For local fencers hoping to one day approach Olympic status, coach Petar Toshkov is upfront when offering them advice.
“I told all these kids I can prepare Olympic fencers, but it takes about seven or eight years with one coach and much dedication from both sides,” he said.
“The problem here is there is no university. Look at Zac Zanussi, I built him up as a fencer and he’ll be leaving us next fall to go to a university in Ontario, where he will continue to fence. Most of the universities in Canada that have fencing programs are in Ontario and Quebec.
“I can build fencers up to a certain level here, then they have to leave . . . they’re gone. Unfortunately I don’t have the time with them.”
The Red Deer Fencing Club will host the provincial championship April 13-14 at the Collicutt Centre. The Western Canada championship will be held in Edmonton in May and will be followed by the national finals in Ottawa.
Toshkov hopes to be accompanied to nationals by “four or five” Red Deer fencers.