Tristan Weigelin
While many of us are dreading the arrival of winter snow, Tristan Weigelin can’t wait for it. Next week, the Dartmouth athlete heads to the Yukon for pre-season training to prepare for an international snowboarding competition. In January, he will represent Saint Mary’s University and Canada in the snowboard cross competition at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Torino, Italy.
With little time left to prepare for the trip to Europe, the first-year Arts student is focused on training and fundraising, along with his schoolwork, as the fall term wraps up. He invites the SMU community to join him on Saturday, November 16 for a Pub Night Fundraiser at the Gorsebrook Lounge on campus. Drop by from 7 to 10 p.m. to meet Tristan, win prizes and enjoy a night out with friends. Up for grabs are winnings from a 50/50 draw, a snowboard, and two full-day lift tickets and rentals at Ski Martock.
Tristan’s earliest experience with downhill snow sports was at age four when he first started skiing. He recalls, “Apparently, after my first ski lesson, I went up to my mom and said, ‘That was fun. When can I snowboard?’”
He got his first snowboard at age eight and has been “shredding up mountains ever since.” His whole family has enjoyed snowboarding for years, and his younger brother Owen also races competitively.
Tristan will host a fundraiser at the Gorsebrook Pub on November 16 to support his trip to the FISU World University Games in Italy
A member of the Nova Scotia Snowboarding Team until going solo recently, Tristan has won more than 40 medals and was the provincial series champion in 2018, 2019 and 2022. In 2023, he represented Nova Scotia at the Canada Winter Games, and he has seen success in races across the country. He appreciates the adrenaline rush of racing and the discipline and focus required to navigate the various banks, turns, rollers, jumps and other challenges of a Snowboard Cross track.
Tristan is among six athletes representing Canada in snowboard cross at Torino, including four men and two women. They’ll have just a few days to practise on the track in Italy before the competition begins on January 13. A few weeks ahead of time, all participants will receive a CGI version of the track to study, a 3D digital model of what to expect. In the meantime, Tristan is busy with fitness conditioning, weight training and specific workouts for core strength, balance and agility.
“Snowboarding has shaped who I am, both on and off the slopes,” he says on his Snow Athletes Canada webpage. Competing in the sport has helped to develop qualities that make a difference in school and everyday life as well, from patience and flexibility to handling pressure.
Tristan chose Saint Mary’s for his studies because the university offered programs in both criminology and Japanese studies, and he’s also dabbling in literature and ancient studies courses during his first year.
“I’m taking a collage of things I’m interested in,” he says, adding that he hopes to study abroad in Japan for a year while completing his degree.
Right now, he’s balancing schoolwork with fundraising efforts to help toward $10,000 in upcoming travel costs, accommodations in Italy, coaching and race fees and equipment, plus pre-season training in the Yukon from Nov. 22 to December 2.
Along with Saturday’s pub night on campus, two more fundraisers are coming up:
Oxygen Hot Yoga and Fitness hosts a yoga fundraiser on Sunday, November 17, 1-2 p.m.; 960 Cole Harbour Rd., Dartmouth.
Colleen’s Pub in Dartmouth hosts a fundraiser on Friday, December 6, 7-10 p.m., with live music by Jeff Bonang; 200 Waverley Rd., Dartmouth