Alec Henderson has done something no other Western Canadian has done since 2015.
The Penticton skier earned a spot on the nationsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒淣extGensa国际传媒� slopestyle team ahead of the 2022-2023 season, a field dominated in recent years by athletes from Ontario and Quebec.
Born and raised in Penticton, Henderson is currently in Stubai, Austria preparing for a Freestyle Ski World Cup event that runs from Nov. 16 to 19.
sa国际传媒淭he timing of this really worked out in my favour,sa国际传媒� Henderson told the Western News. sa国际传媒淭he national team was looking for new athletes and it all came together pretty quickly.sa国际传媒�
Henderson is one of four Canadians at the November event, after the national team made its selections at a recent sa国际传媒淣extGensa国际传媒� invitational in Whistler.
Coached by Kenni Kuroda from the Apex Mountain Resort, the 19-year-old says Penticton will be on his mind when he hits the Austrian hills later next week.
sa国际传媒淚 love our community,sa国际传媒� he said.
Hendersonsa国际传媒檚 trip to Austria, though, isnsa国际传媒檛 the first time hesa国际传媒檒l represent Canada on the world stage.
On Oct. 21, the Penticton athlete was in Chur, Switzerland to compete in the Big Air category. Ottawasa国际传媒檚 Noah Porter Maclennan finished the event in second place.
Henderson first started participating in the sport when he was nine, after his friends in Penticton convinced him to sign up for the local ski club.
Since then, hesa国际传媒檚 fallen in love with the sport and hopes his experience overseas will inspire other Pentictonites to get involved with skiing.
sa国际传媒淚 really want to try and get as many people as I can on skis because I think itsa国际传媒檚 the best,sa国际传媒� Henderson said.
