To Russia, with love. And lots of support from her home town.
That's the idea behind a fundraising weekend for Carle Brenneman, a 23-year-old snowboard cross competitor from Comox who has her sights set on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
On Friday, Oct. 11 there is a Gala Social with a silent auction and live music at the Black Fin Pub ground level room. Advance tickets are $20 and available at Scorpio's Hair Design (211 Church Street in Comox) and Trousers (243 Fifth Street in Courtenay). Space is limited.
On Saturday, Oct. 12 the public is invited to attend to Go Carle! Retro Aerobics Party at the Comox Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and there are prizes for the best retro-spandex outfits plus complimentary refreshments.
"Join Carle and some local aerobics queens who will be kicking it to the tunes of the '80s," organizer Jill Nelson said.
Nelson notes Brenneman has been finding out out just how supportive her home community is. "She states that it is very heartwarming for her to realize how many people are coming forward with ways to help fundraise for her very important training schedule in order for her to be the best she be at the Sochi Olympics."
Those unable to attend the Oct. 11-12 fundraisers can still offer their support at www.carlebrenneman.
Brenneman is no stranger to Sochi; she placed 15th at a World Cup event there in February. In 2012 she placed ninth at a World Cup stop in Valmalenco, Italy and ninth at the X-Games in Aspen, Colorado.
Her busy 2011 season included a second place at the Canadian Nationals in Lake Louise while in 2010 she was second at the South American Cup in Chapelco, Argentina and third at Canadian Nationals in Mt. Tremblant.
On her website, Brenneman notes that, "Growing up in Comox on Vancouver Island was a privilege. Living just two minutes from the ocean and a half hour drive from a mountain is something some people can only dream of...... I was lucky enough to live that dream.
"I started skiing at the age of three and pretty much grew up on the snow with family and friends on Mount Washington after that.
"At 13 I decided to try something different, snowboarding. A few lessons with friends and that was it, I was hooked for life!!! During my junior and high school years I belonged to the snowboard team. That way I could justify the time away from class shredding the mountain with friends. I even managed to convince my parents to let me home school for one term so that I could spend my days on Mount Washington boarding.
"All those days of snowboarding must have paid off because in my last year of high school I won the Provincial high school chamiponship for both individual and team.
"This led the BC Snowboard cross team to invite me to try out. Once I was on the B.C. SBX team I moved to Whistler where I could sharpen my skills with the support of a coach and team.
"It's been a long hard journey but in 2011 I was able to join the Canadian National Snowboard Cross team. I now compete all over the world for Canada in hopes to one day be the World Cup champion."