2009 National Orienteering Team
Athlete Profiles

Patrick Goeres

Personal website http://patrickgoeres.blogspot.com

Age: 24
Currently Living: Vancouver
Club: Coureurs de Bois
Occupation: full time athlete

How long ago did you start orienteering?
7 years

How many WOC’s have you been to?
2006 Denmark, 2008 Czech Republic

What is your best WOC result?
2008 Czech Republic - 8th Sprint Qualification, 44th Final

What are your goals this year at WOC?
Sprint top 20, Long Top 30, Relay lead group 1st leg

What keeps you motivated to train for the sport?
The challenge of constantly improving myself. The opportunity to pursue a sport to the highest level possible. The inspiring and motivating people you meet as a result.

What is your favourite event?
Barebones in Canmore! Fantastic orienteering, spectacular views, relaxed atmosphere, cool place, great people.

Do you have a pre-race ritual?
If so, please share. Early morning run, good coffee, oatmeal, some tunes.

What would be your best orienteering memory?
Standing on the start line for the Sprint Final at WOC last year - I had a great qualification race in the morning and placed ahead of two former world champs, Novikov and Georgiou. That meant I started several minutes after them in the Final. When I began my preparations for WOC 2009, my goal was to be able to stand at the start line and look back over the past months and say that I had done absolutely everything in my power to be ready. When I stood on the podium at the start of the sprint final, I thought about all the good times leading up to that moment and all I could do was grin. My training took me through Utah, California, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Hamilton, and back to Winnipeg. I received a huge amount of support from friends and family along the way and I'm extremely thankful to them. It was a motivating and humbling experience, and I'm very excited for next year!