Up-and-comer Sam Osborne believes the 2011 season will lay the foundations for the rest of his triathlon career.
There's no question this is his biggest year so far in the sport, with the 19-year-old recently selected to race in the Under 23 division throughout the ITU World Championship Series.
Thanks to an impressive effort at the Mooloolaba World Cup, Osborne feels honoured at gaining U23 selection in his first year stepping up from the U19 age group.
"To qualify for that U23 spot in Mooloolaba was a pretty special feeling and was a huge achievement for me. Two years ago even making the U19 team seemed like an ambitious goal. I never thought I'd make U23 worlds in my first year," he said.
"There were so many guys that could've picked up the spot. There are so many good guys around and we're all so competitive with each other.
"That's something you carry through to training is knowing if you drop off for a week or two or let your motivation go there's probably another five guys who are waiting to knock you off your pedestal.”
Osborne has already shown positive signs throughout the domestic racing season in the Contact Tri Series.
He got the 2010/11 season underway with a fourth placing in his age group at the Wanaka round of the series before a third at Kinloch, first at Takapuna and fifth at the National Championships in Wellington.
Osborne is a strong cyclist and runner, but admits he still has a lot of work to do on his swimming if he wants to become a complete athlete.
After a solid pre-season swimming block he lifted his work in the water substantially and was swimming the fastest he ever had. But after heading home to Rotorua his swimming fell away somewhat and he's frustrated at not making a front pack in the water all season aside from Takapuna.
"Not making that bunch really put me on the back foot from the get go in those races. I was still biking and running strong but always playing catch up.
"It's all a learning experience though and once I start nailing those swims hopefully my results will continue to get better and better.”
In his first year racing U23 this season, Osborne's primary objective is to gain valuable experience and pick up as many tips and tricks as he can along the way.
"I'm definitely lacking in experience and I know for sure the other guys have had more international racing than I have so I'm a bit behind there.
"I'll be trying to pick up some tricks along the way and get some solid points to hopefully set me up for a few more starts in World Cups.
"This year really is the setting up year for bigger things hopefully.”
Osborne is back in action next month in Seoul, Korea before travelling to Boulder, Colorado to set up training camp and prepare for races later in the year.
Somewhere in-between all that he will continue chipping away at his part-time Land Planning and Development degree at University.
"I'm not too sure how Uni fits in there but it's all good fun,” he laughs.
"The workload's still way up there but that keeps me grounded and getting a qualification is important to me.”
