Music: {allcanada} CANADIAN AERIALIST BLAIS RETIRES AFTER 10 YEARS ON NATIONAL TEAM

Monday, April 11, 2011

{allcanada} CANADIAN AERIALIST BLAIS RETIRES AFTER 10 YEARS ON NATIONAL TEAM

VANCOUVER -- Canadian aerialist Ryan Blais has retired after a 10-year national team career that included two World Cup victories.

The native of Grande Prairie, Alta., captured six other World Cup freestyle skiing medals, and 19 top-10 finishes.

Blais was part of a Canadian men's aerials team that was considered among the best in the world, and included Steve Omischl, Jeff Bean, Kyle Nissen and Warren Shouldice.

With such stiff competition, he narrowly missed out on his bids for a berth on both the 2006 ad 2010 Olympic teams.

"I've always known that winning an Olympic medal for my country was a huge challenge, and one that I was committed to," Blais said. "But I've also know that because I was part of the elite Canadian Airforce, half the struggle was going to be securing that chance.

"I feel lucky to have been immersed in a team where I found my best friends became my most competitive rivals. This pushed us all so much further within our sport."

Blais has battled back from numerous injuries over the course of his career, including a torn ACL, torn left and right rotator cuffs, and a broken leg.

Blais was sidelined for the 2010-11 season after injuring his knee in a pre-season crash at a training camp. He took the winter to weigh his options, and made the decision to end his athletic career last week.