By Ewen McRae
Bacchus Marsh ski racer Lucy Savona is off to France this week to take part in the World Championships, but it has been far from an easy ride.
The 24-year-old grew up on the water but it has taken her several years to realise her potential before eventually cracking the Australian team this year.
“I started ski racing when I was about 15,” Savona said.
“It’s a very family-oriented sport, and my family has a holiday house up at Echuca so we’d go there every year and ski, and it’s just always been a part of our family.
“[But] I wasn’t that good when I started, I definitely started at the bottom of the pack, but I never gave up and strove to get to where I am now.
“It’s taken me nine years to get this far.”
Savona said she raced for fun until she was 18.
“I decided I really wanted to give this a crack … it’s taken six years from that point to making the team,” she said.
“In 2015 I went for my first Worlds team, and I missed out … then in 2017 I made the team as a reserve and went to America, but basically just sat on the bench.
“It was a good experience, but I wanted more.”
Most ski races in Australia are run as a race style – trying to complete a course in the quickest time – but the world championships are done on a circuit for 45 minutes, and whoever is in front when time expires is the winner.
Savona said getting the chance to pull on the green and gold in her chosen sport was a dream come true.
“I’m pretty proud and honoured to represent Australia,” she said.
“The selection process is quite competitive in Australia because it’s such a strong sport, so it was nine months of selection trials to get to this point. I’m just so excited to get over there and compete.
“I’ve skiied every single weekend for almost a year now to get to this point so now I just want to get there.”
Lucy will travel to Vichy in France with her dad, Anthony, who will drive the boat at the championships from September 7 to 15.
