By Kellah Lavoie

Hoping to become the best

Sep 19, 2011 | 11:36 AM

Steven Heidel is trying to become the best in the world.

The 20-year-old, computer science major at the University of Saskatchewan leaves for London, England at the end of the month to compete in the World Skills Competition. Once there he will compete from Oct. 5 to 8 in the Information Technology Solutions for Business category – it is one of many trades people will compete in including everything from construction to hairdressing.

He described his trade as “designing applications for businesses using the Microsoft office tools.”

“We have four days and they give us a case study of a particular business that has a need of a some sort of system, whether it be a billing system, an accounting system, a tracking system for employees or what have you, and we develop something to fulfill that need,” he said.

Heidel has been putting in a lot of training time. Since he won the Skills Canada competition last year in Waterloo, Ont., he has been working with a trainer from SIAST.

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

3h ago

Weekend hockey

PAGC set to host largest Senator's Cup tournament to date

3h ago

VAISAKHI MELA

Hundreds flocking to P.A. for Vaisakhi Mela celebration

4h ago

“I train for several hours each day going through past competitions and other national competitions in order to practice.”

With the competition just around the corner, he said he’s ready. His skills have improved since Waterloo, and while the 21 other competitors will be a challenge, he said he is prepared.

“I feel like I’m ready and if someone else has prepared more than they deserve to win, but I feel that I have put in all that I can put into this,” he said.

There will be some challenge once he gets there. He said jetlag will slow him down and the spectators will be a distraction – there is an expected 200,000 people who will come and watch all of the events.

Heidel has only competed in Skills Canada competitions twice, once as a high school student from Carlton Comprehensive High School and once in the post-secondary category, both times walking away with the top prize.

He encourages any high school student who is interested in the skills competitions to get involved, adding most schools know something about the program and Skills Canada is a really supportive organization.

He, along with 34 other Canadian competitors, leaves on Sept. 30.

klavoie@panow.com