Emily Dickson was honoured as the athlete of the year during PacificSport's fourth annual Fan the Flame event for her efforts in biathlon.
The 15-year-old native of Burns Lake took her skis and rifle with her when she moved east to live with her older sisters and attend the PacificSport Northern B.C. sport school in an effort to improve her technique in biathlon. She said many people are taken aback when they learn she carries a gun.
"They're a little shocked," said Dickson. "Most people don't know too much about biathlon, so when I say I'm a biathlete they ask what is that, 'Swimming and biking?' No, it's skiing and shooting. Then they say, 'OK, maybe I won't mess with you.'"
Joking aside, Dickson said her decision to move was the right one. Not only did Dickson qualify for her first international biathlon, the world youth championship in Austria last January, but she's on the radar of the Canadian national training team as a biathlete to watch for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
"It was pretty shocking when I got the email," said Dickson. "It's a training squad that just recognizes athletes that, I guess show some potential. It'll be tough when it actually comes. Once I made worlds they put me on the radar."
When she went to Austria, Dickson was competing against older, more experienced athletes since the youngest age category at international events starts at 17.
Andrew Casey, biathlon coach at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, said he wasn't surprised Dickson qualified for her inaugural worlds event so young.
"She puts a lot of time and effort in," said Casey. "She's quite a committed and focused girl and mature for her age. All those factors really help in developing her athletic abilities and she's got great family support."
Casey added that for Dickson the worlds experience wasn't about winning but with acclimatizing her for future international competitions.
"Her focus going into it was completely as a learning experience and to figure out what it's like to travel to Europe for a race and how to get over the jet lag, figure out the nutrition and work out the bugs at that level of racing," he said.
Dickson concurred that the time she spent in Austria would help her going forward as she pursues higher levels of competition and a place on the 2015 Canada Winter Games team.
"It was great to get the experience so young that I know next year when I'm stronger I'll know what to do without freaking out on the world stage," said Dickson.
After taking a month off, Dickson began her off-season training April 30, which includes roller skiing while "trying to avoid the potholes on the Prince George roads," in preparation for when the snow flies in the fall.
"I made the choice to move here and I haven't looked back," said Dickson.