Where do I begin? It’s been about 5 months since I updated my website and lots has happened since the last day of the Olympics.

Sally and I flew to Hong Kong a few days after the last race. We skipped the closing ceremony in Beijing and opted for a quick trip to see the sights in HK. The trip was awesome and I highly recommend it. We stayed at the Peninsula Hotel and all I can say is – 10 stars with the best service!

Only days after Sally and I returned from the Games we pack up all of our worldly possessions and evacuated from Hurricane Gustav! God, I love hurricanes…. No damage but lots of wasted time and energy and money.

Hans Wallen, Steve Erickson and ROOODDDDDNNNEEYYY Hagebols all said I might fall into a bit of depression after the Games were over. I never believed them until I got home and it happened to me. It was rough. For so long I had had a regimented schedule with training and travel and suddenly it was over. If you have ever experienced this you will know what I mean but it’s very hard to explain. I just had a hard time to motivate myself to do anything. My jet setting lifestyle, the past three years sailing around the globe, hanging with my best friends was over for the short term – until I figured out my next move. Luckily, I had been preparing for this long ago. I knew it would all end sooner or later and I positioned myself for my next deal.

Sally and I have actually formed a new company called Pizza South, LLC. We own and operate Fregene’s Italian Pizzeria under this company. We have been open about a month and it’s been nothing but a raving success! We have the best pizza on this planet and I am not just saying this because I am the owner. It is literally a mouth changing experience. Thin crust gourmet pizza, there is nothing better.

I am also finally able to help in the store. I am recovering from knee surgery that I had five weeks ago. I had a few loose bones in my knee that were tearing my patella tendon in half so thankfully the US Sailing Team Alpha Graphics has a relationship with Dr. James Andrews (world renowned orthopedic surgeon) who performed the surgery and I just got off the crutches about a week ago. I do two hours of rehab a day and last week we had a big step forward. I was able to ride the stationary bike for five minutes.. Like I said, it’s the small things that make me happy!!

So here we are still living in Gulfport. Proud owners of a new Fregene’s Pizzeria and just crushing it! Things are going well, my development/management company is going fantastic and I was just accepted to college, I enjoy learning and going back starting this summer!

I am slowly adjusting to my new lifestyle but I am fighting it, I miss my friends and miss the competition.

My motivation for 2012 is starting to knock…

Austin


Fregene’s Pizzaria
1116 Cowan Rd.
Gulfport, MS 39507
Phone -(228)604-2750
Fax -(228)604-2757
www.fregenes.com