Whistler hosts 36th Annual Parsons DH & SG – U16 Teck Provincial Series

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 9, 2015 | Member News

Photos courtesy of Davis Jevning

Report submitted by Sarah Renzoni

The late Bob Parsons, ski racer, original weasel worker and lover of speed, had a vision that BC ski racers needed to learn how to ski speed in a safe and controlled environment, so loaned his good name and foresight to the creation of what is now known as the Bob Parsons Memorial Downhill race. The longest running race in Whistler since its inception as the Back Bowl Downhill (SG didn't exist back then) "The 36th Parsons" found its home back on Whistler, on the Dave Murray National Training centre February 5th through 9th.

Ullr, the Norse god of cold and snow didn't read the race notice and left us for Canada's East, and in his place the Pineapple Express hurled itself into BC and the Coastal mountains with unprecedented levels of rain and warm temperatures! 115 U16 racers from all across the province arrived for one great day of testing out their long boards on the speed track, broken down into manageable sections to give coaches and athletes the time to experience starts, steeps and terrain changes on skis with big turning radius. Training was great and the smiles and courage grew as the day progressed.

And then we all climbed aboard the Pineapple Express!

Thursday's training, Friday and Saturday's races were washed downhill by the newly formed Parson's Creek which took out the Beauty Creek pitch and much of the snow on Ptarmigan run. Snow levels and spirits dropped as the WMSC U16 coaches and course-crew, led by the tireless Stan Kranjc and Steele Jordan, dug ditches and moved netting to save what they could. Who says a rain-day is a day off: Impromptu dryland training provided for fun and team bonding for many of our racers as they hit the gym for work outs, ping pong in the club cabin and skating and swimming at Meadow Park rec. centre! Jeff MacLennan and his team of coaches served up a great mixture of training opportunities on Friday practising starts, and some speed ski laps on a very quiet mountain!

With Downhill dreams washed away, the visiting coaches and ROC decided a shortened SG track was the best bet to have a safe race, with everyone getting a taste of speed, and to salvage what they could of the race event.

Sunday and Monday dawned dark and damp, but spirits were high and the kids and coaches wanted to get racing! Fog, mist and yes, more rain, resulted in many course holds and delays, with forerunners reporting how many times they had to wipe their googles while they skied.

But a ski race we had and the kids had fun: "I was bummed we didn't get to race downhill but after all the rain, I was still super excited to ski my first ever SG race. I had a ton of fun dancing around the soggy hill in our ponchos", said WMSC racer Ella Renzoni, who's thirst for speed launched her from being a never-ever speed racer to the bronze medal position on the first day of racing. Brooke Lukinuk of Big White was first, with Ayla O'Brien from Banff in second. For the men, Kasper Woolley of WMSC placed first with a 0.02 lead over team-mates Kyle Alexander in 2nd and Asher Jordan rounding out the Whistler sweep in third place. Said Kasper: "I really liked the course on Saturday and thought I might be able to be fast, so I was really happy to take the win, especially since I have never had a great result in SG – now I am looking forward to the Canada Winter Games".

Sunday's weather was not much different, and the set required a very careful inspection to ensure the athletes kept the high line and resisted the temptation to straighten out in the need for speed!

Kyle Alexander nailed the line and landed on the top step of the podium. Despite his great skiing, Kyle was a true team player and wanted to share the tale of teammate Masashi Tsutsumi who wore bib #1 and was delayed multiple times by the omnipresent course or weather holds. In his effort to calm himself, Masashi stepped away from the start, clicked out of his race skis and in doing so, snapped his own ski pole right in half! In the spirit of goodwill, Ayla O'Brien of Banff loaned Masashi some poles for his run and seemingly unfazed by the experience skied a solid run and landed in 4th! Asher Jordan showed the province that he has speed firmly figured out by placing 2nd, with fellow Whistler teammate Alexander Valentin in 3rd, improving on his 7th from the day before.

The girls’ race saw WMSC's Katie Fleckenstein attacking hard and fighting to keep the line, landing herself in second, 0.55 seconds behind Kristina Natalenko of Grouse, who took the win. Nicole Foster of Fernie was third, 0.61 off the winning time.  

Two races where complete, and despite the challenging weather, the spirit and camaraderie shone brighter than the missing sun. Asher Jordan said, reflecting on the weekend; "it is what it is, we need to learn to ski in all kinds of conditions, sometimes course holds happen! Joking around and huddling in the start tent helped calm everybody's nerves. I really like the Okanagan kids, and the Fernie Alpine team has great spirit and a really big cheering section." Katie Fleckenstein appreciated what it took to make the race happen; "I'd like to thank all of the vollies for pulling off this wet and wild speed event! It was great to get back on the long boards again, even if it was only for a couple of days".

After completing 2 races out of a possible 8, over a total of 6 days, one female and one male were crowned the overall Parsons Champions: Congratulations to Kristina Natalenko of Grouse and Kyle Alexander of Whistler! Their names will be engraved on the plaque and added to the long list of successful speed racers from the past 36 years! Thanks Bob Parsons, your respect and love for speed has been passed down to another great bunch of BC's ski racers!

February 8, 2015 Parsons Super-G – Women

February 8, 2015 Parsons Super-G – Men

February 9, 2015 Parsons Super-G – Women

February 9, 2015 Parsons Super-G – Men

BC Team’s Wearmouth, Unterberger golden at Kimberley Keurig Cup Slalom

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 9, 2015 | Member News

Unofficial Results:

 Unofficial Results:

Canada Winter Games Hall of Honour recognizes BC Master Joy Ward-Fera

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 7, 2015 | Member News

WMSC Master Racer Joy Ward-Fera will be inducted into the 2015 Canada Games Hall of Honour. Every two years during the Canada Winter Games, the Hall of Honour recognizes, honours and celebrates exceptional Canada Games alumni who have distinguished themselves as athletes, coaches, officials or administrators.

Fera won gold in dual slalom at the 1971 Canada Winter Games in Saskatoon – she will be at the Games in Prince George, February 11 – 14.

Photo: Joy Fera, Tsawwassen & WMSC, at Kimberley BC [where she learned to ski in 1958!] March 2014, Canadian Masters Alpine Championships – 2015 Canada Games Hall of Honour inductee

Below are a few anecdotes from Joy as she remembers her Canada Winter Games experience:

"Upon arrival in Saskatoon in 1971, I had come down with the measles! I went into the athletes’ sick bay…but after a night or so, I signed myself out [against doctor’s advice!], something that athletes cannot do today!! I did not want a spare for Team BC to replace me! I had no grip strength to hang onto my poles, so I took black electrical tape and taped my pole straps to my gloves!! Fortunately for alpine ski boots, my ankle joints were locked in place! One night, whoever was in charge of making snow, forgot to press the compressed air switch, and all it did was flood water over our venue! That made the gold for us from BC, who were used to powder conditions, even more significant over the skiers from ON and QC, who were used to ice!"

"In January 1971 I qualified for Team BC CWG in Saskatoon. Along with Kathy O’Sullivan and Kathy Young, we won the gold in dual slalom! I was also on the 1972 Canadian Alpine Ski Team [UBC] for the FISU Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. After placing 12^th in the official nonstop, I was taking another scheduled training run, and at one point, looking ahead I saw people crossing the course! I yelled, “Course”, for myself, but I guess they didn’t hear me, as they didn’t move, so I came out of my tuck, caught loose snow with my left ski, and went flying onto my back. I was brought down on a stretcher, barely able to take a breath. There was no team doctor. I could hardly sleep that night, could barely carry my skis from the bus to the rack in the morning, hence I came 25^th in the downhill. My best event was slalom, but the coaches could see I was injured so pulled me from that event. A few days later, I raced GS, placing 16^th. When I got back to Vancouver, an xray showed a crack to the fifth cervical vertebrae! I was very fortunate!"

The induction ceremony will take place at the Treasure Cove Casino on February 12^th, 2015 as part of the celebrations for the Canada Winter Games.  

"From 1974 – 1980 I took up rowing, competing in Montreal in 1976 in a coxed four that place 7^th, then won bronze at the World Rowing Championships in the Eight in ’77 & ’78, came fifth in the Eight in 1979, and, sadly, the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games were boycotted by 34 countries. I still compete in both sports, but don’t ski often enough!"

 

Popular night slalom kicks off 7 days of Keurig Cup FIS racing in Kimberley

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 7, 2015 | Member News

The Kimberley Disabled Skiers Association, the Kimberley Alpine Team and the Kimberley Alpine Resort are hosting a night slalom race to kick off the FIS Keurig Cup super-G & downhill event at the Kimberley Alpine Resort, February 7 – 13.

07 FEB NIGHT SLALOM – LADIES AND MEN

08 FEB SUPER G – LADIES AND MEN

09 FEB SUPER G – LADIES AND MEN

10 FEB DOWNHILL TRAINING 1 – LADIES AND MEN

11 FEBDOWNHILL TRAINING 2 – LADIES AND MEN

12 FEB DOWNHILL – LADIES AND MEN

13 FEBRUARY 2015 DOWNHILL – LADIES AND MEN

FIS Racers (16 years and over) will be competing. The Alberta and BC Ski Teams are there, as well as 16 ski clubs from BC and Alberta, and even athletes from Australia, Denmark, Eritrea, Germany, Japan, Macedonia, New Zealand and USA.  “Make no mistake, this is a big deal race – ten days of racing,” says Chief of Race Lloyd Steeves. ‘We hope locals come out and cheer on the racers.”

Follow along on LIVE TIMING

Men's Night Slalom Top-10 (COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS)

Women's Night Slalom Top-10 (COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS)

Apex Ski Club hosts Rio Tinto Alcan NGSL Okanagan Zone Dual Slalom

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 3, 2015 | Member News

We had a fantastic race this weekend!  It can be seen what a great community is being built, with skiers of all ages and levels competing with smiles on their faces. High fives, pats on backs and positive comments were observed everywhere. In total we had 120 athletes competing, from U12 down to U6. Apex Ski Club skiers were joined by Okanagan Zone's Big White Racers, Harper Mountain Ski Club, and Coast Zone's Manning Ski Club. The weather cooperated with some fresh snow over a solid base, so a great time was had by all, with every competitor walking away with a medal and a cookie.

Report submitted by Race Chair, Rejeanne Droppo

Photos courtesly of Barb Haley

Check out the race results HERE