Sun Peaks local and Alpine Canada team member Elli Terwiel has her sights set on competing in Sochi for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and is currently fundraising to help meet her goal. Donations can be made on MakeaChamp.com.
Coming off her most successful race season to date, with two 17th place finishes and a 23rd place finish at the World Cup level, Terwiel is heading into this winter’s circuit after her most productive training season yet, supporting her goal of representing Canada at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games.
“I am the strongest and most powerful that I have ever been,” she says. “I’ve had very successful on-snow camps this summer where I progressed immensely in my skiing, as well as great success in the gym. I am skiing faster than I ever have before.”
At just 24-years-old, her athletic journey is comprised of coming back from potentially career-ending injuries, being temporarily dropped from Alpine Canada’s team, balancing pursuing a degree in engineering with a professional ski racing career, all combined with the consistent need for fundraising.
Terwiel, who is currently an engineering student on a ski racing scholarship at the University of Vermont, has been fundraising to meet the $15,000 required to pay her national team fees to Alpine Canada.
As she is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) her fee payments cannot include prize money or sponsorship dollars.
Terwiel needs to race on the World Cup circuit with Alpine Canada to qualify for a spot on the 2014 Canadian Winter Olympic Team, and has turned to crowd-funding, along with support from her family, to pay the required fees. There are also additional expenses throughout the season, including some travel, the athletes are responsible for themselves.
As part of her fundraising activities Terwiel led a pre-season, dry land training session last weekend at Sun Peaks. It consisted of a light, field workout focusing on mobility, leg strength and balance to help get everyone fit and mobile for the upcoming ski season.
Terwiel will be enjoying her last visit at home prior to the Olympic Games between October 12 and 19.