ItB次元官网网址檚 game on for Tofino surfers Mathea Olin and Kalum Temple Bruhwiler.
The 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games kicks off May 29 across two surf breaks in El Salvador (El Sunzal and La Bocana), and the Team Canada athletes are pumped to slip back on the contest jerseys.
With the event being the final qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, the homegrown Vancouver Island surfers could very well take one of 12 remaining spots B次元官网网址� 5 spots for the men and 7 for women. 28 of the 40 surfers to compete in Tokyo 2020 have already provisionally qualified.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a real battle for those last 12 spots. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why weB次元官网网址檙e here. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why we put in the time to get them as prepared as possible,B次元官网网址� said Surf Canada president Dom Domic.
Olin, 18, and Temple Bruhwiler, 21, have been training in El Salvador since the start of April. Coached by Shannon Brown, the other four members of the Canadian surf team are Hawaii-based pro surfer Cody Young, Australian-Canadian Shane Campbell, Californian-Canadian Bethany Zelasko and Hawaii big wave surfer Paige Alms.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been getting up at 5 a.m. every day and going until 9 p.m. just training. B次元官网网址 reviewing, high performance reviews, working with various sports consultants. ItB次元官网网址檚 full on,B次元官网网址� said Domic.
The ISA World Surfing Games is nine full days of competition. There are over 255 surfers from 52 nations vying for the remaining spots, and in order to have a hope of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, Domic thinks they will have to make it to at least Day 7.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e out before that, you have no hope. Heat draw will be a big component as well. Strategically [Canada] is well positioned as the 10th ranked country. We will avoid surfing against the top countries in the first round,B次元官网网址� said Domic.
Kalum Temple Bruhwiler right at home in his preferred setting. (Liam MacDonald photo)
Leading up to the April pre-training camp in El Salvador, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 reigning cold water king Peter Devries succumbed to an injury, which opened up the door for Temple Bruhwiler to take his place.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very grateful to have a chance at competing for Canada in the Olympics through this qualifying event. It came at a cost for our Canadian champion Pete, and I feel for him having to pull out for injury, but he has given me his blessing and IB次元官网网址檓 going to try my best to do him proud,B次元官网网址� Temple Bruhwiler wrote in a message to the Westerly.
As for training, Temple Bruhwiler said heB次元官网网址檚 been putting lots of focus into my overall wave and session management, as well as improving his mindset leading up to the contest.
Olin, who won CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first ever international surf medals at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, says sheB次元官网网址檚 sticking to a fluid game plan.
B次元官网网址淛ust take it all in as it comes and to be OK with everything. I feel like this event is going to be very different due to these [pandemic] times so not to have any high expectations and just enjoy the journey and be as prepared as I can be,B次元官网网址� Olin wrote.
She said it didnB次元官网网址檛 take her too long to acclimatize and for 30C water temperatures to feel B次元官网网址榥ormalB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淚t definitely takes a few surfs to find your feet with no neoprene on. But after a week or so you feel normal again. Just takes a few wipe outs and laughs, but the transition is pretty easy when youB次元官网网址檙e in the sun surfing pumping waves,B次元官网网址� Olin notes.
Domic thinks Team Canada is more than prepared for game day, but only time will tell who gets to book that ticket to Tokyo.
B次元官网网址淪port is the only real reality TV. You canB次元官网网址檛 script it. It happens in the twenty-minutes of every heat,B次元官网网址� he said.
Fans can cheer Team Canada on via the livecast on from May 29 to June 6 and follow SurfCanada @csasurfcanada on Instagram for updates and heat schedules.
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