Tommy Pitman could be forgiven for having mixed emotions when he learned he was headed to the Canada Winter Games.
The 17-year-old Warfield snowboardcross racer was one of two athletes named to the B.C. snowboard team that will represent the province at the Games next month in Halifax.
And while he’s relishing the thought of competing on the national stage, he’s also headed to the event without his twin brother Mitch.
Tommy Pitman and Nakusp’s Alex Thorp were selected to compete at the Canada Winter Games while Mitch Pitman was named as an alternate.
“It’s going to be weird,” admitted Tommy, adding he’s never been to a competition without his brother.
The duo have been competing together for the past few years and were part of the Canadian contingent that travelled to New Zealand for comeptition last August.
Tommy Pitman explained the selection critieria is based on last year’s results and the number of racers is determined by population.
“So they only took two guys from B.C. but 10 from Ontario,” said Tommy Pitman.
It doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy competing with his brother this season. The Pitmans have moved up to the Nor-Am circuit this season and posted great results against international fields in two events this year.
Two weeks ago at Big White in Kelowna, both brothers cracked the top-20. Tommy finished 12th and 17th in the two days of racing while Mitch was 17th and 20th. Last weekend, the duo was at Mt. Hood in Oregon where Tommy placed 15th and 12 and Mitch finished 33rd and 29th.
Next up is a trip to California for a Nor-Am event at the beginning of February.