Apex to host Nor-Am Speed Event Feb 6 to 11 – LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 11, 2013 | Member News

If you've never experienced the thrill of a Nor-Am downhill, now's your chance.  The Race Organizing Committee at Apex is looking for course workers (and others) to volunteer at their upcoming speed races, February 6th and 11th. 

There is some accommodation available, and breakfast, lunch and potluck suppers are part of the deal.

As always, there will be no shortage of ACA and ROC "giveaways" to go along with the good times, great company and lasting memories.

If you are interested, please click HERE to sign up.

Thanks, hope to see you there!!

Gartner, King, Rauhala land on slalom podium at Mt Norquay Van Houtte Cup

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 11, 2013 | Member News

Ladies Slalom #2, Mt. Norquay – January 11, 2013 (COMPLETE RESULTS)

FLASH QUOTE – Stephanie Gartner, Fernie Alpine Ski Team – 1st place:

"It was a great race today, the snow held up and I think all of us girls put down some solid runs. I'm pumped about how the slaloms went, and ready to race some GS!"

FLASH QUOTE – Emma King, Whistler Mountain Ski Club – 2nd place:

"Overall it was a good couple of races even though I crashed yesterday. Today I had two decent races which landed me a second. The weather was cold but it brought beautiful blue bird skies. Looking forward to the next couple of days!"

FLASH QUOTE – Gregor Druzina, Women’s Coach:

“The last two days have been great for the BC Women’s team, both in Europe (Elliot and Freeman) and at home at Mt. Norquay. I believe this is just the beginning of a successful 2013 for the BC girls and we are all looking forward to the next few days of racing.”

Rauhala, Field, Gartner

Watch Saturday's giant slalom at LIVE TIMING

Stephanie Gartner Wins Norquay Van Houtte Cup SL, Blake Ramsden 2nd

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 10, 2013 | Member News

BC Ski Team rookie Stephanie Gartner of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team captured her first win of the season at Mt. Norquay's Van Houtte Cup slalom, completing two runs in one minute, 49.85 seconds.

FLASH QUOTE – Stephanie Gartner:
" Today was pretty snowy up at Norquay! I started bib 14 first run and there were already some ruts, so I focused on tactics and set myself up well for second run where I was able to lay one down! I'm happy with how I skied, but hopefully I can keep charging and get even faster!"

Ladies Slalom, Mt. Norquay – January 10, 2013 (COMPLETE RESULTS)

Racing for the first time since knee surgery last March, and for the first time as a member of the BC Ski Team, Whistler Mountain Ski Club athlete Blake Ramsden put on a stellar performance in Thursday's Van Houtte Cup slalom, to take second place overall in 1:41.89. 

FLASH QUOTE – Blake Ramsden:
"Today was a great way to start my racing season, especially coming back from injury. In the gate I was just focusing on skiing well, and the result was an added bonus. I had faith in my preparation and training, so I knew that if I relaxed and just skied, things would go well. This result was a big confidence builder, and I feel ready to go hard and attack the rest of this race series."

Men's Slalom, Mt. Norquay – January 10, 2013 (COMPLETE RESULTS)

Watch more LIVE TIMING from Norquay Friday…

Update from Women’s Team Head Coach, Freeman & Elliot to race in Europe

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 9, 2013 | Member News

"The BC Ski Team women are ready to race again after a good rest and plenty of powder skiing at their home mountains over the Holidays. We would like to thank the ski clubs who welcomed their star athletes home for a few days of training during the Christmas break.

"To start the New Year we held a GS/SG/free skiing camp at Apex, January 3 – 5. Then Sarah Elliot and Sarah Freeman took off to Europe for FIS speed races with coaches Aaron Speden and Don Lyon.  Freeman is just getting back on snow following a December ankle injury, and both Sarah’s are very exited to race and train in Europe. They and are looking forward to gaining some valuable speed experience before heading home for the Apex Nor-Am downhill and super-G races in early February.  While in Europe they will compete in SG, SC and DH in Austria and Italy, returning to Canada on Jan 25^th 2013.

"After the Apex training camp, Stephanie Gartner, Charley Field, Emma King and Hallie MacLachlan travelled to Mt. Norquay in Alberta where we have just completed two days of GS and slalom training in preparation for this week’s Van Houtte Cup technical races.   Emma King may just race the slalom and forerun the GS, as she is recovering from a slight shoulder injury. Norquay is one of the steepest and most technical race hills in western Canada, so we are anticipating an exciting few days of racing and some excellent results.   

"Happy New Year and thank you to all our supporters!"

~ Gregor Druzina, Head Coach of the Women's BC Ski Team

Men’s BC Team Competes in Italy – Grasic races to 3rd among 95’s & 96’s

by Kathy Stahr | Jan 8, 2013 | Member News

Men's coach JP checks in from Europe…

"After being on the road and in the air for a total of about 30 hours, the BC Alpine men's team made it to the lesser-known resort town of La Thuile, ITA last night at 7:00 PM (January 7^th).  La Thuile sits up high at the head of the Aosta Valley, which is at the exit of the Mont Blanc tunnel on the other side of the mountain from Chamonix, FRA.

"This morning, the very next day after our long journey, the boys were a little beat up from the jet lag (understandably), but Brandon and I saw some good turns and some good runs.  The highlight of the day was Martin Grasic's performance.  In the first run he moved up a few spots from his bib number, and started first in the second run after the flip.

"Too bad the hill didn't get any easier over the lunch break.  Grasic just made it look that way.  To wit: Racing the first leg of this race at what was essentially 1:00 AM PCT (10:00 AM local), Martini was almost 5 seconds out of the winner's first run time.  In the second run though, Martin was inside one second of the winner's second run time!

"After what proved to be a tough stretch of GS races for Martin last December at home in BC, Brandon and I were very happy to see him ski out of his earlier funk.  In a more general sense for the entire group of guys, this nice performance is a great start to our Euro tour. It sets the tone.

"This being a very difficult giant slalom in challenging conditions for a first day out, Roger Carry was our only other athlete to cross the finish in the first run.  Rock & Roll Roger ran into some trouble on the lower part of the course during the second run and ended up with a DNF.  Too bad really, because his second run was looking even crisper than his first, which was very respectable.

"The other boys all had issues in the first run.  Broderick, Brodie, Patrick, and Dominic exploded out of the course, and their gear, on the same particularly bumpy gate near the top of the course.

"The team is nonetheless very excited to be racing here, on what I would consider to be the toughest GS trail/course I have ever been on.  When you realize that just about half of this giant slalom course is protected by A-nets, it gives you an idea of the severity of the pitches and level of skiing required to make it down."

Benvenuti a Italiano FIS corsa!

from Men's Team Coach JP Daigneault