Zac Hoffman, 15, and his brother Josh, 17, of Thornhill are members of the Ontario freestyle moguls ski team. Even when the season turns warm, they are in training. STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN
Thornhill
May 26, 2008 04:08 PM
John Cudmore, Staff Writer
No snow? No problem.
Josh and Zac Hoffman, whose goal is to navigate the ups and downs as far as they can in freestyle moguls, can wait for the snow.
For the Thornhill brothers it is all about getting prepared for next season with the Ontario moguls team and an eye toward cracking Canada’s men’s roster.
At this time of year, the brothers are skateboarding, running, bouncing and splashing down in the water. It is a regimen that sounds like great fun, but the Hoffmans are actually in full training as they prepare to take their positions on the squad for the 2008-09 season.
The brothers were two of five members on last season’s squad. Both are focused on moving forward eventually to the national development team, although at 17, Josh has a leg up on his 15-year-old brother.
“A lot of people think we must have a rivalry, but it’s not like that at all,” said Zac. “We’re just trying to support each other and do well. He probably helps me more than I help him, but I try.”
“I’m just competing against myself and the scores I got previously. But making a World Cup would be great.”
The brothers have been on skis almost as long as they have been able to walk. Both started skiing at two.
Not surprising since their dad, Lloyd, was an Ontario freestyle skiing champion in his day.
“I was thinking about snowboarding because I was getting bored with skiing,” recalled Josh of his foray into freestyle skiing in a beginner’s program. “I tried Bumps & Jumps and was hooked.”
Zac followed his bother into the sport because it looked like fun.
“It tests a lot more than just your skiing,” said Josh, a Grade 12 student at Blyth Academy. “It’s still 50 per cent moguls, but also agility and strength, so it combines different elements. It’s almost two sports because it combines aerials and moguls.”
Marks are also awarded for aerial tricks and speed.
In the 2006-07 season, Josh was a member of the main Ontario team while his younger brother accumulated enough points as a member of the provincial developmental team to qualify for a squad after several members departed.
“Moguls is my strength,” said Josh, whose career best is a third in dual moguls, achieved last season at the junior national championships. “It comes more naturally. Zac is more of a natural at jumps.”
Josh is approaching the time he will need to decide between university studies and the slopes. He feels a season with the development team will tell the tale.
“I’ll start to see if I can make the national team and if I can get to the World Cup circuit.”
Zac’s best result as he competed on the Canadian and NorAm tours last season was a 12th-place finish at a Canadian tour event in Calgary.
Due to the size of the squad, he gained valuable experience.
“I think it’ll be the same this year but I’d like to do more NorAms if I can,” said the younger brother. “I was lucky because the team is so small I get to go to everything.”
Much will depend upon the training season where the foundation is laid for competition.
Off-season training means, among other things, hitting the trampoline to work on moves before taking it to the water at a camp in Quebec City.
“You get used to being in the air and knowing where you are in the air,” said Zac. “The main thing is fear. Most people wouldn’t get into it because they’re scared of falling. I always have liked jumping and being in the air.”