Manitoba's only parasailor soaks in the moment at Canada Games

Despite brisk winds and stomach-churning waves, Winnipeg's Bryson Foy had a very good day on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old parasailor ranked second and then third in the day's parasailing races in Gimli, Man.,at the Canada Summer Games even though stormy weather caused his boat's hullto fill up like a bathtub and wake to spray up in his face like a garden hose.

"The waves were insane," Foy said with glee after getting out of his boat,Tinkerbell,on Tuesday. "I was super impressed with myself."

Manitoba's only parasailor soaks in the moment at Canada Games

7 years ago

Duration 1:54

Bryson Foy is Manitoba's only parasailor and he is soaking in the moment at the Canada Games. He crushed competition on Tuesday in Gimli, Man., coming in second and third. The CBC's Laura Glowacki brings us his story.

Impressednot because of bravado, but because he is so humble. The Manitoba teen did not expect to sail into medal territory at his first Canada Games.

Foy has only been racing sailboatsfor three yearsand he is the only Manitoban competing in the mixed, all-agesparasailingevent at the Games.

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"I never thought I would come to Canada Summer Games," he said.

The parasailors have already raced six times at this year's Games, and after Tuesday's results Foy is ranked in fourth place, edging toward a tie for third.

He still has four races left two on Thursday and two more Friday before finding out whether he will win a medal for the province.

On the shore with a camera in hand, his dad, Neal Foy, beamed with pride.

"It's just a great moment to be able to see him sailing for our province," said Neal.

His son was born missing part of his left arm just below the elbow.

BrysonFoy has never seen his disability as a roadblock he participates in shop class with use of a special prosthetic, he's involved with the War Amps and he steers a sailboat with the help of specialized foot pedals.

"His disability has never held him back from anything. It makes him a little more stubborn and a lot more determined," said Neal Foy with a laugh.

BrysonFoy'scoach, Willie MacDonald, said it's impressive to see himdoing so well, given that his training opportunities are limited compared to sailors who have access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

With that kind of performance and determination, the Paralympics could be on the horizon.

"If he can be this good with only four months of sailing a year, imagine how he's going to be with 10 or 12 months a year," said MacDonald.

This year, the Grade 12 Miles Macdonell Collegiate student is eager to sail as much as he can before Lake Winnipeg freezes.

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On the large, cloudy lake, Foysaid waves sometimes make riding in his boat feel like being inside a paint can that's beingshaken at the hardware store.

He has to hold on with his right arm and steer with his feet, while operating the ropes necessary to adjust his sails and pick up speed.

"You get shaken up, you get tossed around, if you're going one way you get tossed to the other side. It all adds to the experience," he said.

• Full coverage of the Canada Summer Games