With his post-secondary skiing days behind him, Konrad Wiltmann would like to be part of the revival of the nordic program of the Laurentian Voyageurs - and he believes the team is in place to do just that.
A member of the team from 2008 to 2012, Wiltmann joined forces with head coach Alison Godwin and wax technician Dave Tindall, looking to take a crack at the top-four OUA elite in recent years: Lakehead Thunderwolves, Carleton Ravens, Nipissing Lakers and Guelph Gryphons.
A native of Dillon, Ont., on the shore of Georgian Bay north of Parry Sound, Wiltmann followed directly in the footsteps of his older brother, Victor, pursuing a family passion engrained through their father from the time they were young.
The highlight of his skiing career thus far was qualifying for the "B" finals in 2010 at the Canadian Championships in Whitehorse, Yk. Wiltmann continues to ski, though more and more of his time and energies are drifting towards coaching.
"This is my first year of coaching with the varsity team," he said. "I did a little bit on coaching on the side over the past few years, jackrabbits and stuff."
The 2015-2016 season allowed Wiltmann to assess the state of the LU team now, while maintaining a keen eye on the future of the program.
"I would say that this was a bit of a rebuilding year," he said.
Not an easy chore in the world of varsity nordic skiing. The sport is not contested on a national level, at least not in terms of formal CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) Championships. The OUA schedule is limited to just the provincial championship meet — which is precisely why the Voyageur athletes also compete regularly in club events.
Wiltmann and others see part of the rebuilding of the Laurentian team as requiring a simultaneous focus on encouraging the growth of the club teams in the area.
With former teammate Brendan Waddell now at the helm of the competitive program with the Walden Cross-Country Ski and Fitness Club, Wiltmann is hopeful an era of collaboration might help expand the reach of a sport they both love.
