He's a rising star

Martin Steyn is on the map as one of the best alpine skiers in the country.

When the Prince Albert product was in Panorama Mountain Village near Invermere, B.C., for the Alpine Canada K2 Rising Stars Camp earlier this month, he was one of just 35 skiers in attendance and the only one from his home province. It was his first time at a camp of that scale, which is similar to a national team camp.

"It meant a lot, considering I was the only one from Saskatchewan," the 14-year-old said. "We don't have any mountains or big hills here."

Steyn hopes to use the experience as a stepping-stone towards joining the FIS (the international circuit just below the World Cup level) next season. The Grade 9 student at St. Mary High School would miss more school than he does now as a member of the Alpine Saskatchewan provincial team, but he plans to make that jump

"I can make arrangements at school, and some classes I can do on the Internet, if I bring my computer," Steyn said. "My math homework I can get in advance."

The FIS schedule starts each August with events in the southern hemisphere, before events in Europe and North America. He said his recent times are good enough for him to be able to compete at that level.

At Panorama, Steyn finished 1.5 seconds behind the leader in giant slalom, which he was happy with, and two seconds behind in slalom, which is the event he skis most with the Prince Albert Alpine Ski Team.

"I was tired, mentally," Steyn said. Steyn was the only skier from Saskatchewan to go to the Rising Stars camp earlier this month at Panorama.

He also has experience competing at the Whistler Cup against international competition from places like China and Switzerland. He's competed in it all four times he's been eligible.

"It's big and really busy," Steyn said. "It's tough, because people in other countries have way more skiing time."

Steyn is originally from South Africa and moved with his family to Newfoundland when he was less than two years old. When he was seven, he moved to Prince Albert and about two years later, he started skiing competitively.

He leaves tomorrow for the SaskTel SaskCup Kickoff event at Marmot Basin near Jasper, Alta. After training for two days, he'll compete on Friday and Saturday.

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca