Did you know? The BSF Pro Team has an international presence inclding one of Canada's top racers Jack Carlyle. Because of the Covid-19 boarder closures Jack has not been able to join us here in Bozeman but represents the team from his hometown in Canmore, Alberta. Here's an update form Jack:
Hello, devoted readers of the Bridger ski community. This is Jack Carlyle, a Canadian skier and a proud athlete of the Bridger Pro Team. This is my first year as a member of the Bridger community, and though it has not been what I expected it to be with the travel restrictions, I have enjoyed working alongside the Andys’ and the Pro Team in the capacity that I have been able to.
Currently, I am in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Canmore Alberta. Much like what I hear about Bozeman, Canmore is a phenomenal place to be a cross country ski racer. I have lived here for what is coming up on five years, all of which I have raced for the Alberta World Cup Academy Team, training under coach Chris Jeffries.
Skiing came to me like most of us, through my parents, on cold Saturday mornings on the trails of Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. Though I have a passion and love for skiing and winter snow,I did not click immediately with the early winter mornings, cold toes and frost bitten cheeks . I began skiing at a young age, but I left the sport for many years and did not return to it in any capacity until entering high school. The rekindling of my love for skiing was sparked by a local coach, who recognized my passion for pushing myself in cross country running and track. By this point in my life I had toughened up enough to withstand the harsh winters off of Lake Superior, and was ready to step into the ski boots again. Out of the gates I was not fast, but I was keen and driven to get better. In my first real race ever I fell three different times, on three different downhills, and since then I have never looked back.
After high school, I attended the University of Lakehead in Thunder Bay and raced for the National Development Training Centre, NTDC Thunder Bay; one of four training centres at the time in the country. Unlike in the states, most Canadian athletes do not race on a University Circuit. In Canada, many skiers combine education and sport, but our university circuit is not nearly as funded or competitive. For these reasons, most athletes that want to take skiing a bit more seriously tend to gravitate to joining training centres, which in concept are almost identical to the Programs offered through BSF.
In the spring of 2015, I decided to load up a U-Haul with a friend with all our worldly possessions and drive west to Canmore. Since that move, I have grown tremendously as an athlete, representing Canada at World Under 23 Championships and World Cups. I believe these moments in an athlete's career are crucial for development and making leaps in performance. I think that being a member of the BFS pro team and its extended community will propel me to taking the next steps as an athlete as I look toward the 2022 Olympic year.
As of a couple of weeks ago, all of Canada’s domestic racing has been cancelled for this season, and our World Cup team will not be heading over to Europe until after the Christmas break. As unfortunate as it is not to be able to reap the fruits of our hard training labour, I do feel extremely fortunate to be living in such a fantastic outdoor enthusiast place. Canmore has always been a great place for early season snow, and this year is no exception. I have logged countless laps around the loop of Frozen Thunder, a 1.4km ribbon of snow from the previous winter that is covered in sawdust over the summer and fall and rolled out in October. On special occasions when I get the opportunity, I am an hour's drive in multiple directions to hours and hours of ski trails at Lake Louise, Kananaskis ski village, and Mount Shark, all with impeccable grooming and pristine snow for this time of the year.
Training has had to be adjusted recently with the cancelation of races, and so I have been lucky to get out and ski at these great places more often than I would this time of the year. I am still getting in the race efforts, putting on the bib, going through the race day motions mentally and physically with other local athletes in a safe and responsible socially distanced manner.
During these next few months, it will be important for athletes to keep things in perspective. Not being able to compete for any athlete is very difficult and extremely foreign. Working towards a goal is a big part of why we train all spring, summer, and fall. Now that the opportunity for most of us to be able to step up to the real start line has been taken away, it may be hard to keep that focus and fire as we get closer to Bejing 2020.
I've been finding that having a balance between getting in those race efforts, locking in and focusing on executing and delivering, combined with the long and slow days, where you can watch enjoy the cool crisp air of winter and not stress about the results and outcomes, has been important.
In the next few days, Canada’s World Cup team will be decided and announced. Either way, I know that I can get a lot out of this winter that I can carry forward into the next year. At the end of the day, I love to cross country ski, racing, or no racing. I will continue to work hard, put in the effort, and stay focused.
Thanks for being a part of my first of many BSF pro team posts, and I look forward to the day when I can physically be a part of your incredible community. Keep skiing and training hard, and stay safe.
Yours in sport,
Jack Carlyle
