British Columbia’s U16 athletes showed great adaptability, moving from preparing for super G, to actually racing three slalom races over four days (Feb 1 – 4) at Kimberly Alpine Resort on the famed “Dreadnaught” race hill. When changing conditions prior to the event made it apparent that training and racing super G would be an uncertain and unsafe endeavor (a common thread in many race series throughout BC this year), the Dreadnaught Ski Racing (KDSA) ROC made the call to switch to the technical discipline of slalom. Through excellent communication with the head coaches and club communication channels, the teams arrived ready to race with the proper gear!!
The lower part of the Dreadnaught downhill track was converted to a slalom race hill, with the assistance of many parent volunteers working with the local Dreadnaught Ski Racing crew. This race hill was an amazing challenge for the U16 athletes, as it was arguably the longest slalom many of the athletes had raced, with a 152 metre vertical drop over three pitches.
Spring snow conditions had course workers and coaches working to apply salt to the race track to get the race surface ready, AKA the Teck Open Salty Cup! That work paid off, as the course surface remained in excellent race shape throughout the series. The random seeding format for the U16 athletes ensured that each athlete had two race runs per day, and experienced racing from various start positions while doing 100% attack runs.
Saturday night was the awards banquet at the Kimberley Conference Centre, featuring a fantastic buffet. With 15cm of overnight snow Saturday night, the final day of racing was called off in the name of safety, with many teams enjoying a powder day on the full Dreadnaught run. A great way to end a memorable series.
Big thank you to Dreadnaught Ski Racing and Kimberley Alpine Resort for being such gracious hosts to the BC Alpine community.
The Vernon Ski Club was thrilled to host over 60 young skiers at the Okanagan North Nancy Greene Ski League event on Sunday, February 4th at SilverStar Mountain Resort. Although the sun didn’t manage to break through the clouds, there were a few centimeters of fresh snow awaiting these young athletes (U6 – U12). For some local kiddos this was their first NGSL event ever! Skiers were challenged on both stubbies and a timed dual slalom course at the Cloud 9 Race Centre.
Head U10 Coach Adam White did a spectacular job setting a fun course despite the difficult conditions that continue to persist this season.
The success of this race was evident in the abundance of smiling faces at the end of the runs. Participants were also treated to a delicious après of hot dogs and cupcakes, as well as a visit from SilverStar’s very own Silver Fox to cap off a perfect day of skiing.
Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the amazing volunteer community, which Vernon Ski Club is so fortunate to have supporting the club, and a big thank you to SilverStar Mountain Resort for their continued support.
~ Report and photos submitted by Tyler Ferguson, Vernon Ski Club
On Sunday, February 4, 2024 under cloudy skies and a light snowfall, 120 Nancy Greene Ski League racers took to the slopes at Apex Mountain Resort, hosted by Apex Ski Club. Young U10 and U12 racers from Apex and Big White Ski Clubs navigated the parallel slalom course on the Okanagan Run, which had thankfully been blankeded by five centimeters of fresh snow overnight.
The new snow was a welcome sight after a week of warm temperatures followed by a big freeze just two days before the event that left the slope icy and hard. By the time the racers arrived, thanks to the great efforts of the Apex Mountain grooming team, conditions were race-day perfect!
The Apex Ski Club would like to thank all the hard-working volunteers, as the event wouldn’t have been possible without them. We look forward to hosting again on February 24 – 25, 2024 for the Teck Okanagan Zone Races.
~ Report and photos submitted by Jeff Ellis, Apex Ski Club
This This RIGHT TO BE training opportunity is open to everyone, including officials, coaches, parents, and athletes at club and provincial levels!It’s a great tool to gain practical skills to prevent harm in our sport. The virtual delivery lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and NCCP professional development points are available for participants.
Description of training:
“Safety in sport means environments on and off the field, offices, and boardrooms are all physically safe, while being inclusive, psychologically and culturally safe. To contribute to a positive culture, we can all improve our communication skills, and also feel empowered to do something when conflict arises.
We all have a responsibility to creating a safe environment, but often we don’t know what to do when faced with a situation that may compromise our own safety. Bystander intervention gives individuals tools to intervene the next time they witness harmful behaviour in the sports community. The training will equip you with the five strategies for intervention so you leave feeling more prepared to successfully and safely intervene.
When we intervene, we don’t just minimize the impact on the person being harmed. We also start to shift the culture towards that prioritizes respectful sport experiences that are safe for everyone. Alone we can’t shift the culture — but together — our actions matter.”
The picturesque slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort witnessed the intense competition of the Teck Coast Zone U14 alpine races, hosted by the Mt. Washington Ski Club on January 20-21, 2024. The event brought together 125 athletes from 6 coast zone ski clubs, creating an atmosphere of exhilarating competition and camaraderie. The athletes were competing in their first zone race of the season and were also vying for qualification positions for the BC Games being held in and around Quesnel, BC in February.
Saturday’s Slalom Showdowns
The first day of racing kicked off with two thrilling slalom races that showcased the skills and agility of the young athletes. The challenging courses provided a true test of precision and the competitors displayed their talent and determination, navigating the courses with finesse.
Sunday’s Panelled Slaloms
The excitement continued on Sunday with two panelled slaloms. The weather turned on Sunday, with mixed precipitation starting the day, and then the snow began to fall. The excellent grooming made for early morning conditions that were great for racing, and Sunday’s format required racers to demonstrate not only their technical prowess but also their ability to adapt to varying conditions as the day progressed.
Results and Achievements
For a detailed breakdown of the results, please visit the official results page. Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and dedication!
Gratitude to Sponsors, Coaches, Volunteers, and Supporters
The success of the Teck Coast Zone U14 Alpine Races would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Mike Manara, Director Operations & Sport, and the entire leadership team at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort, the dedicated coaches, our sponsors, and volunteers. We extend our gratitude to each and every individual and organization that contributed to the successful execution of this event. We would especially like to thank:
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
Special Acknowledgements: The Mt. Washington Ski Club is led by our remarkable head coach John Trimmer, who is an institution in alpine ski racing in BC. We are so fortunate to have John lead our Club in building athletes one turn at a time!
A further special acknowledgement goes to Anders Hestdalen, Johnny Crichton, Keven Dubinsky and the great BC Alpine team for their ongoing support and guidance. The event also owes much of its success to the expertise and commitment of our Alpine Canada / BC Alpine Technical Delegate, Doug Hughes. His knowledge and experience ensured the races met the highest standards, providing a fair and challenging environment for all participants.
As we wrap up a great weekend of alpine racing, the Mt. Washington Ski Club looks forward to future events that continue to foster a love for skiing and competition among the young athletes of the Coast Zone. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success, and we can’t wait to see you on the slopes again soon!
Ryan Williams – Race Chair Michael Dingle – Chief of Race
