Sun Peaks' fastest takes on Europe – Sun Peaks Independent News

Crash takes Advocaat out of France race

On his way: At just 20 years old, Advocaat achieved a personal best and finished 12th in the world cup standings. - Photo Submitted — On his way: At just 20 years old, Advocaat achieved a personal best and finished 12th in the world cup standings. – Photo Submitted

Sun Peaks’ Joss Advocaat travelled to Europe and finished as the top Canadian on the FIS speed ski World Cup circuit this season.

After a fourth place finish at the season opening race in Sun Peaks, Advocaat travelled to Granvalira, Andorra where he placed ninth and 12th in two World Cup races with a top speed of 176.04 kilometres per hour. His trip was sponsored by the Austrian ski team, who he stayed with as he was the lone Canadian at the event.

“It was weird being the only Canadian guy, and also staying with the Austrians because they’re all German-speaking. They all spoke English, but it was kind of foreign (to me),” Advocaat said. “It was cool to be able to represent Canada.”

He was then invited by, then world record holder, Simone Origone to compete at the world’s fastest course in Vars, France where Advocaat was looking to break the Canadian record of 234.83 km/h.

Within 24 hours of his invitation to Vars, the Sun Peaks community had organized a fundraiser to help fund his extended trip. In one afternoon, the community raised $3,400 to assist the local racer.

“I’ve never heard of that happening as far as speed skiing goes or anything else up here. That’s really cool,” Advocaat said. “I feel really special and privileged that I get to live in Sun Peaks and get community support like that.”

It was cool to be able to represent Canada.

Unfortunately, two falls and an injury during training forced Advocaat to withdraw ahead of the competition.

“CBC called me the night before (training) and I had said the classic line that there’s two types of skiers, ones that have fallen and ones that will fall, and then the next day I fell,” he said with a laugh.

Advocaat was waiting at the start for his training run and watched British racer Jan Farrell fall on his run two skiers ahead. He then went down and experienced his first crash while speed skiing.

“It was really disorienting because I had never fallen before, so I didn’t know what to expect. The first time I went down I was going 208 (km/h) and there was a compression at the bottom of the track and as soon as my arms went open the wind blew me down,” he explained.

He suffered minor injuries in the fall, but had to return to the course the next day for another run if he wanted to compete in the race. He went to the lower starting point and fell again, this time causing burns on his body that prevented him from putting his speed suit on and forcing him out of the race.

“I got out on the track not feeling good, but I just wanted to have a safe run. My run was fine, I went through the compression and that was all good, but as soon as I stood up I think something in my brain just said ‘no, you’re done’ and I fell again and that’s when I got all burnt,” Advocaat said.

Although he missed the final two events of the season, the 20-year-old set a new personal best finishing 12th in the overall World Cup standings.

Joss In Europe

“I would like to thank the many local Sun Peaks Businesses for their generosity and support for this year’s World Cup season. Without your help I would not of been able to accomplish what I did. In addition, I would like to personally thank Paul Sicotte and Gabe Dewey for their tremendous support overseas in Vars. I would also like to send out a huge thank-you to my girlfriend Danielle, my mom Rebecca, and my brother Olson for doing an amazing job organizing my fundraiser in such a short period of time. Lastly, I would like to thank the many residents of Sun Peaks that came together to support me, the outpour of community support was humbling. I feel blessed to live in the community of Sun Peaks, it truly is a special place to call home!” – Joss Advocaat