Kyla Vanderzwet of Port Elgin will be traveling to Kazakstan to compete in the 28th annual Universiade Games to represent Canada in Nordic Skiing. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

Port Elgin’s Kyla Vanderzwet is 89 days away from taking the trip of a lifetime to Kazakhstan, where she will represent Canada in the Universiade Games and compete in Nordic Skiing. The 27 year-old is currently in Medical School at Western University in London, Ontario; after completing a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree at Carleton and Guelph Universities.

Vanderzwet started cross-country skiing in high school after years of downhill skiing with her family. “The high school coach encouraged me to go out to practices with a local club team. I was hesitant at first,” said the 27 year-old, adding that the coach asked her more than once. “Finally I went to a Georgian Bay Nordic practice with her and have been hooked ever since.”

She said that when she trains in Bruce County she tries to stick to country roads with proper pavement and light traffic and admits that although she does like the North Shore trail from Port Elgin to Southampton, it’s not long enough.

The skier said that cross-country skiing is a sport where she can always improve, whether in technique or fitness gains. “I guess it’s a goal without a finish line in that regard. I also thrive on having training as part of my day because it feels good to be active,” said Vanderzwet, adding that it also helps that she’s competitive and wants to “stay in the game”.

Vanderzwet received gold at the Ontario University Athletics Championships in 2015 and silver at the Nationals. She's competed in numerous Ontario and Quebec Cups as well as University, National and North American races.

Second only to the winter Olympics, the Universiade Games is run by the International University Sports Federation and takes place every two years, each time in a different city. The event, now in its 28th year, is set to take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 29 to February 8 with over 2,000 athletes from 55 countries competing. Vanderzwet will have a chance to participate in five races.

“In my mind these games were the highest level of competition that I could imagine going to. I was very excited when I was invited to compete with the Canadian team,” said Vanderzwet, who said the sport has helped her learn the value of community.

“Even though its an individual sport you need a ton of support from coaches, family and team mates; and you have to feed back into that system at the same time to keep it going.”

Vanderzwet said her main focus right now is training as well as her school work and isn't focusing on fundraising at the moment, however her mother Holly Vanderzwet, owner of Fitness Corner and Fitness Corner South is trying to help alleviate some her daughter’s costs.

“Fitness Corner very kindly helped me to set up a fundraising page,” said Kyla. “If anyone would like to make donations to help me participate in the event they can do that on the Fitness Corner website.” Anyone who donates will, in return, receive a $10 gift certificate to Fitness Corner.

http://fitnesscorner.ca/kyla-vanderzwet-compete-world-university-games/

Kyla Vanderzwet (left) with teammate Sheila Kealy at the University Nationals in Whitehorse in 2015. Photo submitted