They say getting there is half the fun. Simon Garstin is not so sure.
Garstin is leaving today for the UCI Mountain Bike
World Championships, which take place June 17-22 in Val di Sole, Italy.
But the emotional roller coaster ride he had to take to get there was
almost as challenging as the downhill course he will be navigating on
June 22.
“I found out Wednesday morning I was going,” the
17-year-old Comox Valley native said. “They said I was on the (Canadian
junior) team last Thursday, then on Friday they said I was an
alternate, which they can’t do.” Led by B.C. coach Richard Wooles, a
groundswell of support arose to include Garstin on the team.
“This Tuesday I was told I was not going, then
Wednesday morning they said ‘You can go.’” A relieved Garstin said his
trip to the World Cup is a culmination of a goal he has been working on
for the past 10 months. Although a junior, last year he raced against
pros (and held his own) just to gain the experience he needed to step
up to the international level. “I beat all the pros at a B.C. Cup race
in Mission. It was one of my best races ever,” he said.
The World Cup will be Garstin’s first
international race, but he will be riding as a pro next year in the
senior elite category, and says he wants to pursue the sport full-time.
“It’ll be a lot more competitive. I’ll definitely be stepping it up.”
Garstin is looking forward to his World Cup debut
against the top riders – including some who have raced the full World
Cup circuit for the past few years. “It’s not intimidating. It will be
a learning experience,” and allow him to see how he stacks up against
the best in the sport.
But he’s not going all the way to Italy just to
ride. He’s going to compete. “A really good result would be a top five
finish. Anything less than top 10 would be a disappointment,” he said.
Ranked the #1 junior overall in B.C. for the past
two years, Garstin’s interest in the sport developed when he was 13. He
credits former local pro rider Leon May with getting him started and
says Olympic mountain biker Kiara Bisaro of Courtenay has also been a
friend and strong influence. “Her experience has helped by showing me
what it takes to be a pro athlete. She keeps me on track.”
Bisaro will be in Val di Sole competing in elite
women cross country, and fellow Olympian Geoff Kabush has qualified for
the elite men cross country event.
More info on the World Cup is available at
www.canadiancyclist.com, and Garstin said his race next Sunday (where
for the first time he will wear the mandated Spandex skin suit) will be
broadcast by www.freecaster.com.
Noting the trip is costing him $4,000, Garstin
said anyone interested in supporting him can contact him at 338-5266 or
at sgarstin@gmail.com He said his trip would not be possible without
his sponsors, and he thanked Mountain City Cycles, Giant Bicycles, Gary
Murdoch Chartered Accountant, Canadian Tire, Brian McLean Chevrolet,
Theme Gardens Landscaping, River Meadows Farms, Rotary Club of
Cumberland, VIMSS, Bank of Montreal and Ascent Coaching.
sports@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Originally Posted - http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/sports/Garstin_going_for_top_five_finish_in_Italy.html