Steve's new run (Update)

Burgi Omischl and Jim Forsyth were on hand for the naming ceremony of Laurentian Ski Hill's new run. Photo by Kate Adams.

North Bay’s Steve Omischl just keeps giving the city cause to gush with pride ... in the opening event of the World Cup freestyle aerial season in China Omischl added another checkmark in the win column.

Reports indicate that his first jump was better than his second; however, he still finished 10 points ahead of the second place Belarusian skier.

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With two overall World Cup freestyle aerial championships under his belt City Councillor Dave Mendicino felt it was time for the city to honour Steve Omischl and on Thursday a run at Laurentian Ski Hill was named in his honour.

The reigning World Cup champion is in China for start of the 2007-08 World Cup season and could not be present for the ceremony, however, he sent 2 ambassadors who played a huge role in his success mom Burgi Omischl and his very first coach Jim Forsyth.

Forsyth told Baytoday that from the first time he met the 2 time Olympian he never had any doubt that Omichl would take the world by storm and represent the city well.

“He was never afraid to do things ... he was the first kid to arrive at the hill and the last one to leave,” says Forsyth.

“Steve is a huge supporter of North Bay and of the community and to give back to him is a great thing to do.”

“Success had not gone to his head,” he adds.

The following is a message Omischl sent for Forsyth to read during the naming ceremony.

Thanks very much for this great honour. I never would have believed 15 years ago that I might one day have a run named after me, on the hill I grew up skiing. When I was young I thought the ski hill might ban me for life for building and taking too many jumps -- and now here we are today…

I think it’s very important to also acknowledge some of North Bay’s accomplished skiers with today’s announcement – without people like Kate Pace and her great impact on the community I’m sure I might not have believed I could have make it to the Olympics either.

David Nighbor is doing the same in cross country skiing for the kids in that discipline.

Hopefully, in years to come people can see the efforts of past athletes and dream big. Starting on a small hill will never limit where you can turn. Flip or race to!

I only hope the next of athletes and skiers can work on tricks that might one day bring them to the Olympics on this very run – Just like I did.

Thanks for this great honour! I’m extremely proud to have Laurentian as my home mountain!