Corner Brook -
She may be a late bloomer, but Kate Boland has quickly become a fixture on the provincial cross-country ski team.
Boland, who will turn 17 in February, is in her third season as a member of the provincial team and has represented her province at the nationals the past two years.
Boland, daughter of Linda and Paul Boland, was born in St. John's but moved to Happy Valley-Goose Bay when she was just two years old. The family moved to Corner Brook from Labrador 18 months ago.
She got involved in the Jackrabbit program in Happy Valley-Goose Bay at age 10 since her parents and brother, Peter, were immersed in nordic skiing at the time. The large majority of Boland's teammates have been on skis since they've been five years old, so it would appear she has progressed at an impressive pace.
This weekend, Boland will strut her stuff at team selection races being held at Blow-Me-Down Trails in conjunction with the club's annual Old Christmas Races. Her results from the weekend event, along with her performance at an earlier camp in Labrador City, will be a huge factor in deciding if she represents the team at the Eastern Canadian Championships Jan. 30-31 in Gatineau, Que. as well as the national nordic ski championships March 14-21.
Boland wants to do well at the selection races and earn a trip to the two big championships on the horizon.
"I really hope to, I would really like to," an elated Boland told The Western Star as fresh snow fell throughout the day. "I'd be disappointed in myself if I didn't considering I went the last two years."
A Level 2 student at Corner Brook Regional High, Boland punches a lot of time on the trails to keep her mind and body sharp for competition.
She has a passion for skiing and is willing to do whatever it takes to have success on the trails. She wants another trip to the nationals and believes it can happen if she follows the training plan provided to her by coach Will Fitzgerald of St. John's.
"Train hard and keep to the program," she said of her recipe for success this year. "Train right, work hard, eat right and all that stuff. Hopefully it all adds up so that my long-term goals can be achieved."
Seeing the snow falling, Boland is pumped to get on the trails. She enjoys being out there.
"It's good exercise and it's a lot of fun," she said. "I like competing, I like racing and pushing myself to win."
It also helps that there is chemistry amongst the young squad.
"We just have a really great time together and that's a really important factor to me," she said.
