It has been a very challenging year for the Coast Zone ski clubs. Low snowfall has meant many teams have been traveling away from their home mountains to find snow to train. As February approached Cypress Ski Club worried their club would not be able to host as planned on March 2-3. Fortunately, Whistler Mountain Ski Club graciously offered their training centre to Cypress Ski Club, and the last U14 Teck Coast Zone race could take place before the U14 Provincials at Red Mountain.
Wouldn’t you know that days before the race the snow finally began to fall, delivering so much that race organizers faced a new challenge – buried b-nets. With the help of coaches, course crew workers, and a contingent of volunteers from Tyee Ski Club, safety netting was re-set and ready for all race runs.
Nearly 130 athletes from Cypress, Whistler Mountain, Grouse Mountain Tyee, Mount Seymour, Sasquatch Mountain, and Mt. Washington ski clubs took part in the two-day event, featuring slalom on Saturday, March 2, and the GS on Sunday, March 3. Despite the falling snow, athletes were in high spirits and were excited to put their skills to the test. The courses held up pretty well considering the challenging mornings and all events were a success.
“The Coast Zone proved itself to be a champion ski community this weekend. So many volunteers, including alumni, came together to ensure the athletes had the opportunity to compete and prepare for the remainder of the season.”
Raul Anguita, Cypress Ski Club Program Director
Cypress Ski Club would like to share its utmost appreciation to Whistler Mountain Ski Club. The races were only possible because of their guidance, patience, and generous offer to co-host. Cypress Ski Club and all the Coast Zone athletes are indebted to the parents, coaches, race organizers, and volunteers for their hard work and dedication over the weekend. The club would also like to thank its sponsors, especially Odlum Brown Limited, Roper Greyell LLP, Orr Development, and Cypress Mountain.
~ Report submitted by Virginia Abbott, President Cypress Ski Club
Join an all-star cast of coaches and guests for three days of on-snow ski training, strength & conditioning training, connection, health workshops, athlete panels and more at Sun Peaks on April 17–20!
The Girls Fast Forward Camp will again take place at Sun Peaks during the Mega Camp for female-identifying ski racers from all over BC, who will have a chance to connect and train together! The GFF athletes will experience 3 days of on-snow training with Canada’s top female coaches and athletes, strength & conditioning sessions, a female health workshop, an athlete panel – with national and provincial level female skiers – and a chance to connect with their future teammates from around the province.
(see Athlete & “Coach-Up” registration buttons below – the deadline is March 31st.)
Girls Fast Forward was started to create a more equitable experience in ski racing. In 2020, Canadian Women & Sport’s “The Rally Report” showed that 1 in 3 girls were dropping out of sport in Canada by late adolescence (Article linked here). Since 2020 the number of female ski racers in BC is trending positively! Considering these stats and that “If you can see it, you can be it”, Girls Fast Forward continues to strive for a future where more female ski racers are staying in the sport longer, performing at higher levels and experiencing more female leaders throughout!
Canada’s Stef Fleckenstein
“One of the focuses of the GFF camps is to continue to make female coaches and high-level female ski racers visible to the younger female skiers throughout Canada. It starts with access to these role models and continues with connection. Creating an environment where athletes and coaches can share their experiences and learn from one another is one of the coolest things. As a coach, having a crew of all-female coaches to work with is truly a special feeling. I think every athlete should have a chance to work with female coaches, just as they should with male coaches. Everyone offers something different and that diversity is important to development as an athlete and a coach. I am very excited for this year’s camp and hope to see you all there!”
Montana Molyneux, Women’s BC Ski Team Head Coach
GFF 2024 camp has an even bigger line-up of athlete-coaches featuring:
Cassidy Gray – CAST, Olympian, great human
Britt Richardson – CAST , World Junior Champ, awesome person
Sam Mulligan – One of our favorite male allies, Olympian, BC Team, SL Specialist
Eleri Smart – Top level Nor-Am racer & new addition!
Simon Fournier – Nor-Am winner & new addition!
Amelia Smart – CAST & new addition!
Stef Fleckenstein – Word Cup Speed Skier (appearing virtually!)
BC Women’s Ski Team
“I can’t wait to hang out with all the girls again, and just soak in the whole experience. Camps and experiences like these are what made me fall in love with skiing in the first place!”
“I‘m looking to share participation in ski racing with females from all different environments! I‘m also very excited to meet all the athletes and coaches that are participating in such a cool project! Hearing from the past editions I can wait to witness the energy that this camp is bringing! I feel very privileged to be contributing to such a positive event in the mission of supporting and elevating women in ski racing and sport. See you all in April!”
Marie-Eve Boulianne, CAST Women’s Ski Coach
GFF Athlete Camp Information:
Who: Graduating U14, U16 & FIS age BC registered female ski racers (YOB 2010 & older) When: April 17 to 20, 2024 (arrive April 17 between 17:00 and 18:00 PST; depart April 20 12:00 ot 13:00 PST) Where: Sun Peaks Resort & Cahilty Lodge Cost: $620.00 (price includes accommodation, meal plan April 18-20, training, lift tickets, lane space, etc. (April 17 dinner, transportation to and from Sun Peaks NOT included) Equipment needed: Equipment needed: Full SL & GS skis & protective gear, tuning gear, activewear, lots of layers for weather on snow, extra snacks!
Who: ACA registered female coaches looking for more coaching experience and to be “Coached Up” by experienced, high-level female coaches and work with older/higher-level ski racers. What: You have the opportunity to practice setting, work on athlete-coach connection/feedback, increase your fitness knowledge, connect with other female coaches from across the country. Professional development credits will be offered, EL Certification pieces can be performed. Please email Monty at girlsfastforward@gmail.com if you have questions about the camp experience. When: April 17-20, 2024 (arrive April 17th 17:00-18:00 PST, depart April 20 12:00-13:00 PST) Where: Sun Peaks Resort & Cahilty Lodge Cost: $620.00 (includes accommodation, meal-plan April 18-20, lift tickets & training, GFF swag. Excludes transportation to and from event & April 17th dinner)
Fernie Alpine Ski Team (FAST) and Fernie Alpine Resort hosted the Teck Kootenay Zone slalom, panelled slalom and ski cross races for U12, U14 and U16, February 29th to March 3rd. It was an action-packed series to say the least, with 22 events in total! Over 200 athletes travelled from Whitewater, GKAT (Golden), Kimberley, Westcastle, Red Mountain, Montana and even the Yukon!
The athletes raced hard and showed their impressive athletic abilities on a fun and challenging ski cross course built by Rod Timm (head coach of FAST). Many parents and spectators came out to take in the action. On the alpine side, we saw amazing technical skiing from all ages (10-15) and excellent sportsmanship amongst the athletes. The athletes and course workers contended with every weather condition imaginable, but thanks to everyone’s efforts, the courses held up well. With so many races going on simultaneously, we were also impressed by the excellent work done by our Chiefs of Race Michael Kirker and Joe McFarlane, timing crew led by Mark Barron and the race office led by Lesley Chalkley to pull off all the events efficiently.
The FAST team loves the social side of racing and this event was no exception. There was a very well-attended banquet with the loud energy of young racers gathering together. As well, FAST hosted a volunteer social for the 100+ volunteers, without whom the races would not have taken place. Thank you very much to all the volunteers!
“My favourite part about this weekend was having a BBQ going at the top of the course, music playing and athletes supporting each other. We were able to host an athlete banquet and present the awards and celebrate our athletes. Thank you to RCR for allowing us to host this event at Fernie Alpine Resort and thank you to Teck for sponsoring the Kootenay Zone Race.”
Conditions have been unpredictable so far this year, but the FIS skier’s have displayed determination and flexibility by forgoing the super-G race due to safety concerns, and focusing on four consecutive days of technical racing. They pushed hard and kept their spirits high!
Thank you to Whistler’s Dave Murray National Training Centre and Vail Resorts for helping to prepare the Ptarmigan run for some great racing.
Dates: February 20-23, 2024
Location: Dave Murray National Training Centre (Ptarmigan), Whistler Mountain
Hill Conditions: Firm on all four days.
Weather Conditions: Mixed weather with warmer than seasonal temperatures.
Race Structure: Two-run combined time Giant Slalom on Tuesday and Wednesday; two-run combined time Slalom on Thursday and Friday.
Parsons Cup Winners:
Women: Viveka Deck Stang, WMSC
Men: Yuki Tazawa, WMSC
Yuki Tazawa
Viveka Deck Stang
Top-3 Finishers:
Women’s GS February 20th First Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s GS February 20th First Place: Yiuki Tazawa, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Daino Nakamura, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Tamas Hazy, Camp Fortune
Women’s GS February 21st First Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Lola Gilbert, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s GS February 21st First Place: Carter Christensen, Fernie Alpine Ski Team Second Place: Yuki Tazawa, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers
Women’s Slalom February 22nd First Place: Tylee Carr, OZT Second Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s Slalom February 22nd First Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers Second Place: Joseph Gibbons, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Noah Fischer, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Women’s Slalom February 23rd First Place: Tylee Carr, OZT Second Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s Slalom February 23rd First Place: Noah Fischer, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club Second Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers Third Place: Joseph Gibbons, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Despite the tough snow conditions in the Coast zone, the U16 skiers continue to show how adaptable they are at a three-day, three-discipline race weekend with one slalom and two GS races at Whistler, in the Dave Murray National Training Centre.
Under sunny conditions on a challenging slalom course on Friday, the U16 skiers displayed their talent in a slalom race (full results below) with a two-run combined timed slalom; the course was firm and choppy to challenge the skiers.
Saturday was overcast and foggy with a two-run combined time giant slalom, with a snowfall moving in for the final race day on Sunday, which had a slight tailwind.
The skiers pushed themselves to do their best and keep morale high despite DNFs and some injuries. Everyone was grateful to the Dave Murray National Training Centre on Whistler and to Vail Resorts for continuing to make snow and groom the surface into a race-ready track under such challenging conditions. Volunteers and coaches all helped to make this race an outstanding experience.
