Olympic Hopeful, Aleisha Cline, Risks Setting Her Toque on Fire As She Participates in Torch Relay

Victoria, British Columbia (November 2nd, 2009)

With just over a hundred days to go until the Opening Ceremonies at the Vancouver Olympic Games the torch landed on Canadian soil and began what would be an historic journey across the country. Traveling for 106 days and covering over 45,000 kilometres, the torch relay leading up to the games is the longest domestic relay in Olympic history.

Canadian Ski Cross Team member and Olympic team hopeful, Aleisha Cline was there on Day 3 to secure her place in Olympic torch history. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, when I was asked I thought, ‘how can you turn something like this down?!’” said Cline about her decision to participate in the torch relay.

Accompanied by her entourage comprised of her two children, Asia, age 18 months, Isaac, age 3 and her best friend Kim, who Cline suggests, “has been my best friend since we were kids and she’s been with me though all the crazy stunts I’ve pulled.”

Cline waited for her turn where the excitement of the situation really started to take hold, “ the nerves were really high, I was excited but I didn’t know what to expect.” When asked how her kids reacted to all the excitement, “they cried their eyes out, not because of the event but because I was leaving them! Later Isaac got a chance to hold the torch and he figured it was pretty cool.”

When asked about the run Cline said, “When they lit my torch it was really exciting and I started running. I was just getting into it and figuring out how to run without lighting my hat on fire and it was over, I felt sadness. Then they came over and extinguished my flame and disabled my torch, which made me feel even sadder! All in all though it was a great opportunity and a lot of fun!”

With the final selection for the Canadian Ski Cross Olympic Team not taking place until January 25, 2010, Cline still has to qualify for the Olympics, when asked how running the torch sets the tone for her Olympic experience she replied, “it took a while to sink in and it wasn’t till a day or two later when I was in the gym training that I was able to put it all into perspective, participating in the torch relay was a once in a lifetime chance and I’m so glad I did it but it really has no baring on my Olympic Team bid. I have to ski like I know I can and qualify, giving myself another opportunity for a once in a life time opportunity.”

For more information on Aleisha Cline you can view her athlete profile on our website HERE.

Follow the Torch as it makes it way across Canada.