Dominique Cyr is the Best Young Skier on the East Coast

VAN BUREN - Dominique Cyr, a Van Buren native, is quickly becoming a top-notch skier as he travels all over the world to compete. In fact, he is already one of the top young skiers in the eastern United States. While he acknowledges the fact, Alan Cyr, his father, says, "He's being modest. He's the top skier in the East Coast." Scouts must agree, because he is a member of the National Development team, which is sponsored by the U.S. Ski Team.

Dominique began skiing when he was 4 years old. His dad recalls his competitive nature even as a child.

"All he wanted to do when he was a kid was not even turn but go straight down the hill. From the first day the need for speed was there...He's always had a naturally ability to go fast and control it. In skiing that's a gift," he said.

Growing up in Van Buren, Cyr had little opportunity to compete. When he was 10 he joined his first team, he said, but only competed in one race. Fortunately, he was still able to develop his skills as he went to Edmundston, N.B. to ski with his family most weekends at Mont Farlagne. According to his mom, Lisa Cyr, he also skied in Fort Kent and Mars Hill, but they went to Edmundston most of the time because it was closer. Looking back, she attributes the coaches in Edmundston to helping Dominique develop into a great skier.

As he grew older, coaches and scouts recognized his talent and gave him more chances to compete, but when he began high school, it was a whole new story.

He transferred to Carrabassett Valley Academy as a freshman in 2004, because they have one of the best training programs in the country for young skiers.

According to Alan Cyr, the school has produced the likes of Bode Miller, Kirsten Clark, Emily Cook, and Seth Westcott. Dominique Cyr hopes to be the next major talent to emerge from the school. He learned about the skiing-focused school as a child from other skiers whom he competed against and wanted to go there ever since, according to Lisa Cyr.

Clearly, this is not an ordinary school. In fact, the academy, which functions much like a college, focuses on training athletes to ski. Therefore, their schedule is different. They have classes early in the morning (7:30 - 9:30 a.m.) and late in the afternoon (2:30 - 5:30 p.m.), while taking a break in-between (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.) to ski, according to Cyr. Furthermore, he says that skiers can defer a class for a short time during the skiing season, and make it up in the summer. The academy is making him into an even better, more seasoned skier, and for Cyr, it is a dream come true.

He almost did not make it, though. Carrabassett is a private school with a high tuition, and his family could not afford it. Luckily, Cyr was granted a scholarship before his freshman year at Carrabassett. In fact, according to his dad, he was the first recipient of that particular scholarship. The school recognized that Aroostook County had talented skiers and wanted to help them in their athletic pursuits. Therefore, they gave the Maine Winter Sports Center the responsibility of finding the two most deserving recipients. Cyr was an obvious choice to receive the award.

Unfortunately, the scholarship does not cover everything. Going through the ranks as a young skier is expensive, and it continually becomes more so. While the scholarship pays for the school bill, it does not cover his extra-curricular expenses. In fact, Cyr is in the middle of a dilemma: he needs to raise $15,000 to continue his studies and training. Usually, professional skiers get their expenses paid for by sponsorships; however, Cyr is not quite at that level yet. Therefore, he is looking to other options, such as donations, to raise the money he needs.

If you would like to assist Cyr, call 868-2635. Cyr believes if each person in Aroostook County gives only $1, he could reach his goal. The family is grateful, too.
Alan Cyr says, "Whatever the size of donation we can get, it would be appreciated. It's definitely going to help."

Regardless, Cyr trusts that things will work out, and plans to move on to new heights in the near future.

"The plan is, if everything goes well, I could make the U.S. Ski Team next year," says Cyr.
Moreover, according to Alan Cyr, "The goal would be [to make] the next Olympics in Vancouver in 2010."

He reminds his son, though, "It is one of the most difficult disciplines to actually succeed at in life and it takes years and years to get to the top," but that does not stop Cyr from giving it his best shot.

Dominique Cyr is the son of Alan and Lisa Cyr, brother to Kristin Cyr, and the grandson of Merilda Cyr and Del and Val Duplessis.