Dapp’s Levi Foster is a national snowboard cross champion.
Competing at the Canadian Snowboard Cross Championships April 3-6 at Big White in Kelowna, B.C., Foster out on top in the under-14 division, beating out two snowboarders from Ontario for the title.
“It’s really quite overwhelming,” he said. “I’m happy.”
Heading into the final race, Foster was confident in his skills, but didn’t believe he would do well as he did.
“I thought I could make podium, but I didn’t think I’d get first,” he said, explaining the competition featured some of the best junior-aged snowboard cross athletes in the country, which made the event unlike other competitions he’s been to.
“It was different,” he said. “It was really exciting because they were the top competitors from across the country and I was involved in that.”
Foster, 15, has been snowboarding in general for 10 years, and only took up snowboard cross three years ago. He gives credit to his coach, Bill Laing, for getting him to where he is today.
Snowboard cross is a sport that sees four athletes race down a course at a time, with the first one to the finish line declared the winner. The course often includes jumps, banked corners and other obstacles, he said.
Foster spent this winter travelling out to Powder King in the Prince George, B.C. area to train, and competed on a race circuit that included stops in Kelowna and Prince George.
When it comes to his future as a snowboarder, he said he dreams of one day competing in the Olympics or the X Games.
In order to get there, he said he’s going to have to compete in higher and higher level events as he gets older.
With spring’s grip extending further with each passing day, Foster is preparing for a summer of training to stay at the same level he’s at now so he’ll be ready to improve once the snowboarding season starts again in the fall.
Training as a snowboarder includes regular workouts, and participating in sports like wakeboarding, which uses the same muscles as snowboarding.
