BCAadmin | BC Alpine Ski Association

Teck Open at Sun Peaks a roaring success. Club points system launched

by BCAadmin | Dec 15, 2014 | Member News

Photo from BC Alpine website: www.bcalpine.com

Photo credit: Martin Tichy

A successful three-day event at Sun Peaks Resort, hosted by the Sun Peaks Alpine Club, concluded the first-ever “open series” races (U16 plus) with a large field, fierce competition and many smiling faces.

Featuring athletes from BC Alpine clubs from U16, U18 and U21, as well as racers from the Craigleith Ski Club in Ontario and the Canadian development ski cross team, the race was energetic and fast moving.

In addition to the open series launch, BC Alpine also went “public” with the Club Points System, a club benchmarking program created to enhance the comradery and team-work within each club, as well as increase competition between clubs of various sizes. The scoring system was tested last season and involved consultation with all club coaches.

“We wanted to encourage the ‘team’ aspect of ski racing to include more of the field in the awarding of the race,” said Gordie Bowles of BC Alpine. “The intention of the club points system is to include the whole club team in a measurable format to increase competition between the clubs of various sizes.

The program can be used at all zone and provincial level races with the click of a button on the BC Alpine event calendar.

For a complete breakdown of the Club Points from Sun Peaks

Full results from each event.

SUN PEAKS

Teck Open Series – Dec. 12-14, 2014

Overall Club Points – Top 5

1 Whistler Mountain Ski Club 93.06

2 Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club 104.55

3 Fernie Alpine Ski Team 128.37

4 Prince George Ski Club 138.77

5 Red Mountain Racers 139.55

Whistler dominates first day of giant slalom racing at Sun Peaks Teck Open

by BCAadmin | Dec 12, 2014 | Member News

SUN PEAKS RESORT (Dec. 12, 2014) – The hardware came in droves today for the Whistler Mountain Ski Club in the first-ever Teck Open Series race, a giant slalom race hosted by Sun Peaks Alpine Club at Sun Peaks Resort.

Kyle Alexander led a Whistler sweep for the U16’s with a win in the race that become a one-run sprint due to overnight rain and snow. Max Kirshenblatt and Masashi Tsutsumi took the silver and bronze medals respectively. Alexander also finished third overall behind winner Kevin Drury, an Ontario racer who just graduated from University of Vermont, and Trent McCarthy, a ski cross competitor from Alberta.

In the women’s field Ella Renzoni, from the WMSC, claimed the top spot in both the overall and U16 categories, with Grouse-Tyee’s Kristina Natalenko finishing second and WMSC's Katie Fleckenstein in third.

The Open series race had primarily U16’s in the large field, but a contingent of U18 and FIS racers made for a competitive environment.

“The compete level was really high,” said Gordie Bowles, BC Alpine Athletic Director. “Having the Ontario skiers as well as some of the FIS racers in the field made for an interesting mix. I’m really happy to see this series get off the ground on the right foot.”

You can follow tomorrow's slalom race at LIVE TIMING

TECK OPEN

Sun Peaks Resort

Women – Dec 12, 2014 – COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS

POS	BIB#	COMPETITOR NAME (SURNAME, Name)	BC CLUB	YOB	TOTAL TIME
1	1	RENZONI Ella	WHIST	2000	1:01.87
2	6	NATALENKO Kristina	GROUS	1999	1:02.87
3	9	FLECKENSTEIN Katie	WHIST	1999	1:03.59
4	5	MAH Nicole	GROUS	1999	1:04.03
5	7	VAN SOEST Katrina	VERNO	1999	1:04.73
6	4	FOSTER Nicole	FERNI	1999	1:04.84
7	15	MORRIS Micah	FERNI	1999	1:05.04
8	10	MACDONALD Frances	GROUS	1999	1:05.12
9	2	BALDASSARE Olivia	BIGWH	1998	1:05.27
10	32	FORSYTH Rylee	FERNI	2000	1:05.53
11	34	DAWSON Erin	WHIST	2000	1:05.58
12	11	LUKINUK Brooke	BIGWH	1999	1:05.62
13	69	SHERRET India	KAR	1996	1:05.68
14	20	CASEY Larkin		1999	1:05.73
15	23	JEPSEN Mollie	WHIST	1999	1:05.75

TECK OPEN

Sun Peaks Resort

Men – Dec 12, 2014 – COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS

POS	BIB#	COMPETITOR NAME (SURNAME, Name)	BC CLUB	YOB	TOTAL TIME
1	14	DRURY Kevin		1988	54.82
2	6	MCCARTHY Trent		1995	56.84
3	27	ALEXANDER Kyle	WHIST	1999	57.63
4	4	KIRSHENBLATT Max	WHIST	1998	57.79
5	9	HARLE Kole	WHIST	1998	58.30
5	1	TSUTSUMI Masashi	WHIST	1999	58.30
7	12	RENZONI Griffin	WHIST	1998	58.34
8	5	WOOLLEY Kasper	WHIST	1999	58.42
9	8	MAHLER Kris		1995	58.47
10	11	JORDAN Asher	WHIST	1999	58.56
11	54	BELCZYK Zach		1996	58.64
12	7	VALENTIN Alexander	WHIST	1999	58.68
13	3	DONALD Gavin	VERNO	1999	59.50
14	21	YOUNGBERG Anton	VERNO	2000	59.57
15	36	FORSYTH Jack	WHIST	2000	59.60

Tyler Werry scorches Lake Louise Nor-Am field, claims first Nor-Am DH win

by BCAadmin | Dec 10, 2014 | Member News

Photo credit: Malcolm Carmichael, Alpine Canada

LAKE LOUISE (Dec. 10, 2014) – BC skier Tyler Werry, in his first full-time season on the national team, won the opening downhill of the Nor-Am series today in Lake Louise.

Werry, 23, blazed down a blustery and shortened track at Lake Louise, holding off Italian-turned-Canadian Jeffrey Frisch, with a winning time of one minute 16.93 seconds. Croatian Nakko Zrncic-Dim rounded out the podium 0.41 seconds behind Werry. Conrad Pridy, a former World Cup racer who is racing independently this season, finish fifth.

Werry, the national champion from giant slalom last season, looks for a repeat in tomorrow’s downhill.

US Ski Team veteran Julia Ford claimed the women’s race, in a time of 1:19.40 seconds, with Canadian Larisa Yurkiw in second and Slovenian Marusa Ferk in third. Yurkiw is on the heels of a stunning fourth place finish in last weekend’s World Cup women’s super-G.

Racing resumes tomorrow. Live timing link here

MEN – Unoffical results
Tues. Dec 10, 2014
Finish	Bib	Name	Nation	Category	Time
1	5	Tyler WERRY	CAN	SR	01:16.9
2	4	Jeffrey FRISCH	CAN	SR	01:17.1
3	12	Natko ZRNCIC-DIM	CRO	SR	01:17.3
4	2	Paul DE LA CUESTA	SPA	SR	01:17.5
5	15	Conrad PRIDY	CAN	SR	01:17.7
6	6	Jack GOWER	GBR	U21	01:18.0
7	23	Thomas BIESEMEYER	USA	SR	01:18.2
8	1	Bryce BENNETT	USA	SR	01:18.3
9	20	Cody WILSON	USA	U21	01:18.6
10	9	Samuel DUPRATT	USA	SR	01:18.7
Other BC skiers:
12	10	Broderick THOMPSON	CAN	U21	01:18.7
32	50	James CRAWFORD	CAN	U18	01:20.1
35	44	Cameron ALEXANDER	CAN	U18	01:20.4
39	42	Max PEIFFER	CAN	U18	01:20.6
40	16	Brodie SEGER	CAN	U21	01:20.7
45	47	Sam MULLIGAN	CAN	U18	01:21.2
49	57	Riley SEGER	CAN	U18	01:21.6
62	59	Samuel KIRSHENBLATT	CAN	U21	01:23.9

WOMEN – Unoffical results
Tues. Dec 10, 2014
Finish	Bib	Name	Nation	Category	Time
1	16	Julia FORD	USA	SR	01:19.4
2	25	Larisa YURKIW	CAN	SR	01:20.1
3	27	Marusa FERK	SLO	SR	01:20.5
4	17	Breezy JOHNSON	USA	U21	01:20.8
5	5	Karolina CHRAPEK	POL	SR	01:20.9
6	10	Katie RYAN	USA	SR	01:20.9
7	15	Katharine IRWIN	USA	U21	01:21.5
8	18	Valerie GRENIER	CAN	U21	01:21.5
9	4	Maria BEDAREVA	RUS	SR	01:21.6
10	26	Vanja BRODNIK	SLO	SR	01:21.7
Other BC skiers:
23	28	Rae SWETTE	CAN	U21	01:25.1

BC Alpine FIS Regional Training Centre launched in Panorama

by BCAadmin | Dec 5, 2014 | Member News

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Fri. Dec 5, 2014) – BC Alpine has announced the launch of a Regional Training Centre in Panorama, B.C., effective immediately.

The Training Centre – a collaboration between the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, Windermere Valley Ski Club and BC Alpine Ski Association – is open and accessible to any FIS-aged racer that are members of a BC Alpine club. The unique structure allows for any club to access the services and venue on a part or full time or project basis, to suit the needs of the club athletes.

Long-time ski racing coach, Helmut Spiegl, was named as the head coach of the program, which includes on-hill training, race travel to FIS and regional races and affordable local housing options.

“This could be the way of the future for FIS racing in BC,” said Gordie Bowles, Athletic Director of BC Alpine. “Panorama is one of the best training venues in North America, and the most reliable in our province in terms of snow quality. We’ve had a fair amount of interest from across the province so I’m hoping this has benefit to not only the Kootenay zone but all clubs in the province.”

“We will monitor how this pilot project unfolds this season and potentially create new regional centres in the Okanagan and Coast in the future. There’s a need and benefit to bringing FIS racers together for the highest quality training.”

Unterberger & Gartner set to lead promising team: 2015 BCST announced

by BCAadmin | Nov 26, 2014 | Member News

VIEW THE TEAM HERE: http://bcalpine.com/bcst

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014) – BC Alpine announced today a group of 11 athletes that will represent B.C. this season on the regional, Nor-Am and international circuits.

“Coming into my second season, it’s been all about maintaining existing and establishing new contacts in order to provide the best opportunities for this team,” said Johnny Crichton, BCST Head Coach. “After a very successful season, we opened up quite a few spots on the roster. Now we’re servicing our returning veterans as well as providing the new members opportunities to excel as fast as they can. We aim to provide the environment and the tools to become the best ski racers they can be. The results, experience and knowledge gained will directly reflect the effort put in and how far they take this sport.”

The team – made of mostly new recruits after last season’s successful campaign where six BCST athletes moved on to either the national ski team or NCAA athletic scholarships – had a rigorous six months of physical training, technical ski camps and sports education.

"We had a blend of veteran and rookie athletes this summer working together and it made for a great training environment,” said Andrew Lambert, Sports Science Director and team trainer. “Our general philosophy during the pre-comp phase is to provide a training program and environment which allows the athlete to become more resilient and to stay healthy. The foundation for the competitive season was laid during the summer months and I know this is, overall, one of the fittest teams I have been involved with."

The men’s and women’s teams work as an integrated staff and group, with men and women training and travelling together.

“The women’s team has a diverse group with a mix of veteran leadership and energy and hunger from the young guns,” said the Women’s Head Coach, Ryan Jazic, the newest member to the coaching staff. “Steffi Gartner and Alix Wells will be pushing for the top spots in Nor-Am races while the three rookies (Stef Fleckenstein, Mikayla Martin, Antonia Wearmouth) will be gaining valuable experience, establishing themselves as future Nor-Am contenders and leading the way at the national level. They are all competing very hard within the team propelling themselves to a higher level every day.”

Men’s Head Coach, Nick Cooper, said his group has their eyes set on both Nor-Am medals and Nor-Am points, two goals that reflect the diversity of the small group.

"Although we welcomed four new members to the men’s team, we look poised to carry last season's momentum into 2015,” said Cooper. “The newcomers had a great prep period and have made huge gains both on and off the hill. Our veterans had a solid off season. Dominic's (Unterberger) maturity and experience are paying off, and prior to Patrick’s injury (Patrick Carry fractured his leg in a training accident in Stelvio, Italy, in early October) they both looked ready to achieve their goals. Pat will be returning to snow soon."

BCST Women:
Stephanie Gartner, Fernie Alpine Ski Team (Fernie)
Alix Wells, Prince George Ski Club (Prince George)
Antonia Wearmouth, Vancouver Ski Team (North Vancouver)
Stephanie Fleckenstein, Whistler Mtn Ski Club (West Vancouver)
Mikayla Martin, Whistler Mtn Ski Club (Squamish)

BCST Men:
Dominic Unterberger, Revelstoke Ski Club (Revelstoke)
Patrick Carry, Fernie Alpine Ski Team (Fernie)
Riley Seger, Whistler Mtn Ski Club (North Vancouver)
Cameron Alexander, Whistler Mtn Ski Club (North Vancouver)
Sam Mulligan, Vancouver Ski Team (West Vancouver)
Max Peiffer, Whistler Mtn Ski Club (Whistler)

Coaches:
Head Coach: Johnny Crichton (Kamloops)
Men’s Head Coach: Nick Cooper (Whistler)
Women’s Head Coach: Ryan Jazic (Whistler)
Sports Science Director: Andrew Lambert (Vernon)