The picturesque slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort witnessed the intense competition of the Teck Coast Zone U14 alpine races, hosted by the Mt. Washington Ski Club on January 20-21, 2024. The event brought together 125 athletes from 6 coast zone ski clubs, creating an atmosphere of exhilarating competition and camaraderie. The athletes were competing in their first zone race of the season and were also vying for qualification positions for the BC Games being held in and around Quesnel, BC in February.
Saturday’s Slalom Showdowns
The first day of racing kicked off with two thrilling slalom races that showcased the skills and agility of the young athletes. The challenging courses provided a true test of precision and the competitors displayed their talent and determination, navigating the courses with finesse.
Sunday’s Panelled Slaloms
The excitement continued on Sunday with two panelled slaloms. The weather turned on Sunday, with mixed precipitation starting the day, and then the snow began to fall. The excellent grooming made for early morning conditions that were great for racing, and Sunday’s format required racers to demonstrate not only their technical prowess but also their ability to adapt to varying conditions as the day progressed.
Results and Achievements
For a detailed breakdown of the results, please visit the official results page. Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and dedication!
Gratitude to Sponsors, Coaches, Volunteers, and Supporters
The success of the Teck Coast Zone U14 Alpine Races would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Mike Manara, Director Operations & Sport, and the entire leadership team at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort, the dedicated coaches, our sponsors, and volunteers. We extend our gratitude to each and every individual and organization that contributed to the successful execution of this event. We would especially like to thank:
SPONSORS
- Teck
- Colonial Countertops
- Rick Gibson Group / Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
- Splashes Bath & Kitchen
- Mattenley Group / Scotia Wealth Management
- Quality Foods
The Province of British Columbia
Special Acknowledgements: The Mt. Washington Ski Club is led by our remarkable head coach John Trimmer, who is an institution in alpine ski racing in BC. We are so fortunate to have John lead our Club in building athletes one turn at a time!
A further special acknowledgement goes to Anders Hestdalen, Johnny Crichton, Keven Dubinsky and the great BC Alpine team for their ongoing support and guidance. The event also owes much of its success to the expertise and commitment of our Alpine Canada / BC Alpine Technical Delegate, Doug Hughes. His knowledge and experience ensured the races met the highest standards, providing a fair and challenging environment for all participants.
As we wrap up a great weekend of alpine racing, the Mt. Washington Ski Club looks forward to future events that continue to foster a love for skiing and competition among the young athletes of the Coast Zone. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success, and we can’t wait to see you on the slopes again soon!
Ryan Williams – Race Chair
Michael Dingle – Chief of Race
~ Report submitted by Michael Dingle (MWSC)
~ All photos are courtesy of James Thompson Photography