The North Zone gathered at the mighty Troll Mountain Resort near Quesnel last weekend for a Ski the North event that delivered a fun-filled mix of racing, skills, and smiles.
Young skiers from Smithers, Prince George, Terrace, Quesnel, and surrounding communities enjoyed ideal conditions, with temperatures around –6°C, a firm race surface, and a fresh dusting of snow. Saturday’s action included a dual slalom, distance jump, and an adventurous scavenger hunt, while Sunday saw athletes take on a kombi race and speed trap.
“With some snow loss a week before the event, we had to adapt to the conditions,” said Tamara Goyer, Chief of Volunteers. “We were fortunate to get freezing temperatures and a few fresh inches of snow leading into race weekend.”
The scavenger hunt had racers exploring the entire mountain and lodge, completing creative challenges such as thanking ski patrol, collecting secret passwords, finding the “magic hat and sunglasses” in the rental shop, performing ski ballet, and posing for photos with the Troll. Two racers were randomly selected to receive special blue Ski the North toques, followed by a group photo inspired by Where’s Waldo? – can you spot the difference?
The weekend was a tremendous success, supported by more volunteers than organizers could even deploy. Twenty-two coaches attended with their athletes, contributing countless hours on snow. From the youngest racers skiing down the course alongside their coaches to kids cheering “I did it!” after clearing the jump, the confidence and joy on display made the preparation worthwhile.
Additional support came from the Prince George Alpine Ski Team, which supplied racer prizes, Valentine’s Day heart-shaped cookies, and volunteers who stepped into mentorship roles. Each event was led by an “event boss” who coordinated volunteers and helped train new officials throughout the weekend.
Photos by Julie Dorge & Tamara Goyer.
BC Alpine extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteer team that made the event possible.
Key Volunteers:
Falko Kadenbach and Rodney Whithall served as Chiefs of Race, with Glen Boudreau as Chief of Course, Sean Seabourne as Chief of Timing, and Scott Maguire as Chief of Gates. Start Referees for the slalom included Julie Backer and Dave Bobb, while Finish Referees were Steve Ewing for slalom and Rodney Whithall for kombi. Administration was led by Molly Swanson and Tamara Goyer, with Tamara Goyer also serving as Chief of Volunteers and Sean Scallion as Chief of Ceremonies. Event bosses included Eric Lobermayer, Mark Wong, Lee MacNeil, and Josh Campbell, supported by 22 dedicated coaches.