Tafel enjoying change of course, wins NorAm title

It’s a Monday night and Tristan Tafel is stuck in a van somewhere in British Columbia.

Crammed in with ski cross team members, groceries and gear, there’s discussion about how to fit the vehicle and trailer into a tight driveway.

Despite the unglamorous Monday night (March 7), Tafel is still flying high after achieving a huge career goal.

Tafel clinched the overall Nor-Am ski cross title with a second place finish in Big White, B.C.

“It feels good to be back on top,” Tafel said.

Tafel, a former Alberta Alpine ski racer who made the jump to ski cross this year, is now a step closer to making the Canadian National Ski Cross team.

He reached the podium in each competition this year on the NorAm circuit, finished 33rd (only 1/400 of a second out of qualifying) in his lone world cup appearance at Blue Mountain, ON, and appears poised for a breakout season next year.

“This was the main goal. I wanted to fast track to the national team,” Tafel said. “I hope to be on the world cup (circuit) next season. But this year, I learned a lot.”

He spent years in alpine, which included a major leg injury when he was 17, he was told he’d never ski again, and might be lucky to walk. He battled back to stay on the Alberta Alpine squad, but Tafel needed a change – and it appears to have paid off.

“I was kind of sick of the grind with Alpine, and wanted something new and hot, and that’s ski cross,” Tafel said. “Alpine was overkill at times. It was time to take a step back.”

The skills he learned on the Alpine circuit have translated well, though.

“It helps being able to carve properly and take jumps. The regular skill set makes the transition easier. But you have to learn how to draft and pass,” Tafel said.

The young Canmorite was inspired by watching one of his best friends, Robby Balharry, medal at a world cup slopestyle event. The two have a dream of walking shoulder to shoulder at the Olympic opening ceremonies, and the two are well on track to making that happen in 2014.

“It was inspirational to see my best friend do so well,” he said. “We went snowboarding around Christmas this year and had a blast. It’s great to hang out with the boys.”

Likely the biggest change for this season is Tafel is having fun again.

“It’s about having fun and not being so intense. It was time for me to take a step back.”

He credits the entire Bow Valley with helping him reach his goals, by keeping him healthy and motivated.

He also credits coach Stanley Hayer, who has guided him through the season.

“He’s been huge and there for the whole journey.”

He’s also stoked to compete at the ski cross nationals in Lake Louise at the beginning of April.

“I’ve got a lot of friends coming down, so it will be great to compete in front of them,” Tafel said.