Denise and good looking cool dude hubby Mark on the beach at Point Pleasant 2008

Holy cow!  Is the Bill White interview over yet?  There was a moment when I thought I might not make it back….

…..But alas.  “You got mail”  and out pops Denise Salvatore with her answers to my 99 question survey.   No secret if you are a insider or pay attention….CW likes the Denise Salvatore show, and so do many others. 

She popped onto the scene in late June of ’08 at river swims and quickly became a leader.  She bought a base road bike….a little later she clipped in for the first time.   And by the end of the year, you could see she has something special in smarts, drive and nature.   She has "potential". 

I love the  potential to score in AG at our area races….and I love it more when the person is driven to bring it out.  Melissa, Barbara, Laurie, etc…all  earned their hardware that way in year two.   I am expecting good things from Denise Salvatore in 2009.  And I love the fact she is determined to deliver and get on the podium.  She might not tell you that, but anyone paying attention can see it.  And it's a good thing! 

JSTC:  Welcome Denise Salvatore.  With the bar set at an all time low, your timing could not be better as we enter the post Bill White Rescue and Recovery era of the JSTC.

DS:  Not even Obama could have saved you on that one Chris.  I hope I am up to the task for my turn.

JSTC:  Where were you born and what’s home today?

DS:  Born in Verona, which is North Jersey. But have always been a beach baby so, decided to fly south and landed in Howell 2 years ago.

JSTC:  I spent many a Sunday in Verona visiting my grandparents house.  Great little town.  Lots of those trees where the squirrels scratch the bark off.

JSTC:  What is the support crew consist of? 

DS:  My husband, Kevin (my bike mechanic) and 3 great kids, Marco and Vincent 9 yr old twins and 4yr old Garrett (rah rah squad)..Although they haven’t been to any races yet. It’s a bit early for them but they can’t wait to see when I bring home hardware.

JSTC:  What do you do for a living? 

DS:  I’m in the family business…and I’m Italian from North Jersey, so we’ll leave it at that...LOL

JSTC:  Waste management…got it.

JSTC:  Why did you get into triathlon? 

DS:  Because it just so easy and doesn’t really take up too much time…just kidding...always loved to compete. Went to college on a swimming scholarship.  Always kept in shape by running, then broke my foot, so that added the bike into my training. After my foot healed, entered a couple of 5k races and something was still missing, so surfed the web and found you great folks at JSTC and thus the tri-beast was created!!

JSTC:  I wonder how many people changed their mind about joining after the Bill White interview…

JSTC:  How does the JSTC fit into your swim-bike-run world? 

DS:  It consumes it.  All I do is eat breath and sleep triathlon...no really..I enjoy the group workouts and the great people I have met. There is nothing like training in a group to give up that little push, which is very hard to get solo…and of course nothing beats the after workout beers!!

JSTC:  What is your favorite race in the can so far and why? 

DS:  Being that it was only my first season I’d have to say War at the Shore .Really liked the course and was familiar with it from the doing the series. But the most fun was Pt. Pleasant, loved seeing all the JSTC colors and members cheering on the sidelines. 

JSTC:  You win the lottery and can travel anywhere to do a triathlon….where are you going?

DS:  Australia, besides would love to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

JSTC:  What bike you riding? 

DS:  Trek 1.2 from Brielle Cyclery, call it my Ghost Machine. It’s white and you won’t see me when I fly by you in a race.

JSTC:  What wetsuit? 

DS:  Well this season I went without one, but just bought 2XU.  Figured it’s gonna be pretty cold to start the swim season without one.

JSTC:  58 and rising is my rule.  May 10^th oughta do it

JSTC:  What running shoes do you wear?

DS:  Right now I’m wearing Asics Kayano, but prefer New Balance 1223.

JSTC:  What figure in life has inspired you? 

DS:  My parents, they always support and encourage me in everything I do. Especially my Dad he really can push me when it comes to competing.  But most recently, I’d have to say Dara Torres.

JSTC:  Lucky you.  Not everyone can say that.  Happy for you…

JSTC:  Give me three songs that get you pumped on the way to a race 

DS:  Lose Control ( Missy Elliot)..Hammerhead (The Offspring)..Machinehead  (Bush).. I like a lot of different music but pretty much a rocker

JSTC:  Is there a band that did not live up to their potential worse than Bush?  Everything Zen than everything blew. ..Chemicals and death spiral.  But Machinehead is sick.   I have been told I look a little like Gavin.  Breath in breath out….Check it out with a little copy and paste:      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er1bwzZCik0 

JSTC:  What is your favorite all time band? 

DS:  Gotta go with the jersey band Bon Jovi

JSTC:  They had some great hair years. 

JSTC:  What is your favorite all time movie? 

DS:  How do you pick a favorite movie?...Wedding Crashers..love to laugh and well love Vince Vaughn too..

JSTC:  You are the captain of a JSTC tri relay team where style, determination, and  personality count...Not time.  Who is swimming, biking, and running for you?

DS: 

DS:  No relay, just Ted and Brandon, the most inspirational and incredible family I have ever seen.

JSTC:  Did you ever put a little extra air in your tires on race morning thinking “I’m going for broke today?” 

DS:  Don’t know ask my mechanic.

JSTC:  Kevin?….He’s BMX…I guarantee he is under-inflating you!

JSTC:  What is your favorite board game? 

DS:  Twister, is that considered a board game?

JSTC:  No it is not and will not comment further.

JSTC:  You’re in the JSTC tour bus with a deck of cards.   What game you calling, and who’s ass do you want to kick?  

DS:  Texas hold ‘em,  and anyone who has money to gamble.

JSTC:  What was your favorite cereal as a kid? 

DS:  Puffed Rice

JSTC:  What the hell is puffed rice?  Are you talking about the generic puffed rice in the white box that you hid from your friends as a kid because it was so uncool?  No kid should have to grow up like that!  Now Cocoa Krispies…that is 100% puffed rice with 100% artificial everything injected into it to ensure 48 months of shelf life.  That’s what I grew up on.  Never one for the Snap Krackle Pop Rice Krispies either, unless I added two cups of sugar…and that was only later in my more mature cereal years.  Age 42 or so… 

JSTC:  You can only take one vitamin as you prepare for Ironman….what is it? 

DS:  B-12

JSTC:  You are on a easy pace 100 mile through classic New England with anyone in the world…A chance to talk for 7 hours.  Who is it?    

DS:  7 hours?? I don’t want to talk to anyone for 7 hours.

JSTC:  We are so much alike Denise.    The tri chicks would agree based upon that answer….

JSTC:  Who was your favorite sports hero growing up as a kid? 

DS:  Mary T Meagher, she won the 100 and 200 fly in the LA games

JSTC:  Windows or Mac?

DS:  Windows

JSTC:  How many iPods have been lost or broken over your career? 

DS:  Well I’m on my third and I only got my first one last year.

JSTC:  You somehow figure out a way to cram your bike and gear into this dream vehicle for a ride up to Timberman.  What is it?  

DS:  1968 pearl white, t-top, corvette

JSTC:  Simply bliss

JSTC:  What bottled water you drinking?

DS:  Poland Spring

JSTC:  I said bottled…not tap.  BTW, it’s PS.  That’s how the really cool triathletes refer to it as.

JSTC:  You are not feeling it on race morning and need something legal...what are you reaching for? 

DS:  Nothing I always have it on race morning!!

JSTC:  What are you eating for dinner the night before a race?

DS:  Pete and Elda’s pizza

JSTC:  You weren’t taking any chances were you?

JSTC:  Who writes the best race reports in the club? 

DS:  Those who write the short and sweet ones.

JSTC:  You mean not the epic novels that include the 3 day meal plan leading up to the car ride to the race, only to then tease you with a complete breakdown of the transition setup before launching into a flashback to the previous nights near slip in the shower incident….I’m out!

JSTC:  How do you eat an oreo cookie? 

DS:  I scrape out the middle and just eat the cookie. I know, I know, it’s un-american.

JSTC:  Try these.  No scraping necessary.

JSTC:  What is essential in your transition bag outside of the standard appliances of triathlon racing? 

DS:  IPOD

JSTC:  Ever heard of Brielle Cyclery? 

DS:  No, where is that again??

JSTC:  I forget…

JSTC:  Will you be mountain biking this winter?

DS:  Hope to..recently went hiking with the family and saw a group flying down the hills, looks like fun!

JSTC:  Be honest…Aren’t you sick and tired of Joe D. and Dave Slavinski? 

DS:  Not yet, they’re both pretty cool

JSTC:  As opposed to very cool…

JSTC:    Who has the best nickname in the club?

DS:  Bob“Rocky” Witanek, find that very funny

JSTC:  Guess Nascar just isn’t going to stick…

JSTC:  You led some great swims in Belmar and Asbury Park this past summer.  What is your background Ms. Fishy?

DS:  Began competitive swimming when I was 8, continued thru high school. Then went to Pepperdine University on scholarship…and now I’m with all of you great cats at JSTC

JSTC:  Problem is you have to look back to see us!

JSTC:  What kind of goggles you wearing?.

DS: TYR, Rocket Sockets.  After being kicked,  my Sweedish goggles with no padding weren’t cutting it.

JSTC:  Teaching you line mice a lesson…yes indeedily!

JSTC: What do you do with drafters that constantly tap your feet?

DS: Well, I guess it’s a habit from my club swimming days..I kick harder!

JSTC:  My size 14 feet still don't help my swim....You kicking much when you're out there?

DS:  You have size 14 FEET??   Not so much, I was never a 8 beat kicker.  I tend to use my upperbody most of the race then added the kick in stronger towards the end.

JSTC:  8 beats....What’s that about?  Is this why I suck???   Don't bring that pool slang around here....just touch the walls and repeat.

JSTC:  Think Obama can swim?

DS:  No, but with all of the Washington sharks circling and looking for blood, he might want to learn.

JSTC:  I suppose you know how to do all those fancy things in the pool....Like flip turn and breast stroke?

DS:  Yes, I can do butterfly and backstroke and dive in too ..isn’t that cool!!!

JSTC:  No, that is not cool.  I think those are things that mess it up for everyone else in the pool…

JSTC:  Were you the type of kid that got up in the morning and checked the pool skimmer to see what it caught over night?

DS: No, I just got up and got IN the water.  No time for what was in the skimmer..

JSTC:  Well I spent many a morning at the skimmers.  And I have a 2:00 to prove it!

JSTC:  Hey…Let me ask you something very important.  Who came up with that rule you can't swim for 30 minutes after you eat? 

DS:  No idea, probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

JSTC:  You know who I think came up with it?  My parents, so they could relax for a half hour on the beach.  Multiply the 30 minutes I was denied X 14 summers at Manasquan and I would easily be 1:35 right now.   All my parents fault....

 

JSTC:  Leave me out of this for a second, who are some of the better swimmers you swam with in Belmar and Asbury?

DS:  Definitely, Brian and Ryan ( Belmar) and Dave in (AP)..this is for Dave..I promise we’ll swim to the pier in AP next season..

JSTC:  Dave Bradley?  Dude can swim.

JSTC:  What does a speedo do for you?   Again, please leave me out of this to give everyone a fair chance.

DS:  I’m not in favor of any brand. I enjoy all the fine apparel out there.

JSTC:  That whoosh sound was the question going right over your goggles…

 

JSTC:  When we going to see you on a mountain bike.  Your other answer was wishy washy?

DS:  ASAP, Right now waiting for my ankle to heal, there’s one other problem..no Mtn bike, so if anyone wants to sell or lend me one I’d be very greatful..Thanks!!

JSTC:  Better!

JSTC:  With a properly executed plan, you are going to have something to say in tri races next year.  I see that...do you?

DS:  Me, no way I’m shy. I don’t like to talk.

JSTC:  I’ll say it for you.  Pressure pressure pressure...

JSTC:  What's with the diving couples in the Olympics?  Does a swimmer consider that a sport?

DS:  Corny,  I might get in trouble for saying this but I’ve never considered diving a sport.  We used to joke that divers were swimmers who couldn’t hack the workouts..

JSTC:  What is the furthest open water swim you ever did?

DS: Just under 2 miles I’m looking to do the Nave sink or swim this year. Anyone in for a swim??

JSTC:  You’re a pool vet…help me out.  How does one blow a goober out in a masters swim and get away with it?   Just hack it and splash a lot or what?  Should one push it to the wall or the next lane and hope the lane dividers grind it up?

DS: LOL…Girls don’t know how to do that.. I can barely spit while running or on the bike without getting it all over myself.

JSTC:  What James Bond do you like best?  Please don't say Pierce Brosner...he sucks.

DS:  No way, Roger Moore. Love the older Bonds. Haven’t even see a recent one.

JSTC:  Who has better hair- Joe D. or Chris W.?

DS: Huh?..Joe.D has hair??

JSTC:  Chris 1, Joe D. 0

JSTC:  Is there a lane number that is special to you?

DS: 4, right in the middle of the pool..thats where the fastest people swim

JSTC:  8 has always been special to me….

JSTC:  How do I dive under a wave and not lose my goggles?

DS:  Get in the zone and pretend like your a dolphin.. or  maybe a shark!!...Do you want the real answer?...Tuck your head, Chin to chest and dolphin kick under the wave

JSTC:   Denise…Always a pleasure.  Thank you for helping us out so much in the swim this past year.  You really are awesome, and you got a good guy there in Kevin.  You get the last word: 

DS:  Never thought that I’d love this sport as much as I do. There’s nothing better than competition.  All the fire I had back when I used to compete is back and there’s no other drug that can compare.  Besides the people that are a part of this club are pretty cool too!  Can’t wait until next season!