The North Zone gathered at the mighty Troll Mountain Resort near Quesnel last weekend for a Ski the North event that delivered a fun-filled mix of racing, skills, and smiles.
Young skiers from Smithers, Prince George, Terrace, Quesnel, and surrounding communities enjoyed ideal conditions, with temperatures around –6°C, a firm race surface, and a fresh dusting of snow. Saturday’s action included a dual slalom, distance jump, and an adventurous scavenger hunt, while Sunday saw athletes take on a kombi race and speed trap.
“With some snow loss a week before the event, we had to adapt to the conditions,” said Tamara Goyer, Chief of Volunteers. “We were fortunate to get freezing temperatures and a few fresh inches of snow leading into race weekend.”
The scavenger hunt had racers exploring the entire mountain and lodge, completing creative challenges such as thanking ski patrol, collecting secret passwords, finding the “magic hat and sunglasses” in the rental shop, performing ski ballet, and posing for photos with the Troll. Two racers were randomly selected to receive special blue Ski the North toques, followed by a group photo inspired by Where’s Waldo? – can you spot the difference?
The weekend was a tremendous success, supported by more volunteers than organizers could even deploy. Twenty-two coaches attended with their athletes, contributing countless hours on snow. From the youngest racers skiing down the course alongside their coaches to kids cheering “I did it!” after clearing the jump, the confidence and joy on display made the preparation worthwhile.
Additional support came from the Prince George Alpine Ski Team, which supplied racer prizes, Valentine’s Day heart-shaped cookies, and volunteers who stepped into mentorship roles. Each event was led by an “event boss” who coordinated volunteers and helped train new officials throughout the weekend.
Photos by Julie Dorge & Tamara Goyer.
BC Alpine extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteer team that made the event possible.
Key Volunteers:
Falko Kadenbach and Rodney Whithall served as Chiefs of Race, with Glen Boudreau as Chief of Course, Sean Seabourne as Chief of Timing, and Scott Maguire as Chief of Gates. Start Referees for the slalom included Julie Backer and Dave Bobb, while Finish Referees were Steve Ewing for slalom and Rodney Whithall for kombi. Administration was led by Molly Swanson and Tamara Goyer, with Tamara Goyer also serving as Chief of Volunteers and Sean Scallion as Chief of Ceremonies. Event bosses included Eric Lobermayer, Mark Wong, Lee MacNeil, and Josh Campbell, supported by 22 dedicated coaches.
The Teck Okanagan Zone Speed Camp, hosted by the Vernon Ski Club, delivered an outstanding weekend of training at SilverStar Mountain Resort, with fantastic conditions, an impeccably prepared race course, and clear progression in speed skills for the 115 athletes who attended.
Vernon Ski Club welcomed U12 to U16 skiers for three action-packed days on the race track, supported by an incredible crew of nearly 100 volunteers who helped ensure a smooth and successful camp.
The camp format included two days of training, with timing introduced on the second day, followed by a final day of racing. Awards were determined by combined two-run times, giving athletes a meaningful opportunity to test their progress in a race environment.
With sunshine and favourable weather for five of the six runs, athletes benefitted from ideal conditions to build confidence and push their speed skills. U16 racers in particular logged impressive volume, completing 15 runs on the super-G track in addition to six downhill runs over the course of the camp.
The event also served as a valuable learning opportunity for Vernon Ski Club’s newly trained officials, who gained hands-on experience throughout the weekend.
BC Alpine extends a sincere thank you to all volunteers, coaches, and athletes, as well as the SilverStar Mountain Resort events team and grooming staff, for making the camp such a success. Feedback from parents and coaches highlighted the event as a season highlight for many participants.
Vernon Ski Club also thanks Kiss The Monkey Photography (see button below for event images) for capturing Sunday’s action, with Barry’s excellent photos available for free download.
Key officials included Race Chair Kim Shippam, Chief of Race Murray Smith, Race Administrator Tronni Earnshaw, Volunteer Coordinator Allison Goff, and VSC Program Director Rodger Poole.
Four clubs from across the North Zone gathered in Smithers last weekend for another action-packed round of Teck North Zone racing at Hudson Bay Mountain.
Athletes from Prince George, Smithers, and Lightning Creek—along with a FIS athlete from the Okanagan Ski Team—tested their skills and season-long progress on the Cinderella race track.
A total of 16 races were completed over two days, with two starts each in slalom and giant slalom for the U12, U14, and U16 categories. The full race schedule provided athletes with valuable competitive experience and opportunities to measure their development.
Two special awards were presented recognizing the “Most Improved” athletes in the North Zone. Markus Kadenbach of Lightning Creek and Peyton Murdoch of Smithers received the honours for their progress and performances.
BC Alpine extends a big thank you to the Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club and its thanks to the dedicated volunteers who made the event possible, including Technical Delegate Graham Cope, Chief of Race Dave Bobb, Chief of Course on Saturday Lee MacNeil, Chief of Course on Sunday Mark MacNeil, Chief of Gates Kate Portman, Chief of Timing Ben Weinstein, Start Referee Andrew Czornohalan, Finish Referee Falko Kadenbach, Race Administrator on Saturday Brittany MacNeil, Race Administrator on Sunday Kat Reid, and Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Czornohalan.
Whistler Mountain hosted the Nancy Greene Skills Event and Janyk Cup, presented by Hincks French Wealth Management at Odlum Brown, last weekend under challenging mid-season conditions.
Morning temperatures ranged from –4°C to –1°C at the Garibaldi Lift Hut and at the top of the course. Saturday brought heavy rain and strong winds, while similar conditions continued on Sunday with added fog. Low visibility persisted throughout the weekend, and a combination of heavy snow, icy patches, and poor visibility led to several safety delays for the U10 slalom and U12 giant slalom on Sunday.
Despite the demanding weather, athletes, coaches, and volunteers embraced the weekend with enthusiasm and team spirit. Saturday’s skills events delivered friendly competition and plenty of smiles, featuring Speed Trap and J-Turn, a combi course, dual slalom, and Start and Skate events for U10s, U12s, and WB’s RDP U14 athletes.
Day two built on that momentum, creating a true race-day experience with a two-run slalom for the U10s and a giant slalom race for the U12s, contested over two combined runs.
Throughout the event, athletes, volunteers, and spectators showed strong support for one another. Whistler Mountain Ski Club athletes performed well, and it was rewarding to see their preparation and hard work reflected on snow.
“It’s great to see the spirit of ski racing alive and well,” said Mike Janyk. “My mom had such a passion for skiing and sport, and so much of her effort was about seeing kids give their best – pushing their limits and smiling while doing it. With a strong team of parent volunteers, that spirit continues. Congratulations to all the participants.”
BC Alpine extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteer team that made the weekend possible. Ryan Duffy served as Chief of Race for the Janyk Cup, with Jamie Finlayson as Chief of Course and Dan Hincks as Chief of Slip. Mark Leng was Start Referee, George Liu Finish Referee, Amie Chu Chief of Timing, Kelsey McDermott Chief of Manual Timing, and Jenny Horlin Chief of Gates. Adam Kendall served as Chief of Race for the Glalom, with Kate Mills Drury as Finish Referee and Jessica Weiss as Chief of Timing. Skills events were supported by Jamie Finlayson as Chief of Combi, Justine Kendall as Chief of Start and Skate, Robin Courcelles as Chief of Speed Trap and J-Turn, David Prchal as Chief of Moguls, and Jenny Horlin as Chief of Dual Slalom.
The Apex Ski Club welcomed young racers on Sunday, hosting a Nancy Greene Ski League event that brought together U6 to U12 athletes from Apex and Big White.
Light snowfall and moderate visibility set the scene on the Okanagan run at Apex Mountain Resort, where conditions held up well for a fun and challenging dual slalom course. With a turn radius sitting between slalom and giant slalom, the course tested skills while keeping the focus on development and enjoyment.
Following the racing, the Apex Ski Club hosted a well-earned post-event barbecue for volunteers and coaches, generously provided by IGS Penticton. The meal was prepared by pro chef Steve Sheridan and capped off a successful day on the hill.
BC Alpine extends its thanks to the volunteers and organizers who made the event possible.
The Dreadnaught crew was at it again last week, delivering a highly successful speed camp and race series at Kimberley Alpine Resort.
See all event images, results and recap video below.
Mostly clear skies, cold temperatures, and a firm race surface created ideal conditions for speed training and competition. Athletes showed impressive development in their speed skills from the start of camp through the final races, particularly among the many first-year participants. The field included a diverse mix of North American and international competitors, adding to the depth and quality of the racing.
The speed camp and race series featured more than 1,000 runs on Kimberley’s legendary race track. The speed camp took place from January 21–23, followed by the FIS Dreadnaught Speed and Night Slalom Series from January 24–30.
Participation continued to grow, with the series recording its largest field across all disciplines—up at least 20 per cent year over year.
BC Alpine extends a sincere thank you to Kimberley Alpine Resort for its continued support of the event, including outstanding grooming and snowmaking.
“This was a truly impressive volunteer group assembled with a deep depth of experience from World Cup speed course crews,” said Gord Reese, Chief of Race for the downhill and super-G events.
Key Volunteers
Chair: Lloyd Steeves & Donna Briggs, Track Manager: Courtney Steeves, Chief of Race (DH & SG): Gord Reese, Chief of Race (Night Slalom): Rob Tupper, Chief of Course: Craig Rusnak, Chief of Timing: Carson Damm
