Speed, strength, guts and focus are all Julia Corrente needs to make her dream of representing Canada at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea a reality.
That’s not a problem for the Chatham native, who is a current member of the Canada Bobsleigh National Development team as a pilot in a 2-woman sled. She is training hard to make the move from the North American Cup circuit to the World Cup circuit and Olympic racing.
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Corrente has all the qualities she needs in spades, as well as the drive and determination to make it happen. In an interview with the Chatham Voice at Performance Fitness and Training where she trains while in Chatham, Corrente went through some of her routine. Easily lifting 45-lbs weights and tossing them on the barbell, the athlete showed how she has made it to where she is – with a tremendous work ethic, the right opportunity at the right time, and support of people who believe in her.
She can get on the ice and pilot her way to a win with the right training and focus, but off the ice, her biggest race is the one to find the financial backing to pay for training, equipment and travelling costs.
Locally, the bobsledder is sponsored by Schinkel’s Gourmet Meats and most recently joining the Corrente team is McAllister Courier. Two businesses in Calgary also back the athlete, Mood Marketing and The Vineyard.
“Schinkel’s was the first one on board and their support has been amazing, and McAllister Courier is also now on the team. The more support and people on my team, the harder I can work and the better I can become,” Corrente said.
Training is different in the sport of bobsledding as there are only two places in Canada that have the facilities to practice runs on the ice – Calgary Olympic Park and Whistler, B.C. On the North American Cup circuit, there are the two Canadian tracks, plus Lake Placid, NY and Park City, Utah.
“We could use a lot more training on the ice. Because I’m a pilot, it takes a lot of time to perfect our speed, and each run only lasts a minute,” Corrente explained. “We don’t do hundreds of runs; we do four-six training runs a day. There is a lot of bumping around and we use helmets, but we try to limit the number of runs.”
In that limited time, bobsledders have to make the most of the on-ice training, working to perfect their speed and focus. Training season on-ice runs from October to March each year.
Corrente put into perspective how challenging training for her solely outdoor winter sport is by comparing it to practising for a basketball player – practising to perfect a jump shot or free throw can be done over and over, all year long, but training to pilot a sled can only be done in one-minute windows, a handful of times a day, for just part of the year.
For off-ice training, Corrente works out hard to improve her strength, and also as a pilot, memorizes tracks and visualizes the run to perfect her timing, and uses what she has in her head when she gets on the track.
“To be the best, you need rest, the best training and equipment and focus,” she said. “As I pilot, I need to be mentally tough; I have to have that focus because one mistake can give you a bad run. To get to that next level, I need to continue to perfect my skills, always be improving myself and getting better – that’s what is going to get me to the next level.”
That next level includes the World Cup Circuit in Europe with more tracks to learn.
“I have more experience on the North American tracks and need time to get to Europe and get knowledge and opportunities for training.”
Athletes bear the cost of training, travel and equipment and can only do so much themselves to be in peak form mentally and physically for each race.
“It’s a struggle; every race is different but the toughest race is finding support. It’s very expensive and all on my shoulders,” the bobsledder explained. “The only way to be the best is to have the best.”
As a Chatham native, and with family in town, Corrente said her relationship with area sponsors is very important to her.
“I grew up in Chatham and there are so many people here I look up to,” she said. “I am really grateful for the people who have gotten behind me, not just financially, but also the people who have been cheering for me. I want to help others as well, inspire them and be someone kids can look up to.”
Corrente said she is very excited going into this season and is headed back to Calgary for more dry-land training before October. The national team uses an indoor arena – the “ice house” – where they can practice the pushing starts on ice where strength and speed are key. Then on-ice team practice races begins.
“Selection races give us our spots on the team for the (2015-16) season and coach will tell us if we are on World Cup or the circuit below World Cup,” Corrente said. “There are eight races for the season, then the world championships. I’m pushing, as well, to get to the World Junior Championships, on option based on performance this season.”
When her season starts in October, the bobsledder hopes it is with the backing of more sponsors, but if not, that will not stop her.
“The financial race is the toughest when you want to be at the top, but it doesn’t stop me from pursuing and fulfilling my dreams. I am going to keep persisting and I am thrilled for any organization who wants to be a part of that,” she said.
Corporate sponsorship packages are available and can be seen on her website, www.juliacorrente.com but Corrente said she also welcomes individual donations and messages from supporters at info@juliacorrente.com.
