BC Alpine is conscious of all the effort the athletes, families, coaches, and clubs have put in to get athletes to the BC Games. Sadly, there is no snow at Troll and BC Games organizers couldn’t pivot to another mountain this late in the program.
This has been an incredibly tough season already, with the lack of snow and massive swings in temperatures that have caused havoc with our training and race calendar. BC Alpine wants to give these selected kids an option to attend an event on the same weekend, if it makes sense for the families affected by the cancellation of BC Winter Games alpine events.
Apex has opened their zone slalom race to accommodate the BC Games selected athletes (8 different zones). We will have a separate BCG category and hope to create a tiny bit of the BC Games energy on site. We will also do a walk out parade and send a video of the athletes racing to the BC Games society to play at the closing ceremonies.
Whether families can make the trip to Apex, or opt to stay home and train, we will put team photos on the website, as well as encourage everyone to watch the opening ceremonies that are live-streamed.
To the folks at Troll and the Lightning Creek Ski Club ROC, thank you for all the work you’ve done to get it this far! We need to plan for a provincial event in the near future to give everyone an opportunity to race on Troll.
QUESNEL, B.C.– Three Provincial Sport Organizations have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games from February 22-25 due to unfavourable snow conditions in the host community.
BC Alpine Ski, Freestyle BC, and BC Snowboard have withdrawn from the Games after extensive consultation with coaches and the BC Games Society.
A lack of snowpack on the mountain at Troll Ski Resort and the absence of heavy snowfall in the forecast influenced the final decision. Mountain-based sports, already facing a difficult and shortened winter season, require significant snowpack and technical venue builds to run safe and meaningful competition.
Biathlon BC and Cross Country BC will attend the Games regardless of snow conditions. Both are exploring modified scenarios for on-snow competition or dryland events. Nordic Provincial Sport Organizations will reach out to participants directly with updated programming and preparation instructions prior to travel to the Games.
In recognition of the value that the BC Games provide as an important milestone for athletes, sport organizations impacted by Games withdrawal are exploring alternate single-sport training or competition opportunities for participants and will continue to collaborate with the BC Games Society to incorporate elements of the Games experience.
Indoor events and sports at the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games remain unaffected by snow conditions. The Games will proceed with representation from 13 sports, over 1,200 participants from around the province, and 1,350 host society volunteers in a celebration of community and sport from February 22-25, 2024.
Media Contact: David Conlin Communications Manager BC Games Society 250-882-3685 (mobile) davidc@bcgames.org
Frequently Asked Questions:
My sport has withdrawn from the Games – can I still attend the Games as a participant? With the withdrawal of their Provincial Sport Organization, participants will not have access to Games travel, accommodation, or accreditation. Provincial Sport Organizations provide the supervision and programming necessary to ensure a safe and meaningful Games experience.
Why can’t snow events be hosted at another mountain in the region? It takes over 18 months for host societies to plan the BC Winter Games, and agreements with local ski resorts are signed early in the process to reserve space, ensure that technical requirements are met, and secure the appropriate volunteer workforce to support events.
Does the cancellation of my sport change my status as a BC Games alumni? Athletes impacted by cancellations who qualified for the Games will still be treated as BC Games alumni, meaning they will be eligible for Participant Certificates, External Sport Credits, and for the BC Games Leadership Bursary if they have submitted an application.
Will I be reimbursed for Games fees? The BC Games Society will not be charging the Games fee of $175 for participants who do not attend. Additional charges from Provincial Sport Organizations may still apply depending on the sport. Contact your Provincial Sport Organization for more details on fees.
What happens if there isn’t enough snow for Biathlon or Cross-Country Skiing? Nordic sport organizations are planning a number of modified scenarios for either snow-based competition or dryland activities with the goal of providing a meaningful and engaging experience for athletes regardless of the conditions.
Will I have another opportunity to attend the BC Winter Games? Provincial Sport Organizations impacted by cancellations are investigating the potential of future events or training opportunities for the age group participants affected. Connect with your Provincial Sport Organization for more information on any alternate opportunities.
Do I still have to complete conditions of entry as part of theBC GAMES PARTICIPANT WEBSITE? No, participants who are not attending do not have to complete waivers, medical information, or the Culture of the Games module.
As a participant or family member, who do I reach out to if I have further questions? Contact your coach, zone representative, or provincial advisor from your Provincial Sport Organization for more information.
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
