Sienna |Biophillic

Here's an article a classmate wrote about me!

Through the Ice and Snow

As she kicks the gate open she goes ripping down the hill, racing against the clock and barely dodging gates and carving through ice to make it past the finish line. Sienna Houvenaeghel, a 15-year-old from the quiet neighborhood of Aurora, Ontario has been racing on skis at high speeds for 11 years and has potentially led to a future profession as a coach due to her skills as a racer. 

“At the gates I'm nervous,” says Houvenaeghel, portraying that nerves get to her sometimes but it doesn't affect her performance on the hill because “Once I’m racing I'm focused on winning”. Houvenaeghel has been racing at Panorama Mountain Resort every weekend since the young age of 4. Houvenaeghel’s parents originally got her into the sport, due to her father had done it himself when he was young and it was the only sport that really stuck with her. This season, she participated in 3 races and is on her way to her fourth which is located at Red Mountain Resort. In each race, there are 2 runs and in the most recent race she scored 1st on the first run, and 2nd on the second one and she received a blue medal for placing 3rd overall. In each of her races, she does at least one GS race that has large panels and needs larger turns and one Slalom race with smaller gates and sharper turns. During the season, Houvenaeghel drives to COP in Calgary to practice racing every Tuesday and  Wednesday then travels to Panorama Mountain Resort every weekend to practice further and do competitions. She has a drive to win, but racing is not just winning for Houvenaeghel, she has a passion for it.

“I enjoy downhill more though” says Houvenaeghel, even if she's an excellent racer she still finds that downhill “Has way less intensity and it doesn't have the pressure of winning” displaying passion kn for a more relaxed atmosphere. Houvenaghel doesn't normally downhill ski, but when she does she enjoys it even more than racing when she finds the opportunity to go. Due to skiing being the only sport that she really enjoyed doing and she having done it for over two thirds of her life, she has connected with skiing both as a competitive sport, but as something to do in her free time as a hobby. Houvenaeghel is primarily focused on racing, yet still has passion for both free skiing and racing. 

Houvenaghel mentions she is “Excited to coach, even if I find kids a handful” but isn't worried about coaching youth because “I'll be coaching with my best friend”. Houvenaeghel has been asked to coach U8 ski racers by her father, Eric Houvenaeghel with her friend instead of racing during that season. Houvenaeghel enjoys racing, but doesnt appreciate how time consuming training and racing is so she will likely try out coaching and take a break from the competitive atmosphere with her best friend, Oliva Sweetnam. She has said she doesn't love being around kids and isn't great with them but she doesn't mind coaching the future racing generations with Sweetnam, who according to Houvenaeghel “Is great with kids”. Houvenaeghel will teach her students proper racing form, turning with speed and general racing information which consists of ideal conditions, basic racing drills and how higher level competitions work or function. Houvenaeghel mentions “It will also give me more experience to take care of children” demonstrating that coaching will be mutually beneficial for not only the kids and their racing skills but also improve some of Houvenaeghels life skills in the process of teaching. She hopes to have them connect with each other members of their team and to free ski with them to show them some tips and tricks with skiing in general and as a sport. 

From Aurora Ontario, Sienna Houvenaeghel is an excellent ski racer with a potential future in coaching or racing. She has been racing at Panorama Mountain Resort with a competitive urge to win for 11 years and has been asked to coach youth under 8 classes in 2024 with her friend Olivia Sweetnam. Outside of the racing world, she enjoys free skiing to get away from the intense energy that comes with ski racing but has a passion for both downhill skiing and ski racing.