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Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - The Morning Star B3
Sports
Hill on top Morning Star Staff
As little as one month ago, Kevin Hill was the guy on the outside looking in at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. An alternate for the Canadian men’s snowboard cross team, the 23-year-old Vernon native watched as teammates carved up the Cypress Mountain course. Fast-forward three weeks, and Hill grounded those same riders to claim gold at the 13th annual Canada Snowboard Cross Nationals last weekend at Mount-Tremblant. “It feels awesome to end the season in first place... knowing you can beat some of the best riders in the world,” said Hill. “It’s a big confidence booster and it takes off a lot of the stress. “My time trials went really well and I qualified a second or so in front of everyone which was pretty satisfying.” Jake Holden (Caledon, Ont.) finished second, while Americans Robert Minghini and J.J. Tomlinson were third and fourth respectively. Canadian team member Rob Fagan claimed seventh place, Francois Boivin was eighth, Mike Robertson crashed in the quarterfinals and Drew Neilson did not start. Hill, who turns 24 in June, has parlayed a successful pro BMX career into stellar results in snowboard cross, a sport he has competed in for less than four years. At first glance, the two sports might not have much in common, but Hill says the cross-training experiment has really paid off. “It’s pretty much the same idea, so it’s the best,” said Hill, of the two sports. “Going from eight guys in BMX trials to four on a snowboard, it’s a little less stressful.” Hill’s previous best on the FIS World Cup circuit was a sixth-place finish at Stoneham, Que. in January. He told Canada Snowboard: “I just want to climb up the ladder as high as I can in my sport and do the best I can,” Hill says the $1,500 first-place purse will help to offset the $17,000 it costs to travel to competitions during the
FILE PHOTO
Vernon’s Kevin Hill (left) hits a jump in a snowboard cross event earlier in the season. season. “It’s kind of tough, but hopefully I’ll be on the national team next season,” he added. “It makes you want to work harder. I want to make a small living out of it and be able to pay my bills.” Hill has just two weeks to hang up the board and dust off the bike as the Canadian ABA Nationals series starts in Chilliwack, April 16-18.
Hill thanked B.C. Snowboard Association coach Chris Nakonechny, his parents, Don and Arleigh Hill, and girlfriend Katie Patterson for supporting him on this adventure. He also thanked sponsors Dunas Skate & Snow and Balcaen Consolidated Contracting of Lavington. In women’s action, Maelle Ricker of Squamish added a national championship to her Olympic and World Cup titles to complete a perfect season. Better Business Bureau
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