Meg Cumming is filled with excitement for a new ski season.
The former Apex Ski Club member will compete with Team Alberta after moving to the Wild Flower province a year ago. To be eligible to ski on Team Alberta, Cumming had to be part of an Alberta club. After moving to Canmore last year, the 18-year-old old resided in Canmore and competed with the Banff Alpine Racers.
“It opens up a lot of doors for the future so that is good,” said Cumming, who is on a provincial team for the first time.
The process of earning a spot included completing dryland training last spring and training five days a week in the summer. It finished with three weeks of skiing in Saas Fe, Switzerland.
“The coaches had to know that you were dedicated, see that you were skiing fast,” said Cumming, who finished high school in 2015. “It was my third time being in Europe, second time going to Saas Fee, Switzerland (I went last year with Banff alpine racers). Skiing on the glacier in Saas Fe is really amazing. People from all around the world are there getting the awesome training it has, including a lot of World Cup athletes. Pretty cool training beside them.”
READ MORE: Meg takes Keurig Cup
The Penticton product is looking to have a strong year in what she said will be a competitive season in NorAm events across Canada and the eastern U.S. She hopes having a successful season leads to getting a scholarship with a National Collegiate Athletic Association school.
Cumming’s former coach with ASC Jorgen Anderson said her making the provincial team is a “pretty big deal.”
“It’s going to help her get inline for a NCAA scholarship,” he said. “She still has a chance for nationals.”
Anderson pointed out that it is difficult to get NCAA scholarships because there are not that many. Anderson said the biggest thing Cumming will get from competing for Team Alberta is the support from their staff.
“I think she will thrive for sure,” said Anderson. “She loves to ski. She can ski even more now. It’s pretty special.”
Warren Miller film
The Apex Ski Club is hosting a Warren Miller film, Here, There and Everywhere at the Cleland Theatre on Nov. 17. Doors open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets available at your local ski and board shops.