Robbie Dixon and Dani Robson with Team BC racers Katrina van Soest and Brooke Lukinuk (in those awesome jackets)
Over 400 athletes from 25 countries are entered at the renowned international youth ski race, which is a favourite stop on the competition calendar for athletes aged 12 to 15. The Canadian team is comprised of nine men and nine women from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Canada took the Nations Cup crown in 2013.
In the men’s super-G, held under ideal conditions, Mikkel Solbbaken led Norway to a 1-2 finish in 1:07.96. Markus Fossland followed in 1:10.02 and Kyle Alexander of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club snared the bronze in 1:10.32.
‘’It was a difficult course with many turns,’’ said the 15-year-old winner competing for the first time overseas. ‘’I was happy to do so well.’’
Alexander, who was skiing for Team BC, started late wearing bib 44, but said he felt comfortable on his home hill.
‘’I knew the course really well so I was pleased to make it into the medals,’’ said Alexander. ‘’It was a pretty bumpy ride skiing so late and I was a bit surprised I got on the podium.’’
Griffen Copp of Oakville, Ont., who placed fourth, was hoping to be closer to the winner.
‘’With a margin like that, there’s definitely room for improvement,’’ said the 15-year-old who won the super G at the Can-Am Championships this winter. ‘’I competed here last year so I knew the course was going to be fast.’’
Fifth place finisher Jamie Casselman of Cranbrook, B.C., found trouble at the bottom half of the course.
‘’I skied great at the top of the hill,’’ he said. ‘’ I timed the pitch pretty late and you can’t do that when you attain these speeds.’’
In the women’s super-G, Emma Aaseboe made it a golden sweep for Norway clocking first in 1:12.94. Maddison Hoffman of Australia was second in 1:13.07 and Samantha Boughner of Ontario and Team Canada, with a number-32 start bib, followed in 1:13.08.
‘’That was one of the biggest mountains I’ve ever raced on,’’ said Boughner, 16 . ‘’It was pretty scary but I held a clean edge.’’
Team Canada athletes
Thank you to Whistler Cup official photographers Coast Mountain Photography for all the beautiful race day images HERE
Women U16 Super-G (COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS)
| Rank | Bib | Name | Team | Club | Result 1 |
| 1 | 4 |
SOLBAKKEN Mikkel
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:07.96 (1)
|
| 2 | 24 |
FOSSLAND Markus
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:10.02 (2)
|
| 3 | 44 |
ALEXANDER Kyle
|
BC
|
BC
|
1:10.32 (3)
|
| 4 | 21 |
COPP Griffen
|
CAN
|
CAN
|
1:10.43 (4)
|
| 5 | 29 |
CASSELMAN Jamie
|
CAN
|
CAN
|
1:10.68 (5)
|
| 6 | 1 |
NEILL Ned
|
AUS
|
AUS
|
1:10.91 (6)
|
| 7 | 13 |
VITTECOQ Justin
|
CAN
|
CAN
|
1:11.04 (7)
|
| 8 | 34 |
MAYNE Zach
|
CAN2
|
CAN2
|
1:11.06 (8)
|
| 9 | 25 |
BRAATHEN Lucas
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:11.10 (9)
|
| 10 | 54 |
WALLACE Liam
|
AB
|
AB
|
1:11.24 (10)
|
Men U16 Super-G (COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS)
| Rank | Bib | Name | Team | Club | Result 1 |
| 1 | 1 |
AASEBOE Emma
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:12.94 (1)
|
| 2 | 5 |
HOFFMAN Maddison
|
AUS
|
AUS
|
1:13.07 (2)
|
| 3 | 32 |
BOUGHNER Samantha
|
CAN3
|
CAN3
|
1:13.08 (3)
|
| 4 | 19 |
KATAGIRI Asami
|
JPN
|
JPN
|
1:13.54 (4)
|
| 5 | 8 |
FLECKENSTEIN Katie
|
CAN
|
CAN
|
1:14.08 (5)
|
| 6 | 6 |
BUSHELL Georgia
|
NZE
|
NZE
|
1:14.20 (6)
|
| 7 | 24 |
SAETHERENG Hannah
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:14.23 (7)
|
| 8 | 18 |
DUFRESNE Catherine
|
CAN
|
CAN
|
1:14.66 (8)
|
| 9 | 17 |
NYBERG Martine Fosmo
|
NOR
|
NOR
|
1:14.77 (9)
|
| 10 | 4 |
MUZAFERIJA Elvedina
|
BIH
|
BIH
|
1:14.97 (10)
|
Competition continues through to Sunday.
SCHEDULE: To view an event schedule and for more information about the Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup go to www.whistlercup.com
LIVE STREAMING: Tune-in to the live-stream on your computer, tablet or mobile device starting Friday, April 3 at 930 AM PT: www.viasport.ca/whistler-cup
LIVE TIMING: Follow the Whistler Cup via live timing, at http://www.live-timing.com/index.php