Jacqui Benson - Cross Country Skiing
Favorite event....Silverstar Season Opener... always the underdog : )
Best ski race destination....How can there be anything nicer than otway? Mount St. Anne Que. Comes a close second
Favorite ski conditions....packed, fresh snow, -5
I specialize in....seems like it's the mass starts, long, and preferably classic
If I wasn't a skier...Than hopefully I could put all this studying of the financial industry into play somehow and make the big bucks managing a hedge fund, or just working for a financial firm.
Dream car...oh that's easy, a black mini cooper...just so I could drive it like Cameron Diaz does in the ‘Italian Job' or a VW campervan, but not a slow campervan, It would have to have a pretty supped up motor in it so I could pass all the other campervans out there.
When I grow up, I want to be....Well, I have this feeling I may never grow up, so is there any point in going there? I don't really know, I'm received my BComm in case that day ever comes, you know, like for back-up, that's me always be prepared. (like always having red licorice in the glove box) you never nose : ) Actually, I think it is important to be involve in giving back to the sport and the community once I've moved on.
What do I do in my spare time.... pretty much any activity outdoors, trying to improve my skills on my longboard skateboard, reading-sometimes intelligent novels-sometimes not : ) cooking!!! There was passion in that word for me at one tim. Oh and the only word that could describe my housekeeping is anal, so I spend a lot of my spare time doing the dishes and vacuuming.
Most embarrassing moment.... To date...there are too many! When my car wouldn't stop smoking downtown and the firetruck came, about 5 firemen jumped out and were spraying the fire extinguisher under the hood, and it still smoking away...not to mention that was about the 3rd time that car had been towed to the shop that month. I peed my pants in the last km of the Y ½ marathon in 2007. I started running down hill and away it went, I was not about to stop then though.
Noteworthy results
- 6th place finish in 10km skiathlon. Noram in Vernon, BC. Nov.26/06
- 11th place finish at World University Games, Torino Italy. Jan 18, 2007
- 46th & 48th place finishes in World Cups, Canmore, AB. Jan 22, 2008
- 3-time overall winner of the Caledonia Nordic 30km Loppet (2007, 2008, 2009)
- 2nd place overall women in the Prince George Iceman 2009
I have been skiing since a very young age, and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to represent Canada at the Olympic Winter Games. Some days it is only a dream whereas other days it is simply a goal and I know I will achieve it. No matter what, it is always inside of me. I am currently at the point in my skiing career where good results in the past are not going to get me where I need to be. I know in my heart that I have to be racing consistently at a high level to succeed, but I am still trying to figure out how to do that. After living in Canmore, Ab for 5 years, trying a few different things, such as working too many hours in a restaurant to survive, or driving a hour each way to attend classes at the University of Calgary, or working at an Inn, I moved back to my hometown at the end of August 2005. I went back to University at UNBC and completed my BComm in May of 2008. I spent the last winter working in an admin position at a financial firm, studying for my securities course (to get licensed to trade stocks) and still trying to train. It was not a great Winter for me, and I had to come to the realization that what I was doing was not going to get me a starting position in 2010. I have less than a year to take my best shot at making my dream come true. So I am currently doing everything I can to make this happen, the training is what comes first in my life each and every day.
I suppose that giving you my background and history of my time spent in the sport may help you get to know me, as some of my closest friends don't know what I've been through, but it doesn't really begin to tell you who I really am.
Lets say adrenaline junkie meets control freak, throw in the superstitions any competitive athlete deals with, and a loud laugh, ( and I LOVE to laugh) and you've got me. This may seem like I am somewhat of a complex character, but that is just a front, I am actually quite simple minded. I Never do anything half heartedly, meaning, I give it everything I've got 100% of the time otherwise I am not satisfied with myself. That doesn't mean that when I do give it everything I've got that I am always satisfied, I always find myself striving to be one step better, do one thing better, to live on the edge and deal in the best way possible when things are thrown at me. This is why there is no giving up on those days when my goal seems like only a dream and why I can't let that dream fade away.
I am so thankful for the people that have supported me throughout my skiing career, especially Shayne & Tuppy! I try to take whatever opportunity possible to give back to the community in order to allow others the experiences that have shaped my life.
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