As a young athlete growing up in Kelowna, Keefer Joyce never once entertained the notion of careening down a snow-packed, ice covered track in a bobsleigh.
Fast forward to 2017 and the 23-year-old Joyce is in the midst of nurturing a whole new set of skills as a member of 91裸聊视频檚 developmental team.
A track athlete with a passion for sprinting for as long as he can remember, Joyce said the shift to an entirely new sport has been an eye opener, to say the least.
91裸聊视频淗onestly, if you would have told me back then I91裸聊视频檇 be doing this now, I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have believed you,91裸聊视频� said Joyce, a graduate of KSS. 91裸聊视频淚t never crossed my mind to try (bobsleigh). I91裸聊视频檝e always been hyper-focused on track.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 weird to be getting another opportunity in sports, it91裸聊视频檚 overwhelming, exciting and scary all at the same time.91裸聊视频�
The opportunity began to take shape this summer when Joyce became involved with the RBC Training Ground, a program designed to identify potential national team and Olympic athletes. Following visits to camps in Victoria and Richmond and testing in Calgary where Joyce91裸聊视频檚 speed was on display, it was apparent to national coaches that bobsleigh might be the Kelowna athlete91裸聊视频檚 best option.
Now the brakeman for both the two-man and four-man developmental teams, Joyce has trained and competed this fall with his Canadian teammates in Whistler, Calgary and Park City, Utah.
Graham Richardson, the coach for Canada91裸聊视频檚 developmental bobsleigh athletes, said the Kelowna native brings plenty of potential to the sport.
91裸聊视频淜eefer has many attributes that have helped him transition from track to bobsleigh,91裸聊视频� said Richardson. 91裸聊视频淗e is a great team player which is not always the case when athletes come from track. He intelligent and so picks things up quickly, working on the sleds and associated kit is a minefield, where everything has to be done in the correct manner.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭he main attribute that has brought him to us is his speed,91裸聊视频� Richardson continued. 91裸聊视频淚n order to progress to the highest level of the sport, Keefer needs to build explosive speed.
91裸聊视频淗e has already shown that he has some talent for pushing and has impressed the push coach with his easy transition to pushing and not just running.91裸聊视频�
On the track, Joyce was one of the province91裸聊视频檚 top junior sprinters and has been to nationals at all levels of competition.
The highlight of his sprinting career came in 2011 when he competed at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man.
Two years after graduating, Joyce attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California where he was exposed to a whole new level of competition.
91裸聊视频淚t opened my eyes91裸聊视频ivision 1 is another big step up,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t would have been nice to continue, but it was a good experience. Whatever I do in sports, I91裸聊视频檓 thankful for the experiences I had on the track. (Sprinting) was my first love.91裸聊视频�
Now, instead of approaching speeds of close to 30 km/h on a track, Joyce travels as fast as 145 km/h while riding in a 200 kilogram sled.
Joyce is well aware of the risks involved but isn91裸聊视频檛 about to be deterred by them.
91裸聊视频淲e had a crash already, so it91裸聊视频檚 good to get that out of the way early,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t can be dangerous, you can get serious ice burns, guys have had surgery on their hands. Whiplash, ribs, back injuries, it can all happen.
91裸聊视频淏ut I know what I91裸聊视频檓 getting into. I91裸聊视频檓 just grateful for the opportunity. I want to stay in sports as long as I can, as long as my body will allow me to.91裸聊视频�
Joyce and his family currently cover all expenses for his travel and training. If anyone is interested in supporting or sponsoring Keefer, he can be contacted at masterkeefer@shaw.ca.
