Wednesday 24 December 2014

Recap post!


Finally back in the swing of things. I haven't posted in a while because of school, training with a new team, as well as other aspects of life holding me back. I will however attempt to do more posts, possibly on a monthly or bimonthly basis.

ANYWAYS! Lots of news! I joined the Biathlon Alberta Training Center, which is one of the best of its kind in Canada.  I am really happy to be a part of that group so that i may improve and compete to the best of my ability.

Most of the pictures shown are from World Junior Trails in Canmore earlier this month
Over the summer I trained with them, and also competed at both the Biathlon Canada Testival events, which is basically a week of testing both physical fitness and shooting skill.  I feel pretty happy with the results, and the second Testival week I improved.


So, now we are in racing season. The first races of the year were the Biathlon Canada IBU Cup Trials held in Canmore.  During both of the races I shot pretty well, like 80-90%, and was ranked 12th overall, and 2nd Junior.  Super happy with the result, I went on to Noram #2, also in Canmore and the first official race of the season, due weather Noram #1 was canceled.  Noram #2 was also World Junior Championships Trials. Now, for those of you who don't know, last year's Trials were very disappointing for me, because as the only youth male returning from qualifying last year, I did not make the team, finishing 6th overall in the averages. Not so good.

Junior Men Mass Start, Noram #2 - Photo credit: Jake Ellingson
Trails went really well for me! I had a couple very good races, felt like I skied my best in all of them, and shot clean in every one! Woo chocolate! All the training and shooting over the summer and fall have started to pay off.


And then I qualified! I am so stoked to be going to Belarus to represent Canada at the Junior World Championships. I have worked so hard to bounce back from last year's disappointing result, but I have made it.

Junior Men Mass Start Podium - 1st Stuart Harden, 2nd Matt Strum, 3rd Matt Hudec
In addition to competing at World Juniors, I have the opportunity to race at IBU Cup 6, in Slovakia, and tentatively Open European Championships in Estonia.  It will be a great adventure of over  a month in Europe, with lots of racing and traveling.


Speaking of traveling, it can be super expensive. So, to combat this expense, I have created a page on the crowd funding website Make-A-Champ, so that people like you can donate and help send me to Europe to compete for Canada. The link for the page is here, and I appreciate any and all donations.


Anyways, there is the recap. I will update more often now, with more info pertaining to recent events. And Europe will be super awesome, so I will get more info up about that.  Thanks for reading!

Photo credits to: Roy Strum, Jake Ellinson

Thursday 18 December 2014

News Update

Hey! There will be a new blog post as well as some exciting news going up this weekend, regarding where I have been and what I have been doing since April.

I have started a page on the crowd-funding website Make-A-Champ! I have created it so that I can fund future racing and tours. If you want to support me, you can donate at my make-a-champ page and the funds will help support my goals of being a high level athlete!

Friday 4 April 2014

Thank You Salomon Canada


I would like to thank Salomon Canada for being a part of my recent racing successes.
I placed well at both National Championships, and Salomon Canada was a big part of these successes. Thank You Salomon Canada and Phil Villeneuve

Monday 31 March 2014

Thank you One Way

I would like to thank my sponsor One Way Poles in relation to the successes I have had at my recent competitions.
I placed 2nd in all four of the races at Biathlon Nationals
Thank you One Way

Friday 28 March 2014

Post Nationals Recap

Podium for the final day at the Biathlon National Championships.
l-r Matt Strum, Aidan Millar, Felix Berube-Laroche
           I am back from traveling the east of Canada, from a tour including the Biathlon Nationals and Haywood Ski Nationals.  I would like to reflect on the successes I had at both of these events.

Skiing in the relay at Biathlon Nationals

        Biathlon Nationals were held in Charlo, New Brunswick.  I had many successes at Biathlon Nationals, including four silver medals.  Coming back from the upset of not making it to the World Youth Junior Championships that were held in Presque Isle, Maine, I felt like I was able to prove that I had what it took to preform at that level.  I feel that the successes that I had will help me further my career as a biathlete.


       Haywood Ski Nationals were also a success for me.  I had set some goals at the beginning of the year for my results at nationals, and I felt I met those goals.  I placed 17th in the skate 15km, after a full day for traveling. Lets say I didn't have the best sleep the night before as I got to the place we were staying at around 3 in the morning. My goal was to place top 20 at nationals, and I made that goal and am happy with my results.
     
Skate Race after my big travel day from Charlo to Deer Lake

Classic race in Canmore. Thought it looked good

Thank you so much to my sponsors One Way and Salomon Canada

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Thanks Salomon Canada!

Sweet Boots! Thanks Phil!

   You can't be a high level athlete all by your self.  I recently gained the support of Salomon Canada and Phil Villeneuve. When my Salomon boots broke (they were like 4 years old and heavily used) Phil Steped up and offered to substitute a pair of his demo boots while he ordered the replacement parts for my old boots.  I am very thankful for the kind offer and the support from Salomon Canada and Phil.

    Thanks Phil for all the great swag you have tossed my way.

    My first experience with Salamon Racing gear was in Austria at the 2013 World Youth Junior Championships when I raced on some world cup test skis in numerous races.  Since then I have had some great experiences so far with my new Salomon race skis, including a silver medal at the recent Calforex Cup and some awesome racing at the World Junior Cross Country Ski trials in Canmore last weekend.  Thanks so much again Phil and Salomon Canada!


Calforex #3, Silver medal in Canmore

Awesome skiing on new Salomon skis

Race Season Begins!

On my way to a silver medal at Calforex #3,  January 2014
Photo courtesy Bill Hunt

        I have had an awesome start to the biathlon racing season this year.  In the first couple of race weekends I had 3 Podiums - 2 wins - and a fourth place (4 races in total for clarification) and finished the double weekend as the North American Cup points leader for Youth Men.  I also qualified for the Canadian National Biathlon Championships as the top Alberta Youth Man.
       
Gold Medal Nov 2013 - NorAm Cup Canmore

Photo Credit - Brett Davie