Federal Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser MP presented Australian Junior Downhill Ice Cross Champion, Connan McRae, with an Australian Flag.
Mr McRae will travel to Finland and Russia to represent Australia in the extreme winter sport, Downhill Ice Cross which is an ice skating race on a BMX-like track.
Mr Leeser congratulated Mr McRae for his achievement in the sport.
“Connan is a remarkable young man. He is one of two Australians competing overseas in this unique winter sport and displays an extraordinary level of dedication. Connan drives to Newcastle every weekend for training from 11pm to 3am in the morning. This is a remarkable commitment and shows what’s possible when you set goals and strive to do your best. I wish Connan the very best of luck in his competitions in Finland and Russia,” said Mr Leeser.
Mr McRae grew up locally in Hornsby and Westleigh, attended Pacific Hills Christian School and is about to become a Rover at Scouts Normanhurst 1st.
Mr McRae explained how he got into the sport, his grueling training schedule and what he enjoys most about Downhill Ice Cross.
“I love the cold weather and can’t think of any sport more fun on skates than racing down a track with jumps, sharp corners and high speeds,” said Mr McRae.
“I started doing recreational skating at Macquarie Ice Rink and when I saw this sport, I knew it was something that I had to get involved in. I applied for the Race and Riders cups and started training for the international competitions. I train everyday – I do ice skating and inline skating during the week and travel to Newcastle on Friday nights and train with my coach, John Kennedy from NSA Hockey, at the local ice rink after hours when the centre is closed. John has been the biggest help in my on ice training and I have improved an incredible amount under his coaching,” said Mr McRae.
Mr McRae will first travel to Finland and then on to Russia for his first Red Bull Crashed Ice season.
