Emily Brydon of Fernie, B.C., will compete in the super giant slalom, downhill and super combined at Whistler, B.C., in February. A two-time Olympian, the 29-year-old placed second and third at the Lake Louise, Alta., downhill in December.
Your family is your first line of support for training. But in terms of time, coaching, is there any particular dollar amount they set for you?
I think I have unique support in that sense. I am an only child. I grew up with my mother and father. We didn't have very much money at all. I worked very hard for what I have now. My dad's from Ontario and he didn't ski growing up. So I didn't come from a ski background. My dad was a lift operator and a golf superintendent in the summer.
Running the lift?
Yes, he would load the lift. Skiing was something we did as a family growing up, they didn't know anything about skiing though. They just supported me and loved me and opened the doors and let me learn from my teachers, and learn from experts.
What about the Olympic course in Whistler?
It helps that it's one of my favourite runs in the world. I just love everything in the course. It's a slower course, slower in the terrain, but it makes up for it in the jumps, so I find that part very challenging. The downhill is exciting.
People are interested in what makes an Olympic athlete. What do you eat, etc?
I eat a lot more in the winter than I do in the summer because I'm constantly burning, burning the calories much faster.I think that, essentially, food is your fuel. Do you do a lot of weights?
I do a lot of weights. I found that if I don't, I actually hurt my body.
What's the difference between winning gold, silver or bronze?
I'm here to win the gold. My goal is to go into my race day 100-per-cent satisfied and confident that I've done everything in my power to be in the best position possible. ... I can't be in control of my competitors.
What would it mean to be another Nancy Greene?
I think she's so legendary, she's done so much for sport, for women's sport, for everyone in sport. I think it would be an honour. I think it would take more than a gold medal to surpass that, what she's done.
Dollar wise, what would it be worth to win a gold?
I think it's different for everybody, for sport. I think the money, if you win, it doesn't come in immediately, it comes in once you have the value, when you continue to compete. If I was to do more speeches, that's when you get your value.
How did you leave last year behind and start fresh this year.
I had the best start to a season that I've ever had. I had the best intervals since 2004. I had lot of great opportunities, but I got sick, and I just never bounced back. I started to crash. I had three massive crashes last [season] and as soon as you crash, your confidence has that spiral effect down.
What was the sickness?
I had laryngitis, bronchitis. I had pneumonia in the fall, but I think I got it again, like I coughed all night. Eye infection, ear infection, everything. So my balance, my reaction was off, just things I would never do.
Have you felt the confidence grow?
As of right now I have no doubts. I have no doubts. I focus on my experiences. I know now that I can do it. I can be on that podium. I felt that. And I know the path ahead I have to take.