After finishing high school it seemed as if the world was truly mine to take. After 12 years of juggling both school and sport I was finally free! This year my parents and i agreed that it would be the year for me to focus 100% on Nordic Combined. Over the summer I trained with the Canadian National team in Park City UT. I gotta say it didnt really hit me that I graduated until the end of august when the younger kids on the team were preparing for another year of high school. I must say it was like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Finishing high school wasn't nearly the biggest change in my life though. It seemed as if Calgary was no longer the best place for me to train. The oldest member of the National team Wesley Savill is now training in Park City Utah, the other two juniors I train with, Jean Charle Pretorius and Rogan Reid are finishing their last year of high school. The way I saw it was either stay in Calgary and train by myself without a coach. Or move. The choice to move to Steamboat Springs CO was a choice that came without conflict. I had been there many times before and really loved it. It seems like everyone there is an athlete, the place is surrounded by ski hills and crawling with people who just love to do sports. I mean the town's nick name is literally Ski Town USA. |
The atmosphere and support towards the athletes in unlike any other I have seen before. And for me most importantly I would be able to train with athletes who are my age, my level, and instead of training by myself I would be Training with 10 athletes, a team size that I would never have the privileged to be a part of in Canada.
Though its sad really, after high school most of my friends either head of to University, or they're like me and continue with their sport. Saying goodbye to friends that I have known for 6 years and not being able to see them until at the earliest January is a hard thing to do. Also moving to a town where I really only know the other athletes that I'm training with can get a little lonely. After being here for 2 weeks things are starting to get a little less lonely. But there is the constant reminder that my family and friends are a country away. I know that I made the right choice, and that things are going to get a little less lonely here in Steamboat, Its just a matter of time. Next were off to Moab UT for a training camp, from what I'm hearing I'm expecting snakes, spiders, rocks, and some amazing views. Catch ya Later Nathaniel |