Elias Neustaeter has come a long way since he first started bowling at Big Country Lanes three years ago.
Elias has gone from a casual weekly bowler to one of the bowling alley's top bowlers for his age category. On Nov. 10 he proved this again when he won gold in the Youth Bowl Canada Provincial Championships Bantam Boys Singles Division.
"Before the tournament, my high score was 218 and in the tournament, I got 215 and the day after the tournament I got 281," Elias, 10, said. "It was easier (to compete) because most of the people I already knew. We had the most people going, from Big Country Lanes."
When Elias first started bowling he said he just wanted to try it out and soon developed a love for the sport. In his first year bowling, he won bronze at provincals with his partner Josh Ohlund.
He remarked his success may be because of his abnormal style of bowling. Most bowlers keep their arms straight when they bowl but Elias explains he prefers to bend his arms and pop the ball in the air.
Big Country Bowling Lanes owner Ken Clarke said he's proud of Elias' accomplishments, noting this is the first banner earned for the bowling alley. He noted there were 160 bowlers from across B.C. competing in Salmon Arm and Vernon on Nov. 10.
"(Elias) placed first in his division and he now advances to the national championships being held in Edmonton on May 5-7, 2025," Clarke remarked. "It is remarkable. Many bowling centres never have anyone make it to the national championship, so to have a young man like that advance is fantastic. He has a very good chance of doing really well at the nationals and I'm sure he's going to have lots of fun and represent Big Country Lanes and B.C. very well."
Clarke noted he was not surprised to hear that Elias had won gold, noting he told his mother beforehand he thought he had a chance to win the whole thing. Elias was one of 14 bowlers the South Cariboo sent to provincials this year.
"We now have 60 youth bowlers. As of the end of October, Big Country Lanes has the highest number of youth bowlers registered in any bowling centre in B.C.," Clarke added. "We have a wonderful group of volunteers who help us with the program and the kids have a lot of fun."
While Elias loves the chance to compete at a higher level, his ultimate goal is to bowl a perfect game. The closest he's gotten is 281 with a perfect game being 450, a score only achievable by throwing 12 perfect strikes in a row in five-pin bowling. He'll have plenty of opportunities to do so, as Clarke has given him free lane time to practice his skills until provincials in six months time.
"I'm excited to go to Edmonton," Elias said. "I'm going to try to relax (at provincials). When I got 281, I was relaxed. I have to try to relax. I can't focus, if I focus I don't do good."
Anyone interested in joining any of Big Country Lane's leagues, youth or adult, is invited to come by the bowling centre or contact Clarke at 778-482-5002.
