January Western Canada Ski Cross Series hosted by Big White Ski Resort

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 6, 2014 | Member News

Western Canada Open Ski Cross at TELUS Park: A Resounding Success!

Big White Racers and Big White Ski resort were proud to host the Western Canada Open Ski Cross Race at TELUS Park on January 18th and 19th. Over 70 racers participated in the 2 day Ski Cross race held under amazing bluebird skies on a thrilling track featuring rollers, berms and jumps!

Athletes from BC, Alberta, Utah and Australia enjoyed bursting out of the start gate, and experiencing the rush of competition, racing in heats of 4 to the finish. Big White Racers welcomed Ian Deans from the Canadian National Ski Cross Team who was stationed at the start motivating and coaching the racers out of the gate.  He gave tips and pointers during the races and presented awards at the medal ceremony on Sunday.

This was the first race of the new 4 race series in western Canada, which will also feature races at Lake Louise and Tabor Mt. in Prince George. The weekend offered opportunities for recreational skiers to challenge themselves and gave our alpine racers a chance to train and try this exciting event. Over all there were lots of smiles and good times had by all!

Submitted by Dianne DeJong, Big White Racers Ski Cross Chair
 

Moffat (Big White), Nymann (Mt. Washington) win Teck Enquist Slalom Cup

by Kathy Stahr | Feb 4, 2014 | Member News

Congratulations to the 2014 Teck Enquist Slalom overall winners, Ryan Moffat of the Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club and Maja Nymann of the Mt. Washington Ski Club. (Photo courtesy of Derek Trussler, Kelowna Ski Club FIS Coach)
 

TECK JUVENILE RACE SERIES
Enquist Slalom hosted by Mount Seymour Ski Club and Apex Ski Club at Apex Resort
February 1 – 2, 2014

The annual two-day Teck Enquist Slalom event for U16 men and women has been a tradition of the Mount Seymour Ski Club since 1936, and the 78th running of this popular race was moved to Apex Mountain this year due to snow conditions. This relocation resulted in a much stronger field of competitors with many of the provinces’ top contenders in attendance. In the spirit of cooperation and with the help of race organizers from both Seymour and Apex, a memorable and historic race series was attended by 86 elite juvenile ski racers from both the Coast Zone and the Okanagan. For the first time ever the Enquist Cup was won by a racer outside of the Coast Zone.

"I have never raced the Enquist before, so I didn't know what to expect," said overall cup winner Ryan Moffat of the Big White Racers. "In fact I hadn't finished a two-run slalom in two years, so I wasn't very confident in my slalom skiing. The course sets were great both days, nothing funky, and the conditions at Apex were almost perfect. It's pretty exciting to win the overall and bring the Enquist Cup to the Okanagan."

"It was a great little race, good snow and very fair for everyone," said Moffat's coach, Wade Christie of the Kelowna Ski Club. "Ryan has been skiing great all season. He’s physically much stronger this year and very motivated. So far our zone races have been a bit thin on numbers in U16, so our team was really excited to have a chance to race against the kids from the lower mainland. Ryan has the ability to raise his game to the level of the competition and he certainly did over the weekend. He’s also had the benefit of skiing with Simon Bernard, Trygg Nelson and Zane Torres. The four of them are pretty competitive and they push each other every day we train."

On the girls' side, the 2014 cup winner was Mt. Washington Ski Club racer Maja Nymann. In spite of all the weather challenges faced by Mt. Washington this season, the club has achieved some admirable results.

"It was a skill testing race with such tough competition, said Nymann. "But as always I had a great time and am honoured to have won such a prestigious award! It felt great to stand on top of the podium next to my friends and competitors, and I am looking forward to my next event."

"The Enquist race is always a highlight of the year for our club, and it was extra special having it in Apex with so many of the provinces’ top contenders in attendance," said John Trimmer, head coach of the Mt. Washington Ski Club. "It's been a tough year for us at home, but I am so proud of how hard our team has worked off and on snow – they deserve the results. We have only trained at home two weekends this season, but they were awesome weekends! A huge thank you has to go out to all our athletes, parents and past members who helped us harvest snow from the trees and put it on our training hill, and then transported the athletes’ skis so we could actually get a gate in the ground and train without destroying our race skis!"

Women overall podium
1st:   Maja Renate Nymann, Mount Washington Ski Club
2nd:  Ella Alfonso, Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club
3rd:   Gabrielle Smith, Whistler Mountain Ski Club

Men overall podium
1st:   Ryan Moffat, Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club
2nd:  Zane Torres, Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club
3rd:   Nick Mitro, Hemlock Ski Club

Moffat in action (Photo courtesy of Derek Trussler)

Here are the top-10 U16's, and the U18 finishers for Saturday and Sunday (a complete set of results can be found HERE)

Saturday, February 1 Slalom, Men, U16
1 MOFFAT, Ryan (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:13.16
2 TORRES, Zane (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:13.52
3 ILES, Finn (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:15.82
4 WOOLLEY, Kasper (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:16.41
5 KONIGSMANN, Peter (Cypress Ski Club) 1:17.81
6 NELSON, Trygg (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:21.38
7 KIRSHENBLATT, Max (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:21.44
8 RENZONI, Griffin (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:23.57
9 VALENTIN, Alexander (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:23.95
10 FILIPOVIC, Nikola (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:24.51

Saturday, February 1 Slalom, Ladies, U16
1 SWAFFIELD, Laura (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:20.61
2 NYMANN, Maja Renate (Mt Washington) 1:20.69
3 ALFONSO, Ella (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:20.79
4 SMITH, Gabrielle (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:21.64
5 NATALENKO, Kristina (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 1:23.84
6 LUKINUK, Brooke (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:25.50
7 MACDONALD, Frances (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 1:25.77
8 JONES, Madison (Mount Seymour Ski Club) 1:26.22
9 VOSS, Kelsey (Hemlock Ski Club) 1:26.39
10 SMALLWOOD, Jasmin (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:26.50

Saturday, February 1 Slalom, Men, U18
1 ANDERSON, Cole (Mt Washington) 1:13.92
2 MITRO, Nicholas (Hemlock Ski Club) 1:15.87
3 KWONG, Evan (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:16.09
4 VAN OS, Lucas (Mount Seymour Ski Club) 1:29.39

Saturday, February 1 Slalom, Ladies, U18
1 KIRBY, Olivia (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:21.67
2 MCWILLIAMS, Scout (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:23.86
3 DJORDJEVIC, Nela (Mount Seymour Ski Club) 1:30.85

Sunday, February 2 Slalom, Men, U16
1 MOFFAT, Ryan (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:17.05
2 HARLE, Kole (Mt Washington) 1:18.70
3 KIRSHENBLATT, Max (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:19.00
4 TORRES, Zane (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:19.17
5 JORDAN, Asher (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:19.76
6 ILES, Finn (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:20.23
7 HOWDEN, Reece (Apex Ski Club) 1:20.39
8 SMITH, Griffin (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:20.77
9 WOOLLEY, Kasper (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:21.71
10 ALEXANDER, Kyle (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:22.14

Sunday, February 2 Slalom, Ladies, U16
1 NYMANN, Maja Renate (Mt Washington) 1:26.44
2 ALFONSO, Ella (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:26.83
3 SMITH, Gabrielle (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:28.25
4 FLECKENSTEIN, Katie (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:28.91
5 GRANT, Belle (Apex Ski Club) 1:29.93
6 BALDASSARE, Olivia (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:30.18
7 LUKINUK, Brooke (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:31.09
8 MACDONALD, Frances (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 1:31.71
9 VOSS, Kelsey (Hemlock Ski Club) 1:32.13
10 KEAY, Charlotte (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 1:32.31

Sunday, February 2 Slalom, Men, U18
1 MITRO, Nicholas (Hemlock Ski Club) 1:19.03
2 KWONG, Evan (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:19.69
3 WELLS, Keefer (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:21.30
4 VAN OS, Lucas (Mount Seymour Ski Club) 1:34.25

Sunday, February 2 Slalom, Ladies, U18
1 KIRBY, Olivia (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club) 1:28.68
2 DJORDJEVIC, Nela (Mount Seymour Ski Club) 1:37.62

Thanks to Hans Forssander of the Mt. Seymour Ski Club for sharing these great photos!

Hemlock Valley Resort Ready to Host Province at 2014 BC Winter Games

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 31, 2014 | Member News

HEMLOCK READY TO HOST PROVINCE AT BC WINTER GAMES
113 skiers qualify to represent zone at province’s largest multisport event

Despite Mother Nature’s stubborn ways this early season, the Hemlock Ski Club and Hemlock Valley Resort are ready and set to host the alpine events at the Mission 2014 BC Winter Games, February 21-23.

With over a year of preparations, a diehard crew of hard-working volunteers, and an improving weather forecast, all lights are green for the event. BC Alpine conducted a site inspection on Sun. Jan 26th and discussed alternate run locations if the scheduled race run (Roddy’s) deteriorates prior to Games time.

“Last year we had so much snow that we didn't know where to put it, said Sport Chair Peter Liljedahl. “This year, not so much, but it doesn't matter. With Hemlock Resort's help we have identified an ideal back up run with lots of snow that will offer a challenging run for the racers. Both the Hemlock Ski Club and Hemlock Resort are looking forward to hosting the games and can't wait to the see the first racer coming down the course.”

INFO FOR PARENTS 

GUIDE TO THE GAMES

TECHNICAL PACKAGE 

ATHLETE BIO FORM

Congratulations to ALL the athletes who qualified to compete at the 2014 BC Winter Games! (listed below alphabetically by zone)

Weasel Worker Andre Labine sends candid and entertaining report from Sochi

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 31, 2014 | Member News

January 29, 2014

Hello Olympic Fans      

When I announced to friends and family that I was planning to go to Sochi they thought I was nuts!! I caught the Olympic bug after 2010 and worked very hard to go to Sochi. I even took Russian courses thanks to great folks I met in Cranbrook, John and Nataliya Smorodinova. They taught me the nuances of the Russian language and culture. I also felt that with 18 years of working at World Cup Races at Lake Louise, working at the FIS championships in 2005 in Bormio Italy, and of course the 2010 Games in Vancouver, I bring some experience to the table. I am not at all trying to make it sound like I am some kind of official…..I am not!! I am just a grunt on course. Some of you know that I spent a few weeks at the Olympic test events in Rosa Khutor (mountain cluster) for the Sochi Games.  The Russians are great folks, but they do not have the depth in volunteers to get alpine skiing events off the way the world expects. I am here as an individual to do my bit to contribute to this fantastic global event held here in a part of the world that not too many people know about. I do not know how many updates I will get off. I have been working on the mountain since 7:30 AM and it is now 10:45 PM (local) at the Marriott Hotel in Krasnaya Polyana, as the WIFI is not yet installed at my accommodations….more later.

When family, friends and fellow course workers found out I was coming here, they wanted to have a repeat of 2010 and the Test events from last year. So here goes update #1! By the way I set up a Dropbox link – just click on this link, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3udz12enydzw82k/2FkvutEJiL

Security:

Let's get this out on the table now; the place is crawling with security, everywhere. I have never felt safer anywhere else in the world and I have been to many countries.  If you are planning to be here do not change your plans, just get used to lots and lots of cops and having your baggage checked many times. The cops here do not screw around!!  The day before yesterday, because the dining facility was not quite ready (as are many things here), we had to be bused to a restaurant in Krasnaya Polyana, which meant a two hours process to have breakfast and get to work (two complete bag checks, airline
type) AND on my way to the gondola a policeman stopped me for a document and accreditation check!! This is all done politely and a fact of life here and now. Every day, even though the security folks know what and who we are, do complete checks with pat downs, no ifs, ands or buts!!

Accommodations:

The Olympic committee is housing and feeding 25,000 volunteers; in the mountain cluster there are 12,000 of us. I am in a building that will eventually be an apartment complex. It is about 98% complete. The apartment is a two room flat which I am sharing with 7 other men.  There are 4 Russians, 2 Italians, 1 Bulgarian and me, the lone Canuck. We will be together for the next 30 days or so. We have worked out (without anyone stating it) how to keep our place clean, respect our limited privacy and enjoy some quiet time…..by the way we have one bathroom and one shower and very, very spartan kitchen facilities. So we have all managed, in a short period of time, to resolve issues in a friendly, international manner.  Thank God I can communicate in Russian. We have been able to find shower times that work for all; I am an early riser and therefore it’s not a problem for me. Everyone is clean and no one stinks!! Did have a snoring issue with one fellow, but it worked itself out………………………I explained the problem of my lack of sleep with his snoring, my ear plugs and his sleeping in a different position made a world of difference!!!

Food:

Three hot tasty meals every day, Russian cuisine. I will take this over the cold sandwiches that Whistler gave us in 2010. The challenge will come when you are running a ski race…nobody takes a break for lunch…you eat on the fly. I hope the Russians understand this. I explained this to them last year. The networks NBC, CBC will go nuts if they have to take break for the vollies to eat!! (Seriously this will not happen).

Course Worker; what do I do?

As a grunt on course my job, like every other volunteer, is to follow the instructions of the ROC (Race Organizing Committee) and build a track with safety standards as established by FIS.  We have kilometer after kilometer of safety nets to install. There are probably a few hundred of us for both the men’s and women’s tracks. During the Olympics the women and men run on different tracks. Sochi will be different – unlike Whistler, the two tracks led to one finish area; Rosa Khutor will have three tracks leading to one finish.  I spent the last three days with other workers installing safety nets and hosing down the steep pitches of the track with water…..thousands of gallons. Racers love a hard track and hate loose snow. Recreational skiers would hate us!! So this is “build-week”; we are working very hard but Mother Nature is not helping!! It’s 8 degrees C in the valley this AM…rain….fog…the Whistler Weasels would love it!! There is plenty of work ahead of us for other disciplines, but I think we are all up for the challenge. I was upset today when I saw volunteers being sent to hose down the track while standing under a winch cat….see photo below.  In my years of working on course I have never seen this. I blame it on inexperience and I told the "chiefs" what I thought of this decision. Some of you may ask why? Because if a winch cable snaps and hit folks…….serious injury is certain!!!

Uniforms:

The uniforms that the Sochi 2014 Olympic committee have designed and provided to volunteers are unbelievable!! Too many items to mention here…a lot better than what we received in 2010!!

Final comments:

Six years ago nothing existed here that resembled international winter sports facilities. The Russians have spent $55+ billion to get this ready. There was nothing here and they now have world class facilities. The average Russian is very proud to receive the world and to make it a better place.  I have met Russians from all over who have come here at their own expense and given up a lot to be here. They should be proud of what they have accomplished. Image in six years building from nothing; Banff, Whistler, 6 world class arenas, a major high speed train and multi-lane highway along with an infrastructure to support it all. I applaud the Russians. Now, for the Olympics, they will house, feed and transport 25,000 volunteers, 12,000 athletes, and millions of visitors, and keep the Games safe!!  I am proud to be a small part of it. They are almost ready, even today I saw workmen laying down tiles in sidewalks and planting shrubs!! With only 9 days to go!! Thousands of workmen have come from all over Russia and the "stans" to make this happen.

I will try to take all of this "in" and I hope to send more updates later.

Go Canada!! There are many Canadians here, but in alpine ski racing we are only two so far, with more on the way. I met many other Canadians here playing all kinds of important roles to get the Games "off".
                     
Last thing:

The media calls it the tropics…..not true, it is a Mediterranean climate on the 43 degree latitude – the same as Toronto – tropics? Now you tell me!!

submitted by Andre Labine

King, Field straight off overseas flight, jump into Quebec GS & super-G races

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 28, 2014 | Member News

Mont Ste-Anne (QC) January 26 and 28, 2014

FIS Race – Ladies' Super G (click for complete set of results)

Charley's superstition: I always have my music to get me pumped to be able to perform my best and always wear a bandana.

Emma's superstition: Before the race I wear my bib on my left hand, and I do the same warm-up routine in the start.