Why skeleton? How did you get started?
I didn't even know what the hell it was in 2002. I watched the entire 2002 Olympics Games, living through all the great moments, Sale and Pelletier and all those other wonderful events, and didn't even know what skeleton was. It wasn't on my radar until I took a trip to COP (Calgary Olympic Park) with my folks after the Olympics were over and I saw a skeleton race happening live. At first I though it was a horrible luge accident. There was this guy coming head first on his stomach. How did he get flipped around? And so I ran back inside and asked the people at the ice house what was actually happening here and he says, ‘Oh that's skeleton racing.' And I said to myself, ‘Ah, I got to try that one.'
You seem like the type of kid to jump off the highest rock...
If there was a chance to do something that was a little out there, that looked like fun, I would definitely be taking part first and asking questions later.
What was your first trip down the track like?
It's like the first time you do anything that's exhilarating. It's a huge adrenaline rush. You're amped up, you're tingling, your body senses are all going crazy, and that was the same for skeleton racing. I mean I've jumped off of big bridges and out of planes and so on, and there's no difference than the first time you get to experience skeleton, traveling at 100 kilometers an hour with your chin only inches off the ice, and in some cases right on the ice dragging as your 5 G-forces of pressure come on as you're going into huge turns. It's exciting.
Is a trip down the track ever routine?
Not at all and I think the day it becomes routine is that day that you become, just a spectator in the sport. You've got to be dialed into it and you've got to be excited and amped up to go everyday otherwise you're not going to realize improvements in your ability and technique.
How much confidence did you gain at the 2008 World Championships?
The silver medal in Altenberg at the Worlds last year was a huge confidence boost. I hadn't had a whole lot of exposure to that track and that track is really difficult, so to beat the Germans there I think was outstanding and to be second when it was all said and done was an unbelievable experience for me. But when you do have that little bit of success I am mindful that I can't let myself get overconfident thinking that the next race is automatically mine because time and time again we see in our sport, the winners aren't always the same from week to week.
What did winning the Whistler World Cup mean to you?
It was a bit of boost for momentum, but definitely I'm not going to put too much stock in it for next year as it's another day, another race and you're only as good as your last race. So I'm not going to worry about what happened 2009 Whistler, next year, last year. I'm just going to take it one race at a time, one corner at a time and try not to get too far ahead of myself.
What's the Whistler track like?
The track in Whistler is amazing. It's a world-class facility. It's going to be the fastest track in the world for years to come just because of the terrain it's built upon, the side of the mountain there. It's a wicked track. It's technical. It's fast. It can be really exciting to watch crashes and that sort of thing. Hopefully I'm not providing too much excitement for anybody, as I won't be doing my job if that's the case, but it'll definitely be an exciting event to watch.
Will the Canadians have an advantage?
It goes without saying that we're going to have an advantage as the track is here in our country. When we go to Igls, Austria, the Austrians have the advantage. The Germans have the advantage on the three tracks in their country. The same with Gregor Staehli in Switzerland. It's just the nature of our sport and so there will be an advantage, but it won't be the deciding factor in this race for sure.
Tell us about your day job.
I've been selling cars for the last three years for an outfit in Calgary and doing auto auctions since I graduated from college back in the day, not too long ago, but it's good. Its been providing me with a means to support myself, a flexible schedule, and being able to stay involved in something that I enjoy. I really like the auto industry. I like dealing with people and helping solve their transportation problems.
Favorite Canadian comedian?
Jim Carrey-Mike Myers one word. Is that two people? If you could put them together that would be my favorite character.
What makes you laugh?
Just about anything. I suppose I laugh at, not other people's misfortunes, but I enjoy ribbing people. Laughing at other people's situations. And I suppose I like people's reactions. So that's what I'm after when I'm giving people a hard time is their reactions.
Compiled by NBC Olympics
