Some History for you: "Alpine skiing developed from the sport of cross country skiing in the European Alps over 150 years ago. Using a fixed heel binding to descend a mountain slope, alpine ski racers compete against the clock where the fastest time wins. Racing courses are made more difficult with the addition of gates to mark the route the skiers must follow. Alpine skiing has been an Olympic sport since 1936 with different disciplines added over the years including Ski Cross at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games."
The BC Winter Games are an important milestone for ski racers as it marks their first multi-sport experience as they enter the Learn to Train pathway. The Games feature racers 12-13 years old and are the youngest group of carded racers in the national ski racing system. Two different disciplines are part of the BC Winter Games – Giant Slalom and Slalom. Link to Alpine SCHEDULE
Notable BC Games alumni who have gone on to compete internationally include three-time Olympian and multiple World Cup Champion Rob Boyd (1980 BC Winter Games), 2010 Olympian and three-time World Cup Champion Britt Janyk (1995 BC Summer Games), and Ski Cross World Champion and 2014 Olympic silver medalist Kelsey Serwa (2002 BC Winter Games).
After 18 months of planning the BC Winter Games, volunteers are excited on the eve of the event. “It’s like planning for Christmas,” said Games president Niki Remesz. “You do all this planning and then the big day comes. We’re excited to welcome all those athletes and coaches and officials to Kamloops, to show them the Tournament Capital and all we have to offer.”
The Kamloops Games begin on Thursday. The four-day event will highlight the province’s top emerging athletes in 19 sports in various venues in Kamloops, Stake Lake and Sun Peaks Resort.
• The Games will be hosted at 11 facilities in the River City region.
• The event marks the 40th anniversary of the BC Games. The BC Summer Games were first held in Penticton in 1978. The first BC Winter Games were held in Kamloops in 1979.
• More than 2,100 participants will be involved, including 1,519 athletes, 382 coaches and 247 officials.
Click HERE for the official website