Josh Dueck has been there before, Kevin Hill narrowly missed out in Vancouver and Justin Dorey has never been because his event is new to the Winter Games.
All three Vernon athletes are headed to Sochi, Russia this time around – Hill and Dorey for the Olympics, Feb. 7-23, and Dueck to the Paralympics, March 7-16.
Dueck, a 33-year-old sit-skier, struck silver at the Vancouver Games. The Whistler Olympic venue was pretty much Dueck’s backyard, and he hopes to draw upon that experience for Russia, even if it is a completely different world.
“It’s (Paralympics) a big show,” said Dueck. “Having a little bit of mileage at that type of event – with all the distractions and opportunities and all the noise – I’m a little more ready for it. It’ll be helpful in the preparation and in the execution at the Games.”
Dueck has fallen back of the sit-ski pack over the last couple of seasons as he completely overhauled his equipment. He appears to finally have his new gear dialed in, as evidenced by his silver medal in super G at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) World Cup stop in Panorama (Invermere).
“It’s been progressive. Last year was a real building year for me,” said Dueck.
“The new ski is faster than anything I’ve even ridden, but it’s taken me some time to acclimatize. Only just now, in the last two months, have I been able to sink into it and find the flow again.”
Up until Panorama, Dueck wasn’t even sure he’d checked all the necessary boxes to even earn consideration for Sochi.
“It was a bit of a nail-biter,” smiled Dueck. “I just completed what I needed to qualify about 10 days ago.
“But I’m really excited about where I’m at right now. I’m back in the mix after a good 18 months of being well outside of the mix on the World Cup circuit.”
Dueck will head to a training camp in Panorama in early February, followed by a three-week pre-Games camp in Austria, Germany and Italy.
Hill burst onto the FIS men’s snowboard-cross scene in 2010, narrowly missing a selection to the national team. Instead, he served as a forerunner at the Games.
This year, the 27-year-old leads all Canadians, and is eighth overall, in the World Cup standings, so the selection to the national Olympic team didn’t come as a surprise. He is determined to make the most of his selection.
“I’m not going with the mind-set that I’m just happy to have made the team,” said Hill, who advanced through Round 1 at Winter X Games Thursday in Aspen, Colo. “I’ve worked hard over the past seven years and I’m going for a medal.”
After his breakout season in 2010, Hill battled with the pressure he put on himself to get results. He has since learned to put that aside on race day and just focus on the course in front of him.
“I’ve always known I have the ability, but I’ve let that stuff stress me out in the past,” said Hill. “I feel a lot more confident racing this year. I go out there knowing I can win every lap if I try my hardest. When you’re worried about who you’re racing, that doesn’t work.”
Aside from a strong field of international competition, Hill, a lifelong vegetarian, will also have to battle to find proper nutrition.
“Luckily I’ve been there so I know what it’s like,” said Hill, who has competed in two events in Sochi. “Preparing for it, I just make sure I have all the extra food supplies and supplements I need when I’m competing.
“I’ve had some really good racing there before and I feel really confident on the course and at the venue.”
The 25-year-old Dorey is having a banner season in the ski halfpipe, having secured the Crystal Globe in the FIS World Cup.
“I had a pretty good idea I’d be on the team after Calgary (first-place finish earlier this month). “After they announced it officially, I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, but it was an intense feeling.”
Dorey underwent shoulder surgery last January, causing him to miss the tour stop in Sochi. The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association flew him to the event so he could check out the venue.
“It’s one of the best mountains I’ve ever been to,” said Dorey. “It’s bigger than Whistler.
When Dorey got involved in halfpipe skiing at age 16, the Olympics weren’t even on his radar.
“I didn’t grow up watching the Olympics, I grew up watching X Games,” said Dorey. “But it’s really cool to be part of the first Olympics (for my sport). It’s been pretty cool watching the sport grow over the last few years.”
Regarding his return from injury, Dorey added: “It’s been a pretty long, hard, slow road to recovery. It took almost twice as long as I thought it would take to recover. I’m finally starting to ski like myself again.”
Dorey qualified for today’s finals at X Games. He leaves for a training camp in France on Tuesday.
