humility, commitment, faith

Today I have learned that, ultimately, I am responsible for my successes as an athlete - that’s leadership. Being in an individual sport there is no one to blame but me, and at the end of the day, the harder I work, the more successful I am.In 2005, the snow in Bormio, Italy was definitely not as good as at home. It was at the World Cup downhill that a spectacular crash threatened my skiing career and dispirited the very core of my being. Until then, my life revolved around challenging the mountain and now it was my life that had become the mountain of a challenge.

Battling back over the next three years was an intense and lengthy rehabilitation process. The fractured tibia and fibula, torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) on my right knee fostered doubts of ever being able to ski competitively again. It was the mindset to turn the internal friction into positive momentum that kept me going.

alpine cowboy, honour student, hometown hero

If it wasn't for the mountains in my backyard I wouldn't be a ski racer. As a Calgary native, I am extremely fortunate to have access to so many world-class facilities for my training. Of all the places in the world I have been to, nothing beats the scenery from the top of Lake Louise or skiing in the Canadian Rockies. I might be slightly biased saying this, but what I do know is that the snow is never as good in Europe as it is here at home.

today’s answers for tomorrow’s questions

There is no better career in the world than being an elite athlete – being a successful athlete does not come easy. There are sacrifices you have to make along the road, but to me they are all worth it. I give thanks for where I am today, but I won’t stop working hard and continue driving myself to get where I want to be tomorrow. From World Cup podium placements, improving National and International rankings to 2014 and envisioning Olympic Medals, the investment I made in dedicated rehabilitation, unwavering focus, steadfast determination, but mostly – in myself – is paying off and I can’t wait to see the dividends from the seasons to come!

understanding, sharing, inspiring

Brad has a genuine interest in the hearts of our future athletes and that makes for magical moments! After many years of looking up to my own idols, I feel privileged to be an athlete that children look up to themselves. I still have many special memories as a child from my interactions with high calibre athletes, and I want to do my best to make sure future generations of possible Olympians have similar memories. I believe that being good at what you do is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.

dreams are free : free the dream

This year I realized my childhood dream when I had the honour of representing my country in Vancouver at the Olympic Winter Games. The Olympics are more than just another competition; it is an opportunity of a lifetime that very few people have the privilege to experience – fewer yet compete on home soil – only four athletes can compete per country in each event, and I raced in both the slalom and giant slalom. The sense of pride and patriotism that was in the air fuels each breath I take as I train for Sochi in 2014. Finishing the season at the 2010 GMC Canadian Championships with a dominant second run in the giant slalom brought the first national alpine ski racing title of my career. When added to the five World Cup slalom results in the top 22 this season – including a career-best 12th on two occasions – any doubts I had of not being able to ski again competitively after my accident have long since disappeared.