Fernie Alpine Ski Team (FAST) plays host to Teck Kootenay Zone Finals

by Kathy Stahr | Apr 18, 2016 | Member News

Teck Kootenay Zone Finals at Fernie PHOTO CREDIT: Jim Hall https://www.flickr.com/photos/puremystic/albums/72157664992799594

FAST (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) hosts the Teck Kootenay Zone Finals

On the weekend of April 9/10, young athletes (U10, U12, U14, U16, U18) gathered from around the Kootenays for an amazing weekend of racing at Fernie Alpine Resort. Racers competed in slalom on Saturday and a super fun dual slalom on Sunday.

Congratulations to all our dedicated athletes on an outstanding season, and kudos to the following top finishers. The Fernie Alpine Ski Team was awarded the “prestigious” Kootenay Cup!

Top U18 – Gavin Donald (Vernon Ski Club)

Top U16 (male) – Devin Mittertreiner (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)

Top U16 (female) – Elly Foster (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)

Top U14 (male) – Isaac Athens (Apex Ski Club)

Top U14 (female) – Lauren Koper (Black Dogs Ski Club)
 

Follow this link to superb photos from Jim Hall (thanks Jim!)  https://www.flickr.com/photos/puremystic/albums/72157664992799594

Teck Kootenay Zone Finals
Fernie – April 9 – 10, 2016

Saturday, April 9 Slalom, Men, U14
1 DONALD, Gavin (Vernon Ski Club) 1:11.24
2 MITTERTREINER, Devin (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:11.42
3 ATHANS, Isaac (Apex Ski Club) 1:14.46
4 FINLEY, Ryan (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:20.24
5 TIMM, Dylan (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:20.85
6 GIBBONS, Derek (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:24.01
7 BEAMAN, Joshua (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:25.04
8 SWAN, Bobby (Whitewater Ski Team) 1:26.06
9 MAYERCHAK, Joshua (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:26.32
10 CHRISTIE, Max (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:28.60

Saturday, April 9 Slalom, Ladies, U14
1 KOPER, Lauren (Black Dogs Ski Club) 1:17.03
2 FOSTER, Elly (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:19.70
3 FORSYTH, Rylee (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:19.82
4 BRATTON, Lexie (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:20.59
5 HAWKINS, Anna (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:22.69
6 FYFE, Emma (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:24.00
7 SAUNDERS, Ella (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:24.53
8 HALL, Juliette (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:25.51
9 CARR, Samila (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:25.79
10 NUTTALL, Sasha (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:27.31

Kootenay Zone race DUAL Slalom RESULTS April 10, 1016

Fidelity Spring Series underway in Whistler; Fleck, Pridy, Thompson win SG

by Kathy Stahr | Apr 12, 2016 | Member News

The 2016 Fidelity Spring Series, hosted by WMSC on the Dave Murray National Training center, commenced on Monday after a week of above average temperatures and clear evenings, which allowed the snow to solidify somewhat.

BC Ski Team’s Stefanie Fleckenstein took full advantage of an early start number to lay down what proved to be the fastest time for the ladies. Ontario Ski Team’s Stephanie Currie continued her great skiing from the Canadian Championships to claim 2nd spot (+1.32 seconds), and U18 racer Andrea Louise Arnold from Czech Republic was third (+1.5 seconds).

The men inherited the “experienced” course from the ladies and proceeded to work over the softening snow over the next 140 racers. Morgan Pridy continued where he left off after the speed events at the Nationals, winning the race, followed by Tyler Werry, 0.2secs off the pace. Technical ace and Canadian Champion in SL, Ontario’s Phil Brown, edged Whistler’s Brodie Seger for the final podium spot.

The BC Men’s ski team posted impressive results in the stacked field, led by Riley Seger in 7th (+1.08) Cameron Alexander and Sam Mulligan tied in 10th (+1.48), and Max Kirshenblatt and Max Peiffer separated by 2/100ths in 12th and 13th respectively. BC Team's Kirshenblatt also found himself in a familiar spot atop the U18 podium Monday.

"It feels great to end the speed season successfully and it's been a blast doing it here at my home mountain racing against a field full of my ski racing idols," said Kirshenblatt. "Over the past two days whistler has lived up to the stereotypes giving us rain and challenging racing conditions, but all the volunteers worked hard and pulled off a good race"

Fleckenstein found the course conditions challenging: “It was a pretty turny set, given the soft conditions. The course crew had to work pretty hard to keep the transitions in raceable condition. I was happy to have bib 3 today, I’m sure the 140th guy skied a way different course than I did.”

Weather conditions changed overnight into Tuesday, with snow at the start and rain at the bottom, adding to the pervious day’s challenges. The course ran about 5 seconds faster than on Monday as the set reflected the softening snow, especially on the final pitch to the finish.

Fleckenstein made it 2 for 2, beating Ontario Ski Team's Stephanie Currie in 2nd by 1.61. Alberta's Sarah Taylor rounded out the podium in 3rd.

"I love racing at Whistler," said Fleckenstein. "It’s an awesome speed hill with steeps, flats and lots of terrain at this time of the year. After a long year on the road, I really appreciate the support that all of us on the BC Ski Team when we're back home. It was also nice to have Mikayla Martin back in the start after 8 weeks on the sideline, and a quick shout out to Toni Wearmouth as well. Finally, thanks to all of the volunteers who took time off work to keep the track safe.”

On the men’s side, Broderick Thompson finally broke Pridy’s stranglehold on speed events on the DMNTC, claiming the win ahead of Canadian Development Team member Jeffrey Read. Pridy did find his way onto the podium in 3rd spot (+.41 seconds). Big White Racer Ryan Moffat, who represented Canada at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Norway, landed in 7th place overall in Tuesday's super-G, capturing gold in the U18 race. BCST’s Sam Mulligan in 8th and Max Kirshenblatt in 9th were the sole survivors on the rapidly deteriorating course. The men’s race was finally called after 71 racers, in the interest of athlete safety, as the foggy conditions and soft snow finally had their say.