Annie Ewart will don the spandex for Cycling BC at Road Nationals in Burlington, Ontario.
Five years ago basketball was a top priority, cycling a new hobby.
“Basketball was definitely the first choice that first year (cycling),” she said.
Four years ago her priorities shifted — significantly.
In 2007 she finished second in the junior competition of BC Provincial Road Championships. In 2008 she topped the podium and also added a first in the provincial time trial championships. That year she earned four medals at the BC Summer Games in cycling and was named Cyclist of the Year – Road, U17 Female. In 2009 she set a new cadet course record in the Sidney Velo Time Trial, represented BC at Junior nationals and competed in the Canada Summer Games. She capped the year as an Olympic torch bearer.
“I have so much fun doing it. Training’s fun and I’m competitive,” the Brentwood Bay teen said.
The 17-year-old graduated early from Stelly’s secondary in a bit of a self-accelerated program designed around her training schedule.
“The teachers there are super supportive,” she said. A fully loaded first semester made way for a season full of physical, and mental workouts during the longer days of the year. “We can all do similar training, but I’ve always been told it’s 10 per cent training, 90 per cent head,” Ewart said.
She races with Trek Red Truck Racing, the team she competed for in the recent Victoria International Cycling Festival. She’s also a member of the BC Cycling Team with a goal to win nationals in road and time trials and to represent Canada at the World Championships in Copenhagen.
“Ultimately the ideal goal would be gold, but podium would be good as well,” she said with a smile.
Canada’s top athletes in all five cycling sports will compete for the coveted Maple Leaf jersey at the 2011 Road Nationals in Burlington, Ontario wrapping up July 3.