Ski racers from across the Coast Zone were treated with clear and sunny skies (minus 5C) in Whistler last weekend for the season-opening U16 zones race.
Hosted by the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, the volunteers, coaches and athletes were challenged and tasked with snow removal and track preparations after some fresh snow fell on the Dave Murray National Training Centre on Ptarmigan in the days leading up to the races. By race day – a two run combined GS race – they had the track cleared with a combination of firm snow pack and a mix of snow types.
CLICK TO VIEW EVENT PHOTOS (by Blue Rabbit Photo)
According to the race organizers, the athletes trained hard and had excellent focus on race day and that the coaches and volunteers worked well together to make this race “a memorable experience.”
Maggie Cormack, of the WMSC, had the fastest time in both runs to claim the gold medal, ahead of teammates Thea Han and Maia Harriman, who rounded out the podium. Grouse-Tyee’s Eric Krastev had a scorching second run to move from seventh into the top position, ahead of Ziggy Suchy and Pash Tehrani, both of the WMSC.
See the full race results below
A big thank you to the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and the Race Organizing Committee (ROC): Chief of Race Martin Suchy (with assistance from Carol Anne Parkhill), Chief of Course Josh Douglas, Chief of Timing Henry Voss, Race Admin Gwen Margetson, Chief of Volunteers Jenn Heyries and TD Colin Pitt Taylor.
[All photos by Jirka Vanourek, Blue Rabbit Photo]