Fresh from an overnight cross-country charter flight, Team BC athletes are on the ground in PEI and are adjusting to a new province, local weather and life in a multisport Games Village.
It has been a long wait for the women’s curling team members as they qualified for the 2023 Canada Winter Games a year ago. “We’re actually here, we are in PEI, we made it,” says Lauren Cochrane (Kelowna), the team’s vice skip. “Now, it’s really kind of hitting us that we’re here, we made it! We are going to go out and do the best we can to represent BC.”
Claire Ramsey (Kelowna), the lead for the curling team, watched her teammate complete her first CBC TV interview. “I think Lauren aced it.” Ramsey is thrilled to be part of Team BC. “I think it’s pretty awesome. Everyone’s wearing the same gear. It’s exciting.”
Short track speedskater Charlotte Sernoski (Vancouver) says her team is getting used to the new setting and new time zone in the Athletes’ Village at the University of PEI campus. “This is the furthest east that I’ve ever been. This is an amazing opportunity. We are ready for it. It’s super exciting with so many sports to learn about.”
“It’s very cold compared to Vancouver,” says David Mandelstam (Vancouver), part of the four-member table tennis team shortly after touring the Village. “We are adjusting and getting ready and we hope to have a good tournament.”
The table tennis competition begins on February 19.
“It’s going to be tough for all of us,” says Mandelstam. “The last few months of training have been intense. We’ve worked hard and we are ready for the fight.”
Preparing for the jumps and tricks of freestyle skiing is Tate Garrod (Vernon). He was third in slopestyle and big air at the 2018 BC Winter Games in Kamloops. He says his first Canada Games is another step in his sport journey. “My dreams are the Olympics and X Games events – those are the big ones,” he says.
“I want to be one of the top skiers on those circuits and have a long, healthy and successful career.” As for the Village, he says the campus is an “unreal set up.” He’s also looking forward to seeing other sports, specifically wheelchair basketball as he’s never seen that.
- Filed by Sam Corea (@sammy_sez), Team BC Communications
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