Two summers ago, he was in the Dominican Republic playing for Team Canada at the Latin American Baseball Classic.
This summer was all about volleyball as Landon Currie spent a good chunk competing for Team B.C. Under 17s.
The multi-talented athlete, who also excelled at hockey until leaving the game two years ago, has been long identified as one of B.C. elite volleyball talents. Currie, Bobby Blaskovits of Kelowna and Morgan Nichols of Oyama represented the Okanagan with Team B.C. in July.
“Training camp was intense and we did lots of team bonding together,” said Currie, who endured two-a-day practices for two weeks ending July 12. “We ended up sixth at nationals (in Kingston, Ont.). It wasn’t the outcome we wanted but we were still very proud of what we accomplished.”
Currie will attend tryouts in December for the provincial 2017 Canada Summer Games team.
“I hope to make that so we can rebound from this year,” said the mature 16-year-old Fulton Secondary student.
Under 17 head coach Brad Hudson loves Currie’s attitude and intensity.
“I think the world of Landon,” said Hudson, from Los Angeles vacationing with his family. “He’s a terrific kid and athlete who is very eager to learn and is very intutive to the position (libero, defensive specialist).
“From the beginning of camp until the nationals, he was one of most improved players which was great to see. He has all kinds of room to grow.”
Hudson, 46, of New Westminster, coached Landon’s older brother, Kristian, at Douglas College for two years.
Landon, a 5-foot-9 dynamo with a 36-inch vertical, loves Hudson’s coaching style.
“He’s pretty laid back,” said Currie. “He doesn’t believe in punishment for your mistakes. He’s very knowledgeable.”
Currie was more into baseball, where he was a first baseman, outfielder and pitcher until Grade 8 when he kept watching Kristian and sister, Danica, star in volleyball.
He enjoyed taking a leadership role with Team B.C., where the libero is basically like the second captain behind the setter.
After a few years smashing balls from the right side with the junior Maroons, coached by his father, Dan, Landon was summoned to the senior team, coached by Richard Bedard, in Grade 10.
“I definitely want to play university, I’ve been talking to a couple of CIS schools. The first two years, you learn on the fly and then potentially start.”
Quick, energetic and encouraging, Currie is a pretty serious and driven athlete heading to Grade 12. His parents are a big part of his life.
“My mom (Jamie) puts me in my place. I’m scared of her way more than my dad.”
Currie works at Latitude Marine and enjoys surfing with buddies Reece Hawthorne, Ryan Butt, Jordy Barr and Danny Aspenlieder.
