With months of planning and preparation, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club did it again. The Whistler Cup. Easy to say, very hard to do.
With over 450 young ski racers from all over the world – Europe, South America, U.S., Asia and elsewhere – the event was a smashing success.
Starting with the super-G on the Dave Murray National Training Centre on Whistler Mountain, the U16 racers impressed mightily, despite wet and challenging conditions. The ever-diligent army of volunteers, led by the WMSC crew, worked hard to maintain safe racing conditions.
The racing then shifted to slalom on the Dave Murray Downhill track for the U16s, while the U14s got their racing series started with slalom for the girls and a Team Dual for the boys from the top of Raven, on Friday. The weather and conditions were favourable, and the course sets gave the youngsters a good challenge.
On Saturday the U14s swapped venues, girls for Team Dual and the boys to slalom. The weather continued to improve with good visibility and mixed sun; the course conditions were maintained with salt and fertilizer to withstand the warming spring weather.
All participants enjoyed the legendary Whistler Cup banquet on Saturday night, with the awards presentation at the Whistler Conference Centre. Rob Boyd was working the mic as the energetic emcee, while ski cross Olympian & world champion Reece Howden gave an inspirational special address about how he manages doubt and fear. The athletes were gripped by his speech.
Awards for the U14 women’s GS & U14 men’s SL and the U16 Parallel were presented at the end of the racing day in Skiers’ Plaza on April 13. O2E Brands’ event sponsor Brian Scudamore gave out the awards along with prizes from Atomic, with Rob Boyd assisting the presentations.
“One of my key take-aways is how so many people came together to run such a successful event,” Boyd said at the conclusion of the event. “Someone mentioned how it takes a village, and it really does! The number of volunteers is remarkable – it certainly makes the event run smoothly and there is such enjoyment for the athletes and the volunteers.”
– Rob Boyd
Despite some weather challenges to start the event, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club did a fantastic job, once again, with delivering a world-class event. BC Alpine congratulates and thanks Whistler Mountain Ski Club for a job well done!
U14 Nations Festival Cup
(Team with most points accumulated throughout GS and SL races within the top 15 places):
First Place: USA1
Second Place: Japan
Third Place: Switzerland
2025 Whistler Cup, Team Standings U16:
First Place: Norway
Second Place: Switzerland
Third Place: USA
Top U14 Canadians:
U14 Girls 1st – Nancy Greene Trophy: Lilli Brovender, Vernon
U14Girls 2nd: Amelia Park, Grouse-Tyee
U14Girls3rd: Cecily Gibbons, WMSC
U14 Boys 1st –Dave Murray Trophy: Gabriel Morin, WMSC
U14 Boys 2nd: Cameron Pierce, Craigleith Ski Club
U14 Boys3rd: James Coon, Ontario
Top U16 Canadians:
1st Place – Nancy Greene Trophy: Sarah Decary, Quebec
2nd Place: Elena Deda, Canada 2
3rd Place: Logann Guay, Canada 1
Dave Murray Trophy : Adrien Cote, Quebec
2nd Place: Laurent Legare, Canada 2
3rd Place: Jacob Mackey, Canada 1
Race Officials
Technical Delegates: Jill Firstbrook, Carmen Kirshenblatt, Colin Pitt-Taylor
Chiefs of Race: John Novak, Jeff Parkhill, Jason Shorter
Chiefs of Course: Rob Cook, Josh Sarkis, Scott Waldrum
Sport BC is proud to be partnering with members of the Regional Sport Alliance to deliver FREE sport philanthropy workshops for people working or volunteering in amateur sport. Please use the links below to register for the one of the two upcoming Vancouver sessions: April 30th or May 22nd.
Under stunning bluebird skies with early-morning firm snow conditions, Revelstoke Mountain Resort (open until April 21st!) and the Revelstoke Ski Club hosted the Okanagan zone for one last red-blue-red-blue show down.
A total of 152 athletes aged 12-19 from ski clubs in Sun Peaks, Big White, Apex and Vernon arrived, ready to show the skills and speed they have developed all season. The skill, progression and confidence shown in the final race series of the season in the zone but awesome.
“The energy was high as they took to the GS course on Saturday and the SL course on Sunday,” a club representative said. “The U12s even tested their new skills, cross blocking on a three-quarter slalom gate course for the first time in competition!”
A huge thank you goes out to all volunteers, coaches, and parents who dedicated their time to making this event possible. A massive thank you to Revelstoke Mountain Resort and all our sponsors.
This past weekend, the slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort played host to the highly anticipated Teck Coast Zone Finals, bringing together over 210 athletes from across the Coast zone for a vibrant celebration of alpine ski racing. Hosted by the Mt. Washington Ski Club (MWSC), the event welcomed racers from U12 to U19, with the youngest forerunners—U10 athletes from MWSC—leading the charge and reminding us all that alpine racing is truly a sport for all ages.
Saturday slalom: Sunny skies and strong performances
Under clear skies and warm spring sun, Saturday featured a full day of racing with three exciting events: A U12 stubby course for the youngest racers, a U12 full-gate course to test agility and edge control, and a U14+ 2-run slalom, which tested precision, endurance, and tactical execution.
With five slalom sets, the course crew worked tirelessly throughout the day to keep conditions safe and fair. Thanks to their dedication—and some well-timed salt—the tracks held up remarkably well in the spring warmth, allowing athletes to push hard and deliver top-notch performances.
Sunday’s Team Dual: Team spirit shines in challenging conditions
Sunday brought rain and fog to the mountain, adding an extra layer of challenge to the much-anticipated Dual Panel Slalom. Despite the tough weather, the energy remained high as athletes from mixed-gender, mixed-club, and mixed-age teams battled it out in head-to-head races. The challenging conditions only added to the excitement, with racers showing grit, determination, and great sportsmanship all the way to the finish. The cheers from teammates and spectators echoed through the mist, capping off the weekend with heart and resilience.
A Community Effort
The Coast Zone Finals exemplified what makes youth alpine racing so special—athletes of all ages pushing themselves, supporting one another, and finding joy in the sport.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the team at Mount Washington Alpine Resort—especially Mike Manara, whose leadership of his team was instrumental in delivering great spring racing conditions on Whiskey Jack, our premier race run.
All photos courtesy of: Independent Sports News (ISN), photographer Paul M. Williams
Thank you to the Mount Washington Ski Club 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
A heartfelt thank you to our MWSC coaching team, led by Head Coach John Trimmer, who recently announced his planned retirement at the end of the 2026 season after an incredible career dedicated to the sport.
Special appreciation goes to the Race Organizing Committee—Eric Findlay, Stuart Aldred, Graham Millicheap, Adam Goehner, Stephen Childs, Kim Gerrow, Michael Dingle, Josh Good, and Sonja Childs—for their outstanding efforts behind the scenes. We’re also especially grateful to BC Alpine Technical Delegate Paul Francisty, who brought his expertise and steady guidance to the event. Although Mount Washington is his home mountain, it had been many years since Paul last worked an event here, making his return all the more special. His presence and support were instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful weekend.
To the volunteers, more than 100 strong, and to the visiting clubs, thank you for your incredible energy and support. These events don’t happen without you, and your enthusiasm fuels our community.
The Vernon Ski Club proudly hosted the U16 Western Championships presented by Sporting Life, March 24-28, 2025 at SilverStar Mountain Resort.
“This was one of those events where nothing went as planned! Despite months of meticulous work, Mother Nature dealt the mountain a challenging blow and the ROC (Race Organizing Committee) was left scrambling to adapt each race event for the 237 athletes from across Western Canada,” said Brooke McLardy, alpine director of the Vernon Ski Club.
With the solid determination of race enthusiasts, a committed and experienced ROC, an army of volunteers, and incredible on-hill support from BC Alpine, Alpine Canada and SilverStar Resort staff, the event was a great success.
The original plan had slalom, GS and super-G races as well as a skills combined, but the conditions forced some events to be cancelled and the scheduled to be adjusted multiple times. By the end of the event, two slalom races for both men and women, as well as a “skiing skills combine” as well as a team dual event were successfully run, all on Vernon Ski Club‘s Cloud 9 Race Centre. Despite the challenging conditions, the competition was fierce the athletes showed up ready to race. All are commended for their perseverance and commitment to the series.
Festival Atmosphere
A highlight of the week was the impressive array of off-snow activities hosted by the resort and club. Monday night featured a parade through the SilverStar village and a welcome by the resort’s General Manager Herwig Demschar, who shared his personal ski racing history and commitment to alpine sports. Cam Alexander from the Canadian men’s alpine team joined by Zoom to speak to the assembled athletes about perseverance and a growth mindset.
On Wednesday night athletes enjoyed a party at Tube Town with a bonfire and s’mores. Thursday there was a BBQ lunch and the athlete banquet, coach and volunteer appreciation, a village carnival and awards where podium athletes were treated to bottles of bubbly to spray at the crowd, in World Cup style.
There are many great results to celebrate from the series, however it was the Skiing Skills Combine that saw a BC sweep for women’s and men’s podiums. The 2025 women’s U16 podium saw Maggie Cormack of Whistler Mountain Ski Club in 1st place, followed by Elena Deda of Windermere Valley Ski Club in 2nd and Valerie Chan of Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club in 3rd. The 2025 men’s U16 Podium saw 1st place go to Quin Clark of Red Mountain Racers, 2nd place to Declan Kirker of Whistler Mountain Ski Club and 3rd place to Eric Krastev of Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club.
The 2025 U16 podium for women’s overall went to Elena Deda from Windermere Valley Ski Club and the men’s overall was a tie between Andrew Cross from Calgary Alpine Race Club and Eric Berthiaum from Banff Alpine Racers.
Huge Pat on Back for the Volunteers
While the athletes were enjoying all SSMR had to offer, the ROC, coaches and volunteers were working steadily in the background to make and keep the race centre a viable venue, adjust volunteer rosters, reschedule events and programs, and much, much more. It is truly the efforts of this group that made Western Championships the success that it was. And incredibly, everyone showed up each day with a huge smile, words of encouragement for each other and a drive to put on a great event for these U16s.
Thank you to everyone who put in long hours, stayed nimble and kept smiling. Thanks to the athletes and vollies who tore down the two original venues, including 300 B-Net on the backside of the mountain. Thank you to Sporting Life, BC Alpine, Alpine Canada, local sponsors, SilverStar Mountain Resort and each and every person who pitched in to make this an incredible U16 Western Championships.
