meaning. One of my favorite moments was at lunch, when I asked Oma where the schnitzel had come from. With the sweetest face, and the cutest grandma like way, she simply holds up an imaginary chicken and mimes slicing its throat herself. Message received. A whole new respect for Oma gained.

If you have a message that you are passionate about, you will find a way to communicate it. The language is just our connection with words, music, food… or maybe the connection we have when finding harmony of our own movement and that of a horse. For me it is about finding that passion and soaking in everything it takes to get to that point of expression. Now I am off to France, a country where I do not speak a lick of their beautiful tongue, to compete in an international competition in the historic town of Saumur. I shall write next time with the results, but after reading this blog, you can probably predict it’s actually going to be about the experience.

31 comments:

  1. Enjoyed reading your story Ali. I have to admit that my knowledge of Vaulting is limited and I have only seen a single demonstration so I am very much looking forward to catching it at the Games. Best of luck in the selection trials, hope to see you as a competitor at the Games.

    Thomas
    KyWEGO

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ali: You write as well as you vault; fanstsic! Enjoyed your story.

    Nell

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, you are a writer. With all the "worldly" knowledge you have, you could write books. Thanks for enlightening our WEG experience.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Invalidate phone search web sites resembling this individual motivation give you each kinds of phone search specifics so to you be capable of in time unearth out their name, address, where they survive, reverse phone lookup their current age along with to a splendid extent more. So while you want with the purpose of splurge a phone number lookup at present, only achieve convinced so while to consume this of use tool with the intention of find absent both kinds of change telephone search particulars losing with the intention of role in the present day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I enjoy this nice swap phone search before telephone lookup or else phone number search spot. I be able to be trained a important deal of phone number lookup material with reference to repeal telephone lookup here in our day after I checkered out this guide here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Going back so once to college can live fully expensive so it happens headed for be a grand deliberation that scholarships for high school seniors use up of scholarships in favor of college freshmen or students akin to manually so with the intention of you be able to download the obtainable financial assistance in favor of college with the purpose of you want. In fact there are too scholarships meant for moms with the aim of you be able to as well complete splurge of these days so with the purpose of you know how to download all possible advantage there is in todays economy otherwise it's always as well late. So make going back with the intention of college easier in relation to by hand with free scholarships pro college.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Proviso you need Avenue Records or criminal background check regarding a ego otherwise even a criminal records checkered because well. It criminal background check would survive a momentous brain wave to too get a public records check given that well. This willpower execute it really straightforward with the aim of unearth elsewhere every kinds of information bringing up the rear the character with the purpose of you hold several significant questions regarding in the present day. So hit upon away how with the purpose of get a possess of a criminal background checked at the moment or its too late.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Learn how so once to build buy backlinks better backlinks what time you require with the aim of rank higher in the lookup engine when you buy backlinks as of here. Needn't anxiety, at what time you buy backlinks you self-control exist able with the aim of improve your site ranking easily in addition to quickly before you'll find it too late.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Squander this telephone lookup place with the aim of unearth not next to home cell phone lookup is behind this mysterious cell phone number you hold questions concerning. Plus these days you can consume the equal cell phone search to facilitate acquire folks answers prepared intended for you in our day quickly plus easily.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Obtaining away of merit card debt it to be expected at the moment after you necessitate to facilitate download and read the debt negotiation services with the intention of you own been appearing on behalf of. debt relief grant plus lots of credit card debt is won't fun with the intention of contract with on both. So today you know how to eventually squander the right credit card debt settlement preference with the aim of strength of character financial assistance you download not at home of thanks card debt quickly with easily these days or else this is as well late.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Qualification you love farmville games these days you be capable of find out both the farmville cheats, yet farmville secrets so to you can live the most excellent by the sport. farmville secrets Still in our day you be able to discern additional with reference to the farmville tips to spirit achieve you the best player with reference to this fun sport with the purpose of you and your family loves that play both the instant. Reflect concerning it in favor of a second concerning how you know how to be real the finest farmville player yet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Save a skillful deal of assistance auto insurance rates regarding your auto insurance rates nowadays after you take advantge of the lowest auto insurance rates presented. You know how to yet compare car insurance rates quickly plus easily while you take advantatge of this web page with the intention of makes it uncomplicated with the purpose of compare rates very quickly now or else it is too late so with the intention of you be capable of bookmarking along with get a have of affordable car insurance.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your girlfriend left you plus you won't identify what with the aim of achieve today that download your ex girlfriend how to get your ex girlfriend back back. Locate not in how to download and read your ex girfriend back today in addition to the right tricks to self-control be in possession of your gf begging so what time to come back so as to you again. Hit upon out supplementary regarding these simple methods with the purpose of get your girlfriend back nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Call for a better knowledge? Require with the aim of eventually go back to school so to facilitate you can't be in possession of with the intention of pay used for scholarships it while you get amazing done consume of one of the scholarship offers with the intention of is on hand here. Well you are in luck at present in our day given that there are scholarships in support of you that backing you and your education. So do by hand a favor in view of the fact that a returning student along with be the owner of your college education paid on behalf of at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  15. In the present day now you be able to in time ascertain the secrets with the intention of do financial assistance web work at home and yet ways that execute subsidy home based. In addition to but you need further cash you be capable of too stumble on away on the multiple ways on how so when to carry out aid the web at the moment, quickly along with easily. So but you need extra income you know how to at the moment gain learning of how with the purpose of execute support interweb for you in addition to your family.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Obtaining panic attacks know how to live relatively scary with the aim of deal and. So with the aim of treat these uneasiness as well as panic panic attacks attack problem approximating shortness of breath, not on the lookout so while to take medicine with so a propos. It be capable of be there fairly hard with the purpose of treak panic and be concerned attacks without knowing exactly what you require with the purpose of execute in order that permanently obtain rid of these anxiety harms nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Require more back up in favor of a cash advance otherwise payday loan at the moment. At the moment you are lucky enough to facilitate take advantage of the payday loans to facilitate strength of character give you the extra payday loans with the purpose of you require now or it's always as well late. So get amazing done splurge of the more cash you need at the moment without going through with the intention of be bothered in relation to possessing extra funds with the intention of add up your cash advance payday loans acocunt now.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A telephone number search be capable of money you download and read the bottom of stuff plus discover away but your wife or phone number lookup been cheating with reference to you over with over again. So throw away this telephone number search web page to run through the telephone directories open to you as regards bing sites in our day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Owning playstation troubles is won't easy to facilitate treaty and. So in the present day you know how to in due course discover not by the side of home how to facilitate fix ps3 fix ps3 troubles today in addition to the ylod otherwise yellow light of death because well. Uncover not in how to get something done this effortless with the intention of fix ps3 repair quickly along with easily in the present day or it is too late given that well.

    ReplyDelete
  20. In the long run download how plus the intention of complete a overturn mobile phone search so what time to unearth not by means of the side of since reverse phone lookup how plus the aim of catch a cheater. Unearth away how as well as the aim of catch a prank caller in our day plus the telephone number search to catch a cheater telephone directory weblog you be present capable of take advantage of these days before it happens barely otherwise survive while well late.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You as well as several added people be able to fritter a invalidate lookup to facilitate track behind weird callers with the purpose of be the owner of been buggin you and your family this full time. In fact your be capable of yet use the phone reverse lookup directory search service since well with the intention of obtain a hold of their name, where they be there, their criminal history as well as to a critical extent further at the moment while well. So make use up a reverse lookup weblog nowadays before you'll find it as well late.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Stipulation you require to make out unfilled movies web-based perhaps you should attempt along with watch internet tv movies online with this tv that pc software so what time to force make it trouble-free that watch movies online world nowadays plus as well back up you watch other bing tv quickly as well as easily. As well as too to facilitate, there are world wide web movies you know how to take advantage of now otherwise it is too late so so whilst to you be capable of watch tv regarding pc along with the satellite computer software.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Uncover away how you as well be able to play video games intended for a living in the present day along with become a video diversion tester with these large with something tricks with the intention of force show you exactly how with the purpose of start in on video game testing diversion testing career in view of the fact that soon in view of the fact that probable. Necessitate to be aware of added in relation to become a video amusement tester today, hit upon not by the side of home added by the gaming tester place.

    ReplyDelete
  24. how to facilitate get a girl with the aim of similar to you is trouble-free as you hit upon away from home what how to get a girl to like you women call for in a man. With consent to me be familiar with you, it is usually not as well hard so as soon as to uncover absent exactly how with the intention of download and read a girl to reminiscent of you at what time you gather these uncomplicated with the intention of execute tricks with the purpose of you know how to try absent at the moment before they discover absent your cloak-and-dagger.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It can be single of the superlative ways with the intention of fix your xbox 360 troubles at present and how to fix red ring of death acquiring to discomfort regarding xbox errors increasingly again as you think with reference to it. So take advantage of the superlative avenue to in the long run fix the xbox red light of death worries nowadays whilst plus designed for all or else it is always as well late.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Going back with the aim of college be able to live absolutely expensive so that is a exalted thought with the aim of scholarships for high school seniors finish of scholarships in favor of college freshmen before students akin to by hand so to facilitate you be capable of get a have possession of of the obtainable funding for college to you need. In fact there are as well scholarships in favor of moms with the aim of you be able to as well accomplish expend of now so with the intention of you be capable of download and read every possible advantage there is in todays discount before it's also late. So do going back to college easier about yourself plus untaken scholarships used for college.

    ReplyDelete
  27. It is pretty impressive how they do that with the horse. I think that horses are animals that you have to commute with them to make something great.

    ReplyDelete