Six months out from the London Olympics, and qualifier Mike Dawson has already run in to some problems.
And being a fringe sport in New Zealand means resources aren't always available.
“There’s not much financial backing for slalom and we don’t have the courses or big infrastructure behind us,” Dawson says.
But what the sport lacks in resources, it makes up for with some good ol' Kiwi ingenuity.
“We had to think a little outside the square to make sure we can get the most out of off-season training, and that meant building our own course.”
“We found some trees, strung some wires to [them], and sort of made a rudimentary slalom course there.”
It's this sort of commitment that's landed Dawson his Olympic break. Last September, he became just the fourth New Zealander to qualify for the games.
Disappointment struck the 25-year-old four years ago, but those memories are now washed away.
“Four years ago, I missed qualification for Beijing. I just had a bad day at the office, and so that was kind of the demon’s plan in my mind when I was qualifying for London.”
Dawson's just completed the New Zealand Open, where he placed eighth overall, and will travel to Australia for the Australian Open and Oceania champs over the next month.
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