Waldo back on top of podium

People asking the question "Where's Waldo?" clearly haven't been looking in the competitive young Moose Jaw skier's happy place.
Moose Jaw's Morgan Waldo, 16, finished first twice in the J1 category at the recent Sask. Alpine-hosted giant slalom races at Panorama, winning fastest female on the hill in the process.
A member provincial alpine skiing team which competes at various events throughout Western Canada, Waldo then skied well at a Lake Louise meet with the three other members of the provincial ski team.
Waldo is proving that it's amazing the difference a change in surroundings can make.
"I've been having a really good race week," she said. "I feel like I'm improving so much. I have an awesome coach and awesome teammates."
The improvement has come from several different areas.
"I'm in better shape, and really, I just have a better, positive attitude," she said. "I really focussed on mental training and I've got more positive people around me. I love my teammates."
There have been some technical improvements as well. Waldo said she is starting to race like she trains.
"Sometimes, when you get down to the bottom, you're thinking "Man, I can ski so much better." It's very frustrating and you start to lose hope, but sometimes you just need a confidence boost to get you back in," she said.
And her team-mates are also a support for her.
Part of the change has to do with getting more experience and more maturity and knowing what to expect during the season.
"Two years ago, I wouldn't be in this position," she said. "I wouldn't be as positive, I wouldn't be as happy about my season. I'd be thinking, it's not even worth it."
The rate of improvement could potentially in the future see Waldo going beyond mere improvements and onto another plane entirely as an internationally competitive skier.
"Right now, that's one thing that really put a downer on things the last couple of years," she said. "I'm trying to be mellow about it but still intense."
Waldo said that is a fine balancing act to try to accomplish.
"It is, especially when you're in race mode. You think "If I don't do this, it's make or break". It's very frustrating when you get down to the bottom, and you look at your time and you just feel a wave of disappointment wash over you. Lately it hasn't been washing over me, because I've been racing good."

Corey Atkinson can be reached at 691-1260