Sports This Week - Sexton twice a Canadian champion

For those that have followed my writings over recent years, or know me personally, my interest in disc golf will be well-known.

For those that have followed my writings over recent years, or know me personally, my interest in disc golf will be well-known.

It is a sport which captured my interest from the first time I was introduced to the sport when doing a story on the then new course in Yorkton nearly a decade ago.

The low cost of equipment, free access to courses, exercise, competitiveness and camaraderie were all elements of the sport that I immediately liked.

As a result I’ve been pretty active in promoting disc golf, including helping launch the Parkland Association of Disc Golf, and working with communities in the region in establishing courses, now more than 20 in the area covered by the PADG.

So when I started doing this series of athlete interviews for my sports column in lieu of active sports to write about, I naturally wanted to include a disc golfer, and when the player I was able to interview turned out to be Nate Sexton it was frankly rather thrilling.

Sexton was rated #9 in the world by the Professional Disc Golf Association year-end rankings for 2019, and he is the two-time defending Canadian champion.

“It is a fun venue and I suppose the courses on PEI (Prince Edward Island), suit me well,” said Sexton. “The first time I just happened to play well and win, for the second one I think there is always a little extra motivation to try to defend your title.”

In terms of the championship course Sexton noted it is similar to courses stateside – he hails from Corvallis, Oregon – adding it was “nice and hilly with some significant distance.”

The Canadian titles are among Sexton’s biggest moments in the sport.

“They are on a list of highlights for sure, but without a doubt my biggest moment was the 2017 United States Championship victory,” he said.

So how does one get started in a sport to grow into one of the world’s best?

“I started playing with my family at around age 14 in our local park,” said Sexton. “The competition, the friends I have made, and the joy of watching discs fly” kept him involved and improving.

It helps too to have a certain mix of skills; “a combination of technical skill, mental fortitude, and self-confidence,” he suggested, adding “it’s pretty hard to boil it down to just one key thing.”

It helps too to be part of a sport on the rise.

“I think it is very accessible to people, not much of a barrier to entry,” said Sexton. “I think humans naturally enjoy throwing things, and discs are one of the best things we have invented to throw, because they can do so much in the air. Once you learn to plan and execute your shots it is a great feeling to see your planned throw become reality. (So) no I am not surprised by the growth at all.”

Of course that doesn’t mean disc golf players are making the big bucks yet, not even top pros like Sexton.

He admitted being dedicated to the pro game “is harder for some than for others. I am lucky to be in a great position now with my main sponsor Innova Champion Discs. They make it very easy for me to make my living as a professional.”

And Sexton sees better times ahead for players and the sport.

“We are growing all the time, but it won’t be a change you notice overnight,” he said.

So as a final question what advice does Sexton have for young players?

“Just go do it,” he said. “I started playing with my family and still play disc golf with them every chance I get to this day.”

This is part of a series of columns featuring interviews with athletes from favoured sports, leagues and teams of the author.

Earlier columns are:

Shattler Shines with Saskatchewan Rush