Once again the Red Mountain Racers and RED Mountain Resort teamed up to produce a spectacular series of ski races, first with the 2024 Teck Canadian Championships, followed by the BC Cup Spring Series. There was tremendous excitement about hosting the national championships at RED as teams started to arrive for training March 16th, with over 200 athletes in attendance.
The theme for these events was the History of Ski Racing. A very fitting theme, as RED celebrated the 56th anniversary of the first World Cup race ever held in North America (held here in Rossland in 1968 and attended by 7,000 people). That first North American World Cup was won by our own Nancy Greene and France’s Jean Claude Killy.
The opening ceremonies for the national championships featured an athlete and sponsor parade culminating in Rossland’s historic downtown. Opening remarks were delivered by Andy Morel, Mayor of Rossland, Thompson Hickey, Teck, Mike McDowell, Red Mountain Racers, and by Alpine Canada.
Rossland and Red Mountain have a very proud history of ski racing dating back to the first Canadian Championships (then called the Dominion Championships) held 126 years ago here. Historic banners lined Rossland streets and the base lodge at RED throughout the event. In addition, the Rossland Museum launched their new digital display “Gold Mining to Gold Medals: A Century of Ski Racing in Rossland”
Volunteers worked tirelessly over the course of 8 days of competition in order to provide the best track possible for these two back to back events. Mother Nature supplied some challenging weather with daytime highs of up to 17 degrees for two of the 8 days. The salt and watering program, led by Johnny Crichton, was successful and spectators were rewarded with some incredible racing.
For those fortunate enough to line the race course watching national team racers such as Cassidy Gray and Sarah Bennett in action was a real thrill. With the nationals being held here in the Kootenay’s there was additional excitement in the air when Jamie Casselman claimed the title of 2024 GS national champion. For athletes and spectators of all ages watching this field of incredibly talented competitors, some of the best in the world, was nothing short of inspiring. A week for us all to remember.
The Red Mountain Racers ROC would like to congratulate each of the athletes on their success and wish everyone the very best as they round out their season!
The Red Mountain Racers and RED Mountain Resort were honoured to host the 2024 U14 Provincial Championships march 29th–31st. It was so much fun to watch the future of ski racing in BC compete on the historic slopes of RED Mountain. These athletes were impressive not only in their ability to carve a mean line on a tough course but in their consistent word of thanks to the many volunteers that made it all happen. This is a tremendous compliment to coaches and parents alike.
As we always say, ski racing teaches so much more than the ability to rip a tight line. That said, these athletes certainly demonstrated their ability to do just that.
On the third day of racing the athletes competed in a team dual event. The teams were comprised of athletes from across BC and were designed to be as evenly matched as possible. Red Mountain Racer, COR, Mike McDowell dedicated many hours to developing the dual format and calculating the most balanced teams possible. We look forward to hosting many more duals using his technique.
Congratulations to each of the athletes competing in the 2024 TECK U14 Provincial Championships! We would also like to make a special mention to Nikita Ciesla, of Grouse Mountain who secured the top of the podium in both Slalom and Giant Slalom events and to her team mate Eames Kim who duplicated this feat on the men’s course.
Wishing everyone the best as they head off to the final events of the season and we look forward to seeing you in Smithers for the 2025 TECK U14 Provincial Championships!
Photos from the event were taken by Jirka Vanourek, Blue Rabbit Photography, Lesley Chisholm and Samantha Duess Photography. Please find links below to all of the event photography:
The Vernon Ski Club (VSC) hosted the Okanagan Zone Finals from April 6-7 at SilverStar Mountain Resort, much to the pleasure of all the participants.
A total of 97 racers from across the zone from U12-U16 competed in GS and SL races on the “backside” of the mountain. Athletes and coaches were treated to early gondola loads and warm up runs in the sunshine on the frontside, before moving to the back of the mountain for inspection and races.
VSC was excited at the opportunity to host the race “Gypsy Queen” all season. The run is a perfect pitch and terrain for both GS and slalom. Thanks to the hard work of coaches and volunteers, the surface held up well, despite warmer than normal temperatures.
Saturday’s GS had the U14/U16 field ripping down a long and steep course with the U12s starting lower down. There were many great local results for the GS, including a top 3 sweep by VSC U14 Men athletes. Congratulations team!
Sunday was all about slalom and the surface was solid leading to some fabulous results. Again, saw a top 3 sweep – this time in the U12 girl’s by SunPeaks Racers – well done! A yummy BBQ lunch was served to vollies and athletes at the top of the run by our hardworking volunteers.
A few special thanks you: To our sweet U8 & U10 forerunners who showed the U12s how it is done, and our VSC alumni FIS athletes who returned to forerun the U14/16 course both days – thank you! To our VSC and visiting parents who spent long days on the course slipping, shoveling, salting, photographing, and keeping everything on time – Great Job! And as always, to our Race Organizing Committee, Program Director and SSMR for the endless hours of planning, hauling gear and course prep – thank you!
And lastly – to those athletes, parents and coaches who stayed until the bitter end to tear down a big set up on this very last day of the season – amazing work! The tear down was done in record time allowing everyone to get back to the village for apres and awards. VSC looks forward to hosting events and seeing everyone again next season!
Please note the 2024 Mega Camp has been cancelled due to low registration numbers.
We plan to be back in 2025!
The MEGA camp is back. Considered some of the “best training, ever”, BC Alpine in partnership with Sun Peaks Resort, will once again host this exclusive training opportunity – the mountain will be closed to the public – from April 18-24th, 2024. Conditions are expected to be optimal for training and this opportunity will give clubs and racers a big jump on next season.
**Send in your request for dates and camp details using this link (requests MUST be sent in by club coach or leader, no individual requests will be accepted)
BC Alpine is saying goodbye to two members of its family in order for them to focus on their own families, closer to home. At the end of this season, Montana Molyneux, BC Ski Team women’s head coach, as well as Dustin Koepke, men’s coach, are moving on.
“I am very proud of the athletes that I have worked with on the BC men’s and women’s teams,” Montana said. “It has been wonderful to watch them develop into great athletes and even better people. Ski racing creates a unique experience where we work, travel and live with a small team of athletes putting their all into the sport, Every-Single-Day. I appreciate them for allowing me to be a part of their journeys.”
Coach “Monty” as she is known by her peers and pupils, has been with the BCST program for the past four seasons, where she has also played an integral part of the leadership behind the highly-successful Girls Fast Forward program. “I hope I’ve created more space for female coaches in BC and would love to see more equitable work done to ensure women have more opportunities to coach at the higher levels.”
Montana with former BCST skier Gerrit Van Soest in 2021, during the Lake Louise World Cup.
For Dustin Koepke, he will be closer to home to focus on his young family while he continues to coach in the Okanagan.
“I really enjoyed my time with the team, as a new Dad I want to spend a bit more time with my family,” he said. “I’m also excited to bring a lot of what I have been learning back to the club level.”
In the coming weeks BC Alpine will be posting more content about Montana and Dustin’s incredible journey with the provincial ski team. In the meantime, BC Alpine encourages interested coaches to consider applying for the vacancy. Details and application process can be found at the link below.
“We are going to miss Montana’s leadership, professionalism and incredible energy,” said Johnny Crichton, BC Alpine VP. “And Dustin played a big part in the successes and development of a strong men’s team. These are big shoes to fill!”
Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club (SSSC), along with Hudson Bay Mountain Resort, hosted the final North Zone Teck race of the season, March 9 – 10, replacing the traditional mid-series Purden Teck Race and wrapping up zone competitions early this year due to the low snow season and bigger provincial events coming up in April. With 64 athletes from SSSC, Prince George Ski Club, and Lightning Creek Ski Club, plus a contingent from Yukon Alpine, there was much energy for this multi-race weekend.
True to fashion, if you plan a ski race, it’s bound to finally snow, and the Saturday giant slalom brought fresh snow and soft conditions to contend with. Another ambitious northern schedule made for an action-packed day, with two races (4 runs) for U14-U19 athletes, and two races (2 runs) for U12 athletes on both days.
Day 2 was another busy slalom day, but the morning fog lifted, the schedule held firm and the difficult slalom hill made for plenty of action. North Zone trophies were presented to end the event and mark the top athletes across each age group for the season. Many of the annual trophies have over 40 years of successive names engraved; a testament to the strong ski racing culture in Northern BC.
