TEN MEN AND TEN WOMEN QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
The Mt. Washington Ski Club, and almost 100 volunteers from the Kootenays to the Coast and beyond, are being commended for hosting a four-day K2 Provincial Championships event that was both challenging from a weather standpoint and thoroughly fun for everyone. It was a celebration of BC’s K2 athletes, their coaches and families complete with high energy music, entertaining on-hill commentaries and deliciously catered volunteer socials!
The super G on day one was granted the most favourable conditions of the weekend as the racers bombed down the track under sunny skies. On the girls’ side, the Big White Racers were dominant, with Jen Meyer taking the gold in 55.47 seconds and Sarah Elliot earning bronze in 56.11. Madison McLeish of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club scored silver with a time 55.98.
Another Okanagan club showed strength in the guys’ race as Tyler MacKenzie from the Sun Peaks Alpine Club grabbed first place in 55.08 seconds. There was a tie for second by two Whistler Mountain Ski Club athletes, Michael Cadman and Isaac Penn, who completed the course in 55.45.
The giant slalom on day two was slightly hampered by heavy snowfall and driving winds, but as always, the unwavering volunteers were not about to be defeated by a little weather. Madison McLeish (WMSC) was triumphant in the women’s race, completing two runs in 1:57.20, followed by Jen Meyer (Big White) finishing second in 1:59.06 and home-town racer Kelsi Francisty (MWSC) taking third spot in 2:02.38.
In the men’s GS, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club took charge of the podium, placing Ford Swette on the top step with a two-run time of 1:58.33, Isaac Penn on the second in 1:59.19 and Michael Cadman on the third in 1:59.63.
Day three was the slalom competition in tough, soft conditions. Madison McLeish (WMSC) was not deterred, winning the women’s race by 1.51 seconds in 1:20.23 and finishing in the medals for the third time in as many days. Jen Meyer (Big White Racers) took the silver in 1:21.74 while Erika Park (Apex Ski Club) secured the bronze with a time of 1:25.24.
Tyler MacKenzie (Sun Peaks Alpine) took a commanding lead in the men’s slalom, finishing in 1:13.16, 1.74 seconds ahead of second place Isaac Penn (WMSC) who clocked a combined time of 1:14.90. Third place went to another local Mt. Washington racer, Ryan Hotte, who finished two runs in 1:16.14.
The K2 Provincials are a qualifying event for the K2 National Championships to be held later this month in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec. They wrapped up with the ever-unpredictable Kombi contest on the 4th and final day. Once again, Whistler’s Madison McLeish couldn’t be caught. McLeish walked away with her 4th medal of the event and her third gold, mastering the Kombi course in just 37.63 seconds. Tied for second place were Kelsi Francisty (Mt. Washington) and Sarah Elliot (Big White) with a time of 39.52.
For the guys, Tyler MacKenzie stepped up again to take gold in the Kombi in 38.96. MacKenzie was followed by Isaac Penn and Matthew Sawchyn, both of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, who stopped the clock at 39.73 and 40.09 respectively for second and third.
After four successful days of racing, points were tallied and overall awards were presented to the top male and female athletes. Congratulations to Madison McLeish of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and Tyler MacKenzie of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club for taking top honours!
A big thank you to the many volunteers who made it all happen – and of course to the Mt. Washington Resort for providing such great service to our out-of-town guests and ALL that grooming!
Good luck to the following BC athletes (in alphabetical order) who will travel to Quebec to compete for the national K2 championship title:
WOMEN
Aberger, Daniella (Apex Ski Club)
Darlington, Bria (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Elliot, Sarah (Big White Racers)
Francisty, Kelsi (Mt. Washington Ski Club)
McLeish, Madison (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Meyer, Jen (Big White Racers)
Park, Erica (Apex Ski Club)
Rytz, Celine (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
TeBulte, Rebekah (Red Mountain Racers)
Timoshenko, Elyse (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
MEN
Black, Jordan (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
Cadman, Michael (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Hotte, Ryan (Mt. Washington Ski Club)
Konantz, William (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
MacKenzie, Tyler (Sun Peaks Alpine)
Morris, Spencer (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Penn, Isaac (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Sawchyn, Matthew (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Swette, Ford (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Taillefer, Patrick (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)