The 53rd annual event showcases the top amateur 10-pin bowlers in the world and features nothing but national champions from as many as 90 countries. After coming close on one previous occasion, Reid earned his way to Mexico with a dominating performance at the national championships in Winnipeg, back in July.
The 37-year-old Richmond resident led the tournament by 300 pins which gave him the advantage of having to be beaten twice in the final. He lost the first game to a Quebec bowler then won the second by striking twice in the 10th frame.
Bowling has been a huge part of Reid’s life.
His parents managed a number of bowling centres throughout Metro Vancouver. His mom Miriam was a former national team member who competed for Canada in the very same tournament back in 1978 in Columbia.
Reid and his sister Erin began to play at an early age and dominated at the youth level, winning several Canadian titles and following in their mom’s footsteps as national team members. Ryan continued to enjoy success at the men’s level but nothing like this season thanks to a new level of commitment and even being involved in the business again.
He manages Lucky 9 Lanes at Riverport which re-opened last November.
“I went to nationals the year before and finished fifth or sixth. I was going through a rough time. My dad had just passed away and I wasn’t really into it,” he recalled. “Soon after, I made a goal to go back again since my dad was from Winnipeg and we still have family there.
“It was nice. I put a lot of work into this year and all the hard work paid off. I probably bowled more this past summer than most of my life. I lost a bunch of weight, was practising more and was back in the business too. It was like the perfect storm that came together.”
Reid actually came close to representing Canada at the Bowling World Cup before. He finished second to Manitoba’s Michael Schmidt back in 2010. Schmidt went on to win his second world title. Now Reid will try to win Canada’s fifth ever men’s championship.
There will be 24 games of qualifying held over four days. The tournament field will then be cutdown to 24, followed by eight more games. Eight will advance to the next round, setting the stage for the final four moving on to the televised finals.
“(The past three months) has given me time to reflect and compete in quite a few tournaments down in the Seattle and Portland areas,” added Reid.
Lucky 9 Lanes is celebrating its one-year re-opening with the adjacent Monkey 9 Brew Pub about to launch in full operation later this month.
