BCST’s Max Kirshenblatt put on a commanding display of GS skiing at the U18 National Championships hosted by Georgian Peaks Ski Club in Collingwood, Ont. Max won both runs of the Championship race, and to show that his day was no fluke, he won the following day’s open GS as well. WMSC’s Kyle Alexander showed the easterners what attack from the back looks like, finishing in 7th spot with bib 108!
For the ladies’ U18 National Championship race, Quebec Ski Team’s Laurence Huot continued her strong season by taking the crown ahead of Ontario’s Brianne MacDonald. Team BC’s Kristina Natalenko secured the bronze medal with 2 steady runs, while teammate Katie Fleckenstein was 5th. The ladies’ GS FIS race on the following day was abandoned, as Mother Nature hit town with one last-gasp storm.
The U18 National Championships SL was held at the Toronto Ski Club on Blue Mountain. The top BC athlete was BCST’s Max Kirshenblatt in 15th place.
The ladies’ race was won by Laurence Huot, on her birthday, no less, securing the Quebec racer the National Championships overall title. Team BC’s Soleil Patterson was 4th with Katie Fleckenstein once again in 5th spot, +2.82 seconds off of Huot.
| Rank | Bib | Ladies' U18 Slalom Feb 25/16 | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time |
| 1 | 8 | HUOT Laurence | 1999 | CAN | 51.98 | 53.87 | 1:45.85 |
| 2 | 25 | PROFITT Stephanie | 1999 | CAN | 52.95 | 53.71 | 1:46.66 |
| 3 | 11 | ROUSSIN Heidi | 1998 | CAN | 53.26 | 53.93 | 1:47.19 |
| 4 | 3 | PATTERSON Soleil | 1998 | CAN | 53.57 | 54.82 | 1:48.39 |
| 5 | 13 | FLECKENSTEIN Katie | 1999 | CAN | 54.36 | 54.31 | 1:48.67 |
| 6 | 15 | KAMACHI Nakia | 1999 | CAN | 54.65 | 54.15 | 1:48.80 |
| 7 | 7 | METZGER Camryn | 1999 | CAN | 54.78 | 54.96 | 1:49.74 |
| 8 | 12 | FIELD Emily | 1999 | CAN | 54.25 | 55.51 | 1:49.76 |
| 9 | 37 | BERNIER Maya | 1998 | USA | 54.94 | 54.93 | 1:49.87 |
| 10 | 20 | BELCZYK ZOE | 1998 | CAN | 55.01 | 54.98 | 1:49.99 |
| Rank | Bib | Men's U18 Slalom Feb 25/16 | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time |
| 1 | 11 | WALLACE Liam | 1999 | CAN | 46.88 | 51.10 | 1:37.98 |
| 2 | 3 | COOK Carson | 1998 | CAN | 47.76 | 50.69 | 1:38.45 |
| 3 | 2 | LUEL Henry | 1998 | CAN | 47.51 | 51.00 | 1:38.51 |
| 4 | 7 | HOLM Marcus | 1998 | CAN | 47.47 | 51.06 | 1:38.53 |
| 5 | 19 | SULLIVAN Sean | 1998 | USA | 47.55 | 51.49 | 1:39.04 |
| 6 | 28 | LAZZARI Giovanni | 1999 | USA | 48.04 | 51.18 | 1:39.22 |
| 7 | 37 | MORGAN Chauncey | 1999 | USA | 47.82 | 51.66 | 1:39.48 |
| 8 | 80 | WIACEK Victor | 1998 | POL | 47.89 | 51.60 | 1:39.49 |
| 9 | 9 | WALL Sam | 1998 | CAN | 48.17 | 51.71 | 1:39.88 |
| 10 | 8 | PHILLIPS Jordan | 1998 | CAN | 48.00 | 51.97 | 1:39.97 |
For the overall Championships, Ontario’s Henry Luel took the crown with BCST’s Max Kirshenblatt in second place and Ontario’s Kelvin Cochrane in 3rd. Laurence Huot, from Quebec was the ladies overall winner, with teammate Heidi Roussin in second and Team BC’s Katie Fleckenstein in third with teammate Kristina Natelenko in 4th.
U18 Nationals 2016 in Collingwood – overall podium – L-R Kristina Natalenko (4th); Heidi Roussin (2nd); Laurence Huot (1st); Katie Fleckenstein (3rd); Brianna MacDonald (5th); Stephanie Profitt (5th)
