Penticton’s Abigail McCluskey and Oliver’s Riley Martin are ecstatic for the chance to compete in the Canada Winter Games in Prince George Feb. 13 to March 1.
“I’ve been waiting for this for like two years now and it’s finally here, it’s pretty cool,” said McCluskey on the phone from Calgary prior to leaving for Prince George Thursday morning for the Canada Winter Games.
The speed skater recently finished seventh at the junior nationals event in Quebec and feels confident about what she can do.
“I’ve been training pretty hard,” she said. “I think it’s all going to come together and I will have some good races.”
After being told a few years ago that competing in Canada’s largest multi-sport competition for young athletes was a possibility, McCluskey, who graduated from Pen High in 2014, said it’s pretty cool that it is happening.
“It’s super exciting just to see that progress come through,” she said.
While there she will have the support of her mother, Pam Waite, who is making the trip north. Everyone else will be watching on TV.
“They are all pretty excited,” she said. “They are all super happy for me.”
For Martin, 23, this is his lone chance to compete with the best in wheelchair basketball as he won’t be eligible for future Canada Winter Games because of his age. Being a member of the B.C. junior team for two years now he wasn’t surprised about his selection.
“When I got the phone call saying I was on Team B.C., I was quickly past it, zeroing my sights in on our performance at the Canada Winter Games,” said Martin, a T4 paraplegic, who has no voluntary muscle control at from middle of his chest down.
Martin, who has played wheelchair basketball for four years, starting with the Kelowna Thunder regional team, is ready for the challenge. He brings the experience of earning silver for the Thompson/Okanagan team at the B.C. Winter Games in 2014.
What motivates Martin, who became a paraplegic in 2009 following an accident on his motorcycle, to be his best on the court is the concept of high-performance fun.
“When our team is cohesive, playing our best, and getting positive results in a competitive environment, that is extremely fun for me,” said Martin. “That’s what motivates me: the need to achieve that high-performance fun each time we get out on the court.”
Also participating from the South Okanagan are Joseph Ostermeier from Oliver in archery, Ethan O’Rourke from Penticton in hockey, as are Alyssa MacMillan and Alley Rempe. Helene Vassilakakis from Penticton will be an athlete assistant in squash, Nancy Wilson from Summerland is the manager for the female hockey team. For more information on the events, check www.canadagames2015.ca.