By Michael Gorman
Transcontinental Media
NovaNewsNow.com
Jeremy Page might be one of the few people looking forward to seeing snow during his summer vacation.
Page is part of the eight-person junior national snowboard team that will compete in the World Junior Snowboard Championships Aug. 20-31 in New Zealand. It’s the biggest competition to date for the Valley resident who started in the sport when he was eight.
The 18 year old, who will attend Kingstech in the fall for an electrician program, worked his way into the national team conversation following a strong season competing across the country in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Calgary.
“They looked at all the results and performances and picked a team,” he said.
When that team was first picked, Page’s name wasn’t on it. He admits that the event wasn’t something he was considering until his coach, Natasha Burgess, encouraged him to do so.
After applying and being approved for funding, Page learned he was on as an alternate. A week later Page was informed he’d been promoted to the team. Needless to say, the news came as a thrill.
“I was very happy (just) to be an alternate,” he said. “We have a pretty solid of team of guys right now.”
Page is slated to compete in half pipe, his specialty, but could also take part in the slope style and big air events depending on evaluations by team coaches once they arrive.
Although this will be his first taste of international competition, Page – who was inspired to take competion seriously by his cousin Ben Robinson’s performance at the Canada Winter Games in the Yukon – said he has faith in his ability and believes he is ready to take the next step, a belief aided by the confidence of sponsors Jon Sparks and Fist Fulla Fives.
“I had a pretty strong year last year,” he said. “You can’t go into these competitions being nervous. You have to go in full force believing in yourself.”
While it might be winter right now in the part of the world where Page is headed, it’s obviously not in Nova Scotia. But a lack of snow isn’t hampering his training.
Page said he’s spent the summer doing dry land training with a personal trainer to improve his strength and he also works on an Olympic-style trampoline to develop and perfect spins and jumps that he’ll incorporate into his competition routine.
The final decision on what tricks to keep and which to leave out will be made once he gets to the course and he and the coaches can see how they transfer to the snow.
