Fast Lane
story first published in the Central Western Daily, 3 April, 2001
Taking on the world
By Kate Bowyer
His lead-up form was superb and outwardly, Jason Belmonte�s laid back attitude and enthusiasm suggested last weekend�s final trial for the Australian under 23 team was a mere formality.
In fact, his performance at the Canberra tournament used as the trial suggested he had a mortgage on a spot in the eight-player team for some time, Belmonte easily adapting to the slower world standard (FIQ) lane conditions to bowl at 212 average and win the event.
But now it�s set in stone, the Orange teenager is struggling to come to terms with his achievement, he�s even a little overawed.
�This is the biggest thing that�s ever happened to me,� he said yesterday, back at work at Orange Tenpin Bowl.
�It still hasn�t hit me.
�It�s like, oh yeah, I�m in the team and I�ll take it like another tournament. It probably won�t hit me until I�m on the plane.�
At just 17, Belmonte has put together an incredible resume for one so young.
He�s already had an introduction to the international scene through last year�s Skins event in Malaysia, he�s the bowler of seven perfect games, a national record holder, captain of the NSW junior side and a prolific country champion, but he says making the national squad puts it all in perspective.
�It�s a whole year�s worth of work, everything I�ve done is to get one step closer,� he said. �I just can�t believe it.�
Selection in the Australian under 23 side for the Asian Pacific Game has come at price, Belmonte must now surrender his position in the NSW junior side for the interstate President�s Shield but that in turn has unlocked his schedule to enable him to compete in several �Super Six� lead-up tournaments.
These will definitely include the Canberra Cup next month while the Australian Open in Melbourne during Easter, the NSW Open and the Arafura Games are also options before leaving for Dubai in July.
He will also work with the Australian side�s coaches who continue to analyse his unorthodox two-hand delivery style.
�If anything they want me to improve it,� Belmonte said.
�The way I bowl allows me to have more spin, more hook or more power.�
The youngest player in a very young national squad (the eldest is 20), Belmonte believes the recently introduced FIQ standard, which stipulates the amount of oil used on a lane and requires more accuracy, will help the team produce a competitive result in Dubai.
