“Women in Sport is pleased to present, for all Coaches (male and female) a 3 part webinar series starting March 23, 2022. The webinars will focus on coach development, providing educational and conversational opportunities for coaches across the province. We believe that it is essential for our male and female coach community to connect through such educational opportunities as they provide a space for growth, inquiry, and networking. “
The Big White Ski Club, with the generous support of Big White Ski Resort/Flynn Seddon and his amazing Telus park crew, was excited to host 160 athletes (U12- FIS ages) from SK, AB, BC, Yukon and Washington State. The racers faced snowy conditions on Saturday but Sunday the sun came out with blue skies most of the day. (above photo of U16 Girls Sunday Final by Dave Willoughby)
Special Guest Ned Ireland, former member of Canada Ski Cross Team, was on hand for presentation of medals and photos on Sunday. BC Alpine provided the medals and Alpine Canada donated many of the draw prizes given out on Saturday. For many racers it was their first experience with ski cross after a 3 year break (March 2019)
Heat U14 Men Saturday
Our FIS Ladies reversed the top 2 spots Saturday with September Stefani of Red Mountain taking the Gold while in a video finish Maren Vincett of North Alberta Ski Cross (NASx) captured the gold on Sunday. Both days Katie Kimball of NASx was 3rd and Cordelia Hultman of Grouse Tyee was 4th.
FIS Men saw Finley Cashin of Okanagan Ski Team / Big White Ski Club take both Gold and Euan Currie of Sun Peaks capture both Silver. On Saturday Austin Boehm of Alberta Ski Cross got Bronze returning to snow after a knee injury. Sunday saw Aaron Leaman Team Thailand / Okanagan Ski Team take the Bronze.
In U16 Women Marlowe Cook of Whistler was our Gold medalist on Saturday. Liv Willoughby – Silver Saturday and Gold Sunday. Heide Schenk of Whistler just missed the podium on Saturday (4th) but got a Silver on Sunday. Tori Vollmer – Yukon got Bronze Saturday while Tabitha Taylor of Big White took the Bronze on Sunday.
U16/U19 Men had Cameron Currie of Sun Peaks take both Gold while Silver on Saturday went to Big White David Brundula and Sunday Markus Tondl of Revelstoke. Two Sun Peaks Racers took Bronze, Douglas Hunter -Saturday and Brandon Johnson on Sunday.
Starter Todd Cashin, coaches Trevor Haaheim, BWSC and Bill Rublee, Sun Peaks
Sunday FIS Men with Ned Ireland
U14 Women Maika Lennox-King of Whistler earned 2 Gold, Silvers went to Valerie Chan-Saturday and Chloe Anderson -Sunday both of Grouse Tyee. Saturdays Bronze was Morgan Ring Sun Peaks, Sunday Elyann Dinn of Yukon.
U14 Men On Saturday Dominic Reid of Whistler won Gold, AJ Laurell of Golden Kicking Horse Alpine raced to Silver followed by Gold on Sunday. Kingsley Parkhill of Whistler got Bronze both days. Wyatt Tondl of Revelstoke just missed podium Saturday but got Silver Sunday.
U12 Women had Alexandra Walker of Big White claim both Gold and Ava Dye of Sun Peaks both Silver. Saturday’s Bronze went to Anya McColm from Whistler while Maya Robinson from Sun Peaks earned Sunday’s.
U12 Men saw Cadel Jarret of Skykomish as Double Gold Winner. Saturday he was joined on the podium by Alec Brayman of Edmonton Ski Club for Silver and Corvin Lott of Sun Peaks -Bronze. Sunday Silver was Hamish Woodman from Revelstoke and Bronze went to Grayson Kirker of Whistler.
Alisdair Barton in Green Bib
Liv Willoughby U16 Red bib(photo by Dave Willoughby)
Saturday FIS Men
~ Story submitted by Sharon Cashin
Saturday March 19th, 2022
FIS Women
1st – September Stefani (Red Mountain)
2nd – Maren Vincett (Alberta North SX)
3rd – Katie Kimball (Alberta North SX)
4th – Cordelia Hultman (Grouse Tyee)
U16 Women
1st – Marlowe Cook (Whistler)
2nd – Liv Willoughby (Big White)
3rd – Tori Vollmer (Yukon)
4th – Heide Schenk (Whistler)
U14 Women
1st – Maika Lennox-King (Whistler)
2nd – Valerie Chan (Grouse Tyee)
3rd – Morgan Ring (Sun Peaks)
4th – Alexa Ferguson (Whistler)
U12 Women
1st – Alexandra Walker (Big White)
2nd – Ava Dye (Sun Peaks)
3rd – Anya McColm (Whistler)
4th – Maya Robinson (Sun Peaks)
FIS Men
1st – Finley Cashin (Big White / Okanagan Ski Team)
Great news for all BC clubs and racers. In partnership with Sun Peaks Resort, BC Alpine will be hosting exclusive training (the mountain is closed to the public) in the third week of April. The conditions are expected to be optimal for training and this will give clubs and racers a chance to get a big jump on next season.
“Our goal is to bring athletes and coaches from around the province together for a variety of training opportunities. This will give our racers more time on-snow in their home province … and it’s not everyday we get to take over a mountain which is closed to the public!”
Johnny Crichton, BC Alpine Vice President
BC Alpine will centrally manage the Sun Peaks “Training Centre” in terms of tickets and lane space, and will help create different environments for all the teams and clubs that want to take advantage of this great opportunity.
*Athletes must come with a club coach* *Teams must bring their own coaches and be responsible for their athletes*
Benefits:
12 days of exclusive-access ski race training (Weather/ Snow dependent)
Closed mountain to public – access for racers only. Cycle on Elevation Lift only
3 different trails with different terrain to work on ski technique and tactics
Exposure to the BC Ski Team athletes and coaches
Q&A with BC Ski Team athletes and coaches
Legend Coaches (TBD) will be in attendance
Parent ski day with Johnny Crichton, which will be an on-snow seminar: athlete development, race education, and the alpine pathway. (Date TBD)
Groups confirmed so far:
BCST & BCST invitee training groups W/M
Girls Fast Forward
Development Level & Performance Level Coaching Courses
Ontario Ski Team & Ontario Development Team
Ontario U16 Groups
(Your team here)
Eligibility: All athletes U12 and older (cap at 250 athletes per day)
Dates: April 13 to 24, 2022 (12 days possible on snow)
Where: Sun Peaks Resort, BC
Cost (lane, lift and grooming): $100 per day/athlete (salt if needed will be extra)
Lodging can be booked by parents at the Sun Peaks Grand or the Cahilty Hotel and Suites. (NOTE: the Cahilty will offer a meal plan for those interested.)
*Link to book accommodation at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel. They have a great deal for a 5 Star resort at $149.60 a night plus tax based on double occupancy.
“This is an incredible opportunity for some incredible kids. They will be representing British Columbia as part of team BC at Canadian U16 National Championships, which is an extremely inspiring, competitive, and fun event. Putting yourself in a position to go up against the best of your age group in Canada is a privilege and believe me, these kids have earned it. BC Alpine is extremely proud of this group and hope to see many of them working towards representing Canada one day!”
It was a rewarding experience for the Grouse Tyee Ski Club to host over 200 athletes for the U14 Provincial Championships on their home hill, Grouse Mountain. As athletes came together to race over three days, March 11th through the 13th, nineteen clubs represented the four zones. Grouse Tyee welcomed racers with an exciting west coast weather experience, a turbulent weekend that saw clear skies, poor visibility, rain, sleet and snow. However, athletes persevered the changing weather, tackling one of the most important races of the season with not only a smile on their face but new friendships and a weekend to remember! (Above photo courtesy of Samantha Duess)
Harrison Duess, U14 Grouse Tyee. Photo by Samantha Duess
Photo by Samantha Duess
Women GS, Valerie Chan (Grouse) Photo by Samantha Duess
The event kicked off with a training day on March 10th, where a sunny yet cold day had 211 racers, consisting of 92 female and 119 male athletes, spread across multiple runs on Grouse Mountain. Friday was a two-run GS day, where athletes faced thick fog, snow and sunshine as they tackled large ruts and a course that wrapped around one of Grouse’s longest runs, Expo. With a Friday filled with crazy weather and snow under their belts, athletes woke up to a beautiful, blue-bird powder day on Saturday. The powder had to be packed down by athletes, coaches and volunteers, an experience that offered opportunities for communication amongst the teams. The provincial championships concluded on Sunday, March 13th, with a Dual Team event where teams were made based on the GS results. The dual event was an opportunity for racers across the province to meet, establish contact, and form friendships. The thirty-two teams consisted of six athletes each, where all participants skied down a dual course. However, with the cold and rain taking over the opportunity for a successful team event, athletes were collectively content to have the event cancelled. As coach Maia Matson said, “Cancelling the rest of the dual event showed everyone that the entire event was about skiing together, getting to know everyone in the province, and doing your best at any given opportunity.“
Photo by Samantha Duess
Photo by Samantha Duess
Men Slalom, Sam Weinstein (Smithers) Photo by Matthew Yee
The Grouse Tyee Ski Club would like to thank the 211 racers for their enthusiasm and grit, the 120 hard-working volunteers and Teck, the event’s primary sponsor. We’d like to especially acknowledge and thank the U14 Provincial Championship’s biggest sponsor: Grouse Mountain, who supported our volunteers and coaches with lift tickets, the race runs with grooming, ski patrol personnel, early tram loads, and gear movement around the hill.
Race Day 1 Results (Top 3): Friday, March 11, 2022
WOMEN – 2 RUN GS
Morgan Ring, SPAC, 1:53.73
Teagan Mac Con, WHIST, 1:54.07
Maika Lennox-King, WHIST, 1:54.08
MEN – 2 RUN GS
Dreas Gibbons, WHIST, 1:49.06
Marek Novak, WHIST, 1:50.27
Dominic Reid, WHIST, 1:51.87
Race Day 2 Results (Top 3): Saturday, March 12, 2022
