Competing In The Canada Winter Games

13 Year Old Paradise Athlete Jacob Robertson Reflecting On His First Canada Winter Games 

Written by Paradise Athlete Jacob Robertson. 

As a freestyle skier, competing in the Canada Winter Games was a dream come true. It was a chance to showcase my skills, endorse Paradise Skis, compete against some of the best freestyle skiers in the country, and have the time of my life. I was determined to give it my all, and I felt confident in my ability to perform well in the Slopestyle and Big Air events.

Canada Winter Games

The Slopestyle event was the first comp. It was a challenging course with a mix of rails, jumps, and other obstacles that required precise timing and technique to navigate. I had been training for weeks and felt ready for the challenge. But as soon as I stepped onto the course, my nerves kicked in. I felt a sense of pressure to perform at my best. The first run was rough. I made several mistakes, including a hard fall on one of the jumps. When I finished the run I was bummed, but I knew I had one more chance to do better. The second run was better, but I still made some mistakes that cost me points. When the final scores were announced I learned that I had placed 14th overall. I was disappointed, but I also knew that I had given it my all and made the best of my run with my mistakes.

The Big Air event was even more challenging than Slopestyle. It involved skiing down a steep run and launching off a massive jump to perform tricks in mid-air. It was a high-risk, high-reward event that required a lot of courage. The atmosphere at the Big Air event was intense with lots of hype. The crowd was cheering loudly, and all the skiers were hyping each other up. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I prepared for my first run. As I approached the jump, I took a deep breath and focused on my trick. The jump was thrilling. I felt weightless
as I soared through the air, spinning and twisting. As I was in the air, one of the palm trees on my skis came into my view, and I was so thankful at that moment to have my paradise skis strapped to my boots. When I landed, I ended up not executing my trick as cleanly as I had hoped. The second run was similar. In the end, my comp runs did not go as I planned, but I had a blast trying and loved representing Paradise Skis in the games. The final scores were announced, and I had placed 16th overall.

Placing 14th and 16th was not the result I had hoped for, but I was still proud of what I had accomplished. The Canada Winter Games were challenging, but I learned so much. I learned a lot about myself, and what I was capable of, and I gained a newfound appreciation for the dedication and the hard work it takes to be a top-level athlete. Competing in the Canada Winter Games was an incredible experience.

I left the Games with a renewed sense of determination to improve my skills and work even harder to achieve my goals. Overall, the Canada Winter Games was a memorable experience that I will never forget. I may not have placed as well as I had hoped, but I still felt proud of what I had accomplished. And who knows, maybe one day I'll have the opportunity to compete again and place even higher. But until then, I will continue to work hard, strive to be the best freestyle skier I can be and continue to enjoy my Paradise Skis.

About Jacob: 
Born in Alberta and raised in the Yukon, Jacob has been skiing since he was 4 years old. In the winter, Jacob can always be found in the park at Mt. Sima training with the Yukon Freestyle Developmental Team. Jacob jumps at every chance to compete in Slopestyle and Big Air. Away from the slopes, Jacob spends most of his time mountain biking.

Freestyle Skiing 

Jacob rides our VICE 97 freestyle skis and ALOHA park skis - these are great options for freestyle competitors or as all-mountain skis for weekend warriors. For more info on Freestyle Skiing Canada, click here. If you want to get involved with a local Freestyle Ski Team, find one near you by clicking here.