He's game for the Danes

Snider secures fourth provincial badminton crown in a row

DAVID SNIDER is considering relocating.

The 2008 national singles and Pan Am badminton champion needs something to jump-start his career and possibilities in Denmark are beginning to look pretty good.

"For me, at this point I need to look for some outside competition," said Snider, minutes after disposing of No. 3-seed Kyle Grymonpre 21-11, 21-5 at the Winnipeg Winter Club to win his fourth Manitoba Provincial Closed Championship in a row. "I've been scoping out maybe going away somewhere to get some extra competition, but I'm still sort of working that out."

Snider says that for a small nation, Denmark is one of the European countries that can compete with the Asian countries, which are at the top of the badminton ladder.

"I hadn't considered moving to Asia," he said. "I think it's just too different a culture. The language barrier would be difficult, and their philosophy of the game is extremely high-volume. They have kids from six years old training six hours a day. It may not be the best-quality training, but you have thousands of people playing, so if you survive, you're going to be among the top in the world. "In Denmark, they cater more to developing your individual style, so at this point, it's a better move (for him)."

The 21-year-old Winnipegger said that in 2008 he was peaking, but lately his game has been sliding. "I've become a bit stale. At the nationals this January in Winnipeg, I was the No. 1 seed and I lost in the semifinals. It was quite disappointing."

In Denmark, Snider would be closer to the high-calibre European competition, and with two-thirds of his science degree under his belt, he says he can afford to take some time off from university.

To play in top professional European tournaments, Snider said he'd have to play a year or two in European Union competitions, which are a notch below where the big money is.

"Physically, I know that I have what it takes. It's the experience part of the game -- I just don't get enough of that while I'm here. I definitely believe that I have the potential to become one of the top contenders in the world."

If he's going to go, Snider realizes he has to do it soon. "I'm sort of looking at summer or fall, but I'm still working out the logistics of it.

"I would definitely have to put the rest of my life on hold. I have a girlfriend here, so that would be tough. Also school, family, friends. But if I really want to continue with badminton at a high level, I don't really have a choice."

Source from Winnipeg Free Press

Follow @ChauYap

Return from He's game for the Danes to Badminton News & Videos Return from He's game for the Danes to Badminton Information

Badminton Information on Facebook