With near-perfect ski racing conditions and a gorgeous backdrop at Panorama Mountain Resort, the Teck season got started in the Kootenays, with U12, U14 and U16 skiers blasting through slalom, GS and Kombi events over three days.
[See photos and results below]
With temps reaching nearly -20C over the weekend and very little snow fall the Old Timer run again did its part to give the racers a good ride. With over 60 volunteers (!) and two ROC’s, the courses held up well.
Racers fought through cold fingers and toes, with U12 starting with slalom, with both genders running at the same time. The first run used the random bib order, and then best of four continuous runs. The U12s then raced on day two on a GS course.
The U14 and U16 skiers ran two GS races back-to-back on the first day and slalom the next.
Another highlight of the event was when the Windermere Valley Ski Club hosted the traditional athlete and coach dinner … a huge thank you goes to the Food and Beverage team at Panorama Mountain Resort for a super yummy dinner!
On the final day of racing, the U12 completed a best of two-run Kombi course and the U14 & U16s completed their third slalom of the weekend.
The WVSC and BC Alpine thank all of the incredible volunteers, as well as the Panorama Mountain Resort staff!
Another massively successful race series in Apex in the books. The four-day technical (GS and slalom) series last weekend had the weather and visibility mostly on its side, while racers age 15 to 18 raced against the clock and each other on both the legendary Old Mill Run and Okanagan Runs at Apex Mountain Resort.
One of the highlights of the event was the continuation of the Random Start Order, a relatively new approach to seeding races which is being tested across Canada. The seeding method includes a randomized approach to bib numbers – as opposed to the traditional method where athletes start based on their national points ranking.
“It’s been hugely successful so far,” said Johnny Crichton, BC Alpine VP. “It’s making the races more exciting and more importantly it replicates race environments that they will encounter as they transition into FIS-level competitions. It gives all athletes a fairer chance at better course conditions.”
Crichton mentioned the recent World Cup top 10 finish by BC Ski Team alumni Brodie Seger at Beaver Creek last month, when he started with bib 49 to finish 10th … and Cameron Alexander in 2023 when he started 63rd and finished 7th at Val Gardena, Italy, on one of the toughest World Cup super-G tracks.
“The system we used in the past has favoured early developers and top performers by allowing them to start on a fresh, well-groomed course, which typically offers better conditions,” Crichton said. “As the race progresses, the course deteriorates, and with limited maintenance after the initial group, it becomes harder, and potentially less safe, for later starters to secure a fair chance at a top 30 result.”
As for the actual racing, Tylee Carr of the Okanagan Ski Team (OST), won both slalom races and finished in second in the first girl’s GS. Upstart U16 racer Elana Deda, of the Windermere Valley Ski Club, had a phenomenal race series, winning both GS races and finishing second in the first slalom.
On the boy’s side, Rowan Smith – also of the OST – won both GS races and finished second behind teammate Takoka Ito in the first slalom race. U16 skier Aksel Larsen, of Grouse-Tyee claimed a slalom win and finished second in the second GS race.
[Link to the full results below]
In the season’s overall standings – which ranks the skier’s best 4 points total with maximum of 3 points from any single discipline – shows clubs from across the province challenging for the lead. Currently Elana Deda leads the girl’s standings, ahed of Valerie Chan, of Grouse-Tyee, and Maggie Cormack, of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club.
On the boy’s side, Hunter Kay, of the Big White Racers, leads the standings, ahead of Aksel Larsen who sits in second, and Bodie Ottem of Sun Peaks Alpine Club in third.
The volunteer crew worked tirelessly to once again deliver a fantastic ski racing series, with the leadership of the Race Organizing Committee:
Chief of Race: Jeff Ellis (SL)
Chief of Race: David Warriner (GS)
Chief of Gates: Michael Johncox
Chief of Course: Martin Parilak and Tom Evans
Chief of Timing: Wally James
Race Administrator: Jenafor Lansel
Chief of Volunteers: Dave Gill
The Apex Ski Club, along with BC Alpine, thanks the Apex Mountain Resort for continuing to be an incredible partner of ski racing in the Okanagan and the province.
It was a beautiful clear day Red Mountain Resort as the Red Mountain Racers hosted the first NG race of the season in the West Kootenays, last Sunday.
A keen and eager large group of youngsters (120!) hit the slopes with big smiles, and some great skiing and ski racing. Teams from Whitewater, Summit Lake, Phoenix and Red Mountain were in attendance for the ever-popular dual GS down Back Trail on Red.
A big thank you to Red Mountain Resort for their assistance with this event and their continued support of the Red Mountain Racers and ski racing in the province!
The Okanagan Run delivered again! The Apex Ski Club hosted the first Teck Okanagan zone race of the season. The conditions were solid – mostly blue skies and moderate winds – as ski racers from U12 to U16 from Apex, Sun Peaks, Revelstoke, Silver Star and Big White hammered off 12 slalom races over two days. Yes, you read that correctly, 12 races over two days!
(See the full results below)
The races went smoothly and on time, thanks to an incredible group of volunteers: Chief of Race – Jeff Ellis; Chief of Gates – Michael Johncox; Chief of Course – Martin Parilak; Chief of Timing – Wally James; Race Administrator – Jenafor Lansel; Chief of Volunteers – Dave Gill.
The Apex Ski Club is very appreciative of Apex Mountain Resort for their support of the event and are looking forward to continuing their hosting duties with the Teck Open Round 1 … upcoming this week. Stay tuned for updates on that event.
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.
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.
