Whistler hosts its first ever Federation International de Luge (FIL) junior race running from Dec. 4 to 7 and it will have some 麻豆社国产flavour.
Grade 10 Coast Mountain Academy (CMA) student Nicky Klimchuk-Brown was named to Team Canada earlier this year and will be zooming through the Whistler Sliding Centre in the red and white.
Klimchuk-Brown said it鈥檚 a thrill to be on Team Canada and get the chance to race on his home course.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to having a great year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very comfortable on the Whistler track, I鈥檝e done thousands of runs on it and I鈥檝e taken my time getting to know exactly what to do to go fast and I鈥檓 confident I will have a good position in the race.鈥�
The race in Whistler kicks off the FIL junior circuit, with other races scheduled for Utah, Norway, Germany and Austria. Klimchuk-Brown said he鈥檚 ready to take on the world鈥檚 best.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting because last year we didn鈥檛 get to do as many races as we do this year,鈥� he said. 鈥淐anada is going to all the races and it should be a lot of fun.鈥�
It was a busy off-season for the young luger, as he said he trained six days a week for six hours a day. Training includes sliding down the runs on wheels and lots of weightlifting in the gym. He鈥檚 one of only eight juniors on Team Canada and he said he has big goals for the 2014-15 season.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to be pre-selected for next year and in order for that to happen I need to have two top ten finishes,鈥� he said, noting only one can be in Whistler. 鈥淎nd my other goal is I鈥檇 like to podium in Whistler.鈥�
He said the school situation at CMA is ideal for his development as an athlete.
鈥淭hings are going really good at CMA,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 away for almost the entire term so I was able to take a lighter course load and the distance education makes it easier to keep up with my work. It also helps that the teachers are available for emails 24/7.鈥�
He said he plans to continue at CMA until he graduates in two more years. Klimchuk-Brown hits the course in Whistler from Dec. 4 to 7 and check The 麻豆社国产 next week for details on how he fared.
