Hill ‘excited’ to race near hometown, but future in sport uncertain

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“I think it will be the first time my parents are coming to a World Cup. They (events) are usually far away. I tell my parents to go to somewhere nice and warm and enjoy it. It’s a long way to travel so I don’t usually say come to a cold place,” he told Vernon Matters in an interview.

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Hill, 33, says when he was younger, he would feel pressure and stress from friends and family watching.

“So I actually would tell them not to come. I know that sounds funny, but now I think I’m over that stage in my life and I can relax a bit more and enjoy the moment.”

Hill has represented Canada in snowboard cross at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, And the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Hill has won the nationals at Big White in the past, but he says this is a new track and layout.

“I have to qualify first, which is Friday, and then the race is Saturday. And the team event, depending how the seeding goes for the countries, we could be allowed one or two teams, and hopefully there will be a team event for the Canadians on Sunday as well.”

Hill says in a mock race at Sunshine last week, he won some heats and came in fifth against most the competitors who will be at Big White.

“It just depends how the course suits me. I still feel like I can be on the podium. I still feel stong and healthy and I think it will be a big advantage to be in my home town with friends and family.”

Hill isn’t sure yet if he will push for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing China, and one of the reasons is financial.

“The funding levels have been cut for the Canadian team, so this year has been a struggle having to dish out of my own pocket. I’m kind of going broke at competing. It’s a tough one. I would like to be there but if a I can’t afford it, I will retire and end my career. It’s either go for one more with support and funding or retire.”

Hill says he, and other snowboard racers, are not fully funded anymore.

“Every time I go to Europe or come home, I’m getting a bill for $1,000 to $1,500. So it’s taken a little bit of the prestige and fun out of it because it’s tough to really say you’re a Canadian Olympic national team member and you’re paying to compete for Canada. It’s definitely a wierd feeling.”

Hill says because the Canadian team didn’t get any medals in South Korea in 2018, it led to funding reductions from the government.