In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 18-year-old Ty Godfrey, of the Team RAD/Canmore Nordic, who’s representing Canada at his first Junior Worlds.
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“My full name is Ty Godfrey, but you can call me Tyreed. I was born in Vancouver, raised in Canmore, and one thing you should know about my hometown is it’s a huge playground.
I started cross-country skiing when I was one, thanks to my parents. I currently train in Canmore with Team R.A.D – Canmore Nordic.
If I’m not skiing, you might find me playing soccer or biking with friends. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Le Petit Prince.’
One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is representing my country and showing Europeans how strong North Americans can be. One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.
The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was process goals are much more important that outcome goals. One of the best race memories I have is racing against the top Americans and Canadians at trials in Soldier Hollow.
If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Russell Kennedy.
If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be an engineer.
I’m missing no school to be here because I graduated, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Ty, being a professional cross-country skier isn’t a real job.’
You can follow me on Instagram @tygodfrey.”