Strong performances at the U14 Provincial Championships at Silver Star earned the Mount Washington Ski Team fourth place out of the 21 clubs participating.
Travelling for a full week to Silver Star to include additional training days produced outstanding results."The top four ranking … in this event is a testament to the athletes, coaches and the dedication of parents and families to make the season happen," a club spokesperson said, referring to lack of snow at the club's home mountain.
There were 105 ladies and 105 men competing over four days in individual GS races and a combined GS, individual slalom races and a combined slalom. Kieran Nilsen of Comox came out on top with a personal best championship with three top-10 results in combined GS, individual slalom and a personal best of a ninth place in combined slalom.
It was also a big weekend for Emilly Johnston of Comox who had personal best placements of 10th and 11th in GS and a 16th place in combined GS. Next up was Sylvi Nymann who had two fantastic GS results of 16th in the individual GS and 15th in the combined GS.
Luke Hoefer of Nanaimo in his first year competing at the U14 level pulled and incredible 13th place out of his hat in the combined slalom and Chris Raduy of Qualicum beach followed close on his heels in the same event with an 18th place finish. Natalia Bellefleur held her own with a personal best result of 24th in the combined slalom event and Ava Langevin reminded us that GS is her event with a 28th finish in the one-run course. Newcomer to racing the amazing Anja Leikermoser shone as well as she moved up the ranks to a 78th place finish in GS.
Next up for many of these athletes that qualify will be the Can Am Championships in Revelstoke at the end of March where they will compete with U14 athletes from Western Canada and the U.S.
Senior Nationals
While the U14 team was training and racing at Whistler the FIS team of Maja Nymann, Cole Anderson and Liam Gilchrist travelled to Nakiska to compete in the Canadian National Senior Championships. Nymann topped the result with a 48th place while Cole Anderson moved himself up from 115th place to 71st and Liam Gilchrist crashed in his first run so did not qualify for a second run.
– Mount Washington Ski Team