THUNDER BAY – A week ago, Jasmine Vardy wasn’t sure she’d be back on skis anytime soon.
Having just come off surgery to repair a tendon in her right hand, her doctors told her it would be about six weeks before they’d let her test things out on the slopes.
A day later, her outlook had changed.
On Friday, the second day of competition at the Ontario Cup Under-16 Finals, the 15-year-old Hammarskjold High School student was tearing down the Giant at Loch Lomond Ski Area, finishing 27th in her first of two giant slalom races of the day in a time of 41.37.
“I wanted to compete today and yesterday because I wanted to show that something bad happened and it can’t hold me down,” said Vardy, who cut her tendon attempting to wax her skis.
“You have to show your resilience through everything that’s going on. I had a great team of people believing in me. I had an amazing surgeon, an amazing physical therapist and I’m just so grateful for everyone around me.”
Doctors had to mold her cast to her ski pole, and it was tough finding the right pair of gloves to wear while racing.
But those are little things, Vardy said, adding she’s pleased with her results through three races.
“Yesterday I came 15th and the second run I came 24th, which gave me an overall position of 20th, which I was very happy with,” she said.
“My run was a little bit bumpy, so I plan on taking a better line and being more early and on it, so I hope that I can do better,” said Vardy.
“The conditions were great, but you really have to stay on the line. It’s really bumpy on some turns, and a little bit icy, but as long as you’re confident on your skis and you’re staying on it, you should be great.”
Lucas Flye, who also skis for the Thunder Bay Franco Alpine Ski Team, clocked in at 40.41 seconds for his first giant slalom run on Friday, good for 31st place.
A Grade 9 student at Hammarskjold, the youngster said being able to compete at an Ontario Cup on a course he’s familiar with is awesome.
“I think it’s really cool,” he said. “It’s kind of a smaller city, a smaller hill compared to the ones (in southern Ontario), so I think it’s cool that they come up here. I don’t think it happens all the time.
“I like ski racing, so that’s why I wanted to compete. I’m kind of a little used to it because we’ve had the U14 provincials. So twice in a row at the home hill is win-win.”
Flye said he’s got an eye on a spot on the Canada Winter Games Team, but realizes it might be a long shot, with so few competitors from the Thunder Bay area taking part this week.
“I don’t think I’m fast enough to qualify, but I can try.”
Racing continues through Sunday and is open to the public to watch for free.
