Local athlete Euan Currie is jumping continents to represent the country on the world stage.
The Sun Peaks Alpine Club (SPAC) racer is competing with Team Canada at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Ski Cross Junior World Championships, being held in France early next month.
He and the five other B.C. athletes on Team Canada for ski cross will travel to Isola, France, racing from April 4-6.
Making Team Canada is just a step away from potentially being chosen for the development team for the national team, Next Generation.
That would be a major milestone toward Currie’s Olympic goals.
To qualify for that team, how he performs at the Junior World Championships will determine his pathway towards his dream, explained Currie’s dad, Duncan, who also directs SPAC.
It’s Currie’s first time going up against the pool of international athletes in this competition.
“I want to gauge where I am relative to others,” he told SPIN, “and continue building on my skiing.”
Preparing for the Junior World Championships
“I feel like I’ve made progress and am in a better place now compared to when the season started,” the ski cross star said, having spent this season developing his skills with Evolve, at Nakiska Ski Area in Calgary.
Still in Craigleith, Ont. following a recent World Cup competition he attended, Euan has a packed travel schedule ahead of him.
He heads back to Calgary before setting off to Isola, where he’ll meet with Team Canada on April 1.
In full preparation mode, he said he’s been paying close attention to his nutrition, muscle recovery, and mental focus.
“I’ve worked hard to get here, so now it’s about executing and making sure that I’m mentally and physically ready,” he explained. “All in all, I’m feeling prepared and ready to compete.”
On the back of a successful fundraising event on March 16 — which filled Morrisey’s Public House with supporters — his father said they secured many donations and sponsorships.
One of those, Cahilty Creek, will cover Euan’s costly flights to the World Juniors.
“It’s motivational to know that so many people are cheering me on and believe in my potential,” he said about getting so much support from the community. “It reminds me why I do what I do, and pushes me to work even harder to make them proud.”
Funds from the B.C. Amateur Sports Fund, through which many people have donated and received a tax receipt, will be going toward his trip, as well as contributing to next year’s fees as he moves forward.
And that means more fundraisers are being planned so Sun Peaks can keep showing their hometown support.
“Depending on what he does next year,” his father said, “we’ll probably do something over the summer.”
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