See How She Got Started in the OUA

Anchored in the efforts to spotlight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) student-athletes, the initiative See How She Got Started showcases and tells the story of how some of the conference’s talented student-athletes first got involved in sport and have made their way to the varsity stage on which they currently shine.  It is also hoped that their stories can inspire young athletes to aspire to compete in varsity-level sports.

 

 

Meet OUA Student-Athlete Rochelle Lariviere

University - 

University of Ottawa

 

Sport -

Nordic Skiing

 

Year of Eligibility -

1st Year

 

Hometown - 

Sudbury, Ontario 

 

Program of Study - 

Economics and Political Science 

 

 

How did you first get involved in your sport?

Because I lived in a rural area, the ski trails were the closest facility for winter sports. There was a nordic ski team team that operated out these facilties and offered youth coaching programs.

 

What most interested you about your sport that made you want to pursue it at a high level?

When I first started sking, I accidentally signed up with an experienced team. I would often get very discouraged at practice because I couldn't keep up. By skiing on my own, I came to appreciate the experience and this made want to ski more often. Eventually, I caught up to the racers I initially had started skiing with.  

 

Was there a specific moment/experience that led you to believe you could compete in your sport at a high level, and if so, what was it?

For me, it wasn't so much a specific moment or experience. It meant instead of thinking about whether or not I could be as fast as the other racers, I asked myself if I could ski the race courses and give it my all. The next part was to prove it.  

 

What is your fondest memory/experience of being involved in your sport thus far?

My fondest memory/experience would have to be a ski fundraiser in Walden that required participants to ski in costume. Ski conditions were perfect. The event itself was very lighthearted and my family got to ski as well. The event finished with the chance to warm up with hot chocolate at the finish. Overall, just a perfect day of skiing. 

 

Is there someone who inspires you to continue to pursue your sport at this high level (i.e., coach, professional athlete, family member, etc.) and what makes them an inspiration to you?

While I am the first person in my family to take up high level sport, there are quite a few paralympic nordic skiiers in Walden. I've always admired their commitment to nordic skiing and their ability to overcome challenges.   

 

What excites you most about continuing your athletic journey at the varsity level within the OUA?

As a first year student, there's been much for me to discover at the varsity level of nordic skiing. Mainly, it's an occasion for me to follow my passion for sport and academics simultaneously, and train even harder than before with athletes of all kinds of backgrounds. 

 

 

What is/are some of the more unique aspect(s) of your sport that others may not know about? 

Sking at night is a completely different experience than during the day. I would also say that night races are perhaps the most exhilarating of all the ones I've done to date.    

 

If someone else was looking to start playing your sport, what one piece of advice would you give them to get them started?

If there was someone I knew who was looking to start in nordic skiing, I would tell them not to compare yourself to other skiers. I would also tell not to think of it as work. Sking is a sport that is open and to be enjoyed by all - regardless of age or experience. 

 

What is one critical thing that you do to try to continue to experience improvement within your sport (i.e., specific drill/exercise, training regimen, routine, etc.)?

For me, one critical thing I do to continue toexperience improvement is adding another ounce of difficulty with each ski. It can include trying to cut a few seconds off my time; adding a few hundred meters more to my training, or tackling a bigger hill.

 

What would you say to your 10-year-old self about playing and staying in sport?

I would tell my 10-year-old self that coming in last is not a crime.  If you like a sport, there is no reason to quit it.     

 

Is there one strategy that you find works well for you in creating a positive student/athlete balance in your life?

For me, I like using exercise as a study tool and vise versa. For example, I like to tape my notes to the exercise bike. I also try to distract myself from "the burn" during my workout by contemplating about what I've learned. 

 

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Head to the SWSCD Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate and review programs, local community offerings and businesses that will help you do your thing.  

Start a group around a physical activity in your neighbourhood. Explore events. Check out our SWSCD Hub.

Look for advice, stories, news and more on our Cross Country Skiing activity page.  

Have a sport, recreation or physical activity accomplishment you'd like to celebrate and shout out through SWSCD?  Become a SWSCD member and share your story directly on SeeWhatSheCanDo. Or, simply add the hashtag #seewhatshecando to your public social media posts and SWSCD can help you inspire others around you.