Wes Hammer is still young but his paddling has already taken him from hometown Maple Ridge across Canada and around the globe in kayaking competitions. Carrying the BC flag at the Western Games in 2003 and accepting the award on behalf of his hometown province was one of the highlights of Wes's athletic experience so far—but he doesn’t spend much time dwelling on the past. "I want to go to the Olympics—that's my dream," Wes says. That dream keeps him on a tough training schedule while studying kinesiology at Dalhousie University. Hometown hero Wes has been paddling since he was eight years old, and started focusing on kayaking at age 11 and is still introduced as a member of the Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club at Whonnock Lake at competitions. Wes attended Fairview Elementary and Maple Ridge Secondary as he followed his dream. With the support of his parents who, through him, have become involved in the paddling scene in Maple Ridge, he went to his first competition in 2001 in London, Ont. In the next few years, he competed in the national and international competition. At the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, he took fourth place with paddling buddy Colin Corbett in the 1000-metre doubles. Wes chose Dalhousie University because it offered the best training possibilities—and that keeps him busy six days a week, on top of his school work. Training is grueling, and includes running, weights, biking, swimming, and cross-country skiing to keep his whole physique in shape as kayaking is about more than just upper body strength. But his hopes of getting to the 2008 and 2012 Olympics keep Wes working hard. And that feeling of getting into his kayak, and paddling for his country is second to none. "I like the feel of the wind."