The UBC Alpine Ski Team recently returned from their first North West Division Conference race of the season which included two days of Giant Slalom racing at 49 Degrees North, Washington. The men’s team won the Saturday’s race, while the women’s squad also had a great start to the season placing second both days.
After a four year hiatus from the team, men’s coach and athlete Brian Hikisch returned to a first place finish in Saturday’s event, wining by over a second. He fell in Sunday’s Race. Fourth year veteran Josh Anderson placed third and fourth consecutively both days while sophomore Pat “Pretty Boy” Webb had a solid ninth place finish on Saturday, but fell in Sunday’s event. Rookie Philip Provencher of North Conway, New Hampshire, fell Saturday, but recovered to place thirteenth on Sunday. Newcomer Heath Lunn of Hanmer Springs, New Zealand, battled through rough deteriorated conditions, and earned himself two solid results.
With only one returning member, the women’s team still has high hopes for a promising season due to the insurgence of its talented group of rookies. Star recruit Katie “Cruz” Sawaya, a transfer student from the University of Santa Cruz, fell in her first race, but placed third on Sunday. Victoria Johnson, another transfer student from the University of Colorado, placed thirteenth and tenth respectively. Former Vancouver Ski Team racers Carley Stobbart and Rachel Nixon both had strong debuts to their USCSA careers, with Rachel placing fifth and thirteenth, and Carley coming in seventh and ninth in subsequent days. Women’s team coach Katie Benjamin posted two impressive results placing third and sixth over the weekend.
The UBC Ski Team races in the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA), a league with over 150 teams from across North America. Last year, the UBC Ski Team placed 3rd for men and 8th for women at the USCSA National Championship.