Whistler Mountain hosted the Nancy Greene Skills Event and Janyk Cup, presented by Hincks French Wealth Management at Odlum Brown, last weekend under challenging mid-season conditions.
Morning temperatures ranged from –4°C to –1°C at the Garibaldi Lift Hut and at the top of the course. Saturday brought heavy rain and strong winds, while similar conditions continued on Sunday with added fog. Low visibility persisted throughout the weekend, and a combination of heavy snow, icy patches, and poor visibility led to several safety delays for the U10 slalom and U12 giant slalom on Sunday.
Despite the demanding weather, athletes, coaches, and volunteers embraced the weekend with enthusiasm and team spirit. Saturday’s skills events delivered friendly competition and plenty of smiles, featuring Speed Trap and J-Turn, a combi course, dual slalom, and Start and Skate events for U10s, U12s, and WB’s RDP U14 athletes.
Day two built on that momentum, creating a true race-day experience with a two-run slalom for the U10s and a giant slalom race for the U12s, contested over two combined runs.
Throughout the event, athletes, volunteers, and spectators showed strong support for one another. Whistler Mountain Ski Club athletes performed well, and it was rewarding to see their preparation and hard work reflected on snow.
“It’s great to see the spirit of ski racing alive and well,” said Mike Janyk. “My mom had such a passion for skiing and sport, and so much of her effort was about seeing kids give their best – pushing their limits and smiling while doing it. With a strong team of parent volunteers, that spirit continues. Congratulations to all the participants.”
BC Alpine extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteer team that made the weekend possible. Ryan Duffy served as Chief of Race for the Janyk Cup, with Jamie Finlayson as Chief of Course and Dan Hincks as Chief of Slip. Mark Leng was Start Referee, George Liu Finish Referee, Amie Chu Chief of Timing, Kelsey McDermott Chief of Manual Timing, and Jenny Horlin Chief of Gates. Adam Kendall served as Chief of Race for the Glalom, with Kate Mills Drury as Finish Referee and Jessica Weiss as Chief of Timing. Skills events were supported by Jamie Finlayson as Chief of Combi, Justine Kendall as Chief of Start and Skate, Robin Courcelles as Chief of Speed Trap and J-Turn, David Prchal as Chief of Moguls, and Jenny Horlin as Chief of Dual Slalom.
Photos by Al Han & Matthew Yee.