ALBERTA – The Bow Valley will be well represented at the 2020 Alberta Winter Games (AWG) with over 45 local athletes competing from Feb. 14-17.
Airdrie hosts the 2020 AWG for developing athletes aged between 11-17 with the majority events being held within the city. Opening ceremonies are being held Friday at 7 p.m. at Airdrie’s city hall. However, local spectators looking to catch some live AWG action in the Rockies can watch biathlon and cross-country skiing events at the Canmore Nordic Centre, Saturday (Feb. 14) through Monday (Feb. 17).
Leading up to AWG, the Outlook asked Bow Valley athletes, representing Zone 2, what they’re thoughts and goals are at the provincial competition.
Cross-Country Skiing
Name: Callum Cross, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, third AWG
Age: 16
Years in the sport: Nine years.
What do you do best in the sport: I find I’m better at long distance races.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It is such a great event. It’s super cool to be competing against so many athletes from Alberta.
Biggest goal at AWG: I want to try to finish in the top 10 in these races.
Name: Aria Grandi, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, First AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: As long as I can remember.
What do you do best in the sport: I like to keep it open.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: Being in the AWG’s has been my goal for the past two years so a big accomplishment.
Biggest goal at AWG: Try my best.
Name: Gabrielle Tessier, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 11
Years in the sport: Five years.
What do you do best in the sport: Free technique.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It will be fun to travel with the Canmore Nordic Club for a race event.
Biggest goal at AWG: Enjoy the weekend, do my best and have fun.
Name: Logan Nicholas Bryant, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Nine years.
What do you do best in the sport: Classic skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: The Alberta Winter games mean a lot to me. The last time it happened I missed out by one spot, so I’m psyched for the Games.
Biggest goal at AWG: To get top five.
Name: Teo Wadsworth, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: 10 years.
What do you do best in the sport: I do best in classic skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It means that I am one of the best skiers in Alberta.
Biggest goal at AWG: My biggest goal at AWG is to get a top three at least.
Name: Torin Comeau, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: 10 years.
What do you do best in the sport: I do best at skate skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s a good feeling to be competing at such a high level with the best of Alberta.
Biggest goal at AWG: To get on the podium for skate and classic (I’m the youngest in the two year category).
Name: Heidi Bryant, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 15
Years in the sport: Nine years.
What do you do best in the sport: Sprint races.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: Since I am the eldest cross country female skier going I feel like I am still able to be young and have fun. I am so excited to be racing in my home town for this event. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity and I am so thankful for everyone who is taking part in making this event happen.
Biggest goal at AWG: Win the team relay with two of my teammates.
Name: Sabine Comeau, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: 12 years.
What do you do best in the sport: I perform really well tactically in mass starts.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I was unable to attend the 2018 AWG so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to participate in my last AWGs.
Biggest goal at AWG: Savour the experience with good friends.
Name: Jewel Weighell, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Six years.
What do you do best in the sport: Sprints and individual starts.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: Completely crazy and super exciting. I’m so nervous.
Biggest goal at AWG: To come in top five.
Name: Lincoln Meekins, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 11
Years in the sport: Third year of racing.
What do you do best in the sport: Pacing and endurance.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I’m especially looking forward to playing with friends and that I have an opportunity to show my talent.
Biggest goal at AWG: Have fun, represent Canmore well and never give up.
Name: Isabel McLurg, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Nine years.
What do you do best in the sport: I would consider myself a sprinter.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It means a lot to be able to make it to he games and race with my age year and the one above.
Biggest goal at AWG: I would love to podium in the individual races and also the relay.
Other locals competing in cross-country skiing: Sonija Rapcewicz, Jordy Munro, Kaisa Lemyre, Lucia Baergen, Tasmin Munro, Charlotte Wilson, Ben Field, Naashki Soler, Anna Leslie, Theo Fradette, Kai Perron, and Felix Clement.
Biathlon
Name: Felix Veilleux, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Three.
What do you do best in the sport: Skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s cool.
Biggest goal at AWG: To shoot better.
Name: Fraser Gleig, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Four years.
What do you do best in the sport: Probably skiing. I’m OK at shooting.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It doesn’t feel like a competition as other races, it’s like a fun experience.
Biggest goal at AWG: Top five.
Name: Rylan Chevalier, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: First year.
What do you do best in the sport: Skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I’m pretty happy because it’s something I always wanted to do.
Biggest goal at AWG: In my last race, I went to [AWG] qualifiers, and I didn’t shoot as well but I skied fast so if I shoot better at AWG and ski faster, those are my goals.
Name: Ben Dreger, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Five years.
What do you do best in the sport: Skiing.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I still got it.
Biggest goal at AWG: Podium.
Name: Tor Menzies, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Five years.
What do you do best in the sport: Skiing and shooting.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I think this is going to be the last time [I compete at AWG] so it’s definitely going to be fun, it’s exciting.
Biggest goal at AWG: Podium.
Name: Leah Fradette, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, second AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Four years.
What do you do best in the sport: Shooting. I got a new rifle and it’s working really well for me.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: A lot sport-wise because not everyone gets a chance to go and it’s a great event and really fun and to get here on a provincial level, it means a bit more than the local races we have and you get a bit of a taste of a bigger race.
Biggest goal at AWG: Aside from winning because that’s always fun, I would say just shooting well.
Name: Enzo Marino, Canmore Nordic Ski Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Five years.
What do you do best in the sport: Since I do cross-country skiing too, I’m better at skiing since I started way younger. I’m better at skiing, but it’s easier to shoot since you don’t have to get the technicality and endurance and all that, you just line up the targets.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It shows I’m good enough to partake in the [AWG] that I always wanted to since my sister got a medal there.
Biggest goal at AWG: If I’m completely honest, I don’t think I’m going to get first at [AWG] by no means since there are tons of really good athletes out there, but I’m hoping to shoot really well and get into the top 10.
Other locals competing in biathlon: Sola Luders, Larix Hallett.
Gymnastics
Name: Kayden Crowe, Canmore Illusions Gymnastics, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Nine years.
What do you do best in the sport: Beam.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s really exciting and really kind of cool.
Biggest goal at AWG: Just to do good and try my hardest.
Name: Ellie Sucharda, Canmore Illusions Gymnastics, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Four years.
What do you do best in the sport: Bars.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I’m really excited because it’s only my third year [competing] so I just feel really excited that I’ve managed to get so far.
Biggest goal at AWG: I’d like to place at least and get some good scores.
Speed Skating
Name: Lili Wilz, Banff/Canmore Speed Skating, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Four years.
What do you do best in the sport: Sprints, that’s my speciality. In short track, the 400 [metre] is my speciality or 200. In long track, 300 and 500.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It makes you feel good when you qualify for it. It’s just like accomplishing and I like the way they celebrate it.
Biggest goal at AWG: You have to be recruited to be on the Stage 2 [groups] and I want to be asked to train with them.
Name: Evan Beamish, Banff/Canmore Speed Skating, second AWG
Age: 14
Years in the sport: Seven years.
What do you do best in the sport: Usually I’m better at shorter distances, but I have been improving in longer distance recently.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s really great. It was much fun to go the first time and it’s going to be a fun experience and it’s just great to hang out with friends and compete. It’s such a well organized event and it’s great to be at.
Biggest goal at AWG: It would be nice to get another medal, overall. Personally, I’d like to be top 10 and somewhere in there.
Hockey
Name: Leo Johnson, Bow Valley Timberwolves, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Eight.
What do you do best in the sport: Pass and play-make with my linemates.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It means I get to play amongst the best in the province in my sport.
Biggest goal at AWG: To overall improve my skill and personal ability.
Name: Tyler Deakos, Bow Valley Timberwolves, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Eight years.
What do you do best in the sport: I like to read the play and set up opportunities.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I am excited and honoured. I worked hard to make this team.
Biggest goal at AWG: To make new friends, help my team the best that I can and to enjoy the AWG experience.
Name: Connor MacKenzie, Bow Valley Timberwolves, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Nine years. Four as a goalie.
What do you do best in the sport: My tracking is really good, I’ve been working on that over time. My movement is petty good, I’ve been working on that a lot and my stick handling.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s great. It feels really nice to know that I’m going to go there and against good players. Right now, our regular team is killing everyone, so I’m excited for competition.
Biggest goal at AWG: To win it all.
Figure Skating
Name: Paige Domenico, Canmore Skating Club, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: 10 years.
What do you do best in the sport: I just like to skate. I’m a good technician.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s pretty awesome because my sister went the last two years and now I’m going, so it’s kind of cool because we can relate. It’s a really good experience because you’re with people you don’t really see often and they do something you do and I think it’s going to be really fun.
Biggest goal at AWG: I just want to skate my best.
Name: Kimberley Dearing, Canmore Skating Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Seven.
What do you do best in the sport: Probably my spirals.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It means a lot to take up one of the spots. I was very happy.
Biggest goal at AWG: Just to skate to the best of my ability.
Futsal
Name: Mary Huggill, Springbank Soccer Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Seven years.
What do you do best in the sport: I love to play midfield and defence. I think that I’m best at knowing where the other players are on the field and taking my first touch into space. My coach Marc from Canmore always tells me “shoot Mary, shoot!”
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I am proud to be selected for the team, because there were so many other players at tryouts who were very good soccer players.
Biggest goal at AWG: My biggest goal is to play my best and try to get into the medal rounds. My teams goal is also to play the best that we can and get in to the medal round, and my coach would love for us to either win or bring home a medal.
Name: Asher Betts, Springbank Soccer Club, first AWG
Age: 13
Years in the sport: Eight years.
What do you do best in the sport: When I started playing soccer I played out and over the last two years I’ve played in and out of the keeper position and over the last year, I have played full-time keeper.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: I’m very happy to be playing in the Alberta Winter Games alongside my new teammates.
Biggest goal at AWG: To gain some experience, make new friends and hopefully win.
Name: Alex Bohnet, Springbank Soccer Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: Four.
What do you do best in the sport: I’m a defender so I guess that’s centre back. I’m not very good attacking-wise so I stay back.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It’s pretty cool to tryout and to be picked from a lot kids is pretty special.
Biggest goal at AWG: To compete and play well as a team and to have fun and check out some other sports.
Name: Johann Bohard, Springbank Soccer Club, first AWG
Age: 12
Years in the sport: 10 years.
What do you do best in the sport: I guess dribbling would be one of my main interests, and then and passing as well.
What does it mean for you to be competing at AWG: It means a lot. You know, I’m just very excited to go and I’m hoping to compete well.
Biggest goal at AWG: In the tournament, you have to make the final four to advance to the second round, so my main goal is getting to the top four.
Due to conflicting events, such as Family Day long weekend, the 2020 AWG Society was unable to secure venues to host alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding events this weekend.
Instead, alpine and freestyle events took place last weekend at the Canyon Ski area in Red Deer to unofficially start the games. A spokesperson said the race results are being released following AWG.
Snowboarding events are scheduled for March 28 at Mt. Norquay in Banff. Canmore’s Koen McCorrister is the lone local snowboarder to qualify for AWG, and will be competing in slopestyle.
