MAC Magazine 2018

Individual
SPORTING SUCCESS
Winter Games
Maggie Little
Result or highlight?
10 th place women's slopestyle,
11 th place women's halfpipe
Favourite part about competing in your
hometown?
Mum making me yummy
dinners and sleeping in my
own bed.
Pre-competition pump up tune?
In the air- Phil Collins
What is your spirit animal when you are
skiing?
Flying fish
Rory Johns
Result or highlight?
Shredding with
the big dogs
Pre competition pump
up tune?
Africa - Toto
What is your spirit
animal when you are
boarding?
Koala
Campbell Wright
Result or highlight?
7 th in 10km skate interval start-
Winter Games NZ
Pre-competition pump up tune?
I don’t care (I love it)- Icona Pop
What is your spirit animal when you are
skiing/boarding?
Capybara
How do you handle competition nerves?
I don’t really get nervous, but when I
do I slam some caffeine.
Ben Harrington
Chloe McMillan
Result or highlight?
Unfortunately I did my knee in
training and couldn’t compete. But
I enjoyed the hot chocolate in the
medical room.
Favourite part about competing in your hometown?
Well, Hamilton doesn't have a lot
of snow, or hills, or ski comps. But
competing in my second home is
awesome.
Pre competition pump up tune?
Anything Michael Jackson
Result or highlight?
Finishing 9 th in slopestyle and
4 th in halfpipe.
What is your spirit animal when you are
skiing/boarding?
My dog because he’s cool and I
like my dog.
How do you handle competition nerves?
I drop fire dance moves at the
top of the course.
Luca Harrington
Result or highlight?
I got an award for being
the highest scored under
16 in slopestyle
What is your spirit animal when
you are skiing?
Probably a penguin.
Super small but fast
down the slopes. Super
light so I always nuckle
the jumps. But fast at
flips because I weigh
just as much as a fat
penguin.
How do you handle competition
nerves?
I don't, I’m yet to figure
that one out.
98 MAC Mag 18 18
The Youth Olympic Games, as clichéd as it sounds, were an experience of a lifetime. The ‘Olympics’
is a name known to everyone. Except, for me, it was more than that. It was a passion, a dream and
a goal that I used to define my life and who I was.
It’s reality didn’t disappoint. However, I quickly realised that it wasn’t just about competing against
the world’s best. It encompasses more than the area between the start and finish line. Despite
the five days of racing being a highlight due to the constant adrenaline rush, the people and the
village were also high points. From the slightly disappointing to incredible race results, it made a
dramatic effect on who I am. It gave me a spark of confidence that, ‘I am good enough’ and that I
belong there. It is a very rewarding feeling, especially with the challenge of racing five days in a row.
When recovery is a primary focus, to ensure you are ready to go fast the next day, you would
have to fight the urge to join in in the activities occurring at the village where we stayed. Activities
consisted of a circus corner, yoga, karaoke, speeches, pool-table soccer, spray painting and more.
This combined with the atmosphere stained with everyone’s happiness made me feel so elated - I
was breathing the very air that I had dreamed.
From the airport where nervous excitement bounced from athlete to athlete which continued when I was standing in a sea of international athletes,
to competing at the Green Park and to the sad goodbyes to close friends I had made, this journey was a goal come true.
I had never expected my cycling to bring me this incredible opportunity and I am so appreciative of all the support I have received.
Phoebe Young
MAC Mag 18
99