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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: Canadian National U25 Team

  • Under 23 Questions: Gareth Williams

    Under 23 Questions: Gareth Williams

    Gareth Williams (Telemark Nordic/Canadian U25 Team) training in Praz de Lys, France, last month before U23 World Championships in Switzerland. (Photo: Charles Castonguay)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans who competed at last week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2018 Nordic Junior/U23 World Championships in Goms, Switzerland, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 20-year-old Gareth Williams, of Telemark Nordic and the Canadian National U25 Team, who represented Canada at his first U23 Worlds (after competing at last year’s Junior Worlds in Utah).

    Last week in Goms, Williams placed 41st in the 15 k classic.

    ***

    “My full name is Gareth James Williams, but you can call me G-Will.

    I was born in Vancouver and raised in Kelowna, and I learned to ski at Telemark Nordic Club.

    I spent the time between Mont Sainte-Anne trials and Junior/U23 Worlds at Mont Sainte-Anne and Praz de Lys in France training to race my best this week.

    The most fun workout I did in the last training year to prepare for this was altitude ski up the downhill slopes of Big White with my team and coach Adam.

    Gareth Williams (Telemark Nordic) racing in the freestyle sprint qualifier at 2017 World Cup Finals in Quebec City, Quebec, last March. He finished 74th. (Photo: Peter Collins)

    This is my third time in Switzerland and fifth time racing internationally, and so far it’s been much more competitive!

    One difference I’ve noticed between Switzerland and Canada is the price of a cappuccino!

    Skiing and racing in the Alps is kind of like skiing in Western Canada. Usually racing at altitude is good for me because I train at altitude fairly often. There are lots of mountains around where I live.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior/U23 Worlds in Goms is the beautiful mountains.

    One race I’m especially targeting there is the skiathlon.

    I really hope I can chat/make friends with someone from Australia and ask them what the difference is between a wallaby and a kangaroo.

    My favorite thing at the breakfast where we are staying is the coffee.

    Fondue is not something I usually eat while trying to ski fast! The cheese here is not my thing. And the chocolate is the best in the world!

    If I had a totally free day here and didn’t have to worry about race fitness or training, I’d spend it on top of a mountain with some alpine skis.

    The best way to follow me on social media is on Instagram @gareth_williams.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BevRjUyFqDh/?taken-by=gareth_williams_

  • Under 23 Questions with Maya MacIsaac-Jones

    Under 23 Questions with Maya MacIsaac-Jones

    Maya MacIsaac-Jones (l) with her younger sister Anna at their home trails in Athabasca, Alberta, in late December. (Courtesy photo)
    Maya MacIsaac-Jones (l), of the Alberta World Cup Academy and Canadian National U25 Team, with her younger sister Anna (r) at their home trails in Athabasca, Alberta, in late December. (Courtesy photo)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 21-year-old Maya MacIsaac-Jones, of the Alberta World Cup Academy, Rocky Mountain Racers and the Canadian U25 Team, who’s representing Canada at her first U23 World Championships after competing at Junior Worlds last year. On Tuesday, the U23 championships begin with classic sprints.

    ***

    “My full name is Maya Anna-Christina MacIsaac-Jones, but you can call me Maya. I was born in Westlock, Alberta, raised in Athabasca, Alberta, and one thing you should know about my hometown is the ski trails are great and the people are even better!

    Maya MacIsaac-Jones (AWCA/Canadian U25 Team) during a NorAm freestyle race in December in Rossland, B.C.
    Maya MacIsaac-Jones (AWCA/Canadian U25 Team) during a NorAm freestyle race in December in Rossland, B.C.

    I started cross-country skiing when I was four, thanks to my parents. I currently train in Canmore with Alberta World Cup Academy / Rocky Mountain Racers.

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me reading. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for U23/Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is watching my teammates kill it out there! One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was to listen to my body and trust my own judgment. One of the best race memories I have is winning the team sprint at Nationals 2015 with Andrea Dupont.

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Kikkan Randall.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I would love to be a professional fiddle player, but considering I can’t play the fiddle, that probably won’t happen.

    I’m missing zero days of school to be here; I take online school through Athabasca University, so I don’t have to miss any school to ski race!

    You can follow me on Instagram @maya.macisaacjones or Twitter at @_MayaMJ.”