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More than 40 volunteers worked overtime to get the men's and women's Super G national races, part of the Mars Canadian Junior (J1) Championships, up-and-running at the Apex Mountain Resort. But in the end, winds traveling up to 120 km/hr at times, won the battle and forced the cancellation of Friday's races.
After delaying the start for one hour, the decision was made by the jury to call off both the men's and women's races. Technical Delegate Currie Chapman said they did everything they could, but it was just too risky to try to run the races.
“High winds and blowing snow made it very unsafe out there,” said Chapman, a former national team coach. “There were times we had to have ski patrol assist us off the main lift. We tried, but we just couldn't do it.”
The main lift ended up being shut down entirely for the day, to both the racers and the general public, though some lifts and the t-bar stayed open.
Course workers will continue to toil away for tomorrow's scheduled Mars Canadian Junior (J1) Championship giant slalom races, set for both men and women.
The cancellation comes on the heels of Thursday's Super G, where Whistler, BC's Alison Leighton and St.-Colombian, Quebec's Gabriel Lepine were crowned the 2003 J1 Super G Champions.
This year, all winners of the Mars Canadian Junior (J1) Championship races are being invited to attend a training camp with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, as announced by Max Gartner, Vice-President of Canadian Development Programs for Alpine Canada.
Close to 120 provincial athletes from across Canada have come out to compete for the top titles. Besides the two giant slalom races still scheduled for tomorrow, the juniors will compete in a slalom race on Sunday.
Tune in to watch live timing of all the races by going to the BC Alpine Web site and clicking on the Mars Canadian Junior Championships Live Timing button.
The Mars Canadian Junior Alpine Championships are sanctioned by Alpine Canada Alpin. Communications Canada is a proud partner of Alpine Canada Alpin and of alpine ski racing across the country.