Huntly cross-country skier Andrew Musgrave insists his lack of major games’ experience will count for nothing as he looks to make his Winter Olympic bow in the men’s 15km individual freestyle.
The 19-year-old will be one of just a handful of teenagers on the start line at the Whistler Olympic Park in the Vancouver Games today and almost 21 years younger than the oldest competitor – Dachhiri Sherpa, of Nepal.
And while conceding it may be men against boys on the Canadian slopes, Musgrave is adamant he can give his older opponents a run for their money.
“I think most teams are going to have mainly guys in their mid to late 30s and some will have guys in their 40s who are going to be winning medals,” said Musgrave, who will be joined by fellow Huntly athlete Andrew Young.
“But I haven’t found it too strange ski-ing as one of the youngest.
“We’ve got Andrew as well and he is probably going to be one of the very youngest so we’re a youthful team and it looks good for the future.
“I’m used to Andrew being in the team and ski-ing with me so I don’t find it unusual that we are a young team, but I guess some teams might.
“But because I have broken through at such a young age I am confident in my ability – although I am well aware I still have a very long way to go.
“I always go into a race aiming to go as hard as I can, there are no half measures from me.
“I wouldn’t like to get into a position where I can be in a competitive event only going half tilt – I think that would be a dangerous game to get involved with.”
Despite his tender years Musgrave is far from inexperienced having made his World Cup debut in November 2008 and having now amassed 12 races on the circuit since.
However, the Huntly skier has never experienced Canadian snow and took the opportunity to compete in Canmore for a World Cup race just nine days ago in order to do so.
Musgrave finished 69th in the men’s 15km freestyle on the Alberta slopes and admitted he is all the better for doing so ahead of his first Olympic run.
“It was useful to get a little bit of experience on the Canadian snow,” added Musgrave, who is also pencilled in to compete in the men’s individual sprint classic, the pursuit and the 50km mass start.
“But to be honest I haven’t really noticed any difference between Canada and Europe where I do most of my skiing.
“We’ve got our own wax technician though and he goes through the best types for us before we start. I then decide myself which skis I think are the most suitable so we can be flexible.”
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