Joy Drop: Like her mom says, Mikaela Shiffrin is a 'really good' skier

Friends, I must start this week by admitting that I narrowly missed a huge snowstorm in the Toronto area and find myself penning this notebook entry from the gorgeous city of San Diego. I have never been to this part of California before and am floored at the beauty of this part of the state.

I went to La Jolla on the recommendation of many friends and saw the ocean in her splendour; the cliffs, sea lions, palm tree-lined streets, and the sunshine. As a born and bred Maritimer I am very connected to the Atlantic, but and thrilled to have spent time with her sister, the Pacific.

There is a magnificence to the ocean and the shades of blue on this side of North America are far different. Oceans bring me much joy and the power and strength of the Pacific, embedded in a darker indigo blue, is no different. It has a different culture and tone and I am quite enamoured with it. Jacques Cousteau once said, "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." 

The polar opposite of the flowing ocean in a warm climate is a frozen hill, and we find joy this week from Mikaela Shiffrin's mom, Eileen. The American alpine skier broke Lindsay Vonn's record for most wins by a woman, and after doing that her mom said to her: "Holy crap, that was really good skiing!" 

I love her mom's response to her daughter's dominance. 

Shiffrin has now won 84 times and is only two behind retired Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark for the all-time mark.

Speaking of dominance on the ski hills, the Para nordic championships are taking place in Östersund, Sweden and the Canadian team is bringing home the hardware! Already having claimed medals are Natalie Wilkie, Brittany Hudak, Collin Cameron and Mark Arendz. What a fantastic result for Team Canada thus far. The event run until Jan. 29.

One of the most exciting pieces of news this week was the deal NCAA hockey superstar Daryl Watts signed with the Toronto Six of the PHF that will pay her $150,000 a year. The University of Wisconsin alum's contract is the largest in the league's history. That a woman can play hockey and earn that kind of money is encouraging for many. Toronto is Watts's hometown and although she was courted by Buffalo and Boston, the Leafs fan decided to stay and play at home. 

Last but not least is the return of the Arctic Winter Games. CBC Sports' Devin Heroux is headed to Wood Buffalo, Alta., to cover this important event that has not been held since 2018. 

The AWG will host Canadian athletes from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Alaska, Alberta and Quebec, as well as Indigenous (Sami) people from Norway, Sweden and Finland. The AWG run Jan. 29-Feb. 4 and you can watch events live here.

I leave you with some music from The Halluci Nation who will be performing at the opening ceremony.