Local skier Andy Bulloch qualifies for Canadian ski cross championships

Supplied photos

Andy Bulloch continued his breakthrough rookie season on the Alpine Ontario ski cross circuit this past weekend, finishing on the podium for a fifth consecutive race while wrapping up the provincial title for the U14 2017 O-CUP season in the process.

Andy’s latest bronze medal, which goes along with an earlier gold and three silvers, earned the young skier a chance to represent Ontario at the Canadian National Ski Cross Championships to be held at Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride from March 10-12.

“He’s had a phenomenal season, and it hasn’t been easy. There have been some real tests of strength along the way,” says Andy’s father Andrew, who has taken over the role of coach, manager and trainer for his son.

Rocking an orange helmet, Andy catches big air during the final O-CUP race of the season

Just three weeks earlier, Andy overcame a three-way collision in his semi-finals during an O-CUP race at Horseshoe Resort. Rallying from the accident and keeping his composure during the final heat, the Huntsville native went on to finish second overall and gain valuable points in the provincial standings.

With the national championships getting a last minute change of venue from Mont St. Marie in Quebec to Sir Sam’s in Haliburton, Andy will have a home field advantage racing on a course where he has already reached the podium this season. That being said, the pair still feel they will be in for some tough competition given the high-calibre nature of the event.

“People from the west coast have a big advantage, they have great terrain, usually they have summer skiing on the glaciers,” says Andrew. “Alberta has a big program, Quebec has a strong program, I don’t quite know what to expect to be honest. I don’t know how good 12- and 13-year-old kids can get, but it will certainly be neat to see.”

The pair have taken Andy’s rookie year one race at a time, learning and adjusting to the subtle – and not so subtle – nuances of ski cross while posting top three results in every competition along the way. The success will be an important part of Andy’s confidence as he races at the highest level of his young career next weekend.

Competing in five Alpine Ontario races, Andy has brought home a gold, three silvers and a bronze this season

“Going in with what he has done this season, he has the confidence of having some success behind him,” says Andrew. “He’s got some momentum and that definitely helps going in to a head-to-head situation where nerves can get the better of you.”

Regardless of how things go in Haliburton, this year’s results have seen Andy go from an unknown commodity in the ski cross world to one of the rising stars in the sport. He will be firmly in the spotlight next winter, where he will again compete in the U14 division as a 13-year-old.

“It’s set us up for something tangible that we can train towards, we understand now what’s at the top of the hill. You don’t know what’s behind that curtain until you participate. Knowing what we do, I’m really excited for next year and what we can bring.”

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