Dominique Maltais: Canadian Olympic medalist in snowboardcross
We talk to Canadian Olympic medal winner Dominique Maltais (silver at the Turin Games in snowboardcross) about her love of boarding, how she got into the sport, and her plans for the future.
Dominique, how did you get into snowboardcross?
I'm from a small place called Charlevoix near Quebec City. I started snowboarding when I was twelve. I was always riding in the woods, going crazy on jumps and just enjoying free riding and having fun on my board. Then I started to do some stuff and started to do some TV shows and stuff like that. Some of my friends convinced me that I should start competing.
I looked at three options in snowboarding. There was GS, Alpine and Snowboardcross. The reason that I chose Boardercross was because I hadn't done GS before and we did not have an Alpine path at home, so it was Boardercross for sure. I tried it and found that it was totally my kind of sport.
How did you spend your time before your got into boardercross?
I spent all my free days on my board during the winter and then during the summer I would do a lot of downhill biking, swimming, rollerblading, hiking and all that stuff. I quit pretty much everything for my snowboard since I was fifteen years old. I quit pretty much everything for my snowboard when I was fifteen.
During the summer, you're a firefighter for the city of Montreal, right?
Yeah, that's what I like to do. I am studying at the same time to be a firefighter. Before I started competing, I was trying to be a firefighter, and then I got a job in Montreal as a firefighter and at the same time I started having great results. After that I kept working as a firefighter and still competing at the same time. But after the Olympics in 2006 it was so busy for me I just decided to quit my job for the next four years until 2010. I'll see after that if I am going back or not.
Have you always wanted to be a firefighter?
Dominiquwe Maltais, Canadian snowboardcross star. Currently in 7th place overall in the snowboard world cup
That was one of my dreams. I had two dreams in my life when I was young, to become a firefighter and be really good on my snowboard; to be one of the best riders in the world. So yeah, I just went for it. I believed in my dream and did everything I could to reach those two goals.
Who has been most influential in your life?
My family has always been really important for me. I always watched my older sister. She was a model for me. She isn't a firefighter, she doesn't snowboard, but her approach and commitment, the way she does things, has helped me. But naturally it is my friends and family, the people around me.
Have you had to make many sacrifices to be one of the world's best riders?
Dominique Maltais
I had to quit my place for a few years and my studies. And my job is a bit far from where I'm from, at least four hours. I'm from a little village, only 800 people, and I work in Montreal, which is a big city. That was big sacrifice for me. As for snowboarding, you need to travel a lot. The whole thing is when you really enjoy what you are doing it is not really a sacrifice.
Are you ever afraid when you compete?
Yeah for sure. Especially when I came from injury. Back on the course I was really scared about my knee. And some courses are really crazy and you are scared about yourself, you don't want to hurt yourself again.
How do you deal with that fear?
It's hard. I've had a really hard season this year. I didn't spend a lot of time on snow. I didn't train a lot because, well, just for some reason, and trusting my knee was kind of hard too. It's all about experience. If you are doing your race you are still learning about yourself, about racing and competing, and this makes you more confident. Race after race I feel a bit better, or worse when I hurt myself. Right now I think I am on the right path and it is all coming back to me.
Dominique Maltais, medal winner at the Turin Olympic Games
What's the worst part of your sport?
When I am losing. And I hate it when I am riding really well and a girl touches my board and I crash and it is just done for me because she was not riding very well and she cut my line or something like that. That's what I really hate.
And what do you really love about boadercross?
I really enjoy going for a big jump. It's all about snowboarding. I really like it and enjoy it.
Dominique Maltais, hot Canadian medal contender for Vancouver
Finally, what are your plans beyond your sporting career?
I want to be proud when I retire. I am expecting really good results for 2010. I am still looking forward to competing after 2010, but I'll see about after the Olympics. I want to be happy, enjoy life and have new dreams in front of me.
Thanks to SBX Magazine
By Ben Foster
Readers respond
Linni, Chicago Thanks for the write-up on getting in shape for older people. I am a 47 year old female. I used to run and bike alot, up to 12km running a day and 50km a week biking. I gave it up over the years, I felt so tired and just gave up.
Four years later and I am now 30 pounds overweight, flabby tummy, bulky arms, huge saggy breasts. I am about 160 pounds and 5' 3". My average weight has always been between 118 and 128 pounds. I have also been single (not even a date) for nearly 6 years now because of the way I feel about my body. I am inspired by what you write and think there might still be hope for me! Thanks.
How fast can you run a mile at 50?
If you're 50, normal weight, and untrained, you should be able to run a mile in 9 minutes. After three months of training, you should be down to 8 minutes. After six months, you should be capable of 7 mins 15 sex. After two years of serious training without injury, you should be close to six minutes.
John, Petoskey, Michigan I'm looking down both barrels of the big five-oh and having trouble seeing my feet. This coming from a guy who finished the L.A. Marathon three times in his thirties, not to mention many half-marathons and countless 10k's. After knee surgery I started making excuses and now I'm faced with battling my weight ... again. I lost 100 lbs. between the ages of 28 and 30. I'm sure I'll be challenged now more than ever, knowing I won't see the results from years ago, but I still desire them.
Tammi, Knoxville My husband has gotten fat and stayed that way. Knowing that all sex can be is having someone who flabby who weighs 120 lbs more than I do during sex makes me feel depressed about the rest of my life. I will print out this article and hope he reads it.
Malin, Tampa I am so sick of my husband. He is so boring in bed. I think he doesn't love me anymore, or he's just like that ..so tired and out of shape for six long years. I don't know what to do.
Don, Boulder Thanks for the great article. Great encouragement for me to get running again after a few years off after an injury. At 51 I hope to someday feel comfortable running 5 and 10k's, maybe even a marathon if I can be so lucky.