CALGARY- Seven of the nine medals that Canada has grabbed in Sochi so far have come from so-called extreme events—and it’s proven inspirational for some young athletes.
The new events feature free-style skiers or snowboarders, and Canada has already proven its prowess thanks to its training facilities.
“Just being around those guys and seeing what they do helps make you want to get better,” says Calgary’s Collin Jefferies, who trains at Canada Olympic Park alongside world champion athletes. “You try harder, and it’s a good time.”
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A special ramp was built last month just so gold medalist Dara Howell could practice a new trick—the ‘switch misty nine.’ The performance manager at WinSport says the facility is a big asset for up and comers.
“We’re definitely gutsy, us Canadians, everybody knows that,” says Patrick Breault. “But the youth that come here, they also have great venues to train on, safe airbags to learn tricks on.”
Many of the Canadian athletes focused on their sports before they even became Olympic events.
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