A White Rock mountain biker is gearing up to compete in Switzerland this weekend, eyeing a world-championship title as part of Team Canada.
Elliot Jamieson 乌鸦传媒� who left for Lenzerheide Monday 乌鸦传媒� told Peace Arch News Friday he was asked to compete for Canada in downhill at the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships after placing third at Canadian Nationals in Panorama as a junior in July, and sixth at the Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC World Cup in August. In the latter, he was the top Canadian rider.
He乌鸦传媒檒l take to the Lenzerheide course on Sept. 9.
乌鸦传媒淭his chance to go to world championships is definitely going to be the biggest race I乌鸦传媒檝e ever done,乌鸦传媒� Jamieson said.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 so excited.乌鸦传媒�
The 17-year-old athlete, whose Grade 12 year at Earl Marriott Secondary began this week, said he has always beens sports-oriented 乌鸦传媒� including hockey and racing BMX when he was 乌鸦传媒渜uite a bit乌鸦传媒� younger. He started getting into mountain biking about four years ago.
乌鸦传媒淥ver the past few years, I乌鸦传媒檝e just gotten a lot more into it, gotten a lot faster,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淧robably three years ago, I really started taking it more seriously.乌鸦传媒�
He also volunteers at races hosted by SORCE (Surrey Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts) Bike Club, which presents such events as the Junkyard Dog XC held annually at South Surrey Bike Park. Jamieson乌鸦传媒檚 mom, Trish, said South Surrey乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒済reat trail network乌鸦传媒� has provided her son with some solid training grounds in pursuit of his passion.
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Jamieson described the World Championship opportunity as 乌鸦传媒渢he next step in fulfilling my goal of racing professionally.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淎ll the work that you put in, it乌鸦传媒檚 cool to be able to be selected and be given the opportunity,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淗ard work sort of pays off when you get to go to a cool place and race against the best people in the world.乌鸦传媒�
Jamieson is no stranger to hard work off the track, either. Taking online academic courses since Grade 9, he乌鸦传媒檚 set to graduate after just one semester in class this year 乌鸦传媒� clearing his schedule for more training starting in the spring.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 pretty motivated to train and do that sort of thing,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e always sort of pushed myself and tried my hardest and worked hard.乌鸦传媒�
Sunday乌鸦传媒檚 race will pit him against 乌鸦传媒�60 to 70乌鸦传媒� 17- and 18-year-olds from around the world, including five other junior men on the Team Canada roster, in a run Jamieson estimates will be over in 乌鸦传媒渏ust over three minutes.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淵ou build up and then乌鸦传媒� you get that window where you, kind of, do-or-die,乌鸦传媒� he said.
A win will score him a rainbow-striped jersey, which 乌鸦传媒渟orta means you乌鸦传媒檙e the fastest in the world.乌鸦传媒�
Jamieson is hoping to eventually be sponsored, but for now, is thrilled by response to a gofundme campaign he launched to help cover costs of this week乌鸦传媒檚 trip.
He aimed for $2,500, but ended the campaign when the total hit $3,700.
乌鸦传媒淚 can乌鸦传媒檛 believe over $3,500 was raised. And without the support, this opportunity would not be possible,乌鸦传媒� Jamieson wrote in a wrap-up post Aug. 30.
乌鸦传媒淚 look forward to an amazing race and experience. I am flying out next week and will be racing on Sunday, September 9th. Thank you!乌鸦传媒�
Follow Jamieson on Instagram at elliot.jamieson or find him on Facebook.
