To be an athlete is no small task, usually you are under supported and the hours that are dedicated to reaching your optimum are countless. It is more than a 9 to 5 job. It's a lifestyle choice, though choice might not be the right word. Ask any top performer and they will tell you that they are driven from some internal force, like an obsession. They eat sleep and drink their sport until it becomes and ingrained part of thier personality.

Many athletes have a tough time finacially, because training makes it hard to hold down a full time job. Friends and family might not support thier efforts because they believe it has no value to society. Climbers especially are labeled as lazy bums who just want a free ride.

Climbing still has a long way to go before it's athletes can get government support. The problem in Canada is that we lack facilities that meet international standards and community support to bring us onto the international stage and to the Olypics. Thanks to the efforts of the CEC volunteers, THE TOUR DE BLOC and all the athletes that become active members of the CEC and participate in sanctioned events we are starting to gain some ground.

I spent many years traveling around meeting some of the worlds top climbers and I know first hand what kind of characture and personal strength it take to get any recognition for ones efforts. But in the end it has it's own rewards.

As a top athlete you become a bench mark for all others that follow and you set an objective to be surpassed. You may be some kids hero or just that great person at the gym or crag who gives the place a good vibe. People admire and respect you for the fact that you may have passed on a trick or 2 that helped them get one step closer to a send.

As the founder of RUSH Essentials, I always have my eye out for that great embassador to the sport. So far I have been blessed by the people I've met, and it is with great honor that I have the chance to support and encourage 3 AWSOME climbers each with their own unique spins on life and climbing.

1st Up. Dustin Rowan Curtis. Dustin is a climber through and through. It is his main pre-occupation. The 1st thing you notice when you meet Dustin is his unbelievable smile. Of course, every time I've met him he's been at the gym climbing or testing products for me which he must do before and after climbing. Dustin is currently sponsored by Beta clothing, Evolv and RUSH. He is also encouraged by his home gym Coyote rock gym in Ottawa.

Recently I had the chance to sit down with Dustin and ask him a few questions about him self and his goals. For starters his dream climb is Esperanza. His ultimate dream road trip would be to spend 1 month bouldering in Magic Woods, Switzerland. The top 3 people he would like to climb with are Dave Grahm, Nick Saga, Fred Nichol. And he would love to have Simon Villeneuve (Calgary) as one of his trainers.

2nd on the list is Kerry Briggs. This very bright woman is awsome. Kerry is a full time animation student and she has alot of talent. We hope to be featuring some of her work on our web site very soon. She works at Coyote Rock gym part time and in the summer she works at a kids camp where she has developed a climbing program. What every she talks about, climbing, her studies or the camp, her enthusiasm is obvious.

Kerrys dream is to animate a full length movie and ideally it'll be about climbing. She is excited and nervious about going to WORLDS so for the moment she's focusing on heading down to Horse Pens 40 in Alabama in April with a few friends.

Our 3rd and final Athlete is Jo Audy. Jo and I have been aquantances for many years. We have common friends and are both parents so I have a real appriciation for his personal strength. The one thing that has always marked me about Jo is his gentleness and kind nature. I alway get the impression that he is just riding some cosmic wave. He is unassuming and there is absolutly no eliteism in his attitude dispite the fact that he kicks ass. He is a father of 2 girls and he drags his family to his comps, and the crag thought there is no force involved. He works as a substitute teacher so he gets his summers off which suits him just fine.

Jo climbs a lot in Orford Qc. Which has produced some of Canada's top climbers and attracts some of the hardest from around North America. He hopes to spend more time is the US this year climbing in areas that he hasn't visited in a while and maybe to a few other places he's never been to. His home gym is Coyote Rock Gym....

 

What is it about Coyote Rock Gym in Ottawa that produces so many hard climbers? Well I have a theory about this and his name is Jody Maill. Jody is also a former worlds competitor. As manager of the gym he encourages the climbers. He love climbing more than anyone I know and wants everyone around him to love it as much as he does. His gym is welcoming and he's alway ready to give that bit of beta that you might need to do the sequence. He love to put together training programs that work both your strengths and weaknesses, knowing that a gyms success is directly related to how successful its members feel. We all want to be good at the things we love. He is proud of the athletes that are coming out of Coyote and he encourages them to participate with the CEC and to sign up for comps. Every year since the conception of the TOUR DE BLOC, Coyote has hosted an event. Pehaps it is Coyote / Jody's willingness to support the climbing community that has made the difference. Hats off to you Jody Maill! Click here to read about Jody's Mexico Adventure when he represented Canada at World. It was a wild adventure.

 

If you would like to show your support to Dustin, Kerry and Jo. Rush will be hosting and on line Auction through e-Bay on April 20th. and May 18th 2008. We are accepting donations of items they don't have to be climbing related or you are welcome to make a bid. 100% of all the profits will be used to pay travel expenses inc. gas, food and lodging. Our goal is to raise $2000.00. Come on Canada, Lets show our support!

Sue.