A White Rock mountain biker is gearing up to compete in Switzerland this weekend, eyeing a world-championship title as part of Team Canada.

Elliot Jamieson B次元官网网址� who left for Lenzerheide Monday B次元官网网址� told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 Friday he was asked to compete for Canada in downhill at the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships after placing third at Canadian Nationals in Panorama as a junior in July, and sixth at the Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC World Cup in August. In the latter, he was the top Canadian rider.

HeB次元官网网址檒l take to the Lenzerheide course on Sept. 9.

B次元官网网址淭his chance to go to world championships is definitely going to be the biggest race IB次元官网网址檝e ever done,B次元官网网址� Jamieson said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so excited.B次元官网网址�

The 17-year-old athlete, whose Grade 12 year at Earl Marriott Secondary began this week, said he has always beens sports-oriented B次元官网网址� including hockey and racing BMX when he was B次元官网网址渜uite a bitB次元官网网址� younger. He started getting into mountain biking about four years ago.

B次元官网网址淥ver the past few years, IB次元官网网址檝e just gotten a lot more into it, gotten a lot faster,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧robably three years ago, I really started taking it more seriously.B次元官网网址�

He also volunteers at races hosted by SORCE (Surrey Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts) Bike Club, which presents such events as the Junkyard Dog XC held annually at South Surrey Bike Park. JamiesonB次元官网网址檚 mom, Trish, said South SurreyB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址済reat trail networkB次元官网网址� has provided her son with some solid training grounds in pursuit of his passion.

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Jamieson described the World Championship opportunity as B次元官网网址渢he next step in fulfilling my goal of racing professionally.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎ll the work that you put in, itB次元官网网址檚 cool to be able to be selected and be given the opportunity,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ard work sort of pays off when you get to go to a cool place and race against the best people in the world.B次元官网网址�

Jamieson is no stranger to hard work off the track, either. Taking online academic courses since Grade 9, heB次元官网网址檚 set to graduate after just one semester in class this year B次元官网网址� clearing his schedule for more training starting in the spring.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty motivated to train and do that sort of thing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always sort of pushed myself and tried my hardest and worked hard.B次元官网网址�

SundayB次元官网网址檚 race will pit him against B次元官网网址�60 to 70B次元官网网址� 17- and 18-year-olds from around the world, including five other junior men on the Team Canada roster, in a run Jamieson estimates will be over in B次元官网网址渏ust over three minutes.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou build up and thenB次元官网网址� you get that window where you, kind of, do-or-die,B次元官网网址� he said.

A win will score him a rainbow-striped jersey, which B次元官网网址渟orta means youB次元官网网址檙e the fastest in the world.B次元官网网址�

Jamieson is hoping to eventually be sponsored, but for now, is thrilled by response to a gofundme campaign he launched to help cover costs of this weekB次元官网网址檚 trip.

He aimed for $2,500, but ended the campaign when the total hit $3,700.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 believe over $3,500 was raised. And without the support, this opportunity would not be possible,B次元官网网址� Jamieson wrote in a wrap-up post Aug. 30.

B次元官网网址淚 look forward to an amazing race and experience. I am flying out next week and will be racing on Sunday, September 9th. Thank you!B次元官网网址�

Follow Jamieson on Instagram at elliot.jamieson or find him on Facebook.