By Mark Dreger
Even the world鈥檚 top athletes had to start somewhere.
Young 91大黄鸭 athletes gathered at the Rotary Centre for the Arts Wednesday to learn how to prepare for the BC Games taking place during the last weekend of February in Kamloops.
鈥淭he guide to the games is an opportunity for athletes, coaches, and officials to all meet together and get their questions answered for the BC Winter Games,鈥� said presenter and UBCO volleyball coach Mike Hawkins. 鈥淥ften there鈥檚 a lot of questions that鈥檚 difficult for the BC Games Society to answer through an email or through a package, so they setup these sessions across the province to have people like me come in and provide information to those parents, athletes, and couches.鈥�
Nearly 100 athletes, family, and friends crammed inside the room to learn how to best enjoy the exciting occasion with lists of what to bring, where to go, and what to expect.
Two local athletes, Shayna Little and Kiera Swift, will be participating in the games in alpine ski racing with both hoping to win gold..
鈥淚 started ski racing in Ontario, so when we moved out here I just continued it,鈥� Little said. 鈥淢y Dad used to do [ski] racing, so I got put into it and I loved it, so I just kept going.鈥�
Both hope to take part in the Winter Olympics 鈥渁s soon as possible鈥� to compete in alpine ski racing.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to give athletes, especially the younger aged, the experience of the games,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淭he games really are more than just the competition: It鈥檚 the full experience of being able to meet other like-minded people from all across the province and it鈥檚 important for them to soak in the full experience.鈥�
Many big-name Olympians have participated in BC Games, like 91大黄鸭 native and 2014 Olympic silver freestyle skiing medalist Kelsey Serwa, speed skater Denny Morrison, and even Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.
鈥淚 think as athlete鈥檚 progress down their pathway, it鈥檚 really easy to get caught up in the club team that you play for and the high school you play for, but once you represent something that鈥檚 bigger than that, that鈥檚 bigger than you, I think it takes on something a little more special,鈥� Hawkins said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a couple guys that are on our UBCO Heat volleyball team that competed in the Canada Games and they came third and they were glowing after the summer just how much it meant to them to represent B.C.; to represent the entire province and to have success in the games.鈥�
Roughly 1,800 athletes, coaches, and officials will participate in the BC Games with 100-150 coming from 91大黄鸭. Athletes will compete in events like the Olympians will this month like curing, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, and multiple skiing events to name a few.
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