By Curtis Galbraith

Local Sports

Team Canada bobsleigh pilot helping out when RBC Training Ground comes to Grande Prairie

May 5, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Team Canada bobsleigh pilot will be among those working with young athletes that come for testing when RBC Training Ground stops in Grande Prairie Monday.

Eden Wilson is hoping sharing her story will provide some encouragement for others.

“When it comes to what’s available to athletes if they pursue a sport at a national level, as well as just motivate them.”

“I know how difficult some of those RBC Training Ground stations can be for some people, so definitely just motivating them along to make sure that they are showing up and giving their best.”

Wilson says there are a lot of what she calls “transfer sports” that are part of this testing.

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“So those are the bobsleighs, the track cycling, those kind of things that you could be playing a sport in your high school like soccer but you might have a ton of ability that would transfer into another sport.”

“Quite a few kids show up and end up in sports that they had no idea even existed, let alone that they would be good at.”

Wilson is glad to see a smaller community included in this round of tests.

“I was originally born in Manitoba but coming from a small town there, it’s really important for me for these smaller towns that might not get the opportunity, (without having) to drive down to Edmonton or something , (for) the more rural areas to be able to participate in this, because we never know here we’re going to find talent for a sport.”

Scouts from close to a dozen Olympic sports will be testing local athletes on things like speed and strength. The testing goes all day at the Eastlink Centre.

The city says this means the fieldhouse and walking track will not be available between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Anyone aged 14 to 25 interested in being tested can register in advance here.