The Big White Ski Club hosted the Nancy Greene Ski League Okanagan Zone Finals at Big White Ski Resort, last weekend, welcoming racers from Sun Peaks, Apex, and Vernon.
The first day of racing had the U8 racers take on the dual glalom course under perfect conditions, complete with smiling faces and sunny skies. Lucy Moose (the Big White mascot) even came out to cheer on the kids. Each racer completed two runs, showcasing their skills and enthusiasm for the sport.
The next day featured the U10 and U12 racers, who hit the course under equally-stunning weather, with sunshine and above-zero temperatures for spring like conditions. A speed trap added an extra thrill to the day, and all participants, coaches, and families enjoyed a BBQ lunch.
This event was also an important training opportunity for our Race Organizing Committee, which featured many new volunteers stepping into key roles. Their hard work, along with the dedication of coaches, parents, and officials, made the event a success.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make the Okanagan Zone Finals a fantastic experience for all!
Photos courtesy of Samuel Finch and Gavin Crawford
BC Alpine and Girls Fast Forward are thrilled to have an all-star lineup of World Cup-level athletes and coaches working with the GFF Crew at Sun Peaks April 20-23, 2025. World Cup and high level ski racers Cassidy Gray, Brit Richardson, Kiki Alexander, Eleri Smart, and more will be on hand, sharing their expertise and inspiring participants. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with top-notch coaches, including Marie-Eve Boulianne, the Canadian Women’s Development Coach, and Amanda Smith, Alberta Provincial Coach and others! This is your chance to learn from some of the best in the sport, gain invaluable skills, and take your training to the next level!
What:
This ski racing camp is dedicated to building a strong community for female-identifying athletes and coaches throughout BC and Canada. The Girls Fast Forward Camp is open to ALL ABILITIES. You’ll have the opportunity to train with World Cup-level athletes and coaches, learn about the ski racing pathway, and forge lifelong friendships.
Where:
Sun Peaks Resort, BC Athletes will stay at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge.
When:
Drop off: April 20th between 5:00-6:00pm PST
Training Dates: April 21st-23rd
Pick-up: April 23rd between 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Team Meeting: April 20th at 6:15 pm PST (please check in by 6:00 pm)
Who:
Female-identifying ski racers from BC, birth year 2012 and older (athletes moving into 2nd-year U14-U16 and FIS for the 25-26 season)
Cost:
$720.00 (includes meals, accommodation, all training costs, coaching on snow, video and fitness sessions, panelists on women’s ski racing, and more!) Note: Dinner on April 20th is not provided. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner on April 21st-22nd and breakfast on April 23rd.
BCST racer Dylan Stevens and coach Eric Schwenck are in Tarvisio, Italy, gaining experience and taking on the world’s best ski racers under 21 years of age. Eric sent in this report on Friday:
“After a successful DH training run on Tuesday, where Dylan had his first look and his first time skiing down the track Wednesday was cancelled because of heavy rain. Due to the heavy rain and snowfall overnight the start for Thursdays DH race was lowered to the SG start and the teams all inspected. After an hour delay the race organizers decided to further lower the start and change the DH to a 2 run sprint DH race. All the teams did a quick re-inspection of the course and the women kicked out of the gate at 11am with the men immediately following.
Dylan, starting with bib 43, punched his way into 24th in a 3-way tie with a German and Hungarian athlete, with a time of 51.16, 1.49 back from the Swiss leader. Dylan kicked out of the gate 7th in the second run. He made a small mistake in the large triple gate at the top of the course which lost speed for the middle flats.
With a strong final section of the shortened course Dylan finished with a final time of 1:42.45, 2.34 back from the German winner in 27th place.”
To view Dylan Stevens’ first run in Thursday’s downhill race click the button below (scrub to 40.19, Bib #43)
With all five Okanagan clubs, in addition to Smithers, Prince George and Lightning Creek from the North, a total of 127 racers were treated to a few days or racing at Sun Peaks during a Teck Okanagan Zone race which featured ski cross and GS races.
Thursday allowed for the racers to inspect and run the ski cross track – on the new Powder Excavating Ski Cross course – with one timed run for seeding during a perfect bluebird day. The next day (powder!) the racers each had three heats with four points being awarded for first place, three points for second, two for third and one for fourth. The top four point getters were matched in the Big Final and finishers rive through eight matched up in the Small Final.
The ski cross course had bumps, jumps and nine banked corners (see diagram below). The skills and improvement by all racers were tremendous.
The racing weekend was capped off on Saturday and Sunday with two-run GS races on the famous on OSV run. All U12 through U16 racers experienced a wide range of conditions over the two days and ran a max length course testing their training endurance and skill.
With a relatively new ROC taking charge of the event, even they were striving to learning and improve daily. Lessons learned and major improvements over the course of the weekend by us all. Massive shout out to TD Jim Martin for educating all of the ROC and on becoming better at our volunteer positions and helping grow a new generation of Sun Peaks Alpine Club ROC members for the future.
The Sasquatch Mountain Ski Club welcomed skiers from all over the Coast zone to their beautiful mountain for a series of U10 and U12 races. With a range of weather conditions – first sun, then a brief windy rain storm – followed by sunshine again, there were plenty of smiles and good action.
A fun highlight was a hot dog lunch served by volunteers from the Hemlock Valley Fire Department. The Whistler Mountain Ski Club won the Sasquatch Cup as the top U12 team, presented at the awards inside the main lodge, with hot chocolate and poutine served.
A big thank you to Sasquatch Mountain Resort for hosting the races and congratulations to all the racers and ski clubs that attended.
