Fernie Alpine Ski Team (FAST) and Fernie Alpine Resort hosted the Teck Kootenay Zone slalom, panelled slalom and ski cross races for U12, U14 and U16, February 29th to March 3rd. It was an action-packed series to say the least, with 22 events in total! Over 200 athletes travelled from Whitewater, GKAT (Golden), Kimberley, Westcastle, Red Mountain, Montana and even the Yukon!
The athletes raced hard and showed their impressive athletic abilities on a fun and challenging ski cross course built by Rod Timm (head coach of FAST). Many parents and spectators came out to take in the action. On the alpine side, we saw amazing technical skiing from all ages (10-15) and excellent sportsmanship amongst the athletes. The athletes and course workers contended with every weather condition imaginable, but thanks to everyone’s efforts, the courses held up well. With so many races going on simultaneously, we were also impressed by the excellent work done by our Chiefs of Race Michael Kirker and Joe McFarlane, timing crew led by Mark Barron and the race office led by Lesley Chalkley to pull off all the events efficiently.
The FAST team loves the social side of racing and this event was no exception. There was a very well-attended banquet with the loud energy of young racers gathering together. As well, FAST hosted a volunteer social for the 100+ volunteers, without whom the races would not have taken place. Thank you very much to all the volunteers!
“My favourite part about this weekend was having a BBQ going at the top of the course, music playing and athletes supporting each other. We were able to host an athlete banquet and present the awards and celebrate our athletes. Thank you to RCR for allowing us to host this event at Fernie Alpine Resort and thank you to Teck for sponsoring the Kootenay Zone Race.”
Conditions have been unpredictable so far this year, but the FIS skier’s have displayed determination and flexibility by forgoing the super-G race due to safety concerns, and focusing on four consecutive days of technical racing. They pushed hard and kept their spirits high!
Thank you to Whistler’s Dave Murray National Training Centre and Vail Resorts for helping to prepare the Ptarmigan run for some great racing.
Dates: February 20-23, 2024
Location: Dave Murray National Training Centre (Ptarmigan), Whistler Mountain
Hill Conditions: Firm on all four days.
Weather Conditions: Mixed weather with warmer than seasonal temperatures.
Race Structure: Two-run combined time Giant Slalom on Tuesday and Wednesday; two-run combined time Slalom on Thursday and Friday.
Parsons Cup Winners:
Women: Viveka Deck Stang, WMSC
Men: Yuki Tazawa, WMSC
Yuki Tazawa
Viveka Deck Stang
Top-3 Finishers:
Women’s GS February 20th First Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s GS February 20th First Place: Yiuki Tazawa, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Daino Nakamura, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Tamas Hazy, Camp Fortune
Women’s GS February 21st First Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Second Place: Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Lola Gilbert, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s GS February 21st First Place: Carter Christensen, Fernie Alpine Ski Team Second Place: Yuki Tazawa, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers
Women’s Slalom February 22nd First Place: Tylee Carr, OZT Second Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s Slalom February 22nd First Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers Second Place: Joseph Gibbons, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Noah Fischer, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Women’s Slalom February 23rd First Place: Tylee Carr, OZT Second Place: Thea Torn, Whistler Mountain Ski Club Third Place: Viveka Deck Stang, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Men’s Slalom February 23rd First Place: Noah Fischer, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club Second Place: Marek Krampl, Red Mountain Racers Third Place: Joseph Gibbons, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Despite the tough snow conditions in the Coast zone, the U16 skiers continue to show how adaptable they are at a three-day, three-discipline race weekend with one slalom and two GS races at Whistler, in the Dave Murray National Training Centre.
Under sunny conditions on a challenging slalom course on Friday, the U16 skiers displayed their talent in a slalom race (full results below) with a two-run combined timed slalom; the course was firm and choppy to challenge the skiers.
Saturday was overcast and foggy with a two-run combined time giant slalom, with a snowfall moving in for the final race day on Sunday, which had a slight tailwind.
The skiers pushed themselves to do their best and keep morale high despite DNFs and some injuries. Everyone was grateful to the Dave Murray National Training Centre on Whistler and to Vail Resorts for continuing to make snow and groom the surface into a race-ready track under such challenging conditions. Volunteers and coaches all helped to make this race an outstanding experience.
Hill Conditions: Fresh groomed, hard packed both days
Weather Conditions: Cold, sunshine and clear skies both days
Race Structure: Sunday’s race was a two-run combined timed GS race
In a season of variability and inconsistency, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club was excited to welcome U10 – U14 athletes back for two incredible race days at the Nancy Greene Ski League (NGSL) Skills Event, and U12s for the 5th annual Janyk Cup on February 10 & 11, 2024. The first races of the NGSL season, both events took place on the same weekend; the Skills Event on Saturday, February 10 and the Janyk Cup on Sunday, February 11.
The Janyk Cup was created in honour of Andree Janyk to celebrate her unwavering commitment to volunteerism and sport. A community leader, advocate and member of the Whistler community, she passed at the age of 68. The Club’s Mission – developing champions in life and sport – is precisely the leadership and passion that Andree exhibited with her three children and everyone she came in contact with.
With challenging conditions across the Coast Zone this season, athletes from WMSC, Cypress, Grouse, WB RDP, Sasquatch and Seymour Ski Clubs enjoyed having the opportunity to race. The terrain was carefully prepared by the Dave Murray National Training Centre and WMSC Coaches and Volunteers and the course itself was tended by course crew volunteers from all clubs.
The NGSL Skills Event followed a multi-station format; including Start & Skate, Speed Trap & J-turn, and Combi Course. Each team was able to test their skills multiple times through each station.
On Sunday, the Janyk Cup had a two-run combined-time GS.
“It was a spectacular weekend with lots of sunshine and smiles. It was really great for me personally to see all the young racers from throughout the ski-to-sky corridor up in Whistler competing and having fun.”
Andrew Kirker, Race Chair
For many of these athletes, the Janyk Cup presented their first opportunity to compete against other clubs after training at their home clubs. This year’s top female and male athletes came from WMSC; Ella Douglas taking first place with a combined time of 1:15:85, while Alin Aldrus took top spot with a combined time of 1:16:87.
Top-10 U12 Finishers
Girl’s February 11
First Place: Ella Douglas, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Second Place: Sabina Kraut, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Third Place: Aletheia Yuen, Cypress Mountain Ski Club
Fourth Place: Bara Novakova, Cypress Mountain Ski Club
Fifth Place: Thea Reid, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Sixth Place: Annabelle Booth, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Seventh Place: Brooklyn Larsen, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Eighth Place: Alexa Mohr, Cypress Mountain Ski Club
Ninth Place: Sharliz Brown, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Tenth Place: Elle Rokoss, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Boy’s February 11
First Place: Alin Andrus, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Second Place: Levi Weiss, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Third Place: Jax Eliason, Sasquatch Mountain Ski Club
Fourth Place: Sean Tehrani, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Fifth Place: Parker Johnson, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Sixth Place: Jaxon Courcelles, WB Race Development Program (RDP)
Seventh Place: Ethan Yu, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Eighth Place: Caleb Silverstein, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Ninth Place: Matthew Power, WB Race Development Program (RDP)
Tenth Place: Maxim Levangie, Cypress Mountain Ski Club
WMSC Janyk Cup Chair: Andrew Kirker
Chief of Race: Josh Douglas
Chief of Course: Dave Trent
Chief of Volunteers: Jennifer Heyries
We are delighted to share the captured moments from the NGSL Skills and Janyk Cup races courtesy of our WMSC Photographer volunteer, Al Han! The photos have been organized into folders based on each athlete’s bib number. Additionally, the photos of racers without bibs or with bibs difficult to identify are in a separate folder. Please click buttons below to enjoy! (Kindly be aware that the photographs are copyrighted by WMSC, and usage is restricted to personal, non commercial purpose. The photos will be accessible until April 30, 2024.)
~ Report submitted by Georgia Dahle Cuthbertson, WMSC
By all accounts the weekend was a huge success! Thanks to the hardworking volunteers and race organizers, on Saturday they managed to complete two runs of GS for all age categories, except the U12s, who competed in a one-run giant slalom race.
Racing on our GS slope would not have been possible two days before the event, but a combination of huge grooming efforts and some luck with the weather created an amazing GS slope that ran beautifully! It’s been a tough season for many, so it felt great to get some solid racing in.
Dylan Henderson, Program Director and U12 Head Coach, WH2O Ski Team
Sunday brought snow to the slalom course, but the crew was able to get all the happy racers through two full runs.
Everyone involved was grateful for a full weekend of racing after the Kimberley zone race was reduced to a short slalom due to cold weather, and the BC Winter Games alpine events were cancelled due to a lack of snow.
The podium was shared by all six clubs, and there were no podium sweeps by any team. Often three different teams landed on the podium at the same time. Next stop for the Whitewater team is Fernie in a couple of weeks.
Masters racer Bobby Swan is 81 years old and skiing so well as he prepares to attend the FIS World Criterium Masters event at Kimberley Alpine Resort the first week of March. He placed 9th in our U14 boys category in slalom!
~ Report submitted by Dylan Henderson, Program Director, Whitewater Ski Team
The Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club, along with Hudson Bay Mountain Resort, hosted the first Teck North Zone race of the season on February 10 and 11. They stepped in on short notice after the Quesnel race was sadly cancelled due to a lack of snow. The whole zone came together to make a fantastic race happen for these hard training athletes, with full volunteer rosters both race days, including many volunteers from the Ligntning Creek Ski Club and the Prince George Ski Club.
Day 1 brought blue skies and mild temperatures for the top to bottom giant slalom, with an ambitious schedule of two races (4 runs) for U14 to U19 athletes, and two races (2 runs) for U12 athletes. The wind picked up at midday to howling levels just long enough to have everyone worried, but subsided in time to allow for a phenomenal afternoon of fast skiing.
Day 2 was another busy day with slalom on the agenda. The weather and schedule held firm and the difficult slalom hill made for entertaining athleticism. With just enough snow to work with, coaches and course crew did a great job getting the course set, and surface ready to go for the action-packed day!
Everyone in the North Zone had a fun weekend showing their northern spirit and all the new Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club infrastructure to visiting BC Alpine leadership Graham Cope and Keven Dubinsky. Thank you to everyone who took part. We are dreaming of future races on these slopes!
