Mikayla Martin鈥檚 Olympic dreams are well on their path to becoming a reality.
The 蜜桃视频appresident and Grade 12 Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS) student was recently named to the 2014-15 BC Ski team and will now compete against some of the best young skiers in North America.
But it didn鈥檛 come so easy for Martin.
There was a 20-week development and selection process that began in June, but her hopes were derailed in early October after smashing the bottom of a Super G gate while training in Italy and breaking her thumb.
With her thumb in a cast, she still managed to continue training and worked her way onto the team鈥檚 final roster.
鈥淭he coaches said they might not be able to take me on the team because they didn鈥檛 have enough proof that I was fast enough,鈥� she said of the setback. 鈥淏ut I got back on the snow with the cast under my glove and put together a couple of solid runs and they told me I made the team 鈥� I was surprised and so stoked, it was a great feeling.鈥�
She joins four other females and six males on the team and is the youngest member. For years, Martin successfully competed with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and she said this will be a big step up.
鈥淭hese are the best girls in B.C. and we use each other to get to the next level,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all pushing each other but we鈥檙e friends and it鈥檚 such an honour to ski with such great skiers.鈥�
She admitted that as the rookie she has to sleep on the couch once in a while, but that she loves being a part of the team. As a member of Team BC, Martin will compete all across North American against some of the best skiers from other states and provinces. From this level, skiers can get chosen for the national team and then potentially the Olympics.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what the competition will be like because I鈥檝e never raced at this level,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e all train together, but it鈥檚 an individual sport. This is a step in the right direction for me and I have a great opportunity with all the coaches and funding on this team.鈥�
Martin said she is competing in several different race styles on Team BC, but she鈥檚 targeting a few particular race genres.
鈥淢y motto is the faster, the better,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淒ownhill and Super G is where I thrive. I love the adrenaline of it.鈥�
She said her career highlight so far is a fourth place finish at the Senior Nationals in Whistler in March, but she hopes to create more career highlights on Team BC.
For more information on Martin, visit her website www.mikaylamartin.com.聽
