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My name is Matthew Heldman, and I am a 17-year-old alpine snowboard racer from Toronto. I have been snowboard racing for 10 years with the last two years racing competitively in the open category representing Team Ontario.
I compete mainly in the NorAm Cup series where I have had five top-8 finishes and I was 11th in the overall NorAm Cup standings in 2023. I was also the top-ranked Canadian in slalom and giant slalom at the Canadian Junior Nationals in 2023. Last season I accomplished my goal of qualifying for Junior Worlds, and despite tough competition with 47 athletes from 16 countries, I narrowly missed finals by just .07 seconds.
This season, I am setting my goals even higher and am aiming to obtain a top-10 finish at the 2024 Junior Worlds in Austria. In addition, I am striving to qualify for the World Cup at Craigleith, Blue Mountains, and obtain a top-4 finish at a NorAm Cup this season. My long-term goal is to be awarded a spot on the Canadian NextGen team.
I have been working hard to improve my strength and flexibility during the off-season by going to the gym regularly and playing high school football in the fall. I’m also ramping up my on-snow riding, having just completed a training camp in Quebec this December. Alongside my training and attending competitions, I am also focused on completing my last year of high school and applying to universities for next year.
Thank you for your support.